JLPT N1 Kanji: 企 – Plan, Undertake, Scheme 企 Readings: キ (Onyomi), くわだてる, たくらむ (Kunyomi) Meaning: plan, project, undertake, scheme The kanji 企 combines 人 (person) and 止 (stop/toe). It depicts a person standing on tiptoes, stretching to look into the distance, symbolizing the act of planning or scheming for something in the future. View […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 応 – Mastering Responses and Applications 応 Readings: オウ (Onyomi), こた.える, こた.え (Kunyomi) Meaning: respond, answer, accept, comply with, apply, correspond 形声文字 (けいせいもじ – phono-semantic character). The original character was 鷹 (hawk), representing the idea of a swift and precise response. It was later simplified to 応, with the radical 广 (shelter)
JLPT N1 Kanji: 挙 – Master the Meanings of ‘Raise’ and ‘Lift’ 挙 Readings: キョ (Onyomi), あ.げる, あ.がる (Kunyomi) Meaning: raise, lift, nominate, cite, act The kanji 挙 is composed of two parts: 手 (hand) on the left, and 興 (to rise, to cause, to excite) on the right. The hand radical clearly indicates an
JLPT N1 Kanji: 提 (tei, sageru) – Master the Meaning of Propose, Present, and Carry 提 Readings: テイ (Onyomi), さ.げる, ひっさ.げる (Kunyomi) Meaning: propose, present, bring, carry (in hand), raise This kanji is a phono-semantic compound (形声). The radical 扌 (hand) indicates its connection to actions performed with the hand, while 是 (correct, right, to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 価 – Understanding Value and Price 価 Readings: カ (Onyomi), あたい (Kunyomi) Meaning: value, price, cost Formed from 人 (person) and 賈 (to buy, merchant, value). The left part 人 represents a person, and the right part 賈 originally meant “to buy” or “merchant” and also conveyed the idea of value or
JLPT N1 Kanji: 基 – The Foundation of Your Japanese! 基 Readings: キ (Onyomi), もと (Kunyomi) Meaning: basis, foundation, basic The kanji 基 is formed from 土 (earth/soil) and 斯 (a phonetic component that also implies something being split or spread out). Together, it depicts a foundation or base built upon the earth, symbolizing the
JLPT N1 Kanji: Mastering 統 (TŌ / すべる) 統 Readings: トウ (Onyomi), す.べる, すぼ.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: rule, integrate, unify, command, lead, govern, system A combination of the ‘thread’ radical (糸) representing connection and ‘充’ (meaning to fill or bundle), suggesting the act of binding things together, leading to meanings like ‘unifying’ or ‘governing’. View JLPT
JLPT N1 Kanji: 氏 (Uji / Shi) – Understanding Mr., Ms., and Clan 氏 Readings: シ (Onyomi), うじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Mr., Ms., surname, clan The kanji 氏 is a pictograph representing a clan’s emblem or banner, sometimes interpreted as a person’s head. It denotes a family, clan, or surname, and is also used as a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 奥 (Oku) – Delving into Depth and Inner Spaces 奥 Readings: オウ (Onyomi), おく (Kunyomi) Meaning: inner part, back, inside, depth, profound The character 奥 combines 臼 (usu, mortar) and a component suggesting a hidden, deep place or a small, private room. It represents a deep, inner, or secluded part, often
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 順 (jun) – Order, Sequence, Obey 順 Readings: ジュン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: order, turn, sequence, obey, conform 形声文字 (Phono-semantic compound). The left radical 氵 (water) suggests flow, and 頁 (head/page) implies following or conforming. The character represents something proceeding smoothly or in a correct sequence. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 裏 (ura) – The Hidden Side of Things 裏 Readings: リ (Onyomi), うら (Kunyomi) Meaning: back, rear, reverse side, inside, lining, wrong side The kanji 裏 is a phonetic-semantic compound. It combines 衣 (い, “clothing”) with 里 (り, “village”; here used phonetically for its sound ‘ri’ and possibly implying interior/inside). The
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 帽 (BOU) – The Kanji for Hat and Cap 帽 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: cap, hat The radical 巾 (cloth) on the left indicates material, while the right part 冒 (to brave, to cover) provides the sound “bou” and the concept of covering. Together, they form the idea of a
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 憎 (niku.mu, ZOU) – To Hate, Detest 憎 Readings: ゾウ (Onyomi), にく.む, にく.い, にく.らしい, にく.しみ (Kunyomi) Meaning: hate, detest, dislike The kanji 憎 combines the radical 忄 (kokoro), representing “heart” or “mind,” with the phonetic component 曽 (sō), which implies “formerly” or “layers,” suggesting a deep-seated or accumulated negative emotion within
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 伺 (ukagau) – The Humble Way to Ask and Visit 伺 Readings: (Onyomi), うかが-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: to visit (humble); to ask (humble); to inquire (humble) The kanji 伺 is formed from the radical 人 (person) and 司 (to govern, to take charge of). This combination implies a person humbly going to
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 滴 (shizuku, shitataru) – Drip, Drop 滴 Readings: テキ (Onyomi), しずく, したたる (Kunyomi) Meaning: drip, drop The kanji 滴 combines the radical 氵 (water) on the left, which indicates its association with liquids, and 啇 (di) on the right as a phonetic component. While 啇 itself doesn’t mean “drop,” it phonetically
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 曇 (kumo-ru) – Cloudy 曇 Readings: (Onyomi), くも-る, くも (Kunyomi) Meaning: cloudy, to cloud over, to become dim/hazy The kanji 曇 combines 日 (sun) with 雲 (cloud), depicting the sun being obscured by clouds, hence “cloudy” or “to cloud over.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 挟 (hasamu) – Pinch, Hold Between 挟 Readings: キョウ (Onyomi), はさ-む, はさ-まる, はざ-ま (Kunyomi) Meaning: pinch, hold between, insert, sandwich 形声 (Keisei – Phono-semantic compound). The left part 手 (hand) indicates meaning, and the right part 夾 (kyō, originally meaning “to hold between” or “to hold under the arm”) indicates sound.
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 坊 (bou) – From Boys to Buddhist Priests 坊 Readings: ボウ (Onyomi), ぼう (Kunyomi) Meaning: boy, priest, monk, (suffix for) master, (suffix for) a quarter/block The kanji 坊 combines 土 (earth, ground) and 阝 (originally 阜, a mound, signifying a natural elevation or, when simplified, often indicating a place or village).
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 畜 (chiku) – Livestock & Accumulation 畜 Readings: チク (Onyomi), やしなう, たくわえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: livestock, domestic animals; store, accumulate 形声文字 (keisei moji – phono-semantic compound). The radical 玄 (げん) indicates darkness/profundity, and 囟 (しん, fontanel) functions as a phonetic component here, suggesting ‘accumulation’ or ‘storing’, which extends to the meaning of
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 燥 (SOU, kawa.ku) 燥 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), かわ.く, かわ.かす, はしゃ.ぐ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Dry, parched, agitated, boisterous The kanji 燥 combines the radical 火 (fire) with 喿 (sound element, related to birds chirping, often associated with noise or agitation, and by extension, drying/baking). The fire radical clearly indicates a connection to heat
