JLPT N3 Kanji: 因 (In/Yoru) – Understanding Cause and Reason 因 Readings: イン (Onyomi), よ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: cause, factor, depend on, be related to The kanji 因 is said to depict a large object (大, which is similar in shape to the original form of ‘big’) contained within an enclosure (囗). This imagery suggests something […]

JLPT N3 Kanji: 辞 – Mastering Words, Resignation, and Refusal 辞 Readings: ジ (Onyomi), や.める, いな.む (Kunyomi) Meaning: resign, word, phrase, decline, expression The character 辞 combines 舌 (tongue/speech) and 辛 (thorny/bitter/punishment, implying a precise or formal context). It originally referred to meticulously chosen words or formal speech, which evolved to mean “words,” “phrases,” and

JLPT N3 Kanji: 具 (gu, sona(eru)) – Mastering Tools and Ingredients 具 Readings: グ (Onyomi), そな(わる), そな(える), つぶさ(に) (Kunyomi) Meaning: tool, utensil, means, ingredient The kanji 具 is said to depict a vessel or utensil, suggesting its meaning of “tool” or “implement.” View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji: 園 (En, Sono) – Exploring Gardens, Parks, and More! 園 Readings: エン (Onyomi), その (Kunyomi) Meaning: garden, park, yard, farm The kanji 園 (en) depicts an enclosure (囗) containing plants and earth (土) with a central element (袁, originally meaning “round garment” but here simplified to represent the interior), suggesting a cultivated,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 迎 (mukaeru) – Welcome, Meet, Greet 迎 Readings: ゲイ (Onyomi), むかえる (Kunyomi) Meaning: to welcome, to meet, to greet, to receive, to go out to meet The kanji 迎 combines the radical 辶 (shinnyou), representing movement or road, with the component 卯 (u), which phonetically suggests “to face” or “to receive.” Together,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 苦 (kuru, niga – Suffering, Bitter) 苦 Readings: ク (Onyomi), くるしい, くるしむ, にがい (Kunyomi) Meaning: Suffering, hardship, pain, bitter The character 苦 (kǔ) originally depicted a plant with a bitter taste. The top part 艹 (草) represents grass or plants, and the bottom part 古 (gǔ) suggests old or ancient, which also

JLPT N3 Kanji: 苦 (Kuru, Ni, Ku) – Mastering Bitterness & Hardship 苦 Readings: ク (Onyomi), くるしい, くるしむ, にがい, にがて (Kunyomi) Meaning: bitter, suffering, difficult The kanji 苦 is composed of the radical 艹 (kusa-kanmuri, meaning “grass” or “plant”) and 古 (ko, meaning “old” or “ancient”). Historically, it is thought to depict a plant with

JLPT N3 Kanji: 給 (Kyuu) – Salary, Supply, Provide 給 Readings: キュウ (Onyomi), あた・える, たま・う (Kunyomi) Meaning: supply, provide, bestow, salary, wage 形声文字 (Phono-semantic character). The left side 糸 (いと, thread/silk) indicates a meaning related to giving or providing. The right side 給 serves as the phonetic component. The original meaning relates to giving out

JLPT N3 Kanji: 危 – Learn About Danger and Risk 危 Readings: キ (Onyomi), あぶ-ない, あや-うい, あや-ぶむ (Kunyomi) Meaning: dangerous, risk, perilous The character 危 (wēi) depicts a person (㔾) standing precariously on a cliff (厂). It visually represents a state of danger or being in a perilous situation. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How

JLPT N3 Kanji: 捕 (Ho, To.raeru) – Catch, Arrest, Seize 捕 Readings: ホ (Onyomi), と.らえる, と.らわれる, と.る, つかまえる, つかまる (Kunyomi) Meaning: To catch, arrest, seize Semantic-phonetic compound. The left part (手) is the “hand” radical, while the right part (甫) is the phonetic component, suggesting “to spread out” or “to assist.” Together, it implies using

JLPT N3 Kanji: 責 (Seki, Semeru) – Responsibility, Blame 責 Readings: セキ (Onyomi), せ.める (Kunyomi) Meaning: responsibility, blame, to blame, to censure The character 責 combines 貝 (kai, shell/money, often related to wealth or debt) and 朿 (shi, thorn), suggesting the pressure or burden of debt or a sharp prick, which evolved into the concepts

JLPT N3 Kanji: Mastering 降 (kō, oriru, furu) – Descend, Fall, Dismount 降 Readings: コウ (Onyomi), おりる, おろす, ふる (Kunyomi) Meaning: descend, fall, dismount The kanji 降 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 阜 (ふ, fù), which means “mound” or “hill” (simplified to 阝 when on the left), indicating a downward movement, and 夅 (コウ,

JLPT N3 Kanji: 完 (kan) – Complete, Finish 完 Readings: カン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Complete, finish, perfect The kanji 完 combines the radical 宀 (ukanmuri, meaning “roof” or “house”) and 元 (gen, meaning “origin” or “beginning”). Together, it depicts something “finished” or “brought to completion” under a roof, symbolizing a perfect or whole state. View

JLPT N3 Kanji: 除 (jo, nozoku) – Remove, Exclude, Eliminate 除 Readings: ジョ (Onyomi), のぞ・く (Kunyomi) Meaning: remove, exclude, abolish, eliminate The left radical 阜 (ふ/こざとへん) means “hill” or “mound.” The right part, 余 (よ), represents “remainder” or “excess” and also provides the “jo” sound. Together, it suggests removing or getting rid of something from

JLPT N3 Kanji: 破 (Ha, Yaburu) – Breaking Barriers in Japanese! 破 Readings: ハ (Onyomi), やぶ.る, やぶ.れる (Kunyomi) Meaning: tear, break, destroy, defeat The kanji 破 combines 石 (stone) and 皮 (skin, or to break open). The 皮 component also serves a phonetic role, indicating a sound similar to “ha” and the meaning of breaking

JLPT N3 Kanji: 座 (za, suwa.ru) – Sit, Seat 座 Readings: ザ (Onyomi), すわ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: sit, seat, cushion, collect, gather, place The kanji 座 is a pictogram of two people sitting on a mat (广 and 坐 combined, where 坐 also depicts two people on the ground). It represents the act of sitting or

JLPT N3 Kanji: 単 (Tan) – The Meaning of Single and Simple 単 Readings: タン (Onyomi), ひとえ (Kunyomi) Meaning: single, simple, unit The kanji 単 (dān in Chinese) originally depicted a banner or flag. This image extended to represent something “single” or a “unit” (like a single standard) and later evolved to mean “simple.” View

JLPT N3 Kanji: 号 – Number, Sign, Call 号 Readings: ゴウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: number, sign, symbol, name, call, issue (of a publication) The kanji 号 is believed to be a combination of 口 (kuchi, mouth) and 丂 (a variant possibly representing a sound or mark). It originally conveyed the idea of a “cry” or

JLPT N3 Kanji: 殺 (satsu, korosu) – The Meaning of “Kill” 殺 Readings: サツ, サイ (Onyomi), ころ.す (Kunyomi) Meaning: kill, murder, chop off, reduce This kanji combines 𠮷 (meaning ‘blade’ or ‘cut’) and 殳 (meaning ‘spear’ or ‘weapon’). The combination signifies using a weapon to cut or kill. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to

JLPT N3 Kanji: 飛 (fly, soar) – Master its Meanings & Usage 飛 Readings: ヒ (Onyomi), と-ぶ, と-ばす (Kunyomi) Meaning: fly, soar A pictograph of a bird in flight, showing its body and wings. View JLPT N3 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 飛 is written with 9 strokes. Start with