Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Frequency of Use
Frequency Group 18
kanji
撮Meaning
Snapshot, Photograph
Reading
to
onyomiさつsatsu
Parts
扌Hand (手)最Most
Example Word
撮影: filming. The Japanese verbal noun '撮影 (さつえい)' means 'filming' or 'photography'. It refers to the act of capturing images or video, often in a professional or artistic context. This term is commonly used in the film industry, photography, and media production. For example: The filming of the movie starts tomorrow「映画の撮影は明日から始まります」(えいがのさつえいはあしたからはじまります). We are doing a photoshoot in the park「公園で撮影をしています」(こうえんでさつえいをしています). The word can also be used in contexts like 'location shooting' (ロケ撮影, ろけさつえい) or 'studio filming' (スタジオ撮影, すたじおさつえい).
Radical
手
Stroke Count
15JLPT
N1Grade
8Frequency
1701
Handwriting
kanji
嫉Meaning
Envy, Jealous
Reading
niku
そねsone
ねたneta
onyomiしつshitsu
Parts
女Woman 疾Rapidly, Disease
Example Word
嫉妬: jealousy. The Japanese noun '嫉妬 (しっと)' means 'jealousy'. It refers to the feeling of envy or resentment towards someone because of their advantages, achievements, or possessions. This word is often used in contexts involving relationships, competition, or personal insecurities. For example: She felt jealousy towards her friend「彼女は友達に嫉妬を感じた」(かのじょはともだちにしっとをかんじた). His success caused jealousy among his colleagues「彼の成功は同僚の間に嫉妬を引き起こした」(かれのせいこうはどうりょうのあいだにしっとをひきおこした). The word can also imply a sense of bitterness or ill will, depending on the context.
Radical
女
Stroke Count
13JLPT
UnknownGrade
10Frequency
1702
Handwriting
kanji
鉛Meaning
Lead
Reading
namari
onyomiえんen
Parts
釒Gold (金)㕣
Example Word
鉛筆: pencil. The Japanese noun '鉛筆 (えんぴつ)' means 'pencil'. It refers to a common writing instrument made of a thin cylindrical graphite core encased in wood. This word is widely used in everyday contexts, such as in schools, offices, or at home. For example: I bought a new pencil「新しい鉛筆を買いました」(あたらしいえんぴつをかいました). Please lend me a pencil「鉛筆を貸してください」(えんぴつをかしてください). The word is straightforward and does not carry additional nuanced meanings, making it easy to use in various situations.
Radical
金
Stroke Count
13JLPT
N1Grade
7Frequency
1704
Handwriting
kanji
暦Meaning
Calendar, Almanac
Reading
koyomi
onyomiれきreki
Parts
厂Cliff 木Tree, Wood 日Day, Sun
Example Word
暦: calendar. The Japanese noun '暦 (こよみ)' refers to a 'calendar'. It is used to denote a system for organizing days, weeks, months, and years, often used for planning and scheduling. This word can refer to both physical calendars and digital ones. For example: I bought a new calendar「新しい暦を買いました」(あたらしいこよみをかいました). The calendar shows the holidays「その暦は祝日を示しています」(そのこよみはしゅくじつをしめしています). The term can also be used in a broader sense to refer to the passage of time or the cycle of seasons, as in 'the calendar of the seasons' (季節の暦, きせつのこよみ).
Radical
日
Stroke Count
14JLPT
N1Grade
7Frequency
1705
Handwriting
kanji
滞Meaning
Stagnate
Reading
todokoo
onyomiたいtai
Parts
氵Water (水)帯Belt, Wear
Example Word
滞在: stay. The Japanese verbal noun '滞在 (たいざい)' means 'stay'. It refers to the act of staying or residing in a place temporarily, such as during a trip, vacation, or visit. It is commonly used in contexts related to travel, lodging, or temporary residence. For example: I will stay in Tokyo for three days「東京に三日間滞在します」(とうきょうにみっかかんたいざいします). His stay in Japan was very enjoyable「彼の日本での滞在はとても楽しかった」(かれのにほんでのたいざいはとてもたのしかった). The word is often paired with verbs like する (to do) or する予定 (plan to do) to indicate the act of staying.
Radical
水
Stroke Count
13JLPT
N1Grade
8Frequency
1708
Handwriting
kanji
脂Meaning
Fat, Grease
Reading
abura
onyomiしshi
Parts
肉Meat 旨Purport, Delicious
Example Word
脂肪: fat. The Japanese noun '脂肪 (しぼう)' refers to 'fat', specifically the biological substance found in the bodies of humans and animals, or the fatty component in food. It is commonly used in both medical and everyday contexts. For example: This food contains a lot of fat「この食べ物は脂肪が多い」(このたべものはしぼうがおおい). Exercise helps burn fat「運動は脂肪を燃やす」(うんどうはしぼうをもやす). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe excess or unnecessary elements, though this usage is less common.
Radical
肉
Stroke Count
10JLPT
N2Grade
7Frequency
1709
Handwriting
kanji
妨Meaning
Hinder, Disturb
Reading
samata
onyomiぼうbou
Parts
女Woman 方Direction
Example Word
妨害: obstruction. The Japanese verbal noun '妨害 (ぼうがい)' means 'obstruction' or 'interference'. It refers to the act of hindering or preventing something from happening, often intentionally. This word is commonly used in contexts such as communication, progress, or activities being disrupted. For example: The noise was an obstruction to our conversation「騒音が会話の妨害になった」(そうおんがかいわのぼうがいになった). The protest caused an obstruction to traffic「デモが交通の妨害になった」(デモがこうつうのぼうがいになった). It can also be used in legal or technical contexts, such as 'signal interference'「信号の妨害」(しんごうのぼうがい).
Radical
女
Stroke Count
7JLPT
N1Grade
8Frequency
1713
Handwriting
kanji
撲Meaning
Slap, Deal a blow
Reading
boku
Parts
扌Hand (手)菐
Example Word
相撲: sumo. The Japanese noun '相撲 (すもう)' refers to the traditional Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. Sumo is a competitive full-contact wrestling sport where a wrestler (rikishi) aims to force his opponent out of a circular ring (dohyō) or to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet. Sumo has deep cultural and historical significance in Japan, often associated with Shinto rituals. Example sentences: I enjoy watching sumo「相撲を見るのが好きです」(すもうをみるのがすきです). Sumo wrestlers are very strong「相撲取りはとても強いです」(すもうとりはとてもつよいです).
Radical
手
Stroke Count
15JLPT
N1Grade
9Frequency
1714
Handwriting
kanji
秩Meaning
Order, Regularity
Reading
chitsu
Parts
禾Cereal 失Lose, Fault
Example Word
秩序: order. The Japanese noun '秩序 (ちつじょ)' means 'order' in the sense of a systematic or harmonious arrangement. It is often used to describe social, natural, or organizational systems where things are structured and functioning properly. For example: maintaining social order「社会の秩序を守る」(しゃかいのちつじょをまもる). The natural order of the ecosystem「生態系の秩序」(せいたいけいのちつじょ). This word is commonly used in formal or academic contexts to discuss stability, rules, or systems. It is not used to describe personal tidiness or neatness, which would be expressed with words like '整理 (せいり)'.
Radical
禾
Stroke Count
10JLPT
N1Grade
9Frequency
1716
Handwriting
kanji
株Meaning
Shares, Stocks
Reading
kabu
onyomiしゅshu
Parts
木Tree, Wood 朱Vermillion
Example Word
株価: stock price. The Japanese noun '株価 (かぶか)' refers to the 'stock price' or 'share price' of a company. It is commonly used in financial and business contexts to discuss the value of stocks traded on the market. For example: The stock price rose sharply「株価が急上昇した」(かぶかがきゅうじょうしょうした). The stock price of that company is high「あの会社の株価は高い」(あのかいしゃのかぶかはたかい). This term is essential in discussions about investments, market trends, and economic news.
Radical
木
Stroke Count
10JLPT
N1Grade
6Frequency
1718
Handwriting