JLPT N1 Kanji: 衛 – Master the Kanji for “Defense” and “Protection” 衛 Readings: エイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: defense, protection, guard The character 衛 depicts the act of guarding or defending. Its composition involves 彳 (chì, “road” or “to walk”) on the left and 韋 (wéi, originally depicting a protective leather strap wrapped around something, […]
JLPT N1 Kanji: 宮 (miya, kyuu, guu) – Shrine, Palace 宮 Readings: キュウ, グウ, ク (Onyomi), みや (Kunyomi) Meaning: shrine, palace, imperial villa, court The kanji 宮 originally depicted a house with a roof and two rooms, symbolizing a grand building such as a palace or a shrine. Its ancient form suggests a complex, enclosed
JLPT N1 Kanji: 独 (Doku, Hitori) – Understanding “Alone” 独 Readings: ドク (Onyomi), ひと(り) (Kunyomi) Meaning: single, alone, unique, independent, Germany The kanji 独 combines the radical 犭 (けものへん, kemonohen, animal radical) and the component 蜀 (shoku). The original form likely depicted a single, isolated animal, evolving to mean “alone” or “single.” It is also
JLPT N1 Kanji: 幹 (miki, kan) – Master the Core of Japanese 幹 Readings: カン (Onyomi), みき (Kunyomi) Meaning: trunk (of a tree), backbone, main part, core, body The kanji 幹 is a phono-semantic compound. The left part “干” (かん – kan) acts as the phonetic component indicating the sound ‘kan’, while the right part
JLPT N1 Kanji: 護 (Go, Mamo-ru) – To Protect and Guard 護 Readings: ゴ (Onyomi), まも(る) (Kunyomi) Meaning: protection, safeguard, defend The kanji 護 combines 示 (shimesu), meaning “altar” or “show,” and the phonetic component 護, which itself combines 互 (go), meaning “mutual,” and 戈 (hoko), meaning “dagger-axe” or “halberd.” The character thus conveys the
JLPT N1 Kanji: 井 – Delving into the Depths of “Well” 井 Readings: セイ, ショウ, ジョウ (Onyomi), い (Kunyomi) Meaning: Well (as in a water well), pit, town, community The kanji 井 is a pictograph representing the opening of a well with its crisscrossed wooden frame. View JLPT N1 Kanji List How to Write –
JLPT N1 Kanji: 援 (EN) – The Power of Aid and Support 援 Readings: エン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: aid, assist, help, support A phono-semantic compound (形声). Composed of 爰 (エン), which serves as the phonetic component indicating the “EN” sound and suggesting the idea of “pulling” or “drawing,” and 手 (て/しゅ), the radical for “hand.”
JLPT N1 Kanji: 裁 (Sai, Tatsu, Sabaku) – Master the Art of Judging and Cutting! 裁 Readings: サイ (Onyomi), たつ, さばく (Kunyomi) Meaning: tailor, cut, judge, decision The kanji 裁 combines 衣 (clothing, indicating fabric or tailoring) and 戈 (a halberd or weapon, suggesting cutting or deciding). This combination evokes the image of cutting fabric
JLPT N1 Kanji: 沢 (sawa, taku) – Exploring its Meanings and Usage 沢 Readings: タク (Onyomi), さわ, つや, うるお-す, うるお-う (Kunyomi) Meaning: swamp, marsh, wet land, luster, abundance, widely The character 沢 (sawa) depicts water (氵) flowing over a rocky or uneven surface (right component, which also gives the sound “taku”). This imagery leads to
JLPT N1 Kanji: 藤 (Fuji) – Wisteria and Its Many Faces 藤 Readings: トウ, ドウ (Onyomi), ふじ (Kunyomi) Meaning: wisteria A phono-semantic compound. The radical 艹 (grass) indicates it’s a plant. The phonetic component 滕 (teng) lends its sound and hints at the spreading, climbing nature of the wisteria plant. View JLPT N1 Kanji List
JLPT N1 Kanji: 企 – Plan, Undertake, Scheme 企 Readings: キ (Onyomi), くわだてる, たくらむ (Kunyomi) Meaning: plan, project, undertake, scheme The kanji 企 combines 人 (person) and 止 (stop/toe). It depicts a person standing on tiptoes, stretching to look into the distance, symbolizing the act of planning or scheming for something in the future. View
JLPT N1 Kanji: 応 – Mastering Responses and Applications 応 Readings: オウ (Onyomi), こた.える, こた.え (Kunyomi) Meaning: respond, answer, accept, comply with, apply, correspond 形声文字 (けいせいもじ – phono-semantic character). The original character was 鷹 (hawk), representing the idea of a swift and precise response. It was later simplified to 応, with the radical 广 (shelter)
JLPT N1 Kanji: 基 – The Foundation of Your Japanese! 基 Readings: キ (Onyomi), もと (Kunyomi) Meaning: basis, foundation, basic The kanji 基 is formed from 土 (earth/soil) and 斯 (a phonetic component that also implies something being split or spread out). Together, it depicts a foundation or base built upon the earth, symbolizing the
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: 極 (kyoku, goku, kiwameru) – Mastering Extremes and Pinnacles 極 Readings: キョク, ゴク (Onyomi), きわ-める, きわ-まる, きわ-み (Kunyomi) Meaning: Pole, extreme, peak, utmost, culmination, apex, ultimate, very. Formed from the radical 木 (tree) and the phonetic component 亟 (jí), which implies ‘urgently’ or ‘rapidly reaching a limit’. The combination suggests reaching
