馬
Horse
うま (uma)
JLPT N5
Interesting Fact
Japanese folklore tells of a terrifying yōkai called the Uma-no-Ashi and other horse-related spirits, but one of the strangest legends involves horses transforming into supernatural beings after death. In old stories, even loyal animals could become powerful spirits if strong emotions lingered.
Memory Trick
An old stable owner draws a simple picture of a horse: mane, body, and four legs. Over time, the drawing becomes 馬.
Readings
Onyomi: バ (ba)
Kunyomi: うま (uma)
Example Words
馬
うま (uma)
Horse
馬車
ばしゃ (basha)
Horse carriage
白馬
はくば (hakuba)
White horse
馬力
ばりき (bariki)
Horsepower
Example Sentence
その馬はとても速いです。
その うま は とても はやい です。
sono uma wa totemo hayai desu
That horse is very fast.