Readings: ケイ (Onyomi), かるい, かるやか, かろやか (Kunyomi)
Meaning: light, slight, trifling, unimportant
The kanji 軽 combines 車 (kuruma, vehicle) and 巠 (kei, a phonetic component suggesting “through” or “lightness”). This combination implies a “light vehicle” or something that moves easily, giving rise to the meaning of “light” or “swift.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 軽 has 11 strokes. It starts with the radical 車 on the left. Write 車 (vehicle) first: horizontal, vertical hook, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical hook, horizontal. Then, write the right side which starts with a horizontal stroke, followed by a vertical, then another horizontal, and finally a long vertical stroke that goes through the middle.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 車 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ケイ (Kei)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- かるい (karui)
- かるやか (karuyaka)
- かろやか (karoyaka)
Common Words Using 軽
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 軽量 | けいりょう | lightweight; light (e.g., equipment) |
| 軽快 | けいかい | light; nimble; spry; rhythmic |
| 軽視 | けいし | making light of; slighting; neglecting |
| 軽度 | けいど | slight; minor (e.g., illness, injury) |
| 軽率 | けいそつ | rash; thoughtless; careless |
| 軽油 | けいゆ | light oil; diesel fuel |
| 軽食 | けいしょく | light meal; snack |
| 軽蔑 | けいべつ | scorn; contempt; disdain |
| 軽自動車 | けいじどうしゃ | light automobile; kei car |
| 軽症 | けいしょう | minor illness/injury |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 軽い | かるい | light (weight); slight; minor; gentle |
| 手軽 | てがる | easy; simple; handy; casual |
| 軽やか | かるやか | light; nimble; sprightly |
| 軽んじる | かろんじる | to make light of; to look down on |
| 身軽 | みがる | light (of movement); agile; unburdened |
| 軽々しく | かるがるしく | lightly; carelessly; easily |
| 軽石 | かるいし | pumice stone |
| 軽荷 | かるに | light load/cargo |
| 軽業 | かるわざ | acrobatics; light tricks |
| 軽はずみ | かるはずみ | rashness; thoughtlessness |
Example Sentences
Japanese: このカバンはとても軽いです。
Kana: このカバンはとてもかるいです。
Romaji: Kono kaban wa totemo karui desu.
English: This bag is very light.
Japanese: 彼は軽い怪我をしただけだ。
Kana: かれはかるいけがをしただけだ。
Romaji: Kare wa karui kega o shita dake da.
English: He only sustained a minor injury.
Japanese: 彼はその問題を軽視している。
Kana: かれはそのもんだいをけいししている。
Romaji: Kare wa sono mondai o keishi shite iru.
English: He is making light of that problem.
Japanese: 軽食を食べましょう。
Kana: けいしょくをたべましょう。
Romaji: Keishoku o tabemashō.
English: Let’s have a light meal.
Japanese: この料理は手軽に作れます。
Kana: このりょうりはてがるにつくれます。
Romaji: Kono ryōri wa tegaru ni tsukuremasu.
English: This dish can be easily made.
Japanese: 彼女の足取りは軽やかだった。
Kana: かのじょのあしどりはかるやかだった。
Romaji: Kanojo no ashidori wa karoyaka datta.
English: Her footsteps were light and sprightly.
Japanese: その軽トラックは狭い道でも走りやすい。
Kana: そのけいトラックはせまいみちでもはしりやすい。
Romaji: Sono kei-torakku wa semai michi demo hashiriyasui.
English: That light truck is easy to drive even on narrow roads.
Japanese: 病気だからといって、運動を軽んじてはいけない。
Kana: びょうきだからといって、うんどうをかろんじてはいけない。
Romaji: Byōki dakara to itte, undō o karonjite wa ikenai.
English: Just because you’re sick, you shouldn’t neglect exercise.
Japanese: 彼の軽率な行動が問題を引き起こした。
Kana: かれのけいそつなこうどうがもんだいをひきおこした。
Romaji: Kare no keisotsu na kōdō ga mondai o hikiokoshita.
English: His rash actions caused problems.
Japanese: 旅行中は身軽な服装が良い。
Kana: りょこうちゅうはみがるなふくそうがよい。
Romaji: Ryokō-chū wa migaru na fukusō ga yoi.
English: It’s good to wear light clothing while traveling.
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.