# 沿 — run along

沿 means “run along”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 8 strokes. On'yomi: エン (en). Kun'yomi: そ(う) (sou). You'll see it in words such as 沿って (sotte, “along; by”).

- Meaning: run along
- On'yomi: エン (en)
- Kun'yomi: そ(う) (sou)
- Strokes: 8
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Size & position 1

## How to remember 沿

Parts: 氵 water · 八 eight; spreading legs · 口 mouth; box

## Words with 沿

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 沿って | そって (sotte) | along; by |
| 沿う | そう (sou) | to run along; to run beside |

## Don't confuse it with

[呉](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/wu-dynasty/) · [浴](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/bathe/) · [治](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/govern/) · [況](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/situation/)

## More in the “Size & position 1” set

[臨](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/look-out-over/) · [拠](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/foothold/) · [端](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/edge/) · [隣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/neighbouring/) · [沿](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/run-along/) · [距](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/distance/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/run-along/. Last updated 2026-11-01.