Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Year

Reading

Parts

厂Cliff 午Noon

Example Word

年月日: date. The Japanese noun '年月日 (ねんがっぴ)' refers to a specific date, typically written in the format of year, month, and day. It is often used in formal or official contexts, such as on documents, forms, or when specifying a particular day in history. For example: Please write the date here「ここに年月日を書いてください」(ここにねんがっぴをかいてください). The date of the event is October 10, 2023「イベントの年月日は2023年10月10日です」(イベントのねんがっぴは2023ねん10がつ10かです). Note that '年月日' is a more formal way to refer to a date compared to '日付 (ひづけ)', which is also commonly used.

Radical

干

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

37

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sort of thing, In that case

Reading

Parts

火Fire 肰

Example Word

当然: natural or obvious. The Japanese adjectival noun '当然 (とうぜん)' can mean 'natural' or 'obvious'. It is used to describe something that is expected, self-evident, or logically follows from a situation. This word often conveys a sense of inevitability or something that should be taken for granted. For example: It's natural that he won「彼が勝つのは当然だ」(かれがかつのはとうぜんだ). It's obvious that she would refuse「彼女が断るのは当然だ」(かのじょがことわるのはとうぜんだ). The word can also be used in contexts where something is considered a given or a matter of course, such as in '当然の結果 (とうぜんのけっか) (natural outcome)'.

Radical

火

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

73

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Thought

Reading

Parts

今Now 心Heart

Example Word

概念: concept. The Japanese noun '概念 (がいねん)' refers to an abstract idea or a general notion, often used in academic, philosophical, or technical contexts. It represents a mental construct that helps in understanding or categorizing something. For example: The concept of time is complex「時間の概念は複雑です」(じかんのがいねんはふくざつです). He explained the concept clearly「彼はその概念を明確に説明した」(かれはそのがいねんをめいかくにせつめいした). The word is commonly used in discussions about theories, ideas, or frameworks, and it carries a formal tone.

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

282

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Relation, Edge

Reading

Parts

糸Thread 豕Pig

Example Word

縁: edge or fate. The Japanese noun '縁 (えん)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning is 'fate' or 'destiny', referring to a connection or bond between people, often implying a predestined relationship. For example: We met by fate「私たちは縁で出会った」(わたしたちはえんでであった). The second meaning is 'edge' or 'rim', referring to the boundary or outer part of something. For example: The edge of the table is chipped「テーブルの縁が欠けている」(テーブルのえんがかけている). The context in which '縁' is used will determine whether it refers to fate or an edge, so pay attention to the surrounding words.

Radical

糸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

495

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Burn

Reading

Parts

火Fire 然Sort of thing, In that case

Example Word

燃料: fuel. The Japanese noun '燃料 (ねんりょう)' means 'fuel'. It refers to any material that is burned or used to produce energy, such as gasoline, coal, or natural gas. This word is commonly used in contexts related to energy, transportation, and machinery. For example: The car needs fuel「車は燃料が必要です」(くるまはねんりょうがひつようです). We use natural gas as fuel「天然ガスを燃料として使います」(てんねんガスをねんりょうとしてつかいます). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something that provides energy or motivation, such as 'the fuel for his passion' (彼の情熱の燃料).

Radical

火

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

990

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Wrenching

Reading

Parts

扌Hand (手)念Thought

Example Word

捻る: twist. The Japanese verb '捻る (ひねる)' primarily means 'to twist'. It is used to describe the physical action of twisting something, such as turning a knob or wringing out a towel. It can also be used metaphorically to describe thinking hard or coming up with a clever idea. For example: He twisted the cap off the bottle「彼はボトルのキャップをひねった」(かれはボトルのキャップをひねった). She twisted her ankle while running「彼女は走っている間に足首をひねった」(かのじょははしっているあいだにあしくびをひねった). The writer twisted the plot to make it more interesting「作家はプロットをひねって面白くした」(さっかはプロットをひねっておもしろくした).

Radical

手

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1886

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sticky

Reading

Parts

米Rice 占Fortune telling

Radical

米

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1944

Handwriting