Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Duty

Reading

Parts

彳Stop 殳Pike

Example Word

区役所: ward office. The Japanese noun '区役所 (くやくしょ)' refers to a 'ward office', which is a local government office in Japan responsible for administrative services within a specific ward (区) of a city. These offices handle various municipal services such as residence registration, issuing certificates, and providing information on local events and regulations. For example: I went to the ward office to register my new address「新しい住所を登録するために区役所に行きました」(あたらしいじゅうしょをとうろくするためにくやくしょにいきました). The ward office is closed on weekends「区役所は週末に閉まっています」(くやくしょはしゅうまつにしまっています).

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

有益: beneficial. The Japanese adjectival noun '有益 (ゆうえき)' means 'beneficial'. It is used to describe something that provides a significant advantage, profit, or positive outcome. This term is often used in contexts related to education, health, and business to indicate that something is useful or advantageous. For example: This book is beneficial for students「この本は学生にとって有益です」(このほんはがくせいにとってゆうえきです). The meeting was beneficial for the company「その会議は会社にとって有益でした」(そのかいぎはかいしゃにとってゆうえきでした). It can also be used to describe actions or information that are helpful or valuable.

Radical

皿

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

972

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Station

Reading

Parts

馬Horse 尺Foot

Example Word

駅長: stationmaster. The Japanese noun '駅長 (えきちょう)' refers to the 'stationmaster', the person in charge of managing a train station. This role involves overseeing the station's operations, ensuring the safety and efficiency of train services, and managing staff. For example: The stationmaster is very kind「駅長はとても親切です」(えきちょうはとてもしんせつです). I spoke with the stationmaster about the train schedule「駅長と列車のスケジュールについて話しました」(えきちょうとれっしゃのすけじゅーるについてはなしました). This term is specific to the railway context and is commonly used in Japan.

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