N1 Kanji

JLPT N1 Kanji: 筋 (suji/KIN) – Mastering Muscle, Plot, and Logic 筋 Readings: キン (Onyomi), すじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: muscle, sinew, tendon; streak, stripe; plot, thread (of a story/argument); aptitude, talent Formed from the radical 竹 (bamboo, symbolizing straightness, flexibility, and fibrous structure) and 刀 (sword/knife, suggesting cutting or defining lines). The character conceptually represents the […]

JLPT N1 Kanji: 継 (KEI, tsugu) – Inherit, Succeed, Join 継 Readings: ケイ (Onyomi), つ.ぐ, つ.ぎ (Kunyomi) Meaning: inherit, succeed, patch, join The kanji 継 combines the radical 糸 (thread) with 季 (season/period, here used for sound and meaning of connection/succession). It metaphorically represents the action of connecting or continuing things, much like threads are

JLPT N1 Kanji: 障 (Shō) – Overcoming Obstacles in Japanese 障 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), さわ.る, さわ.り (Kunyomi) Meaning: obstacle, barrier, hinder, harm, injury The kanji 障 (shō) is a phono-semantic compound. The left radical 阜 (こざとへん, kozatohen) represents a mound or an elevation, often associated with hills or earth, implying something that blocks or obstructs.

JLPT N1 Kanji: 創 – Create, Originate, or Even a Wound! 創 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), つく.る, はじ.める, きず (Kunyomi) Meaning: create, originate, establish, wound, injury The kanji 創 is composed of 立 (to stand, establish) and 倉 (storehouse, providing the ‘sō’ sound). This combination suggests the idea of ‘erecting’ or ‘establishing’ something new, like building

JLPT N1 Kanji: 儀 (gi) – Understanding Ceremonies, Manners, and Dignity 儀 Readings: ギ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: ceremony, rule, model, rites, honor, respect A semantic-phonetic compound. The left radical 人 (human) indicates the meaning related to people. The right component 義 (righteousness, justice) provides both phonetic and semantic cues, suggesting proper conduct, rituals, or ceremonies

JLPT N1 Kanji: 興 – Unveiling its Meanings of Prosperity and Interest 興 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), おこ.る, おこ.す (Kunyomi) Meaning: prosperity, amusement, interest, revive, rise The kanji 興 combines elements suggesting a raised platform or foundation (similar to 臼) and something rising or initiating (related to 同). It originally depicted something rising up, evolving to

JLPT N1 Kanji: 債 – Unraveling the Meaning of “Debt” 債 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: debt, bond, loan 形声文字 (Keisei moji). Combination of 亻 (person) and 責 (responsibility/blame), indicating something a person is responsible for or owes. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 債 consists of 13

JLPT N1 Kanji: 壊 (Kowasu/Hakai) – Master the Meaning of “Break” 壊 Readings: カイ (Onyomi), こわ.す, こわ.れる (Kunyomi) Meaning: break, destroy, demolish, smash, collapse The kanji 壊 is formed from 土 (earth) and 壞, an older form. 壞 is composed of 圭 (soil mound) and 戈 (halberd/weapon), suggesting breaking or disturbing earth. The modern form

JLPT N1 Kanji: 臨 (rin, nozomu) – Facing, Attending, On the Verge of 臨 Readings: リン (Onyomi), のぞ-む (Kunyomi) Meaning: face, meet, confront, attend, look to, be on the verge of The character 臨 depicts a person (人) looking down from a high place (品) onto a dish (皿). This suggests the meaning of “overlooking,”

JLPT N1 Kanji: 皇 (KOU, OU) – Emperor, Imperial 皇 Readings: コウ, オウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Emperor, imperial A combination of 白 (white, bright) and 王 (king). Suggests a ruler who is pure, bright, or divine. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 皇 consists of 9 strokes. It

JLPT N1 Kanji: 盛 (moru, sakaru, sakan, SEI, JOU) – Prosperity and Abundance 盛 Readings: セイ, ジョウ (Onyomi), も.る, さか.る, さか.ん (Kunyomi) Meaning: prosperous, flourishing, vigorous, popular, full, prime The kanji 盛 is composed of 成 (sei, jo), meaning “to complete” or “to accomplish,” and 皿 (sara), meaning “dish” or “plate.” The combination suggests a

JLPT N1 Kanji: 吉 – Unlocking the Meaning of Auspicious Fortune 吉 Readings: キチ, キツ (Onyomi), よし (Kunyomi) Meaning: Fortunate, good luck, joy, auspicious The kanji 吉 is composed of 士 (scholar, gentleman, implying uprightness or correctness) and 口 (mouth, representing speaking or declaration). Together, it conveys the idea of an auspicious declaration or a

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