Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 勇 (YUU) – The Kanji for Courage and Bravery 勇 Readings: ユウ (Onyomi), いさむ, いさましい (Kunyomi) Meaning: courage, bravery, heroism The radical 力 (ちから – power/strength) combined with a phonetic component (甬) that suggests an upright or straightforward nature. Together, they imply the power to stand firm or move forward with […]
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 冊 (satsu) – Counter for Books 冊 Readings: サツ, サク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Counter for books; volume; copy The kanji 冊 is a pictograph depicting bamboo slips tied together with cords, representing an ancient book or document. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 冊
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 踊 (Odoru) – The Kanji for “Dance” 踊 Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), おど・る, おど・り (Kunyomi) Meaning: Dance, to dance The kanji 踊 combines the radical 足 (ashi) meaning “foot,” and the component 躍, which contributes the meaning of “leaping” or “energetic movement.” Together, they visually represent the act of dancing with one’s
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 炭 (Charcoal, Coal) 炭 Readings: タン (Onyomi), すみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: charcoal, coal The kanji 炭 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 火 (fire) with a phonetic component (derived from 止 or 厂 with a dot/ash symbol) that also hints at the meaning of “residue” or “black”. Together, they represent
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 腰 (koshi) – Mastering the Kanji for “Waist” and “Hip” 腰 Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), こし (Kunyomi) Meaning: Loins, waist, hip, lower back The kanji 腰 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines ⺼ (にくづき), the “meat” or “flesh” radical (representing body parts), and 堯 (ギョウ), serving as the phonetic component. The combination
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 郊 (kō) – Suburbs & Outskirts 郊 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: suburb, outskirts, rural district The kanji 郊 is composed of 阝 (こざとへん), a radical often related to land, towns, or hills, and 交 (コウ / まじわる), meaning “to cross, mix, associate.” Together, it symbolizes an area where paths cross
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 紅 (Kurenai/Beni) – The Deep Red of Autumn and More 紅 Readings: コウ, ク (Onyomi), べに, くれない (Kunyomi) Meaning: crimson, deep red, scarlet The kanji 紅 combines 糸 (thread, silk) and 工 (craft, work, dye), suggesting the process of dyeing silk a deep red color. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 恋 (koi) – Love & Longing 恋 Readings: レン (Onyomi), こい, こいしい (Kunyomi) Meaning: love, romance, longing for, yearn for, fall in love The character 恋 is composed of the radical 心 (kokoro) meaning “heart” and the phonetic component 䜌 (ran/ren) which suggests “tangled” or “intertwined,” illustrating a heart deeply entangled
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 乳 (chichi, nyū) – Milk, Breast 乳 Readings: ニュウ (Onyomi), ちち, ち (Kunyomi) Meaning: milk, breast, nipple, udder The character 乳 (rǔ) pictorially represents a breast with nipples, indicating milk or suckling. It evolved from ancient oracle bone script. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 凍 (To Freeze) 凍 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), こおる, こごえる, こごらす, こごる, いとう, しみる (Kunyomi) Meaning: freeze, frozen, congeal 形声文字 (Keisei Moji). The radical 冫 (nisui), derived from 水 (water), indicates ice or coldness. The right part, 東 (tō), gives the sound and also implies firmness or solidity, collectively representing water becoming
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 沈 (Chin, Shizumu) – To Sink, Submerge, Settle 沈 Readings: チン (Onyomi), しず-む, しず-める (Kunyomi) Meaning: sink, be submerged, settle, subside, feel depressed 形声 (Keisei – phono-semantic compound). The radical 氵 (water) indicates meaning, and the right part (originally 𠃓) indicates sound. The original meaning relates to sinking into water. View
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 軟 (nan, yawa-rakai) – The Kanji for Softness 軟 Readings: ナン (Onyomi), やわ-らか, やわ-らかい (Kunyomi) Meaning: soft, tender, weak The kanji 軟 combines 車 (chariot/wheel) and 欠 (lack/deficiency). It implies something that is not firm, lacking rigidity, and thus easily yielding or “soft”. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 捨 (Suteru) – Master Discard & Abandon 捨 Readings: シャ (Onyomi), す.てる (Kunyomi) Meaning: discard, throw away, abandon, sacrifice The kanji 捨 combines the hand radical (扌, てへん) on the left, which signifies actions performed by hand, with 舎 on the right. 舎 (house, building, lodge) acts phonetically to represent the
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 掘 (horu) – To Dig, Excavate 掘 Readings: クツ (Onyomi), ほ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: dig, excavate, delve The kanji 掘 combines the hand radical (扌), indicating an action done with the hand, and 屈 (くつ), which provides the sound and conveys the idea of bending or delving. Together, it represents the action
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 雲 (kumo/un) – Cloud 雲 Readings: ウン (Onyomi), くも (Kunyomi) Meaning: Cloud The kanji 雲 depicts the swirling vapor of clouds. It combines 雨 (rain) at the top, suggesting weather phenomena, and an older form of 曰 (say), which here acts phonetically or implies the rising, swirling motion of vapor. View
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 掃 (SOU, ha.ku) – To Sweep, Brush 掃 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), は.く (Kunyomi) Meaning: Sweep, brush The kanji 掃 combines the radical 扌 (hand) with the phonetic component 帚 (broom). This combination vividly depicts the action of sweeping or brushing with a broom in hand. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 浅 (Asai, Sen) – Shallow, Superficial 浅 Readings: セン (Onyomi), あさ.い, あさ- (Kunyomi) Meaning: shallow, superficial The radical 氵 (water) indicates the meaning related to water. The right part, 戈 (weapon/halberd), acts as a phonetic component, giving the ‘sen’ sound, and also contributes to the idea of cutting or being ‘not
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 臣 (shin) – Understanding Retainers and Ministers 臣 Readings: シン, ジン (Onyomi), おみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: retainer, subject, minister The kanji 臣 is a pictograph of an eye turned sideways, symbolizing someone bowing low in service, hence representing a retainer or minister. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 甘 (ama, kan) – Sweet, Gentle, Naive 甘 Readings: カン (Onyomi), あま, あまい, あまえる, あまやかす (Kunyomi) Meaning: sweet, gentle, naive, lenient The kanji 甘 depicts a mouth (口) with something sweet inside, symbolizing the sensation of sweetness. It is often described as representing a tongue tasting something delicious. View JLPT N2
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 黄 (Kiiro) – The Color Yellow 黄 Readings: コウ, オウ (Onyomi), き, こ- (Kunyomi) Meaning: yellow The kanji 黄 is thought to be a pictograph of a person wearing an ornament or a belt, with the color yellow possibly associated with royalty or the earth in ancient Chinese philosophy. View JLPT
