What does 風 mean in Japanese?
風 means wind in Japanese, and it also means style. It is the kanji in 台風 (taifuu, typhoon) and 和風 (wafuu, Japanese style), and in the everyday word 風 (kaze, wind) itself.
風 has two main readings. Read it as かぜ (kaze) when it stands alone meaning ‘wind,’ and as フウ (fuu) in compounds such as 台風 (typhoon) and 和風 (Japanese style). Watch out for 風邪 (kaze, a cold): it uses the same sound as wind but means catching a cold.
Reading
On’yomi: フウ (fuu), フ (fu)
Kun’yomi: かぜ (kaze), かざ- (kaza-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 風 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | wind, style |
| Stroke Count | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
風 starts with moving air and extends to atmosphere and style. As かぜ it is the plain word for wind; as フウ it builds 台風 (typhoon) and the style words 和風 (Japanese style) and 洋風 (Western style) that you will see on menus and shop signs. The homophone pair is famous: 風 (kaze, wind) and 風邪 (kaze, a cold) sound identical, and learners meet both early.
Common Words
- 風（かぜ / kaze） — wind
- 台風（たいふう / taifuu） — typhoon
- 風邪（かぜ / kaze） — a cold (illness)
- 和風（わふう / wafuu） — Japanese style
- 風船（ふうせん / fuusen） — balloon
- 扇風機（せんぷうき / senpuuki） — electric fan
Example Sentences
-
今日は風が強いです。
きょうはかぜがつよいです。 / Kyou wa kaze ga tsuyoi desu.
The wind is strong today.
-
台風が近づいています。
たいふうがちかづいています。 / Taifuu ga chikazuite imasu.
A typhoon is approaching.
-
風邪を引いて、学校を休みました。
かぜをひいて、がっこうをやすみました。 / Kaze o hiite, gakkou o yasumimashita.
I caught a cold and stayed home from school.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
風邪を引く (to catch a cold) is an essential set phrase; note that it shares its sound with wind but is written 風邪. 台風 (taifuu) dominates news from late summer into autumn, the typhoon season. On menus, 和風 marks Japanese-style dishes such as 和風パスタ, and 扇風機 (senpuuki, electric fan) is everyday summer vocabulary.
Summary
風 means wind and style, appearing in weather words like 台風, style words like 和風, and the essential phrase 風邪を引く.