JLPT N1 Kanji: 率 (RITSU / SOTSU) – Understanding “Rate, Ratio, Lead” 率 Readings: リツ, ソツ (Onyomi), ひきいる (Kunyomi) Meaning: rate, ratio, proportion; leader, commander; to lead, to command The kanji 率 (ritsu) has an interesting origin. It’s said to be a pictogram (象形文字, shōkei moji) that originally depicted a banner or flag with tassels, […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 率 – Mastering Rates, Ratios, and Leadership 率 Readings: リツ, ソツ (Onyomi), ひきいる (Kunyomi) Meaning: rate, ratio, proportion; to lead, to command; generally, usually The kanji 率 is said to have evolved from a pictograph representing a “pattern” or “standard,” which led to the meaning of “rate” or “proportion.” Another theory connects
JLPT N1 Kanji: 宮 (miya, kyuu, guu) – Shrine, Palace 宮 Readings: キュウ, グウ, ク (Onyomi), みや (Kunyomi) Meaning: shrine, palace, imperial villa, court The kanji 宮 originally depicted a house with a roof and two rooms, symbolizing a grand building such as a palace or a shrine. Its ancient form suggests a complex, enclosed
JLPT N1 Kanji: 独 (Doku, Hitori) – Understanding “Alone” 独 Readings: ドク (Onyomi), ひと(り) (Kunyomi) Meaning: single, alone, unique, independent, Germany The kanji 独 combines the radical 犭 (けものへん, kemonohen, animal radical) and the component 蜀 (shoku). The original form likely depicted a single, isolated animal, evolving to mean “alone” or “single.” It is also
JLPT N1 Kanji: 幹 (miki, kan) – Master the Core of Japanese 幹 Readings: カン (Onyomi), みき (Kunyomi) Meaning: trunk (of a tree), backbone, main part, core, body The kanji 幹 is a phono-semantic compound. The left part “干” (かん – kan) acts as the phonetic component indicating the sound ‘kan’, while the right part
JLPT N1 Kanji: 条 (Jō) – Mastering “Article, Clause, Strip” 条 Readings: ジョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: article, clause, stripe, line, item, condition, branch The kanji 条 depicts a branch or twig with lines, evolving to mean “strip,” “line,” or an “article” (as in a legal clause or item). View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 視 (shi) – Understanding ‘To See’ and ‘To Observe’ 視 Readings: シ (Onyomi), みる (Kunyomi) Meaning: Look, inspect, regard, observe Formed by combining ‘示’ (to show, reveal) and ‘見’ (to see, look). Together, it implies ‘to look intently’ or ‘to observe with purpose, from a certain perspective’. View JLPT N1 Kanji List
JLPT N1 Kanji: 鮮 (Sen, Aza.yaka) – Dive into “Fresh” and “Vivid” 鮮 Readings: セン (Onyomi), あざ.やか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Fresh, vivid, clear, distinct The kanji 鮮 is formed by combining 魚 (fish) and 羊 (sheep). The “fish” component directly relates to the meaning of “fresh fish” and by extension, “freshness” in general. The “sheep” component
JLPT N1 Kanji: 態 – Mastering “Attitude, Condition, State” 態 Readings: タイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: attitude, condition, state, appearance, manner Phono-semantic character. The left component 心 (heart) signifies meaning, and the right component 能 (ability) provides the sound. Originally referred to a state of mind or appearance. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write
JLPT N1 Kanji: 展 (ten) – Unfolding Growth and Exhibition! 展 Readings: テン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Exhibition, display, unfold, expand, develop The kanji 展 combines the radical 尸 (shikabane), which represents a ‘corpse’ or a ‘person lying down’, and 厂 (gan), which here acts as a phonetic component suggesting ‘spreading out’ or ‘extension’. Together, these
JLPT N1 Kanji: 護 (Go, Mamo-ru) – To Protect and Guard 護 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), まも(る) (Kunyomi) Meaning: protection, safeguard, defend The kanji 護 combines 示 (shimesu), meaning “altar” or “show,” and the phonetic component 護, which itself combines 互 (go), meaning “mutual,” and 戈 (hoko), meaning “dagger-axe” or “halberd.” The character thus conveys the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 井 – Delving into the Depths of “Well” 井 Readings: セイ, ショウ, ジョウ (Onyomi), い (Kunyomi) Meaning: Well (as in a water well), pit, town, community The kanji 井 is a pictograph representing the opening of a well with its crisscrossed wooden frame. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write –
JLPT N1 Kanji: 施 (shi, hodokosu) – To Administer, Apply, Give 施 Readings: シ (Onyomi), ほどこす (Kunyomi) Meaning: to administer, to apply, to give, to perform, to execute Composed of 方 (hō: direction, square) and 也 (ya: a particle, often phonetic). It originally depicted spreading out or extending, leading to meanings of giving, administering, and
JLPT N1 Kanji: 可 – Understanding Possibility and Permission 可 Readings: カ, コク (Onyomi), べ-き, -べ-し (Kunyomi) Meaning: possible, passable, acceptable, can, may The kanji 可 is an ideogram. It depicts a mouth (口) with something being emitted, symbolizing speech or permission. Over time, it came to mean “possible” or “acceptable,” indicating that something can
JLPT N1 Kanji: 援 (EN) – The Power of Aid and Support 援 Readings: エン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: aid, assist, help, support A phono-semantic compound (形声). Composed of 爰 (エン), which serves as the phonetic component indicating the “EN” sound and suggesting the idea of “pulling” or “drawing,” and 手 (て/しゅ), the radical for “hand.”
JLPT N1 Kanji: 証 (Shou) – Understanding Proof, Evidence, and Certificates 証 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: proof, evidence, testimony, certificate The kanji 証 is composed of 言 (word, speech) and 正 (correct, just). Together, they imply “correct words” or “proving something is correct through words,” leading to meanings like “proof” or “evidence.” View JLPT
JLPT N1 Kanji: 裁 (Sai, Tatsu, Sabaku) – Master the Art of Judging and Cutting! 裁 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), たつ, さばく (Kunyomi) Meaning: tailor, cut, judge, decision The kanji 裁 combines 衣 (clothing, indicating fabric or tailoring) and 戈 (a halberd or weapon, suggesting cutting or deciding). This combination evokes the image of cutting fabric
JLPT N1 Kanji: 沢 (sawa, taku) – Exploring its Meanings and Usage 沢 Readings: タク (Onyomi), さわ, つや, うるお-す, うるお-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: swamp, marsh, wet land, luster, abundance, widely The character 沢 (sawa) depicts water (氵) flowing over a rocky or uneven surface (right component, which also gives the sound “taku”). This imagery leads to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 藤 (Fuji) – Wisteria and Its Many Faces 藤 Readings: トウ, ドウ (Onyomi), ふじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: wisteria A phono-semantic compound. The radical 艹 (grass) indicates it’s a plant. The phonetic component 滕 (teng) lends its sound and hints at the spreading, climbing nature of the wisteria plant. View JLPT N1 Kanji List
JLPT N1 Kanji: 検 (KEN) – Master the Art of Examination! 検 Readings: ケン (Onyomi), しら.べる (Kunyomi) Meaning: examine, inspect, investigate, check 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – Phono-semantic character). The left side 木 (き – tree) suggests the meaning, hinting at using a tool or stick for measurement/examination. The right side 僉 (けん) provides the sound.
