kanji

Meaning

Duty

Reading

Parts

彳Stop 殳Pike

Example Word

現役: active. The Japanese noun '現役 (げんえき)' primarily means 'active' and is used to describe someone who is currently engaged in a particular role, profession, or activity. It is often used in contexts such as sports, work, or education to indicate that someone is still actively participating rather than retired or inactive. For example: He is an active player「彼は現役の選手です」(かれはげんえきのせんしゅです). She is still an active student「彼女はまだ現役の学生です」(かのじょはまだげんえきのがくせいです). The term can also imply a sense of being in one's prime or currently performing at a high level.

Radical

彳

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

354

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Easy

Reading

Parts

日Day, Sun 勿Must not

Example Word

易い: easy. The Japanese suffix '易い (やすい)' is attached to the stem of verbs to indicate that something is easy to do. It conveys the idea that the action described by the verb is simple or effortless. For example: This book is easy to read「この本は読み易い」(このほんはよみやすい). This problem is easy to solve「この問題は解き易い」(このもんだいはときやすい). Note that '易い' is often written in hiragana as 'やすい' when used as a suffix. It is important to distinguish this from the adjective '安い (やすい)', which means 'cheap'.

Radical

日

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

718

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Profit, Benefit

Reading

Parts

皿Plate ハ

Example Word

利益: profit or benefit. The Japanese noun '利益 (りえき)' can mean either 'profit' or 'benefit', depending on the context. When referring to 'profit', it is often used in business or financial contexts to describe monetary gain. For example: The company made a large profit「その会社は大きな利益を得た」(そのかいしゃはおおきなりえきをえた). When referring to 'benefit', it is used to describe an advantage or positive outcome, often in a more general or non-monetary sense. For example: This policy will bring benefits to society「この政策は社会に利益をもたらす」(このせいさくはしゃかいにりえきをもたらす). The word can be used in both formal and informal settings, but it is more commonly encountered in formal or written contexts.

Radical

皿

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

972

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Station

Reading

Parts

馬Horse 尺Foot

Example Word

駅前: station front. The Japanese noun '駅前 (えきまえ)' refers to the area in front of a train station. This term is commonly used to describe the vicinity or plaza located directly outside a train station, often bustling with shops, restaurants, and other amenities. For example: Let's meet in front of the station「駅前で会いましょう」(えきまえであいましょう). There are many shops in front of the station「駅前にたくさんのお店があります」(えきまえにたくさんのおみせがあります). The term is frequently used in daily conversations and is a key landmark in urban areas.

Radical

馬

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1223

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Liquid

Reading

Parts

氵Water (水)夜Night

Example Word

液体: liquid. The Japanese noun '液体 (えきたい)' means 'liquid'. This term refers to a substance that flows freely but is of constant volume, having a consistency like that of water or oil. It is used in both scientific and everyday contexts to describe the state of matter between solid and gas. For example: water is a liquid「水は液体です」(みずはえきたいです). This bottle contains a strange liquid「このボトルには変な液体が入っている」(このボトルにはへんなえきたいがはいっている). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something that resembles a liquid in its flow or form.

Radical

水

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1622

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Epidemic

Reading

Parts

疒Sick 殳Pike

Example Word

免疫: immunity. The Japanese noun '免疫 (めんえき)' means 'immunity'. It refers to the biological defense mechanism of an organism against diseases or infections. This term is commonly used in medical and health-related contexts. For example: he has strong immunity「彼は免疫が強い」(かれはめんえきがつよい). Vaccines help build immunity「ワクチンは免疫を作るのに役立つ」(ワクチンはめんえきをつくるのにやくだつ). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe resistance to non-biological influences, such as stress or criticism, though this usage is less common.

Radical

疒

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2001

Handwriting