What is the difference between "風" and "かぜ"?

"風" means "wind" (N5), whereas "かぜ" represents "a cold, flu" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "かぜ (kaze)"

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

Kanji Option A

かぜ (kaze)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

かぜ (kaze)

N5 / CEFR

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

風 (Level: N5): Translates to "wind" and is used when Refers to moving air. Often used with 吹く.
かぜ (Level: N5): Maps to "a cold, flu" and carries the nuance of This word.

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

Bilingual Context for "風"

今日は風が強いです。

The wind is strong today.

Bilingual Context for "かぜ"

かぜを引いて、熱があります。

I caught a cold and have a fever.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "今日は＿＿＿が強いです。" (Meaning: "The wind is strong today.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "風" is used for "wind" in the context: "The wind is strong today.".