沢

marsh; plentiful

Kanji 1552

For a kanji that appears in relatively few compounds and that means “marsh,” “plentiful,” “to glisten,” and “benefit” (a range that makes the head spin), 沢 seems to poke its head up in quite a few places. It’s the 489th most used kanji in newspapers. That’s puzzling, but this essay will reveal the reason. It will also teach you the names of several types of dishes, help you talk about luxury, and put the luster back in your life (if it's missing).