Master advanced Japanese grammar with our comprehensive JLPT N2 Kanji guides. Includes detailed explanations, native-level examples, and practice exercises to help you succeed in the JLPT N2 exam.
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
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 肯 (Kou) – Affirmation and Consent 肯 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: affirmation, consent, agreement The kanji 肯 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The top part is derived from 肉 (niku, meat/flesh), and the bottom part 止 (tomeru, to stop) acts as the phonetic component, implying ‘correct’ or ‘straight’. Together, it conveys
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 皿 (sara) – Mastering the Kanji for “Plate” 皿 Readings: サ, ベイ, マイ (Onyomi), さら (Kunyomi) Meaning: plate, dish, platter, counter for plates Pictogram of a shallow, flat vessel (a plate or dish) with contents. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 皿 (sara) is
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 符 (ふ) – Sign, Mark, Symbol 符 Readings: フ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: sign, mark, symbol, charm, tally, token The kanji 符 combines the radical 竹 (bamboo) and 付 (to attach, to agree). Historically, it depicted a split bamboo tally stick used as a token of agreement, authentication, or as a symbol/sign.
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 貝 (かい / バイ) – Shell, Wealth 貝 Readings: バイ (Onyomi), かい (Kunyomi) Meaning: Shell, shellfish, property, wealth The kanji 貝 (かい, shell) is a pictograph of a seashell. Ancient China used shells as a form of currency, which is why this kanji is often associated with money, property, and wealth
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 舟 – The Essential Guide to “Boat” 舟 Readings: シュウ (Onyomi), ふね, ふな- (Kunyomi) Meaning: boat, ship The kanji 舟 is a pictograph of a boat. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 舟 (fune) is drawn with 6 strokes. It starts with the two
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 涼 (りょう / すずしい) – Cool, Refreshing 涼 Readings: リョウ (Onyomi), すず-しい, すず-む, すず-やか (Kunyomi) Meaning: Cool, Refreshing The kanji 涼 combines the water radical (氵) on the left, indicating a connection to water or a liquid state, with 京 on the right. 京 (kyō) typically means “capital” or “high building,”
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 枯 (kare, karasu) – Wither and Dry Up 枯 Readings: コ (Onyomi), か.れる, か.らす (Kunyomi) Meaning: wither, dry up, die (plant) The kanji 枯 combines the radical 木 (tree) with 古 (old). This suggests the image of an old tree that has dried up or withered. View JLPT N2 Kanji List
Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 菓 (Kashi) – The Sweet World of Confectionery 菓 Readings: カ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Confectionery, sweets, cakes, fruit The kanji 菓 is a phonetic-semantic compound. The top part (艹) is the radical for “grass” or “plants”, indicating something derived from plants. The bottom part (果) is the phonetic component, meaning “fruit”
