# 層 — layer; stratum

層 means “layer; stratum”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 14 strokes. On'yomi: ソウ (sou). It has no common kun'yomi.

- Meaning: layer; stratum
- On'yomi: ソウ (sou)
- Kun'yomi: —
- Strokes: 14
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Size & position 1

## How to remember 層

Sounds like 曽: both read ソウ.

Parts: 尸 flag · 曽 formerly

## Don't confuse it with

[曽](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/formerly/) · [増](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/increase/) · [憎](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/detest/) · [僧](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/buddhist-monk/)

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

[並](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/line-up/) · [込](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/be-crowded/) · [逆](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/reverse/) · [留](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/keep-in-place/) · [囲](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/surround/) · [層](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/layer/)

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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/n2-kanji/layer/. Last updated 2026-11-01.