JLPT N1 Kanji: 衆 – Understanding the Multitude 衆 Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: masses, public, many, multitude, assembly A pictograph of many people standing together, signifying “multitude” or “crowd.” View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 衆 (shū) has 16 strokes. It starts with the top elements resembling […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 韓 – Mastering the Kanji for Korea 韓 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Korea, Republic of Korea The kanji 韓 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 倝 (gàn), which depicts sunlight rising above a tree, here used for its phonetic value, and 革 (kaku), meaning “leather” or “hide,” which serves as the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 閣 – Exploring “Pavilion” and “Cabinet” 閣 Readings: カク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: pavilion; tower; palace; cabinet (government); mansion; government building The character 閣 is composed of 門 (もん – gate) and 各 (かく – each/various). The 門 radical suggests something related to a gate or entrance. 各 often acts as a phonetic
JLPT N1 Kanji: 姿 (Sugata) – Master the Kanji for “Figure” and “Appearance” 姿 Readings: シ (Onyomi), すがた (Kunyomi) Meaning: figure, shape, appearance, posture, form The kanji 姿 combines 女 (woman) and 次 (next/order). Originally, it depicted a woman’s beautiful and orderly posture or form. The 次 component here is primarily phonetic, suggesting the meaning
JLPT N1 Kanji: 株 (kabu) – Unlocking the World of Stocks and Stumps 株 Readings: カブ (Onyomi), かぶ (Kunyomi) Meaning: stock, share; stump, tree-trunk; counter for trees The kanji 株 originally depicted a tree stump or the base of a tree. Its meaning evolved to “stock” or “share” in a financial context because early shares
JLPT N1 Kanji: 訴 (SO / Uttaeru) – To Sue, Appeal, Complain 訴 Readings: ソ (Onyomi), うったえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: sue, appeal, complain, accuse The kanji 訴 combines the radical 言 (speech) with the component 斥 (to push back/repel), together conveying the idea of “speaking out” or “asserting oneself” against something, leading to meanings like “to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 義 – Unpacking Justice, Meaning, and Duty 義 Readings: ギ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: righteousness, justice, meaning, honor, loyalty, public service, foster The kanji 義 is composed of 羊 (yáng – sheep) and 我 (wǒ – I/me). In ancient China, sheep were considered auspicious and often used in sacrificial rituals. The combination suggests
JLPT N1 Kanji: 審 – Delving into ‘Review, Examine, Judge’ 審 Readings: シン (Onyomi), つまびらか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Review, examine, investigate, judge, deliberate The kanji 審 combines 宀 (ukanmuri, meaning roof or house) and 寃 (en, meaning injustice, grievance, or deep investigation). Together, it suggests a thorough and deep investigation or judgment, often conducted within an
JLPT N1 Kanji: 環 (Kan) – Mastering the Kanji for “Ring” and “Environment” 環 Readings: カン (Onyomi), たまき, めぐ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: ring, circle, link, loop, circum-, environment The kanji 環 depicts a jade ring. The left component 玉 (たま) means “jewel” or “jade”, and the right component 睘 (かん) acts as a phonetic element suggesting
JLPT N1 Kanji: 張 – Stretch Your Japanese Skills! 張 Readings: チョウ (Onyomi), はる, ばり (Kunyomi) Meaning: stretch, extend, expand, distend, put up (a tent), spread (a net), tighten 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Phono-semantic character). The left radical 弓 (ゆみ) means “bow,” suggesting the action of stretching or tightening. The right component 長 (チョウ, ながい)
JLPT N1 Kanji: 衛 – Master the Kanji for “Defense” and “Protection” 衛 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: defense, protection, guard The character 衛 depicts the act of guarding or defending. Its composition involves 彳 (chì, “road” or “to walk”) on the left and 韋 (wéi, originally depicting a protective leather strap wrapped around something,
JLPT N1 Kanji: 率 (RITSU / SOTSU) – Understanding “Rate, Ratio, Lead” 率 Readings: リツ, ソツ (Onyomi), ひきいる (Kunyomi) Meaning: rate, ratio, proportion; leader, commander; to lead, to command The kanji 率 (ritsu) has an interesting origin. It’s said to be a pictogram (象形文字, shōkei moji) that originally depicted a banner or flag with tassels,
JLPT N1 Kanji: 率 – Mastering Rates, Ratios, and Leadership 率 Readings: リツ, ソツ (Onyomi), ひきいる (Kunyomi) Meaning: rate, ratio, proportion; to lead, to command; generally, usually The kanji 率 is said to have evolved from a pictograph representing a “pattern” or “standard,” which led to the meaning of “rate” or “proportion.” Another theory connects
JLPT N1 Kanji: 宮 (miya, kyuu, guu) – Shrine, Palace 宮 Readings: キュウ, グウ, ク (Onyomi), みや (Kunyomi) Meaning: shrine, palace, imperial villa, court The kanji 宮 originally depicted a house with a roof and two rooms, symbolizing a grand building such as a palace or a shrine. Its ancient form suggests a complex, enclosed
JLPT N1 Kanji: 独 (Doku, Hitori) – Understanding “Alone” 独 Readings: ドク (Onyomi), ひと(り) (Kunyomi) Meaning: single, alone, unique, independent, Germany The kanji 独 combines the radical 犭 (けものへん, kemonohen, animal radical) and the component 蜀 (shoku). The original form likely depicted a single, isolated animal, evolving to mean “alone” or “single.” It is also
JLPT N1 Kanji: 幹 (miki, kan) – Master the Core of Japanese 幹 Readings: カン (Onyomi), みき (Kunyomi) Meaning: trunk (of a tree), backbone, main part, core, body The kanji 幹 is a phono-semantic compound. The left part “干” (かん – kan) acts as the phonetic component indicating the sound ‘kan’, while the right part
JLPT N1 Kanji: 条 (Jō) – Mastering “Article, Clause, Strip” 条 Readings: ジョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: article, clause, stripe, line, item, condition, branch The kanji 条 depicts a branch or twig with lines, evolving to mean “strip,” “line,” or an “article” (as in a legal clause or item). View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 視 (shi) – Understanding ‘To See’ and ‘To Observe’ 視 Readings: シ (Onyomi), みる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Look, inspect, regard, observe Formed by combining ‘示’ (to show, reveal) and ‘見’ (to see, look). Together, it implies ‘to look intently’ or ‘to observe with purpose, from a certain perspective’. View JLPT N1 Kanji List
JLPT N1 Kanji: 鮮 (Sen, Aza.yaka) – Dive into “Fresh” and “Vivid” 鮮 Readings: セン (Onyomi), あざ.やか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Fresh, vivid, clear, distinct The kanji 鮮 is formed by combining 魚 (fish) and 羊 (sheep). The “fish” component directly relates to the meaning of “fresh fish” and by extension, “freshness” in general. The “sheep” component
JLPT N1 Kanji: 態 – Mastering “Attitude, Condition, State” 態 Readings: タイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: attitude, condition, state, appearance, manner Phono-semantic character. The left component 心 (heart) signifies meaning, and the right component 能 (ability) provides the sound. Originally referred to a state of mind or appearance. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write
