What is the difference between "駅" and "えき"?

"駅" means "station" (N5), whereas "えき" represents "station" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "えき (eki)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

えき (eki)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

えき (eki)

N5 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "えき (eki)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

駅 (Level: N5): Translates to "station" and is used when Refers to a train or subway station. Commonly used when talking about transportation..
えき (Level: N5): Maps to "station" and carries the nuance of Refers to a train or subway station. Often used with place names, e.g., 東京駅.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "駅"

毎日、駅まで歩きます。

I walk to the station every day.

Bilingual Context for "えき"

毎日、えきまで歩いて行きます。

I walk to the station every day.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "毎日、＿＿＿まで歩きます。" (Meaning: "I walk to the station every day.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "駅" is used for "station" in the context: "I walk to the station every day.".