Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: sunshine, positive, male principle, Yang
形声文字 (Phono-semantic character). Formed from 阜 (hill/mound) on the left (radical 阝) and 昜 (sun’s rays rising, bright, expansive) on the right. The 阜 radical indicates a place, and 昜 provides the meaning of “bright, sunny” and the sound. Together, it means “the sunny side of a hill” or “sunshine.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 陽 is composed of 12 strokes. First, write the left radical 阝 (こざとへん) in 3 strokes. Then, write the right component 昜, starting with the 日 radical (sun) on top, followed by the horizontal line, and then the two crossing diagonal strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 阝 (こざとへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヨウ (YŌ)
Common Words Using 陽
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 太陽 | たいよう | sun |
| 陽気 | ようき | cheerful; lively; pleasant weather |
| 陽光 | ようこう | sunlight |
| 陽性 | ようせい | positive (e.g., test result) |
| 陽春 | ようしゅん | early spring |
| 陽子 | ようし | proton |
| 陽極 | ようきょく | anode; positive pole |
| 向陽 | こうよう | sunny; facing the sun |
| 陽圧 | ようあつ | positive pressure |
| 陽転 | ようてん | becoming positive (e.g., market trend) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 今日の太陽はとても明るいですね。
Kana: きょうのたいようはとてもあかるいですね。
Romaji: Kyō no taiyō wa totemo akarui desu ne.
English: Today’s sun is very bright, isn’t it?
Japanese: 彼はいつも陽気で、周りを明るくします。
Kana: かれはいつもようきで、まわりをあかるくします。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo yōki de, mawari o akaruku shimasu.
English: He is always cheerful and brightens up those around him.
Japanese: 部屋に陽光が差し込んで、気持ちがいいです。
Kana: へやにようこうがさしこんで、きもちがいいです。
Romaji: Heya ni yōkō ga sashikonde, kimochi ga ii desu.
English: The sunlight streams into the room, and it feels nice.
Japanese: 検査の結果は陽性でした。
Kana: けんさのけっかはようせいでした。
Romaji: Kensa no kekka wa yōsei deshita.
English: The test result was positive.
Japanese: 今年の陽春は暖かく、桜の開花が早いです。
Kana: ことしのようしゅんはあたたかく、さくらのかいかがはやいです。
Romaji: Kotoshi no yōshun wa atatakaku, sakura no kaika ga hayai desu.
English: This early spring is warm, and the cherry blossoms are blooming early.
Japanese: 物理学では、陽子は原子核の一部です。
Kana: ぶつりがくでは、ようしはげんしかくのいちぶです。
Romaji: Butsurigaku de wa, yōshi wa genshikaku no ichibu desu.
English: In physics, a proton is part of an atomic nucleus.
Japanese: この電池の陽極はどちらですか？
Kana: このでんちのようきょくはどちらですか？
Romaji: Kono denchi no yōkyoku wa dochira desu ka?
English: Which side is the positive pole of this battery?
Japanese: 私の家は向陽なので、冬でも暖かいです。
Kana: わたしのいえはこうようなので、ふゆでもあたたかいです。
Romaji: Watashi no ie wa kōyō nano de, fuyu demo atatakai desu.
English: My house faces the sun, so it’s warm even in winter.
Japanese: 彼は陽性思考で、どんな困難も乗り越えられます。
Kana: かれはようせいしこうで、どんなこんなんものりこえられます。
Romaji: Kare wa yōsei shikō de, donna konnan mo norikoeraremasu.
English: He has positive thinking and can overcome any difficulty.
Japanese: この部屋は陽圧に保たれています。
Kana: このへやはようあつにたもたれています。
Romaji: Kono heya wa yōatsu ni tamotarete imasu.
English: This room is maintained at positive pressure.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.