April 26, 2025 | Japanese Language Expert | JLPT N1 Grammar What is ～ながらに（して）? The grammar pattern ～ながらに（して） is an advanced Japanese expression typically found in formal writing, literary works, and academic contexts. This N1-level grammar carries a nuanced meaning that can be challenging for Japanese learners to master. Basic Meaning and Usage ～ながらに（して） is […]
Introduction The structures ～ともなく and ～ともなしに are N1 level grammar patterns used to express actions performed unconsciously, without a clear purpose or intention. These can be simply understood as “not exactly…”, “without any specific purpose”, or “unconsciously”. Usage Structure Meaning and Usage Both structures convey the meaning of performing an action without a specific purpose,
JLPT N4 Kanji: 通 (tsuu, tooru, toosu, kayou) – To Pass Through 通 Readings: ツウ (Onyomi), とお.る, とお.す, かよ.う (Kunyomi) Meaning: To pass through, to go through, to commute, street, traffic, thoroughfare The kanji 通 is composed of 辶 (しんにょう), the “path” radical, and 甬 (よう), which signifies “passing through” or “penetration.” Together, it represents
JLPT N4 Kanji: 京 (きょう) – Capital & Metropolis 京 Readings: キョウ, ケイ (Onyomi), みやこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: capital, Kyoto, Tokyo Pictographic representation of a high building or tower, evolving to signify a capital or metropolis. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 京 has 8 strokes. It starts with
JLPT N4 Kanji: 動 (DOU, ugoku) – Master the Kanji for “Move”! 動 Readings: ドウ (Onyomi), うご.く, うご.かす (Kunyomi) Meaning: move; motion; change The kanji 動 is a combination of 重 (heavy) and 力 (power). It depicts a heavy object being moved by force, thus representing “to move” or “motion”. View JLPT N4 Kanji List
JLPT N4 Kanji: 明 (mei, myou, aka.rui) – Brighten Your Japanese! 明 Readings: メイ, ミョウ (Onyomi), あ.かり, あか.るい, あか.るむ, あか.らむ, あき.らか, あ.ける, あ.け, あ.くる, あ.かす (Kunyomi) Meaning: Bright, clear, dawn, to get light, to be bright, tomorrow The kanji 明 is a phono-semantic compound combining 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), visually representing “light” or “brightness”
JLPT N4 Kanji: 代 (dai, kawaru) – Substitute, Era, Generation 代 Readings: ダイ, タイ (Onyomi), か.わる, か.える, よ, しろ (Kunyomi) Meaning: substitute, change, generation, era, send, cost, charge The kanji 代 is composed of the radical 人 (にんべん – person) on the left and 戈 (ほこ – halberd/spear) on the right. The 戈 component often
JLPT N4 Kanji: 問 – Master the Art of Asking Questions 問 Readings: モン (Onyomi), と.う, と.い (Kunyomi) Meaning: question, ask, problem The character 問 combines 門 (gate, opening) and 口 (mouth). It depicts someone asking a question at a gate or entrance, symbolizing inquiry or asking. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write
JLPT N4 Kanji: 手 (Te/Shu) – Mastering the Kanji for “Hand” 手 Readings: シュ (Onyomi), て, た- (Kunyomi) Meaning: Hand The kanji 手 is a pictograph of a hand with fingers. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 手 is drawn with 4 strokes. It begins with a horizontal
JLPT N4 Kanji: 力 (Chikara) – Power, Strength, Force 力 Readings: リョク, リキ (Onyomi), ちから (Kunyomi) Meaning: Power, force, strength A pictograph of a bicep, or perhaps an arm wielding an agricultural tool like a plow, indicating strength, power, or force. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 力
JLPT N4 Kanji: 開 – Mastering “Open” and “Start” 開 Readings: カイ (Onyomi), ひら.く, ひら.ける, あ.く, あ.ける (Kunyomi) Meaning: open, start, begin, develop The character 開 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 門 (もん), meaning “gate,” as the semantic component, and 幵 (けん), meaning “level” or “even,” which acts as the phonetic component and also
JLPT N4 Kanji: 立 (tatsu, tateru) – To Stand, Establish 立 Readings: リツ, リュウ (Onyomi), た.つ, た.てる (Kunyomi) Meaning: stand, erect, set up, establish A pictograph of a person standing firmly on the ground. View JLPT N4 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 立 has 5 strokes. It begins with a
JLPT N4 Kanji: 員 (in) – Understanding Members and Staff 員 Readings: いん (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: member, employee, staff The kanji 員 (いん) is composed of 冂 (kei-gamae, a frame or enclosure, simplified) and 貝 (kai, shell/money). Historically, 貝 represented valuable cowrie shells used as currency and often relates to wealth or people belonging to
JLPT N4 Kanji: 新 (Shin) – Mastering “New” 新 Readings: シン (Onyomi), あたら-しい, あら-た, にい (Kunyomi) Meaning: New, fresh The kanji 新 is composed of 立 (to stand), 木 (tree), and 斤 (axe). It originally depicted cutting down a tree to make something new, or a fresh, newly cut tree, symbolizing “newness” or “freshness”. View
JLPT N4 Kanji: 方 – Master Directions, Methods, and People! 方 Readings: ホウ (Onyomi), かた (Kunyomi) Meaning: direction, way, person, side This character is thought to be a pictogram of a plough or a boat, then extended to mean “direction” or “square.” Over time, its meaning diversified to include “way,” “method,” and a polite term
JLPT N4 Kanji: 業 (gyō) – Master Your Business & Work Vocabulary! 業 Readings: ギョウ, ゴウ (Onyomi), わざ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Business, vocation, work, industry, act, deed, karma The kanji 業 depicts an ancient form of a structure with a musical instrument (possibly a bell or drum) hanging from it, implying “performance” or “action.” Over time,
JLPT N4 Kanji: 地 (chi, ji, tsuchi) – Earth, Ground, Land 地 Readings: チ, ジ (Onyomi), つち (Kunyomi) Meaning: Earth, ground, land, soil The kanji 地 combines 土 (earth, soil) and 也 (a phonetic component that originally depicted a snake, lending the idea of something rooted or fixed in the ground, evolving into the meaning
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JLPT N4 Kanji: 者 (sha, mono) – Understanding “Person” 者 Readings: シャ (Onyomi), もの (Kunyomi) Meaning: person, professional, someone, those The character 者 (zhě) in ancient Chinese depicted a person standing on a platform, perhaps indicating someone who is a leader, expert, or speaker. It evolved to mean “person” or “one who does/is.” View JLPT
JLPT N4 Kanji: 発 (Hatsu) – Meaning, Readings, and Usage 発 Readings: ハツ, ホツ (Onyomi), た.つ (Kunyomi) Meaning: departure, emit, start, send, disclose The kanji 発 depicts an arrow being shot from a bow, symbolizing emission, departure, or starting. The top part 癶 (hatsugashira) suggests “to go out” or “start,” while the bottom part is
