Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 岩 (iwa) – Rock & Boulder 岩 Readings: がん (Onyomi), いわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Rock, boulder 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – phonetic-semantic character). The character combines the 石 (いし – stone/rock) radical with the 岳 (がく – peak/mountain) phonetic component. It depicts a stone on a mountain, signifying a large rock or boulder. […]
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 承 (Shou, Uketamawaru) – To Acknowledge, Receive, Assent 承 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), うけたまわ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: to accede to, to receive, to hear, to be informed, to undertake, to acknowledge, to agree, to accept, to comply with, to consent The kanji 承 is thought to represent a person kneeling (related to 卩
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 略 (ryaku) – Abbreviation, Omission, Outline 略 Readings: リャク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: abbreviation, omission, outline, summary, strategy The character 略 (liáo) is composed of 畧 (liáo), which depicts “a field” (田) and “a foot” (疋), indicating “measuring or mapping out a field.” This evolved to mean “outline,” “abbreviation,” or “summary.” View
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 卒 (SOTSU) – Graduation, Soldier, End 卒 Readings: ソツ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: graduate, soldier, come to an end, abruptly Pictogram of a banner, representing soldiers or a military leader, thus evolving to mean ‘soldier’, ‘rank and file’, ‘leader’, and by extension, ‘to finish’ (like a military campaign or service). View JLPT
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 囲 (I, Kako-mu) – Surround, Enclose 囲 Readings: イ (Onyomi), かこ-む, かこ-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: surround, enclose, circumference, confine The kanji 囲 (I) is a pictograph depicting an enclosure or a fence. It visually represents the idea of something being surrounded or contained within a boundary. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 齢 (rei) – Mastering Age and Years 齢 Readings: レイ (Onyomi), よわい (Kunyomi) Meaning: age, years old Phono-semantic compound. The radical 歯 (は, ‘tooth’) on the left is associated with age (e.g., losing teeth as one ages). The component 令 (れい, ‘order, command’) on the right provides the sound ‘rei’ and
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 厚 (kō, atsu(i)) – Thick, Kind 厚 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), あつ(い) (Kunyomi) Meaning: Thick, heavy, kind, cordial The kanji 厚 (kō, atsu(i)) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 厂 (gandare), representing a “cliff” or “steep slope,” and 𠫝 (a variant of 享, kyō), which acts as a phonetic component
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 豊 (Yutaka) – Abundance and Richness 豊 Readings: ホウ (Onyomi), ゆた-か, とよ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Abundant, rich, plentiful, fertile The kanji 豊 originally depicted a vessel (豆) filled with grain or offerings, symbolizing abundance, fertility, and prosperity. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 豊 is
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 測 (Soku, Hakaru) – To Measure 測 Readings: ソク (Onyomi), はか.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: measure, fathom, compute, survey The left radical 氵 (water) suggests liquid or depth measurement. The right component 則 (soku; rule, law) indicates measuring according to a standard or rule. Together, it means ‘to measure, particularly by standard rules
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 普 (fu, amaneku) – Universal, Ordinary 普 Readings: フ (Onyomi), あまねく (Kunyomi) Meaning: universal, wide-ranging, ordinary, generally The kanji 普 combines 曰 (hirabi, an ancient form of 日, meaning “sun” or implying “speaking”) and 並 (narabu, to arrange side by side, implying “common” or “universal”). Together, it suggests something that is
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 乱 (RAN / mida.reru) – Disorder, Chaos & Rebellion 乱 Readings: ラン (Onyomi), みだ.れる, みだ.す, みだ.り (Kunyomi) Meaning: disorder, chaos, rebellion, disturbed, to throw into disorder The character 乱 depicts a tangled thread or silk, symbolizing disorder or confusion. The top part (舌) represents a knot or tangle, while the bottom
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 則 (Soku) – Rules and Norms 則 Readings: ソク (Onyomi), のっと.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: rule, norm, law, follow, imitate, model The character 則 is composed of 貝 (shell, often associated with valuables or property) and 刀 (knife/sword). It is thought to depict carving rules or standards onto a shell or bone, hence
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 固 (koko, katai) – Solid, Firm, Hard 固 Readings: コ (Onyomi), かた.める, かた.まる, かた.い (Kunyomi) Meaning: harden, solidify, firm, sure, strong Pictogram of an enclosure (囗) around an old character for “old” or “solid,” implying something made firm or secure. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 羽 (Hane/U) – Feather, Wing 羽 Readings: ウ (Onyomi), は, はね (Kunyomi) Meaning: Feather, wing, blade (of a fan or propeller), counter for birds/rabbits A pictograph of a bird’s feather or wing, showing the central shaft and radiating barbs. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 延 (en, nobiru, nobasu) – Extend, Prolong, Delay 延 Readings: エン (Onyomi), のびる, のばす (Kunyomi) Meaning: Extend, prolong, stretch, lengthen, postpone The kanji 延 depicts a person (like 彳, a variant of 廴) walking with long, extended strides, signifying the idea of stretching or prolonging. The radical 廴 itself means “long
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 帯 (Obi, TAI) – Sash, Belt, Zone 帯 Readings: タイ (Onyomi), おび, おびる (Kunyomi) Meaning: sash, belt, band; zone, area; to wear, to carry; to be charged with The kanji 帯 (たい) is a pictogram depicting a belt or sash wrapped around a person, emphasizing the waist and the concept of
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 波 (Nami/Ha) – Wave 波 Readings: ハ (Onyomi), なみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: wave, billow This kanji is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left component 氵 (sui/mizu), which is the water radical, clearly indicates the kanji’s meaning related to water. The right component 皮 (hi), typically meaning “skin” or “hide,” serves as the phonetic
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 玉 (tama/gyoku) – The Versatile Kanji for Ball, Jewel, and More! 玉 Readings: ギョク (Onyomi), たま (Kunyomi) Meaning: ball, jewel, sphere, bead, coin The kanji 玉 is a pictograph depicting a string of jade beads or jewels. It fundamentally represents something round, precious, or a sphere. View JLPT N2 Kanji List
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 陸 – Land, Shore, Continent 陸 Readings: リク (Onyomi), おか (Kunyomi) Meaning: land, shore, continent The left part (阜) represents a mound or hill, and the right part (坴) depicts earth piled up, together forming the idea of “land” or “dry ground.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write –
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 爆 (Baku) – The Essence of Explosion 爆 Readings: バク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: explosion, burst, rupture The kanji 爆 combines the radical 火 (fire) with 暴 (violent, sudden), indicating a sudden, violent burst involving fire. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 爆 has 15
