kanji

Meaning

Inevitable, Certain

Reading

Parts

心Heart 丿Katakana no

Example Word

必死: desperate. The Japanese adjectival noun '必死 (ひっし)' means 'desperate'. It describes a state of extreme urgency or determination, often implying that someone is putting all their effort into something, as if their life depends on it. It can be used to describe actions, attitudes, or situations. For example: He was desperate to win「彼は勝つために必死だった」(かれはかつためにひっしだった). She worked desperately to finish the project「彼女はプロジェクトを終わらせるために必死に働いた」(かのじょはぷろじぇくとをおわらせるためにひっしにはたらいた). The word can also imply a sense of life-or-death seriousness, as in '必死の努力 (ひっしのどりょく) (desperate effort)'.

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

264

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Brush

Reading

Parts

⺮Bamboo (竹)聿Brush

Example Word

筆記試験: written exam. The Japanese noun '筆記試験 (ひっきしけん)' refers to a 'written exam' or 'written test'. It is commonly used in academic or professional settings to describe an examination where answers are written down, as opposed to oral or practical exams. For example: I have a written exam tomorrow「明日は筆記試験があります」(あしたはひっきしけんがあります). The written exam was difficult「筆記試験は難しかった」(ひっきしけんはむずかしかった). This term is often used in contexts like school, university, or job qualification tests.

Radical

竹

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

665

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Equal, Counter for animals

Reading

Parts

匚 儿Legs

Example Word

匹: counter. The Japanese suffix '匹 (ひき)' is a counter used for small animals, such as cats, dogs, fish, and insects. It is one of the most common counters in Japanese and is essential for counting animals. The reading 'ひき' changes depending on the number it follows due to rendaku (voicing) and phonetic rules. For example: one cat「猫一匹」(ねこいっぴき), two dogs「犬二匹」(いぬにひき), three fish「魚三匹」(さかなさんびき). Note that the counter does not change based on the size of the animal, but rather the category (small animals). This suffix is widely used in everyday conversation and is a fundamental part of Japanese counting systems.

Radical

匸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1326

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Secrete

Reading

Parts

氵Water (水)必Inevitable, Certain

Example Word

分泌: secretion. The Japanese noun '分泌 (ぶんぴつ)' refers to the biological process of secretion, where substances are produced and discharged from a cell, gland, or organ. This term is commonly used in medical and biological contexts. For example: Hormone secretion is important for the body「ホルモンの分泌は体にとって重要です」(ホルモンのぶんぴつはからだにとってじゅうようです). Excessive secretion of oil can cause skin problems「油の過剰分泌は肌トラブルの原因になります」(あぶらのかじょうぶんぴつははだトラブルのげんいんになります).

Radical

水

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2099

Handwriting