N2 Kanji

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji 依: Master Reliance and Dependence 依 Readings: イ (Onyomi), よ-る (Kunyomi) Meaning: rely on, depend on, consequent, therefore The character 依 is formed by combining the radical 亻 (ninben), representing a person, with 衣 (i), meaning clothing. The combination suggests the idea of a person relying on or depending on clothing […]

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 触 (shoku, sawaru, fureru) – Touch & Feel 触 Readings: ショク (Onyomi), さわる, ふれる (Kunyomi) Meaning: touch, feel, contact The kanji 触 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). It combines the radical 角 (かく, horn/corner), which often suggests something pointed or a movement towards something, with 蜀 (しょく), which provides the phonetic

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 希 (KI, nozo.mu, mare) – Hope and Rarity 希 Readings: キ (Onyomi), のぞ.む, まれ, こいねが.う (Kunyomi) Meaning: hope, rare, full moon, desire, plead, beg, request The kanji 希 is believed to be a phonetic-semantic compound. The upper component (爻) suggests crossing or mixing, hinting at scarcity or rarity. The lower component

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 震 (Shaking, Trembling, Quaking) 震 Readings: シン (Onyomi), ふる, ふる・える, ふる・う (Kunyomi) Meaning: tremble, shake, quake The character combines the radical 雨 (rain, suggesting thunder/storm) with 辰 (tatsu), which implies movement or vibration. Together, it denotes shaking or trembling, often associated with natural phenomena like earthquakes. View JLPT N2 Kanji List

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 巨 (Kyo) – Mastering the Giant 巨 Readings: キョ (Onyomi), おお- (Kunyomi) Meaning: gigantic, large, big, huge A pictogram of a carpenter’s square, symbolizing something of large scale or measurement. Over time, it evolved to represent “huge” or “gigantic”. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 宇 (U) – Universe, Space, Roof 宇 Readings: ウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: eaves, roof, house; cosmos, universe A pictogram of a house with a roof. It originally represented the “roof” or “eaves” of a dwelling, then extended to mean “house,” and eventually “space” or “universe.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 寺 (tera/ji) – Temple 寺 Readings: ジ (Onyomi), てら (Kunyomi) Meaning: temple The character 寺 originally depicted a hand holding an object, possibly a tool, near a foot or a piece of land, evolving to represent a place of worship or an office. Its original meaning was “eunuch” or “to hold”,

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 布 (fu, nuno) – Cloth, Spread 布 Readings: フ (Onyomi), ぬの (Kunyomi) Meaning: cloth, linen, spread, distribute The character 布 is said to derive from a pictograph of a piece of cloth hanging down, showing the folds or draping of fabric. It later evolved to also encompass the meaning of spreading

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 底 (soko/TEI) – Mastering the ‘Bottom’ 底 Readings: テイ (Onyomi), そこ (Kunyomi) Meaning: bottom, sole, depth, lowest part The radical 广 (mădále) represents a shelter or roof. The remaining part, 氐 (dǐ), represents a base or foundation. Together, it conveys the idea of the “bottom” or “base” of something enclosed or

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 坂 (saka) – Mastering the Kanji for “Slope” 坂 Readings: (Onyomi), さか (Kunyomi) Meaning: slope, hill Composed of 土 (earth/soil) and 反 (to turn over, incline). It suggests an inclined piece of land. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 坂 has 7 strokes. It

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 香 (Kō / Kaori) – The Kanji for Fragrance! 香 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), か, かお, かおり (Kunyomi) Meaning: fragrance, aroma, incense A pictogram depicting grains (禾) and a sweet-smelling element (甘, simplified to 口), symbolizing the pleasant aroma of grains or fragrant substances. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 像 (Zou) – Statue, Image, Figure 像 Readings: ゾウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: statue, image, figure, portrait The character 象 (shō / zou) means “elephant” and also “image” or “form” due to elephants being unique and having a distinctive form. Adding the radical 人 (にんべん), which implies human activity or creation, to

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 刊 (kan) – Publish, Engrave 刊 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: publish, carve, engrave The kanji 刊 combines 刀 (sword/knife, indicating cutting/carving) and 干 (dry/interfere, used phonetically for ‘cutting’ sound). It originally depicted carving or engraving on a block, leading to the modern meaning of printing and publishing. View JLPT N2

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 庫 (kura/KO) – Warehouse, Storehouse 庫 Readings: コ (Onyomi), くら (Kunyomi) Meaning: warehouse, storehouse, treasury, armory, repertoire The kanji 庫 is formed from the radical 广 (maji-gamae), meaning “building” or “shelter,” and a component that suggests “storage” or “container.” It originally depicted a building with a roof where goods were stored,

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 誌 (Shi) – Magazine, Record 誌 Readings: シ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: journal, record, document, magazine Formed from 言 (word, speech) and 志 (will, intention, record). It originally conveyed the meaning of “to record one’s thoughts, intentions, or events.” View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 著 著 Readings: チョ (Onyomi), あらわ.す, いちじる.しい (Kunyomi) Meaning: prominent, remarkable, distinguished, publish, write The radical 艸 (grass/plant) and 者 (person/thing/one who). Originally meant “to reveal, to manifest,” then “to write, to compose” (making thoughts manifest). View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 著 has

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 永 (Ei / Naga.i) – Eternity, Long 永 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), なが.い (Kunyomi) Meaning: Eternity, long, lengthy The kanji 永 (ながい) depicts a person stretching out their arms and legs, symbolizing “long” or “eternal.” It is often associated with the long, flowing nature of water, reflecting the “water” radical in its

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 星 (Hoshi) – The Star of Your Vocabulary! 星 Readings: セイ, ショウ (Onyomi), ほし (Kunyomi) Meaning: star The kanji 星 combines 日 (sun, day) and 生 (to be born, life). It evokes the image of a celestial body, like a small sun, that is “born” or “lives” in the sky, shining

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 季 (Season, Period) 季 Readings: キ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: season; period; quarter The kanji 季 combines 禾 (grain) and 子 (child/small). It originally referred to the youngest child or the last of a series, from which it developed the meaning of “season” or “period” as parts of a cycle. View JLPT

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 温 (on, atataka.i) – Warmth and Mildness 温 Readings: オン (Onyomi), あたた.かい, あたた.まる, あたた.める, ぬく (Kunyomi) Meaning: Warm, gentle, mild The kanji 温 (on, atataka.i) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 氵 (water, indicating a relation to liquid or temperature) with the phonetic component 昷 (wēn, representing warmth or