JLPT N1 Kanji: 僚 (Ryō) – Understanding Colleague & Official 僚 Readings: リョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: colleague; official; companion 形声文字 (Keisei moji). The radical 亻 (person) suggests a human connection, while 寮 (dormitory, bureau) provides the sound and hints at shared space or office. Together, it conveys the idea of people associated in work or […]
JLPT N1 Kanji 江: Meaning, Readings, and Usage – Your Comprehensive Guide 江 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), え (Kunyomi) Meaning: inlet, bay, sound, river The character 江 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 氵 (sanzui, water radical) with 工 (kō, gōng), which serves as a phonetic component. Together, it represents a body of water, specifically an
JLPT N1 Kanji: 伊 – Exploring “Italy” and Beyond 伊 Readings: イ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Italy; that one (archaic); he (archaic) The kanji 伊 is primarily used as a phonetic component, especially for transliterating foreign names and places, notably ‘Italy’. Historically, it could also mean ‘that one’ or ‘he’ in classical Chinese, but this usage
JLPT N1 Kanji: 廃 (Hai) – To Abolish, Discard, Decline 廃 Readings: ハイ (Onyomi), すた.れる, すた.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: Abolish, discard, abandon, discontinue, waste, ruin, disuse The kanji 廃 (hai) is composed of 广 (madare), meaning ‘shelter’ or ‘building’, and 発 (hatsu), which phonetically gives the ‘hai’ sound and also carries the sense of ‘to send
JLPT N1 Kanji: 昭 (shining, bright, clear) 昭 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: shining, bright, clear The character 昭 combines 日 (sun, day) and 召 (to call, to invite). Together, it suggests the sun’s light being called forth or spreading widely, hence “shining” or “bright.” The 召 component also provides the “shou” sound. View JLPT
JLPT N1 Kanji: 宣 (Sen) – To Proclaim & Announce 宣 Readings: セン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: proclaim, announce, declare The kanji 宣 (せん) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 宀 (うかんむり), meaning “roof” or “house,” and 亘 (せん), which means “to extend through” or “to traverse,” also acting as the phonetic component. The combination suggests
JLPT N1 Kanji: 標 – Master the Mark, Standard, and Target 標 Readings: ヒョウ (Onyomi), しるし (Kunyomi) Meaning: mark, sign, label, standard, target, goal The kanji 標 combines 木 (tree) and 票 (ticket, sign). Originally, it referred to a wooden marker or signpost, symbolizing something that serves as a sign or standard. View JLPT N1
JLPT N1 Kanji: 緊 (KIN) – Mastering “Tight” and “Urgent” 緊 Readings: キン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: tight, tense, urgent, straitened 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – phono-semantic character). The left part 糸 (thread) indicates meaning related to binding or tightening. The right part 堅 (hard/firm) acts as a phonetic component, resembling the sound and indicating firmness or
JLPT N1 Kanji: 益 (Eki) – Mastering Benefit and Gain 益 Readings: エキ, ヤク (Onyomi), ます, ますます (Kunyomi) Meaning: benefit, gain, profit, advantage The character 益 depicts water overflowing from a vessel (皿, dish/container), symbolizing an increase or accumulation. This visual metaphor evolved to represent “benefit,” “gain,” or “profit” – something that adds to or
JLPT N1 Kanji: 雄 (Yuu, Osu) – Mastering the Male, Heroic & Grand 雄 Readings: ユウ, オウ (Onyomi), おす, おの, お-, おとこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: male, masculine, hero, prowess, outstanding The kanji 雄 combines 止 (stop/foot) and 隹 (bird), originally depicting a male bird. Its meaning expanded to refer to male animals in general, then to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 模 (mo) – Master the Art of Patterns and Models 模 Readings: モ, ボウ (Onyomi), かたどる, もす (Kunyomi) Meaning: pattern, model, emulate, imitate, copy, standard 形声 (けいせい) – Phono-semantic character. Formed from 木 (tree/wood) representing the meaning (e.g., a wooden mold or pattern) and 莫 (ばく – dusk/nothing, used for sound). View
JLPT N1 Kanji: 抗 (KOU / aragau) – To Oppose, Resist 抗 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), あらがう (Kunyomi) Meaning: oppose, resist, defy, anti- Semantic-phonetic compound. The left component 扌 (tehen, hand radical) signifies action or movement. The right component 亢 (kō) provides the sound and conveys a sense of stiffness, raising the neck, or being unyielding,
JLPT N1 Kanji: 遣 – Dispatching Knowledge 遣 Readings: ケン (Onyomi), つか.う, -つか.い, -づか.い, や.る, -や.り (Kunyomi) Meaning: dispatch, send, give, do, dispose of, manage, release, allow 形声 (Phono-semantic compound). The radical 辶 (辵) means “walk, move” and 𡵡 (けん) is the phonetic component, suggesting “sending off” or “dispatching”. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How
JLPT N1 Kanji: 素 – Unveiling the Essence of “Element” and “Bare” 素 Readings: ソ, ス (Onyomi), もと, しろ (Kunyomi) Meaning: element, principle, naked, unadorned, simple, raw The character depicts silk threads (糸) being dyed or bleached, suggesting the original, unadorned state, or fundamental quality. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke
JLPT N1 Kanji: 邦 (HOU, Kuni) – Mastering “Country” 邦 Readings: ホウ (Onyomi), くに (Kunyomi) Meaning: Home country, land, nation, state 邦 (bāng) is a phono-semantic compound. The left part, 丰 (fēng), used phonetically here, originally depicted a plant with flowers, indicating prosperity or abundance. The right part, 邑 (yì), is the radical for “city”
JLPT N1 Kanji: 塁 (RUI) – Master the Meaning of “Base” and “Fortress” 塁 Readings: ルイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Base (baseball), fort, rampart, heap, pile The kanji 塁 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 耒 (lái, meaning “plow” or “to rake,” used for its sound) and 土 (tǔ, meaning “earth” or “soil,” indicating the meaning).
JLPT N1 Kanji: 遺 – Understanding Bequeathal and Legacy 遺 Readings: イ, ユイ (Onyomi), のこ.す, のこ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: bequeath, leave behind, remnant, inherit The kanji 遺 is composed of 貴 (ki – noble, precious) and 辶 (shinnyou – movement, walk). While the “precious” part of 貴 could imply leaving something valuable or important, the original
JLPT N1 Kanji: 浜 – Mastering the Kanji for “Beach”! 浜 Readings: ヒン (Onyomi), はま (Kunyomi) Meaning: beach, seashore, coast The kanji 浜 combines the water radical (氵) with the character 賓 (hin), which originally meant “guest” or “visitor.” The combination suggests a place where water meets land and is frequented, thus leading to the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 維 (I) – Understanding “Fiber, Maintain, Link” 維 Readings: イ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: fiber, link, sustain, maintain The kanji 維 is formed from 糸 (thread, silk) and 隹 (a short-tailed bird, often used phonetically to indicate “only” or “tie”). Combined, it represents the idea of tying or binding with threads, leading to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 厳 (gen, ogosoka, kibishii) – Mastering Severity and Solemnity 厳 Readings: ゲン (Onyomi), おごそ-か, いか-めしい, いか-つい, きび-しい (Kunyomi) Meaning: strict, rigid, severe, austere, majestic The character is composed of components suggesting a cliff or mountain (厂) and a stern or brave person (敢). It depicts something grand, solemn, or stern, like a
