Readings: チュウ (Onyomi), ひる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: daytime; noon
The character 昼 (hiru/chuu) combines 日 (sun/day) and the component 亘 (sen), which depicts a sun passing over a line, symbolizing circulation or something extending through. Together, it represents the time when the sun is in the sky, hence “daytime” or “noon.”
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 昼 begins with the three strokes of 日 (sun), followed by the top horizontal stroke of 亘, then the vertical stroke passing through it, two more horizontal strokes, and finally the bottom two enclosing strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 日 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- チュウ (Chuu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ひる (Hiru)
Common Words Using 昼
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 昼食 | ちゅうしょく | lunch |
| 昼夜 | ちゅうや | day and night |
| 白昼 | はくちゅう | broad daylight |
| 昼日中 | ちゅうにっちゅう | broad daylight (less common) |
| 昼飯 | ちゅうはん | lunch (less common) |
| 昼休み | ちゅうやすみ | lunch break (less common) |
| 昼時 | ちゅうどき | lunchtime (less common) |
| 昼前 | ちゅうぜん | before noon (less common) |
| 昼下がり | ちゅうさがり | early afternoon (less common) |
| 昼頃 | ちゅうごろ | around noon (less common) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 昼 | ひる | noon; daytime |
| 昼間 | ひるま | daytime |
| 昼休み | ひるやすみ | lunch break |
| 昼飯 | ひるめし | lunch |
| 昼過ぎ | ひるすぎ | past noon; early afternoon |
| 昼前 | ひるまえ | before noon; morning |
| 昼下がり | ひるさがり | early afternoon |
| 昼時 | ひるどき | lunchtime |
| 昼寝 | ひるね | nap; siesta |
| 昼下がり | ひるさがり | early afternoon |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 昼ごはんは何を食べますか？
Kana: ひるごはんはなにをたべますか？
Romaji: Hiru gohan wa nani o tabemasu ka?
English: What will you eat for lunch?
Japanese: 昼間はとても暑いです。
Kana: ひるまはとてもあついです。
Romaji: Hiruma wa totemo atsui desu.
English: It’s very hot during the daytime.
Japanese: 昼休みは１２時からです。
Kana: ひるやすみは１２じからです。
Romaji: Hiruyasumi wa jūni-ji kara desu.
English: Lunch break starts from 12 o’clock.
Japanese: 今日の昼食はカレーでした。
Kana: きょうのちゅうしょくはカレーでした。
Romaji: Kyō no chūshoku wa karē deshita.
English: Today’s lunch was curry.
Japanese: 彼は昼寝をしています。
Kana: かれはひるねをしています。
Romaji: Kare wa hirune o shite imasu.
English: He is taking a nap.
Japanese: 白昼堂々、事件が起こりました。
Kana: はくちゅうどうどう、じけんがおこりました。
Romaji: Hakuchū dōdō, jiken ga okorimashita.
English: An incident occurred in broad daylight.
Japanese: 昼夜問わず勉強しています。
Kana: ちゅうやとわずべんきょうしています。
Romaji: Chūya towazu benkyō shite imasu.
English: I study day and night regardless of the time.
Japanese: もうすぐ昼時です。
Kana: もうすぐひるどきです。
Romaji: Mō sugu hirudoki desu.
English: It’s almost lunchtime.
Japanese: 昼間は公園で遊びました。
Kana: ひるまはこうえんであそびました。
Romaji: Hiruma wa kōen de asobimashita.
English: I played in the park during the daytime.
Japanese: 昼前から雨が降っています。
Kana: ひるまえからあめがふっています。
Romaji: Hirumae kara ame ga futte imasu.
English: It has been raining since before noon.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.