貝
貝 means ‘shellfish’ or ‘shell.’ Historically, shells were used as currency in ancient China and Japan, which is why 貝 appears as a radical in many kanji related to money, value, and trade.
Reading
On’yomi: —
Kun’yomi: かい (kai)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 貝 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | shell, shellfish |
| Stroke Count | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
While 貝 itself refers to shellfish and shells, its role as a radical is far-reaching. It appears in 買 (buy), 売 (sell), 財 (wealth), and 貯 (save) — all connected to economic concepts rooted in the shell-as-currency history.
Common Words
- 貝（かい / kai） — shellfish, shell
- 貝殻（かいがら / kaigara） — shell (empty)
- 貝類（かいるい / kairui） — shellfish (as a food category)
- 二枚貝（にまいがい / nimaigai） — bivalve (clam, oyster, etc.)
- 巻き貝（まきがい / makigai） — spiral shell, snail
- 帆立貝（ほたてがい / hotategai） — scallop (one of the most popular shellfish in Japan)
Example Sentences
-
海で貝を拾いました。
うみでかいをひろいました。 / Umi de kai o hiroimashita.
I picked up shells at the beach.
-
貝殻をコレクションしています。
かいがらをコレクションしています。 / Kaigara o korekushon shite imasu.
I collect shells.
-
貝の料理が好きです。
かいのりょうりがすきです。 / Kai no ryōri ga suki desu.
I like shellfish dishes.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Learning 貝 unlocks many money-related kanji. Once you recognize the 貝 component in 買 (buy) and 売 (sell), these high-frequency kanji become much easier to remember and distinguish.
Summary
貝 means ‘shellfish’ and is a key radical in many money and trade-related kanji due to the historical use of shells as currency.