JLPT N1 Kanji: 展 (ten) – Unfolding Growth and Exhibition! 展 Readings: テン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Exhibition, display, unfold, expand, develop The kanji 展 combines the radical 尸 (shikabane), which represents a ‘corpse’ or a ‘person lying down’, and 厂 (gan), which here acts as a phonetic component suggesting ‘spreading out’ or ‘extension’. Together, these […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 護 (Go, Mamo-ru) – To Protect and Guard 護 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), まも(る) (Kunyomi) Meaning: protection, safeguard, defend The kanji 護 combines 示 (shimesu), meaning “altar” or “show,” and the phonetic component 護, which itself combines 互 (go), meaning “mutual,” and 戈 (hoko), meaning “dagger-axe” or “halberd.” The character thus conveys the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 井 – Delving into the Depths of “Well” 井 Readings: セイ, ショウ, ジョウ (Onyomi), い (Kunyomi) Meaning: Well (as in a water well), pit, town, community The kanji 井 is a pictograph representing the opening of a well with its crisscrossed wooden frame. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write –
JLPT N1 Kanji: 施 (shi, hodokosu) – To Administer, Apply, Give 施 Readings: シ (Onyomi), ほどこす (Kunyomi) Meaning: to administer, to apply, to give, to perform, to execute Composed of 方 (hō: direction, square) and 也 (ya: a particle, often phonetic). It originally depicted spreading out or extending, leading to meanings of giving, administering, and
JLPT N1 Kanji: 可 – Understanding Possibility and Permission 可 Readings: カ, コク (Onyomi), べ-き, -べ-し (Kunyomi) Meaning: possible, passable, acceptable, can, may The kanji 可 is an ideogram. It depicts a mouth (口) with something being emitted, symbolizing speech or permission. Over time, it came to mean “possible” or “acceptable,” indicating that something can
JLPT N1 Kanji: 援 (EN) – The Power of Aid and Support 援 Readings: エン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: aid, assist, help, support A phono-semantic compound (形声). Composed of 爰 (エン), which serves as the phonetic component indicating the “EN” sound and suggesting the idea of “pulling” or “drawing,” and 手 (て/しゅ), the radical for “hand.”
JLPT N1 Kanji: 証 (Shou) – Understanding Proof, Evidence, and Certificates 証 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: proof, evidence, testimony, certificate The kanji 証 is composed of 言 (word, speech) and 正 (correct, just). Together, they imply “correct words” or “proving something is correct through words,” leading to meanings like “proof” or “evidence.” View JLPT
JLPT N1 Kanji: 裁 (Sai, Tatsu, Sabaku) – Master the Art of Judging and Cutting! 裁 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), たつ, さばく (Kunyomi) Meaning: tailor, cut, judge, decision The kanji 裁 combines 衣 (clothing, indicating fabric or tailoring) and 戈 (a halberd or weapon, suggesting cutting or deciding). This combination evokes the image of cutting fabric
JLPT N1 Kanji: 沢 (sawa, taku) – Exploring its Meanings and Usage 沢 Readings: タク (Onyomi), さわ, つや, うるお-す, うるお-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: swamp, marsh, wet land, luster, abundance, widely The character 沢 (sawa) depicts water (氵) flowing over a rocky or uneven surface (right component, which also gives the sound “taku”). This imagery leads to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 藤 (Fuji) – Wisteria and Its Many Faces 藤 Readings: トウ, ドウ (Onyomi), ふじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: wisteria A phono-semantic compound. The radical 艹 (grass) indicates it’s a plant. The phonetic component 滕 (teng) lends its sound and hints at the spreading, climbing nature of the wisteria plant. View JLPT N1 Kanji List
JLPT N1 Kanji: 検 (KEN) – Master the Art of Examination! 検 Readings: ケン (Onyomi), しら.べる (Kunyomi) Meaning: examine, inspect, investigate, check 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Phono-semantic character). The left side 木 (き – tree) suggests the meaning, hinting at using a tool or stick for measurement/examination. The right side 僉 (けん) provides the sound.
JLPT N1 Kanji: 企 – Plan, Undertake, Scheme 企 Readings: キ (Onyomi), くわだてる, たくらむ (Kunyomi) Meaning: plan, project, undertake, scheme The kanji 企 combines 人 (person) and 止 (stop/toe). It depicts a person standing on tiptoes, stretching to look into the distance, symbolizing the act of planning or scheming for something in the future. View
JLPT N1 Kanji: 応 – Mastering Responses and Applications 応 Readings: オウ (Onyomi), こた.える, こた.え (Kunyomi) Meaning: respond, answer, accept, comply with, apply, correspond 形声文字 (けいせいもじ – phono-semantic character). The original character was 鷹 (hawk), representing the idea of a swift and precise response. It was later simplified to 応, with the radical 广 (shelter)
JLPT N1 Kanji: 挙 – Master the Meanings of ‘Raise’ and ‘Lift’ 挙 Readings: キョ (Onyomi), あ.げる, あ.がる (Kunyomi) Meaning: raise, lift, nominate, cite, act The kanji 挙 is composed of two parts: 手 (hand) on the left, and 興 (to rise, to cause, to excite) on the right. The hand radical clearly indicates an
JLPT N1 Kanji: 提 (tei, sageru) – Master the Meaning of Propose, Present, and Carry 提 Readings: テイ (Onyomi), さ.げる, ひっさ.げる (Kunyomi) Meaning: propose, present, bring, carry (in hand), raise This kanji is a phono-semantic compound (形声). The radical 扌 (hand) indicates its connection to actions performed with the hand, while 是 (correct, right, to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 価 – Understanding Value and Price 価 Readings: カ (Onyomi), あたい (Kunyomi) Meaning: value, price, cost Formed from 人 (person) and 賈 (to buy, merchant, value). The left part 人 represents a person, and the right part 賈 originally meant “to buy” or “merchant” and also conveyed the idea of value or
JLPT N1 Kanji: 基 – The Foundation of Your Japanese! 基 Readings: キ (Onyomi), もと (Kunyomi) Meaning: basis, foundation, basic The kanji 基 is formed from 土 (earth/soil) and 斯 (a phonetic component that also implies something being split or spread out). Together, it depicts a foundation or base built upon the earth, symbolizing the
JLPT N1 Kanji: Mastering 統 (TŌ / すべる) 統 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), す.べる, すぼ.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: rule, integrate, unify, command, lead, govern, system A combination of the ‘thread’ radical (糸) representing connection and ‘充’ (meaning to fill or bundle), suggesting the act of binding things together, leading to meanings like ‘unifying’ or ‘governing’. View JLPT
JLPT N1 Kanji: 氏 (Uji / Shi) – Understanding Mr., Ms., and Clan 氏 Readings: シ (Onyomi), うじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Mr., Ms., surname, clan The kanji 氏 is a pictograph representing a clan’s emblem or banner, sometimes interpreted as a person’s head. It denotes a family, clan, or surname, and is also used as a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 奥 (Oku) – Delving into Depth and Inner Spaces 奥 Readings: オウ (Onyomi), おく (Kunyomi) Meaning: inner part, back, inside, depth, profound The character 奥 combines 臼 (usu, mortar) and a component suggesting a hidden, deep place or a small, private room. It represents a deep, inner, or secluded part, often
