JLPT N3 Kanji.民: Understanding “People” and “Nation” 民 Readings: ミン (Onyomi), たみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: people, nation, subjects The kanji 民 depicts a person with a single eye, symbolizing a blind or subjugated individual. It originally represented a commoner or slave, someone under the control of a ruler. Over time, its meaning evolved to broadly refer […]
JLPT N3 Kanji: 議 (gi) – Deliberation & Discussion 議 Readings: ギ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: deliberation, discussion, debate, consultation, council The left part 言 (ことば – word/speech) combined with the right part 義 (ぎ – righteousness/justice/meaning). Together, it signifies discussing words to reach a just or meaningful conclusion, or consulting on matters of righteousness. View
JLPT N3 Kanji: 政 – Politics and Government 政 Readings: セイ (Onyomi), まつりごと (Kunyomi) Meaning: politics, government Combination of 支 (branch/support) and 頁 (head/page), suggesting governing or correcting. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 政 has 9 strokes. It starts with the left-hand radical, then the top-right components,
JLPT N4 Kanji: 正 – Correctness, Righteousness, and New Beginnings! 正 Readings: セイ, ショウ (Onyomi), ただ.しい, ただ.す, まさ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Correct, right, justice, righteous, straight, regular, exact The character 正 is said to depict a foot (止) going straight towards a target or goal (一). It signifies moving in a correct or upright manner. View
JLPT N4 Kanji: 文 – Mastering the Character for “Sentence” and “Culture” 文 Readings: ブン, モン (Onyomi), ふみ, あや (Kunyomi) Meaning: sentence, writing, literature, culture, style This kanji is a pictograph of a person with patterns drawn on their chest. It originally represented patterns or designs, which then extended to written patterns or characters, eventually
JLPT N4 Kanji: 私 (watashi/shi) – I, Private 私 Readings: シ (Onyomi), わたし, わたくし (Kunyomi) Meaning: I, private The kanji 私 is a combination of 禾 (nogi-hen, representing grain or harvest) and 厶 (mu, a phonetic component meaning “private” or “selfish”). This combination suggests concepts related to “private grain” or “private property,” which evolved to
JLPT N4 Kanji: 起 (Ki/Oki) – To Rise, To Wake Up 起 Readings: キ (Onyomi), お.きる, お.こす, お.こる, た.つ (Kunyomi) Meaning: To rise, to wake up, to occur The kanji 起 combines 走 (running, moving) and 己 (self). It visually represents a person pushing themselves up or starting to move, thus conveying meanings related to
JLPT N4 Kanji: Mastering 妹 (Imōto) – Younger Sister 妹 Readings: マイ (Onyomi), いもうと (Kunyomi) Meaning: Younger sister The character 妹 combines 女 (おんな – woman) and 未 (み – not yet/future). The 未 component serves as a phonetic element, while also subtly conveying the idea of being “not yet fully grown” or “young,” thus
JLPT N4 Kanji: 漢 (Kan – Han, China, Man) 漢 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Han (Chinese dynasty), China, man Phono-semantic compound (形声). The left component 氵 (水) means “water” and the right component 𦰩 (a variant of 旱) acts as the phonetic component, indicating the “kan” sound. Historically, it refers to the Han River
JLPT N4 Kanji: 姉 (Ane) – Your Guide to “Older Sister” 姉 Readings: シ (Onyomi), あね (Kunyomi) Meaning: Older sister Formed by combining the radical 女 (woman) with the component 市 (shì, a phonetic component that also means “market” or “city”). The 市 part contributes to the sound ‘shi’ and conceptually might relate to an
JLPT N4 Kanji: 犬 (inu, ken) – Your Best Friend in Japanese! 犬 Readings: ケン (Onyomi), いぬ (Kunyomi) Meaning: dog The kanji 犬 is a pictograph that vividly depicts a dog. Its ancient forms show a clear resemblance to a canine with a distinct body, legs, and tail, simplifying over time to its current appearance.
JLPT N4 Kanji: 兄 (Older Brother) – Master its Readings & Usage! 兄 Readings: ケイ, キョウ (Onyomi), あに (Kunyomi) Meaning: Older brother This kanji is a pictograph of a person (儿) with an opened mouth (口), representing speaking or telling. It depicts an elder person who speaks or gives instructions, hence the meaning “older brother.”
JLPT N4 Kanji: Learn “魚” (Fish) – Meaning, Readings, and Usage 魚 Readings: ギョ (Onyomi), さかな, うお (Kunyomi) Meaning: fish The kanji 魚 is a pictograph depicting a fish. The top part represents the head and scales, while the bottom part symbolizes the tail, clearly illustrating the shape of a fish. View JLPT N4 Kanji
JLPT N4 Kanji: 牛 (Ushi/Gyuu) – Mastering the Kanji for “Cow” 牛 Readings: ギュウ (Onyomi), うし (Kunyomi) Meaning: Cow, ox, cattle This kanji is a pictogram of an ox or cow, showing its head and horns. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 牛 is written with 4 strokes.
JLPT N4 Kanji: 弟 (Otōto) – Your Guide to Younger Brother 弟 Readings: テイ, ダイ, デ (Onyomi), おとうと (Kunyomi) Meaning: younger brother The character 弟 is a pictograph of a knot or a series of knots on a string, which originally represented “order” or “sequence.” Over time, it came to be associated with “younger brother”
JLPT N4 Kanji: 茶 (Cha) – Master the Kanji for “Tea” 茶 Readings: チャ, サ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Tea The kanji 茶 is a pictographic character representing a tea plant with leaves and branches. It has evolved from ancient Chinese characters depicting the processing of tea leaves. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write
JLPT N4 Kanji: 昼 (hiru) – Mastering Daytime & Noon 昼 Readings: チュウ (Onyomi), ひる (Kunyomi) Meaning: daytime; noon The character 昼 (hiru/chuu) combines 日 (sun/day) and the component 亘 (sen), which depicts a sun passing over a line, symbolizing circulation or something extending through. Together, it represents the time when the sun is in
JLPT N4 Kanji: 冬 (Fuyu/Tō) – Mastering “Winter” 冬 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), ふゆ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Winter The kanji 冬 depicts a simplified image that suggests the end of the year or the culmination of the seasons, possibly with elements representing ice and the sun setting. It symbolizes the cold, dormant period of winter, where growth
JLPT N4 Kanji: 勉 – Mastering the Art of Effort and Study 勉 Readings: ベン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: endeavor, exert, make efforts, diligence, study The kanji 勉 combines 免 (men), meaning “to escape” or “to avoid,” and 力 (chikara), meaning “power” or “strength.” Together, they suggest using one’s power or strength to “escape” difficulties or
JLPT N4 Kanji: 飯 (Han, Meshi, Ii) – Your Guide to Meals and Rice 飯 Readings: ハン (Onyomi), めし, いい (Kunyomi) Meaning: Meal, Cooked rice The kanji 飯 combines 食 (shoku), meaning “food” or “to eat,” with 反 (han), which implies “to return” or “to reverse.” This combination suggests the act of scooping or serving,
