土 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 土 is about earth, soil, and the ground beneath your feet. Think of dirt in a garden, a plot of land, or the very ground a country stands on. You'll meet 土 in two roles: as the standalone noun 土 (つち, "soil") and as a building block in compounds — most famously 土曜日 (どようび, "Saturday"), but also 土地 (とち, "land/plot") and 国土 (こくど, "national territory").
For N5 learners, the one to lock in first is 土曜日 ("Saturday"). The days of the week in Japanese are each named after a natural element, and Saturday is the "earth day" — 土 + 曜日. Learn that single word and you've already got a high-value use of this kanji under your belt.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | つち | 土 (soil, earth), 土足 (どそく — see note) |
| on'yomi | ド | 土曜日 (Saturday), 国土 (national land) |
| on'yomi | ト | 土地 (land, plot) |
Here's the usual rule of thumb: the kun'yomi (つち) shows up when 土 stands on its own as a word, while the on'yomi (ド or ト) appears inside two-kanji compounds. So lone 土 is つち, but 土曜日 is ド and 土地 is ト. The tricky part with this kanji is that it has two on readings — ド and ト — and you simply have to learn which compound takes which. Don't worry: at N5 the two you really need are 土曜日 (ド) and 土地 (ト).
⚠️ Watch out for one famous irregular: お土産 is read おみやげ ("souvenir"), not "おどさん" or anything you could sound out from the kanji. This is a jukujikun — a reading assigned to the whole word rather than to each character — so 土産 just has to be memorized as a set. It's extremely common, so it's worth flagging now.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 3, written top to bottom. Write the short top horizontal first, then the vertical line down through it, and finish with the long bottom horizontal. (Note the order: the vertical comes before the bottom line.)
- Radical: 土 is its own radical, the "earth" radical (つち / つちへん). When it sits on the left of another kanji it's called the tsuchi-hen, and it signals a connection to earth, ground, or place. You'll see it in 地 (ground / land), 場 (place / spot), and 坂 (slope), among many others.
Tip: don't confuse 土 with 士 ("samurai / scholar"). They look almost identical, but in 土 the bottom horizontal line is the longer one, while in 士 the top line is longer. The dirt sits low to the ground — long line at the bottom.
Common words using 土
Notice the reading split at work: standalone 土 is つち, while the compounds switch to an on reading — ド in 土曜日 and 国土, ト in 土地. And then お土産 (おみやげ) breaks every rule, which is exactly why it's worth memorizing on its own.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは庭の土に花の種をまいた。
ヤッタンは にわの つちに はなの たねを まいた。
Yattan planted flower seeds in the soil in the garden.
土 standing alone — the kun'yomi つち reading.
モチは土曜日にヤッタンと公園で遊びます。
モチは どようびに ヤッタンと こうえんで あそびます。
Mochi plays with Yattan in the park on Saturday.
土曜日 — the on'yomi ド reading, in the word for 'Saturday.'
先生は旅行のお土産をクラスに買ってきました。
せんせいは りょこうの おみやげを クラスに かってきました。
Sensei bought a souvenir for the class from the trip.
お土産 = おみやげ — a famous irregular (jukujikun) reading you just memorize.
Quick recap
- 土 = soil / earth / ground; just 3 strokes; it's the "earth" radical itself.
- つち when it stands alone (土); ド in 土曜日 and 国土, ト in 土地.
- お土産 = おみやげ is an irregular jukujikun — memorize it as a whole.
- Don't mix up 土 (long line on the bottom) with 士 ("samurai," long line on top).
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 土 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 土 in 土曜日?
土曜日 is read どようび ('Saturday'), using the on'yomi ド. Each day of the week is named after an element, and Saturday is the 'earth day' — so 土 (earth) starts the word.
Why is お土産 read おみやげ and not something with 'do' or 'to'?
お土産 (おみやげ, 'souvenir') is a jukujikun — a reading attached to the whole word rather than to each kanji. You can't sound it out from the characters, so it just has to be memorized. It's very common, so it's worth learning early.
What's the difference between 土 and 士?
They look nearly identical. In 土 ('earth') the bottom horizontal line is longer; in 士 ('samurai / scholar') the top line is longer. A memory hook: dirt sits low, so the long line is at the bottom.
How many strokes does 土 have, and is it a radical?
土 has 3 strokes and is itself the 'earth' radical. On the left of other kanji it appears as the tsuchi-hen, hinting at earth, ground, or place — as in 地 (ground), 場 (place), and 坂 (slope).