JLPT N3 Kanji: 杯 (hai/sakazuki) – Mastering the Counter for Cups! 杯 Readings: ハイ (Onyomi), さかずき, 〜はい, 〜ばい, 〜ぱい (Kunyomi) Meaning: Cup; glass; counter for cups/glasses/squid The kanji 杯 is a phono-semantic character. It combines a simplified form of 木 (tree, representing a wooden vessel) with 不 (giving the sound). The overall form represents a […]
JLPT N3 Kanji: 祖 – Unlocking the Meaning of Ancestors and Origins 祖 Readings: ソ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: ancestor, pioneer, founder, progenitor The kanji 祖 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 示 (しめす), meaning “altar” or “show,” and the phonetic component 且 (ショ), which originally depicted a stacked offering table or a male
JLPT N3 Kanji: 泳 (Swim) – Master this Essential Character! 泳 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), およ-ぐ (Kunyomi) Meaning: swim Phono-semantic compound (形声字): 氵 (water radical) indicates the meaning, and 永 (eternal, long) acts as the phonetic component, suggesting the continuous, flowing motion of swimming. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The
JLPT N3 Kanji: 怒 – Mastering Anger (Do, Ikaru, Okoru) 怒 Readings: ド (Onyomi), いか(る), おこ(る) (Kunyomi) Meaning: anger, get angry The kanji 怒 combines the radical 心 (heart/mind) at the bottom, symbolizing emotions, with 奴 (slave/servant) at the top. While 奴 also gives the sound “do” or “nu”, its original meaning in this context
JLPT N3 Kanji: 貧 (Hin/Bin) – Understanding Poverty and Lacking 貧 Readings: ヒン, ビン (Onyomi), まずしい (Kunyomi) Meaning: poor, poverty, lacking The radical 貝 (かい – shell/money) signifies wealth or valuables, and the component 分 (ぶん – divide) suggests division or reduction, collectively conveying the idea of “poor” or “lacking.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List
JLPT N3 Kanji: 昔 (Mukashi) – Exploring the Past 昔 Readings: セキ (Onyomi), むかし (Kunyomi) Meaning: old times, past The character 昔 (mù) originally depicted a flood of water passing under the sun (日). This imagery conveys the idea of a long time passing, representing “olden times” or “the past.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List
JLPT N3 Kanji: 窓 (Mado) – The Window to Japanese Learning 窓 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), まど (Kunyomi) Meaning: Window The kanji 窓 is a pictographic character depicting a window. Its form evolved from ancient characters that illustrate an opening in a wall, often with a frame. The top part suggests a covering or roof, and
JLPT N3 Kanji: 礼 (Rei) – The Art of Japanese Gratitude and Etiquette 礼 Readings: レイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Bow, ceremony, thanks, remuneration The kanji 礼 combines 示 (shimesu), meaning “altar” or “to show,” and 豊 (yutaka), originally depicting a vessel for rituals or an abundant harvest. Together, it represents a ritual or ceremony performed
JLPT N3 Kanji: 慣 – Master Being “Accustomed” and “Skilled” 慣 Readings: カン (Onyomi), なれる, ならす (Kunyomi) Meaning: accustomed, to get used to, skilled The kanji 慣 combines the radical 忄 (shìn, a variant of 心 “heart, mind”) with 貫 (guàn “to pierce; to penetrate; to go through”). It suggests a “heart” or “mind” that
JLPT N3 Kanji: 洗 (Sen/Ara.u) – Master the Art of Washing! 洗 Readings: セン (Onyomi), あら.う (Kunyomi) Meaning: Wash The kanji 洗 is composed of the radical 氵 (water) and 先 (to go before, to precede, also providing the phonetic element). It signifies the act of cleansing or purifying with water. View JLPT N3 Kanji
JLPT N3 Kanji: 誤 – Mastering Mistakes and Errors 誤 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), あやま-る, あやま-り (Kunyomi) Meaning: mistake, error, to make a mistake 形声文字 (Keisei Moji). The left part 言 (speech) suggests meaning, and the right part 吾 (I/my) indicates sound. It originally refers to errors or misunderstandings in speech. View JLPT N3 Kanji List
JLPT N3 Kanji: 娘 (Musume) – Daughter, Girl 娘 Readings: (Onyomi), むすめ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Daughter, girl The kanji 娘 is composed of 女 (on’na, meaning woman) and 良 (ryō, meaning good, skillful, beautiful). Historically, 良 was sometimes used phonetically or to denote “youth” or “beauty.” Thus, 娘 refers to a young, good, or beautiful woman,
JLPT N3 Kanji: 吹 (ふく) – To Blow, To Breathe 吹 Readings: スイ (Onyomi), ふく (Kunyomi) Meaning: blow, breathe, puff, emit, spout The kanji 吹 combines 口 (kuchi, ‘mouth’) and 欠 (ketsu, ‘lack’ or ‘yawn’). The 欠 component here is used phonetically to suggest ‘breath’ or ‘wind,’ while 口 clearly indicates the action involving the
JLPT N3 Kanji: 雪 (Snow) – Your Winter Wonderland Guide! 雪 Readings: セツ (Onyomi), ゆき (Kunyomi) Meaning: Snow The kanji 雪 combines the radical 雨 (rain) with an element that suggests sweeping or falling, depicting precipitation falling and accumulating like snow. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 雪
JLPT N3 Kanji: 忘 (Wasure – To Forget) 忘 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), わす(れる) (Kunyomi) Meaning: forget, leave behind The kanji 忘 combines the radical 心 (kokoro), meaning “heart” or “mind,” with 亡 (bou), meaning “perish” or “lost.” Together, it literally depicts the mind or heart being lost or gone, thus conveying the meaning of “to
JLPT N3 Kanji: 歯 (ha/shi) – Tooth, Teeth 歯 Readings: シ (Onyomi), は (Kunyomi) Meaning: Tooth, teeth The kanji 歯 is a pictograph depicting teeth lined up, representing the meaning of “tooth” or “teeth.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 歯 is written with 12 strokes. It starts
JLPT N3 Kanji: 御 (go, gyo, on, o-, mi-) – The Honorific Prefix and Control 御 Readings: ギョ, ゴ (Onyomi), おん, お-, み- (Kunyomi) Meaning: honorific/respectful prefix; control; manipulate; govern The character 御 is derived from a pictogram of a person holding a whip (or reins) and standing behind a chariot. This visual depicts the
JLPT N3 Kanji: 陽 (YŌ) – The Bright Side of Japanese 陽 Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: sunshine, positive, male principle, Yang 形声文字 (Phono-semantic character). Formed from 阜 (hill/mound) on the left (radical 阝) and 昜 (sun’s rays rising, bright, expansive) on the right. The 阜 radical indicates a place, and 昜 provides the meaning
JLPT N3 Kanji: Mastering 吸 (Suu/Kyuu) – Inhale, Suck, Absorb 吸 Readings: キュウ (Onyomi), す.う (Kunyomi) Meaning: inhale, suck, absorb, smoke, sip The kanji 吸 is composed of 口 (kuchi), meaning “mouth,” and 及 (kyū), which signifies “to reach” or “to extend.” Together, these components convey the idea of drawing something into the mouth, leading
JLPT N3 Kanji: 盗 – Understanding “To Steal” 盗 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), ぬす.む (Kunyomi) Meaning: steal, rob, pilfer The kanji 盗 combines 涎 (よだれ – drool) and 皿 (さら – dish), suggesting someone intensely desiring or looking longingly at a dish, leading to the meaning of “to steal” or “to take covertly. View JLPT N3
