Readings: ユ, ユウ (Onyomi), よし, よる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: reason, cause, origin, means, freedom
The kanji 由 is thought to be a pictograph representing a sprout emerging from the ground, symbolizing “origin” or “source.” Over time, its meaning expanded to include “reason” or “cause,” and later, “freedom” through combinations.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 由 (yū) has 5 strokes. It begins with a short vertical stroke, followed by two horizontal strokes forming the top and bottom of the outer box. The fourth stroke is a horizontal line inside the box, and the final stroke completes the box with a vertical line.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 田 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ユ (yu)
- ユウ (yū)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- よし (yoshi)
- よる (yoru)
Common Words Using 由
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 理由 | りゆう | reason, motive |
| 自由 | じゆう | freedom |
| 由来 | ゆらい | origin, source, history |
| 経由 | けいゆ | via, by way of |
| 由緒 | ゆいしょ | history, lineage, respectable ancestry |
| 事由 | じゆう | cause, reason, circumstances |
| 理由書 | りゆうしょ | written statement of reasons |
| 由縁 | ゆえん | connection, reason, cause |
| 由々しい | ゆゆしい | grave, serious (often written in kana for the latter part) |
| 自由化 | じゆうか | liberalization |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 由る | よる | to be due to, to originate from (often as 〜に由る) |
| 由し無し | よしなし | useless, trifling (often written as よしなし) |
| 事の由 | ことのよし | the circumstances of the matter (formal/archaic) |
| その由 | そのよし | to that effect (formal/archaic) |
| 由る所 | よるところ | the reason, the source (formal) |
| 由も無い | よしもない | having no reason, useless (variant of 由し無し) |
| 由るべき | よるべき | ought to be based on (literary, potential form of よる) |
| 由て | よって | thereby, consequently (formal/literary, often written with 依 or 因) |
| 〜に由って | 〜によって | due to, by means of (often written as 〜によって) |
| その由を聞く | そのよしをきく | to hear the circumstances/reason (phrase) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この問題の理由は何ですか？
Kana: このもんだいのりゆうはなんですか？
Romaji: Kono mondai no riyū wa nan desu ka?
English: What is the reason for this problem?
Japanese: 彼は自由に海外旅行に行った。
Kana: かれはじゆうにかいがいたりょこうにいった。
Romaji: Kare wa jiyū ni kaigai ryokō ni itta.
English: He went on a trip overseas freely.
Japanese: この習慣の由来は古い。
Kana: このしゅうかんのゆらいはふるい。
Romaji: Kono shūkan no yurai wa furui.
English: The origin of this custom is old.
Japanese: 東京駅を経由して、京都へ向かった。
Kana: とうきょうえきをけいゆして、きょうとへむかった。
Romaji: Tōkyō-eki o keiyu shite, Kyōto e mukatta.
English: I headed to Kyoto via Tokyo Station.
Japanese: その神社は由緒ある建物だ。
Kana: そのじんじゃはゆいしょあるたてものだ。
Romaji: Sono jinja wa yuisho aru tatemono da.
English: That shrine is a historic (or reputable) building.
Japanese: 彼女は病気という事由で欠席した。
Kana: かのじょはびょうきというじゆうでけっせきした。
Romaji: Kanojo wa byōki to iu jiyū de kesseki shita.
English: She was absent due to illness.
Japanese: その件の理由書を提出してください。
Kana: そのけんのりゆうしょをていしゅつしてください。
Romaji: Sono ken no riyūsho o teishutsu shite kudasai.
English: Please submit a written statement of reasons for that matter.
Japanese: 二人の間には深い由縁がある。
Kana: ふたりのあいだにはふかいゆえんがある。
Romaji: Futari no aida ni wa fukai yuen ga aru.
English: There is a deep connection between the two of them.
Japanese: 彼は自由化政策に賛成している。
Kana: かれはじゆうかせいさくにはんたいしている。
Romaji: Kare wa jiyūka seisaku ni sansei shiteiru.
English: He is in favor of liberalization policies.
Japanese: この災害は地震に由るものだ。
Kana: このさいがいはじしんによるものだ。
Romaji: Kono saigai wa jishin ni yoru mono da.
English: This disaster is due to an earthquake.
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