JLPT N1 Kanji: 製 (Sei) – Mastering “Manufacture” and “Make” 製 Readings: セイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: manufacture, make, system, prepare The kanji 製 (せい) is composed of two parts: 衣 (ころも – clothing/garment, radical) on the left, and a phonetic component on the right that originally depicted a cutting tool or scissors, indicating the action […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 融 – Meaning, Readings, and Usage 融 Readings: ユウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: melt, dissolve, fuse, blend, integrate, finance The kanji 融 combines 鬲 (kettle/cauldron) and 虫 (insect/sound component). It conceptually represents something melting or dissolving within a vessel, leading to meanings of blending, fusing, and by extension, the flow of money in
JLPT N1 Kanji: 整 (sei, totonoeru, totonou) – Organize, Adjust, Prepare 整 Readings: セイ (Onyomi), ととの-える, ととの-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: organize, arrange, put in order, adjust, regulate, prepare, settle The kanji 整 combines the radical 攵 (meaning “to strike” or “to act”) and 束 (meaning “to bind” or “to arrange”). This combination implies putting things into
JLPT N1 Kanji: 核 (Kaku) – Unveiling the Core and Nucleus 核 Readings: カク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: nucleus, core, kernel, gist The character 核 combines 木 (tree) and 各 (each, meaning “shell” or “covering”). It originally depicted the hard core or kernel inside a fruit or nut, like a peach pit, thus symbolizing the “core”
JLPT N1 Kanji: 佐 – The Kanji of Assistance and Names 佐 Readings: サ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: aide, assist, help (especially in names or titles) The kanji 佐 combines the radical 人 (person) and 左 (left, which also has connotations of helping or assisting). Together, it signifies a “person who assists” or an “aide.” View
JLPT N1 Kanji: 撃 (Geki) – Master the Art of Striking! 撃 Readings: ゲキ (Onyomi), う.つ (Kunyomi) Meaning: hit, strike, attack, defeat, repulse The kanji 撃 combines 𢾸 (geki, meaning “strike” or “attack”) and 攴/攵 (boku/hoko, meaning “to strike with a stick” or “weapon”). Together, they form the meaning of striking, attacking, or hitting forcefully.
JLPT N1 Kanji: 松 (Matsu) – The Enduring Pine Tree 松 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), まつ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Pine tree 松 is a phono-semantic compound (形声字). It combines the radical 木 (tree), which indicates its semantic category, with 公 (public/fair), which acts as a phonetic component. The character depicts a sturdy tree, specifically a pine, known
JLPT N1 Kanji: Mastering 影 (kage/EI) – Shadow, Reflection, Influence 影 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), かげ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Shadow, silhouette, reflection, trace, hint The kanji 影 combines 景 (scene, view, light) and 彡 (hair, decorative pattern, often representing an image or picture). Together, they suggest an “image” or “reflection” of a “scene” or “light,” thus conveying
JLPT N1 Kanji: 岡 – Master the Hill! 岡 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), おか (Kunyomi) Meaning: hill, mound The kanji 岡 is a complex character often associated with place names. While some sources link it to 崗 (a hill or mound), it is generally understood as depicting a hill or a mound, often with a flat
JLPT N1 Kanji: 衆 – Understanding the Multitude 衆 Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: masses, public, many, multitude, assembly A pictograph of many people standing together, signifying “multitude” or “crowd.” View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 衆 (shū) has 16 strokes. It starts with the top elements resembling
JLPT N1 Kanji: 韓 – Mastering the Kanji for Korea 韓 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Korea, Republic of Korea The kanji 韓 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 倝 (gàn), which depicts sunlight rising above a tree, here used for its phonetic value, and 革 (kaku), meaning “leather” or “hide,” which serves as the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 閣 – Exploring “Pavilion” and “Cabinet” 閣 Readings: カク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: pavilion; tower; palace; cabinet (government); mansion; government building The character 閣 is composed of 門 (もん – gate) and 各 (かく – each/various). The 門 radical suggests something related to a gate or entrance. 各 often acts as a phonetic
JLPT N1 Kanji: 姿 (Sugata) – Master the Kanji for “Figure” and “Appearance” 姿 Readings: シ (Onyomi), すがた (Kunyomi) Meaning: figure, shape, appearance, posture, form The kanji 姿 combines 女 (woman) and 次 (next/order). Originally, it depicted a woman’s beautiful and orderly posture or form. The 次 component here is primarily phonetic, suggesting the meaning
JLPT N1 Kanji: 株 (kabu) – Unlocking the World of Stocks and Stumps 株 Readings: カブ (Onyomi), かぶ (Kunyomi) Meaning: stock, share; stump, tree-trunk; counter for trees The kanji 株 originally depicted a tree stump or the base of a tree. Its meaning evolved to “stock” or “share” in a financial context because early shares
JLPT N1 Kanji: 訴 (SO / Uttaeru) – To Sue, Appeal, Complain 訴 Readings: ソ (Onyomi), うったえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: sue, appeal, complain, accuse The kanji 訴 combines the radical 言 (speech) with the component 斥 (to push back/repel), together conveying the idea of “speaking out” or “asserting oneself” against something, leading to meanings like “to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 義 – Unpacking Justice, Meaning, and Duty 義 Readings: ギ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: righteousness, justice, meaning, honor, loyalty, public service, foster The kanji 義 is composed of 羊 (yáng – sheep) and 我 (wǒ – I/me). In ancient China, sheep were considered auspicious and often used in sacrificial rituals. The combination suggests
JLPT N1 Kanji: 審 – Delving into ‘Review, Examine, Judge’ 審 Readings: シン (Onyomi), つまびらか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Review, examine, investigate, judge, deliberate The kanji 審 combines 宀 (ukanmuri, meaning roof or house) and 寃 (en, meaning injustice, grievance, or deep investigation). Together, it suggests a thorough and deep investigation or judgment, often conducted within an
JLPT N1 Kanji: 環 (Kan) – Mastering the Kanji for “Ring” and “Environment” 環 Readings: カン (Onyomi), たまき, めぐ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: ring, circle, link, loop, circum-, environment The kanji 環 depicts a jade ring. The left component 玉 (たま) means “jewel” or “jade”, and the right component 睘 (かん) acts as a phonetic element suggesting
JLPT N1 Kanji: 張 – Stretch Your Japanese Skills! 張 Readings: チョウ (Onyomi), はる, ばり (Kunyomi) Meaning: stretch, extend, expand, distend, put up (a tent), spread (a net), tighten 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Phono-semantic character). The left radical 弓 (ゆみ) means “bow,” suggesting the action of stretching or tightening. The right component 長 (チョウ, ながい)
JLPT N1 Kanji: 衛 – Master the Kanji for “Defense” and “Protection” 衛 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: defense, protection, guard The character 衛 depicts the act of guarding or defending. Its composition involves 彳 (chì, “road” or “to walk”) on the left and 韋 (wéi, originally depicting a protective leather strap wrapped around something,
