Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Every

Reading

Parts

𠂉Person (人)毋Mother

Example Word

毎晩: every night. The Japanese noun '毎晩 (まいばん)' means 'every night'. It is used to indicate that something happens or is done each night without exception. This word is often used in daily conversations to describe routines or habitual actions. For example: I read a book every night「毎晩本を読みます」(まいばんほんをよみます). She calls me every night「彼女は毎晩電話をくれます」(かのじょはまいばんでんわをくれます). The word '毎晩' is a combination of '毎' (every) and '晩' (night), and it is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Radical

毋

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

529

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rice

Reading

Parts

丷Divide 木Tree, Wood

Example Word

米国: USA. The Japanese proper noun '米国 (べいこく)' refers to the United States of America (USA). The term is derived from the kanji '米' meaning 'rice', which is used phonetically here to represent 'America'. This term is commonly used in formal contexts, news, and official documents. For example: I am going to the USA next week「来週、米国に行きます」(らいしゅう、べいこくにいきます). The USA is a big country「米国は大きな国です」(べいこくはおおきなくにです). It is important to note that '米国' is more formal than the alternative term 'アメリカ', which is used in casual conversation.

Radical

米

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

565

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Flat, Counter

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 攵Strike

Example Word

枚: counter. The Japanese suffix '枚 (まい)' is a counter used for flat, thin objects such as sheets of paper, plates, or shirts. It is one of the many counters in Japanese, each used for specific types of objects. For example: two sheets of paper「紙が二枚あります」(かみがにまいあります). I bought three shirts「シャツを三枚買いました」(シャツをさんまいかいました). This counter is essential for quantifying items in daily conversation and is often paired with numbers to indicate quantity.

Radical

木

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

724

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Younger sister

Reading

Parts

女Woman 未Not yet

Example Word

妹: younger sister. The Japanese noun '妹 (いもうと)' specifically refers to a younger sister. It is used to describe a female sibling who is younger than the speaker. This term is commonly used in family contexts and is gender-specific. For example: my younger sister is kind「私の妹は優しい」(わたしのいもうとはやさしい). I have a younger sister「私は妹がいます」(わたしはいもうとがいます). Note that '妹' is only used for younger sisters; for older sisters, the term '姉 (あね)' is used.

Radical

女

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

794

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Bury

Reading

Parts

土Soil 里Hometown

Example Word

埋める: bury. The Japanese verb '埋める (うめる)' primarily means 'to bury'. It is used when referring to the act of covering something completely, often in the ground, such as burying treasure or a time capsule. It can also be used metaphorically to describe hiding or concealing something, like emotions or information. For example: He buried the treasure「彼は宝物を埋めた」(かれはたからものをうめた). She buried her feelings「彼女は感情を埋めた」(かのじょはかんじょうをうめた). Additionally, '埋める' can be used in contexts like filling a gap or hole, such as filling a hole in the ground「地面の穴を埋める」(じめんのあなをうめる).

Radical

土

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1179

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Dark, Foolish

Reading

Parts

日Day, Sun 未Not yet

Example Word

曖昧: vague. The Japanese adjective '曖昧 (あいまい)' means 'vague' or 'ambiguous'. It is used to describe something that is unclear, not well-defined, or open to interpretation. This word can be applied to statements, ideas, situations, or even feelings. For example: His explanation was vague「彼の説明は曖昧だった」(かれのせつめいはあいまいだった). The meaning of this sentence is ambiguous「この文の意味は曖昧だ」(このぶんのいみはあいまいだ). '曖昧' often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying a lack of clarity or precision. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Radical

日

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1796

Handwriting