Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 境 (Kyō, Sakai) – Boundary, Border, Situation 境 Readings: キョウ, ケイ (Onyomi), さかい (Kunyomi) Meaning: boundary, border, region, situation 境 is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 土 (earth) provides the semantic component, indicating a place or land. The phonetic component 竟 (キョウ, ケイ) means “finally” or “to end,” thus contributing to […]
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 補 – Supplement, Compensate, Assist 補 Readings: ホ (Onyomi), おぎな-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: supplement, supply, compensate, make up for, assist, help Phono-semantic character (形声文字). The left part 衤 (衣) represents ‘clothing,’ and the right part 甫 (ホ) is the phonetic component, also implying ‘large’ or ‘support.’ Together, it originally related to ‘mending
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 防 (BŌ, Fusegu) – Prevent, Protect, Defend 防 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), ふせ.ぐ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Prevent, protect, defend The kanji 防 combines the radical 阜 (こざとへん – hill/mound, often associated with city walls or boundaries) and 方 (ほう – direction/square, which also acts as a phonetic component here, sounding like ボウ). Together,
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 比 (HI, KURA.BERU) – Compare, Ratio 比 Readings: ヒ (Onyomi), くら-べる (Kunyomi) Meaning: compare, ratio, proportion The character 比 depicts two people standing side by side, facing the same direction, suggesting the act of aligning, comparing, or following. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 営 (EI, itonamu) – Management & Operations 営 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), いとな・む, いとな・み (Kunyomi) Meaning: management, operate, business, camp, conduct The character depicts a building or dwelling (呂) within an enclosure (冂), suggesting the act of constructing, managing, or operating a dwelling or business. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 税 (zei) – Understanding Taxes in Japanese 税 Readings: ゼイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: tax, duty The kanji 税 is composed of 禾 (nogihen), meaning “grain” or “crop,” and 兌 (datsu), which means “exchange” or “to please,” and also provides the sound component “zei.” Historically, taxes were often levied on crops, and
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 再 (Sai/Futa) – Again, Re- 再 Readings: サイ, サ (Onyomi), ふたた(び) (Kunyomi) Meaning: re-, again, second time The kanji 再 depicts a representation of a gate or enclosure, with an item being “repeatedly” placed or taken out, implying the meaning of repetition or doing something “again.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 減 (gen, he.ru, he.rasu) – Decrease, Reduce 減 Readings: ゲン (Onyomi), へ.る, へ.らす (Kunyomi) Meaning: decrease, diminish, subtract The kanji 減 combines the radical 氵 (水, water) with 咸 (all, entirely). The original meaning is related to water diminishing or going away completely, thus leading to the sense of decrease or
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 勢 (sei, ikioi) – Force, Vigor, Trend 勢 Readings: セイ (Onyomi), いきおい (Kunyomi) Meaning: force, vigor, energy, trend, power, influence The kanji 勢 combines 埶 (meaning “planted” or “power/ability”) and 力 (meaning “force” or “power”). Together, it emphasizes power, force, or influence, often with a nuance of momentum or natural direction.
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 村 (Mura) – Village Life in Japanese! 村 Readings: ソン (Onyomi), むら (Kunyomi) Meaning: village, town The kanji 村 combines the radical 木 (ki, meaning “tree”) and 寸 (sun, a unit of measure, often implying a small area or piece of land). Together, they evoke the image of a small settlement
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 革 (Kaku/Kawa) – Master Leather, Reform & Revolution 革 Readings: カク (Onyomi), かわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: leather, reform, revolution The kanji 革 is a pictograph of an animal hide stretched out, depicting the process of tanning or preparing leather. This origin leads to its primary meaning of “leather” or “skin.” Over time,
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 島 (shima / tō) – Island 島 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), しま (Kunyomi) Meaning: Island The character 島 is a combination of 山 (mountain) and 鳥 (bird). It depicts a mountain on an island where birds gather, representing an “island.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 各 (kaku) – Each, Every 各 Readings: カク (Onyomi), おのおの (Kunyomi) Meaning: each, every undefined View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 各 is composed of 6 strokes. Start with the two horizontal strokes, then the vertical, followed by the left-falling stroke. Finish with the
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 団 (dan) – Group, Association 団 Readings: ダン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: group, association, body, circle The character 団 (だん) is said to represent a rounded object or something enclosed, symbolizing a ‘group’ or ‘collective’. It depicts an enclosure (囗) around a character resembling a “head” (although simplified from an older form).
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 策 (Saku) – Master the Kanji for Strategy and Plans 策 Readings: サク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: scheme, plan, strategy, measure The kanji 策 combines the radical 竹 (take/bamboo) and 束 (soku/bundle). Historically, bamboo slips were used for writing and recording, often for making plans or documents. Thus, it originally symbolized a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 案 (An) – Plan, Suggestion, Idea 案 Readings: アン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: plan, suggestion, draft, idea, proposal, opinion The kanji 案 combines 木 (tree) and 安 (peace, calm). Originally, it likely referred to a flat wooden table or platform used for writing or considering ideas. This evolved to represent concepts of
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 軍 (gun) – Army, Military 軍 Readings: グン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Army, military, troops, war The kanji 軍 (ぐん) is a phono-semantic compound. The top part, 勹 (つつみがまえ), represents a wrapping or enclosure, and the bottom part, 車 (くるま), means “cart” or “chariot.” Together, it originally depicted an army marching with
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 委 (i, yuda.neru) – Entrust & Delegate 委 Readings: イ (Onyomi), ゆだねる (Kunyomi) Meaning: committee, entrust, commit, dispatch, request The kanji 委 combines 禾 (he, grain/crop) and 女 (woman). The original meaning is thought to be “bent” or “twisted” like grain stalks, leading to concepts of “leaving something to someone” or
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 査 (Sa) – Investigate, Inspect 査 Readings: サ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: investigate, inspect, examine The kanji 査 combines the radical 木 (ki, tree/wood), which can sometimes imply structure or form, and 旦 (tan/dan, dawn/morning). In this context, 旦 primarily functions as a phonetic component to represent the sound ‘sa’ and also
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 府 (fu) – Government, Prefecture, Office 府 Readings: フ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: urban prefecture; government office; capital The character combines 广 (meaning a building or shelter, often with a roof and sloping sides) and 付 (meaning to attach, or indicating a place where things are stored or kept). It originally referred
