Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 順 (jun) – Order, Sequence, Obey 順 Readings: ジュン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: order, turn, sequence, obey, conform 形声文字 (Phono-semantic compound). The left radical 氵 (water) suggests flow, and 頁 (head/page) implies following or conforming. The character represents something proceeding smoothly or in a correct sequence. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How […]
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 裏 (ura) – The Hidden Side of Things 裏 Readings: リ (Onyomi), うら (Kunyomi) Meaning: back, rear, reverse side, inside, lining, wrong side The kanji 裏 is a phonetic-semantic compound. It combines 衣 (い, “clothing”) with 里 (り, “village”; here used phonetically for its sound ‘ri’ and possibly implying interior/inside). The
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 帽 (BOU) – The Kanji for Hat and Cap 帽 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: cap, hat The radical 巾 (cloth) on the left indicates material, while the right part 冒 (to brave, to cover) provides the sound “bou” and the concept of covering. Together, they form the idea of a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 憎 (niku.mu, ZOU) – To Hate, Detest 憎 Readings: ゾウ (Onyomi), にく.む, にく.い, にく.らしい, にく.しみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: hate, detest, dislike The kanji 憎 combines the radical 忄 (kokoro), representing “heart” or “mind,” with the phonetic component 曽 (sō), which implies “formerly” or “layers,” suggesting a deep-seated or accumulated negative emotion within
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 伺 (ukagau) – The Humble Way to Ask and Visit 伺 Readings: (Onyomi), うかが-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: to visit (humble); to ask (humble); to inquire (humble) The kanji 伺 is formed from the radical 人 (person) and 司 (to govern, to take charge of). This combination implies a person humbly going to
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 滴 (shizuku, shitataru) – Drip, Drop 滴 Readings: テキ (Onyomi), しずく, したたる (Kunyomi) Meaning: drip, drop The kanji 滴 combines the radical 氵 (water) on the left, which indicates its association with liquids, and 啇 (di) on the right as a phonetic component. While 啇 itself doesn’t mean “drop,” it phonetically
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 曇 (kumo-ru) – Cloudy 曇 Readings: (Onyomi), くも-る, くも (Kunyomi) Meaning: cloudy, to cloud over, to become dim/hazy The kanji 曇 combines 日 (sun) with 雲 (cloud), depicting the sun being obscured by clouds, hence “cloudy” or “to cloud over.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 挟 (hasamu) – Pinch, Hold Between 挟 Readings: キョウ (Onyomi), はさ-む, はさ-まる, はざ-ま (Kunyomi) Meaning: pinch, hold between, insert, sandwich 形声 (Keisei – Phono-semantic compound). The left part 手 (hand) indicates meaning, and the right part 夾 (kyō, originally meaning “to hold between” or “to hold under the arm”) indicates sound.
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 坊 (bou) – From Boys to Buddhist Priests 坊 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), ぼう (Kunyomi) Meaning: boy, priest, monk, (suffix for) master, (suffix for) a quarter/block The kanji 坊 combines 土 (earth, ground) and 阝 (originally 阜, a mound, signifying a natural elevation or, when simplified, often indicating a place or village).
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 畜 (chiku) – Livestock & Accumulation 畜 Readings: チク (Onyomi), やしなう, たくわえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: livestock, domestic animals; store, accumulate 形声文字 (keisei moji – phono-semantic compound). The radical 玄 (げん) indicates darkness/profundity, and 囟 (しん, fontanel) functions as a phonetic component here, suggesting ‘accumulation’ or ‘storing’, which extends to the meaning of
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 燥 (SOU, kawa.ku) 燥 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), かわ.く, かわ.かす, はしゃ.ぐ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Dry, parched, agitated, boisterous The kanji 燥 combines the radical 火 (fire) with 喿 (sound element, related to birds chirping, often associated with noise or agitation, and by extension, drying/baking). The fire radical clearly indicates a connection to heat
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 肯 (Kou) – Affirmation and Consent 肯 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: affirmation, consent, agreement The kanji 肯 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The top part is derived from 肉 (niku, meat/flesh), and the bottom part 止 (tomeru, to stop) acts as the phonetic component, implying ‘correct’ or ‘straight’. Together, it conveys
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 皿 (sara) – Mastering the Kanji for “Plate” 皿 Readings: サ, ベイ, マイ (Onyomi), さら (Kunyomi) Meaning: plate, dish, platter, counter for plates Pictogram of a shallow, flat vessel (a plate or dish) with contents. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 皿 (sara) is
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 符 (ふ) – Sign, Mark, Symbol 符 Readings: フ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: sign, mark, symbol, charm, tally, token The kanji 符 combines the radical 竹 (bamboo) and 付 (to attach, to agree). Historically, it depicted a split bamboo tally stick used as a token of agreement, authentication, or as a symbol/sign.
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 貝 (かい / バイ) – Shell, Wealth 貝 Readings: バイ (Onyomi), かい (Kunyomi) Meaning: Shell, shellfish, property, wealth The kanji 貝 (かい, shell) is a pictograph of a seashell. Ancient China used shells as a form of currency, which is why this kanji is often associated with money, property, and wealth
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 舟 – The Essential Guide to “Boat” 舟 Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), ふね, ふな- (Kunyomi) Meaning: boat, ship The kanji 舟 is a pictograph of a boat. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 舟 (fune) is drawn with 6 strokes. It starts with the two
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 涼 (りょう / すずしい) – Cool, Refreshing 涼 Readings: リョウ (Onyomi), すず-しい, すず-む, すず-やか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Cool, Refreshing The kanji 涼 combines the water radical (氵) on the left, indicating a connection to water or a liquid state, with 京 on the right. 京 (kyō) typically means “capital” or “high building,”
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 枯 (kare, karasu) – Wither and Dry Up 枯 Readings: コ (Onyomi), か.れる, か.らす (Kunyomi) Meaning: wither, dry up, die (plant) The kanji 枯 combines the radical 木 (tree) with 古 (old). This suggests the image of an old tree that has dried up or withered. View JLPT N2 Kanji List
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 菓 (Kashi) – The Sweet World of Confectionery 菓 Readings: カ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Confectionery, sweets, cakes, fruit The kanji 菓 is a phonetic-semantic compound. The top part (艹) is the radical for “grass” or “plants”, indicating something derived from plants. The bottom part (果) is the phonetic component, meaning “fruit”
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 灰 (hai) – Ash, Cinder 灰 Readings: カイ (Onyomi), はい (Kunyomi) Meaning: ash, ashes, cinder The kanji 灰 is a pictograph combining 火 (fire) and 厂 (cliff/container), depicting remnants of fire or ash. It represents the residue left after burning. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
