千

• Reading: せん
• Romaji: sen
• Kanji breakdown: 千 (sen) — thousand
• Pronunciation: /seɴ/

Meaning

Thousand; 1,000. A key unit in the Japanese number system.

Read as せん, with a sound change to ぜん after さん (三千 sanzen, 3,000). Used extensively in daily prices and quantities. The famous film 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, Spirited Away) uses this kanji in the main character's name. Also appears in 千葉 (Chiba) and 千円札 (sen-en satsu, 1,000-yen bill).

Examples

1. このかばんは三千円です。 This bag is three thousand yen.
2. 千円札がありますか。 Do you have a thousand-yen bill?
3. 千葉から東京まで電車で行きます。 I take the train from Chiba to Tokyo.

Usage Guide

Context: counting, prices, large quantities

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 千 combines 人 (person) with a horizontal stroke, originally representing a large indefinite number before settling on the value of one thousand.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal