Readings: ホウ (Onyomi), のり (Kunyomi)
Meaning: law, method, rule, way
The kanji 法 combines 氵 (water radical, indicating flow or standard) and 去 (meaning to go away or remove). It suggests “that which is set forth to flow (smoothly/correctly), rules, regulations, law.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 法 (hou) is written with 8 strokes. It begins with the three dots of the water radical on the left, followed by the strokes forming the right-hand component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (さんずい) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Grade 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ホウ (hou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- のり (nori)
Common Words Using 法
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 法律 | ほうりつ | law |
| 方法 | ほうほう | method, way |
| 文法 | ぶんぽう | grammar |
| 憲法 | けんぽう | constitution |
| 用法 | ようほう | usage |
| 法人 | ほうじん | legal person, corporation |
| 合法 | ごうほう | legal, legitimate |
| 非合法 | ひごうほう | illegal |
| 療法 | りょうほう | therapy, remedy |
| 手法 | しゅほう | technique, method |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 法 | のり | rule; law; doctrine (archaic/literary standalone usage, very rare in modern Japanese) |
| 仏法 | のり | Buddhist Law/Doctrine (conceptually refers to ‘the way’ or ‘teaching’, though the compound is usually read on’yomi) |
| 作法 | のり | Way of doing; Etiquette (conceptual link to ‘method’ or ‘way’, though usually read on’yomi) |
| 正法 | のり | True rule; Righteous way (conceptual link, often in religious context, usually read on’yomi) |
| 道法 | のり | Moral way; Principle (philosophical context, ‘the way’, usually read on’yomi) |
| 古法 | のり | Ancient way/rule (conceptual reference, usually read on’yomi) |
| 王法 | のり | Royal rule/law (historical context, ‘the way of the king’, usually read on’yomi) |
| 国法 | のり | National rule/law (older term, ‘the way of the nation’, usually read on’yomi) |
| 家法 | のり | Family rule/precepts (historical, ‘the way of the family’, usually read on’yomi) |
| 手法 | のり | Method; Technique (conceptual link to ‘the way of doing something’, usually read on’yomi) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 日本では法律を守らなければなりません。
Kana: にほんではほうりつをまもらなければなりません。
Romaji: Nihon de wa houritsu o mamoranakereba narimasen.
English: In Japan, you must obey the laws.
Japanese: 良い勉強方法を見つけるのは難しいです。
Kana: よいべんきょうほうほうをみつけるのはむずかしいです。
Romaji: Yoi benkyou houhou o mitsukeru no wa muzukashii desu.
English: It’s difficult to find a good study method.
Japanese: この文法はJLPT N3レベルです。
Kana: このぶんぽうはJLPT N3レベルです。
Romaji: Kono bunpou wa JLPT N3 reberu desu.
English: This grammar is JLPT N3 level.
Japanese: 憲法は国の基本的な法です。
Kana: けんぽうはくにのきほんてきなほうです。
Romaji: Kenpou wa kuni no kihonteki na hou desu.
English: The constitution is the fundamental law of a country.
Japanese: その薬の用法をよく読んでください。
Kana: そのくすりのようほうをよくよんでください。
Romaji: Sono kusuri no youhou o yoku yonde kudasai.
English: Please read the usage instructions for that medicine carefully.
Japanese: 株式会社は法人です。
Kana: かぶしきがいしゃはほうじんです。
Romaji: Kabushikigaisha wa houjin desu.
English: A limited company is a legal entity.
Japanese: 飲酒運転は非合法です。
Kana: いんしゅうんてんはひごうほうです。
Romaji: Inshuu-unten wa higouhou desu.
English: Drunk driving is illegal.
Japanese: 彼らは新しい療法を開発しました。
Kana: かれらはあたらしいりょうほうをかいはつしました。
Romaji: Karera wa atarashii ryouhou o kaihatsu shimashita.
English: They developed a new therapy.
Japanese: その問題の解決手法は何ですか。
Kana: そのもんだいのかいけつしゅほうはなんですか。
Romaji: Sono mondai no kaiketsu shuhou wa nan desu ka.
English: What is the method for solving that problem?
Japanese: この絵は独特な表現法を使っています。
Kana: このえはどくとくなひょうげんほうをつかっています。
Romaji: Kono e wa dokutoku na hyougenhou o tsukatte imasu.
English: This painting uses a unique method of expression.
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