What does 三 mean in Japanese?
三 means “three” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 三 (three), 三つ (three things), and 三月 (March).
For learners, the key is to study 三 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: サン (san)
Kun’yomi: み-つ (mi-tsu), みっ-つ (mitsu-tsu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 三 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | three |
| Stroke Count | 3 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
三 is not limited to one English translation. In 三 (さん), it means three; in 三つ (みっつ), it points to three things; and in 三月 (さんがつ), it is used for March. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 三（さん / san） — three
- 三つ（みっつ / mittsu） — three things
- 三月（さんがつ / sangatsu） — March
- 三日（みっか / mikka） — the third day; three days
- 三人（さんにん / sannin） — three people
- 三百（さんびゃく / sanbyaku） — three hundred
Example Sentences
-
三人で写真を撮りました。
さんにんでしゃしんをとりました。 / Sannin de shashin o torimashita.
Three people took a photo together.
-
三月に新しい学期が始まります。
さんがつにあたらしいがっきがはじまります。 / Sangatsu ni atarashii gakki ga hajimarimasu.
A new school term begins in March.
-
三つの漢字を覚えました。
みっつのかんじをおぼえました。 / Mittsu no kanji o oboemashita.
I learned three kanji.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 三 (さん / san) because it keeps the core meaning of 三 clear. Then add 三つ and 三月 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 三 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
三 means “three” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 三, 三つ, and 三月.