Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 鉄 (Tetsu) – Iron, Steel 鉄 Readings: テツ (Onyomi), くろがね (Kunyomi) Meaning: Iron, steel 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Phono-semantic compound). The left part (金) means “metal,” and the right part (失) represents the sound “tetsu” (from its ancient pronunciation). View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The […]
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 航 (Kou) – Navigate, Sail, Fly 航 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: navigate, sail, cruise, fly 航 (コウ) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 舟 (ふね, “boat”) as the semantic component, indicating something related to boats or navigation, and 亢 (コウ), which provides the phonetic element. The character originally depicted a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 河 (kawa / ka) – The River Kanji 河 Readings: カ (Onyomi), かわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: river, stream 形声文字 (Keisei moji). This character combines the semantic component 氵 (water radical) to indicate its meaning related to water, and the phonetic component 可 (ka) to suggest its On’yomi reading. View JLPT N2 Kanji
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 劇 (Geki) – Drama, Play, Theatre 劇 Readings: ゲキ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: drama, play, show, theatre The character 劇 is a combination of 虍 (tiger pattern) and 豕 (pig), evoking an image of a struggle or a dramatic event, with 刂 (sword/knife) on the right, signifying forceful action. This combination led
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 諸 (shó) – Various, All 諸 Readings: ショ (Onyomi), もろ (Kunyomi) Meaning: various, many, all, these The kanji 諸 is composed of 言 (word/speech) and 者 (person/thing). Originally, 者 might have indicated “many” or “all” in a broader context, with 言 added to specify “all things said” or “various matters.” It
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 装 (sou, yosoo-u) – Dress, Equip, Pretend 装 Readings: ソウ, ショウ (Onyomi), よそお-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: dress, attire, equipment, pretend, disguise The kanji 装 combines 衣 (clothing) and 壮 (strong, robust), originally depicting dressing oneself in strong, elaborate clothing or equipping for battle. This reflects meanings like “to dress,” “to equip,” and
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 林 (Hayashi/Rin) – Forest, Grove 林 Readings: リン (Onyomi), はやし (Kunyomi) Meaning: forest, grove This kanji is a pictograph of two trees (木) standing side by side, forming a small forest or grove. It signifies a collection of trees smaller than a 森 (もり – forest, woods). View JLPT N2 Kanji
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 講 (Kō) – Lecture, Talk, Explain 講 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: lecture, talk, explain, preach, narrate Formed from 言 (speech) and 冓 (interlace, intersect, implying to compile or put together). The combination suggests ‘to gather words/information and present them’. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 貿 (BOU) – Trade & Commerce 貿 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: trade, exchange, business The kanji 貿 is formed from 予 (pre-sale, in advance) and 貝 (shell, money). This combination suggests the exchange of goods or money, thereby signifying trade or commerce. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 般 (han) – General, Kind, Sort 般 Readings: ハン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: general, kind, sort The radical 舟 (boat) suggests movement or capacity. Combined with the right side, it implies a large vessel carrying many things, leading to meanings like “general” or “all sorts.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 幅 (Haba) – Mastering Width, Breadth, and Scope 幅 Readings: ハバ, フク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: width, breadth, range, scope 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Semantic-phonetic character). From 巾 (kin – cloth, related to width) and 副 (fuku – secondary, beside, sound component also relates to spreading out). The 巾 radical suggests something
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 将 (Shō, Masani) – Future, General, To Lead 将 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), まさ, はた, ひきい.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: leader, commander, general; future, to lead, to bring, to have The kanji 将 combines 爿 (shō, meaning a bed or arrangement) and 寸 (sun, meaning hand or measure). This combination suggests arranging, leading, or
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 歴 (Reki) – History & Record 歴 Readings: レキ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: history, record, personal history The kanji 歴 combines elements that suggest movement through time or stages. The radical 止 (tomeru) can mean “stop” but is also related to “foot” or “steps,” indicating a progression. The upper part (厂) is
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 販 (han) – The Kanji for Selling 販 Readings: ハン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: sell, deal in, market The kanji 販 is formed from 貝 (かい – shell, meaning money or wealth) and 反 (はん – anti, reverse, oppose, also phonetic for ‘han’). Together, it originally depicted ‘turning over’ goods or money,
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 根 (Ne, Kon) – Unearthing Its Meanings and Uses 根 Readings: コン (Onyomi), ね (Kunyomi) Meaning: Root, origin, source, radical The kanji 根 is composed of 木 (ki, tree) as the semantic component and 艮 (kon/gon, stop/stubborn) as the phonetic component. It depicts a tree (木) that is firmly fixed or
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 介 (KAI) – To Mediate, To Concern 介 Readings: カイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: to mediate, to concern, to intervene, to care for, to be situated between The kanji 介 is a pictograph representing a person wearing armor or a protective shell, suggesting the idea of ‘being between’ or ‘intervening’. This evolved
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 競 (Kyō) – Master Competition and Bidding! 競 Readings: キョウ, ケイ (Onyomi), きそ・う, せ・る (Kunyomi) Meaning: compete, contend, bid, race, vie The character 競 is formed by doubling the character 兄 (kyō), which depicts a person kneeling with a mouth and legs, originally meaning ‘older brother’. When two ‘兄’ stand facing
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 森 (Mori) – The Forest 森 Readings: シン (Onyomi), もり (Kunyomi) Meaning: Forest, woods The kanji 森 is composed of three 木 (tree) characters, visually representing a dense collection of trees, hence “forest” or “woods”. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 森 is composed
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 採 (Sai, To-ru) – To Pick, Adopt, Collect 採 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), と（る） (Kunyomi) Meaning: pick, gather, take, adopt, collect, harvest 形声 (keisei – phono-semantic compound). 采 (さい – pick, color) provides the sound, and 手 (て – hand) indicates the meaning related to picking or taking with hands. View JLPT
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 療 (ryō) – Heal, Cure, Therapy 療 Readings: リョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: heal, cure, treatment The radical 疒 (yamai-dare) represents sickness or illness. The right part (卯) is a phonetic component that also implies treatment or healing. Together, the character signifies “to heal,” “to cure,” or “to treat.” View JLPT N2
