# 渦 — whirlpool

渦 means “whirlpool”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 12 strokes. On'yomi: カ (ka). Kun'yomi: うず (uzu). You'll see it in words such as 渦 (uzu, “whirlpool; swirl”).

- Meaning: whirlpool
- On'yomi: カ (ka)
- Kun'yomi: うず (uzu)
- Strokes: 12
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Water & the sea 3

## How to remember 渦

Parts: 氵 water · 咼 crooked

## Words with 渦

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 渦 | うず (uzu) | whirlpool; swirl |

## Don't confuse it with

[洞](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/cave/) · [溝](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/gutter/) · [嗣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/heir/)

## More in the “Water & the sea 3” set

[潤](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/moisten/) · [堤](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/embankment/) · [澄](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/clear-water/) · [洪](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/flood/) · [渦](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/whirlpool/) · [泡](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bubble/) · [濁](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/muddy/) · [渇](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/thirst/)

---

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/whirlpool/. Last updated 2026-11-01.