乗 means “ride, board”

のる · noru

Also: power, multiplication, record

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

のる, のせる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジョウ, ショウ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A person climbing onto a tree (木): mounting something to travel. In modern Japan, 乗る encompasses everything from boarding the legendary 新幹線 (shinkansen, bullet train) to riding the famously punctual Tokyo subway. 乗り換え (norikae, transfer) is essential vocabulary for navigating Japan's intricate rail network.

Used in 乗車 (jousha, boarding), 乗り換え (norikae, transfer), and 乗客 (joukyaku, passenger)

More from Travel & Transport

• 通 pass through
• 運 carry
• 帰 return home
• 着 arrive
• 発 depart
• 進 advance
• 速 fast
• 遠 far
• 近 near
• 送 send
• 渡 cross over
• 泊 stay overnight

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

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