Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Year

Reading

Parts

厂Cliff 午Noon

Example Word

忘年会: year end party. The Japanese noun '忘年会 (ぼうねんかい)' refers to a 'year-end party'. This is a traditional event held in Japan at the end of the year, typically in December, where colleagues, friends, or groups gather to celebrate the passing year and forget the hardships or troubles of the past year. The word itself combines '忘年' (forgetting the year) and '会' (gathering/party). These parties often involve food, drinks, and sometimes karaoke. Example sentences: Let's have a year-end party「忘年会をしましょう」(ぼうねんかいをしましょう). The company's year-end party was fun「会社の忘年会は楽しかった」(かいしゃのぼうねんかいはたのしかった).

Radical

干

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

37

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sort of thing, In that case

Reading

Parts

火Fire 肰

Example Word

全然: not at all. The Japanese adverb '全然 (ぜんぜん)' is commonly used to express 'not at all' or 'entirely not'. It is often used in negative sentences to emphasize the complete absence or negation of something. For example: I don't understand at all「全然わからない」(ぜんぜんわからない). This is not interesting at all「これは全然面白くない」(これはぜんぜんおもしろくない). It can also be used in casual speech to mean 'completely' or 'totally' in positive contexts, though this usage is more informal. For example: I'm completely fine「全然平気だよ」(ぜんぜんへいきだよ).

Radical

火

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

73

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Thought

Reading

Parts

今Now 心Heart

Example Word

残念: regrettable. The Japanese adjectival noun '残念 (ざんねん)' means 'regrettable' or 'disappointing'. It is used to express a feeling of disappointment or regret about a situation, outcome, or event. This word is often used in contexts where something did not go as planned or when something unfortunate happens. For example: It's regrettable that the event was canceled「イベントが中止になって残念です」(イベントがちゅうしになってざんねんです). I'm disappointed that I couldn't meet you「会えなくて残念です」(あえなくてざんねんです). The word can also be used to politely express sympathy or disappointment on behalf of someone else, such as '残念ながら (ざんねんながら)', which means 'unfortunately'.

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

燃える: burn. The Japanese verb '燃える (もえる)' means 'to burn'. It is used to describe the process of combustion, where something is consumed by fire. This verb can be used for both literal and metaphorical contexts. For example: the wood is burning「木が燃えている」(きがもえている). His passion for music burns brightly「彼の音楽への情熱が燃えている」(かれのおんがくへのじょうねつがもえている). Additionally, '燃える' can be used to describe intense emotions or desires, such as a burning ambition or a burning love.

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