阪 means “slope, Osaka”

さか · saka

Also: heights

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さか

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ハン

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

A hill (阝) beside 反, ground tipping back: a slope. Osaka was long written 大坂, "big slope", until 大阪 took over around the Meiji era. 阪 is now Osaka's mark: 阪神 is Osaka and Kobe, as in the Hanshin Tigers, and 京阪 Kyoto and Osaka.

Used in 大阪 (oosaka, Osaka), 阪神 (hanshin, Osaka and Kobe), and 京阪 (keihan, Kyoto and Osaka)

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Learn 阪 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.