Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Inevitable, Certain

Reading

Parts

心Heart 丿Katakana no

Example Word

必要: necessary. The Japanese adjectival noun '必要 (ひつよう)' means 'necessary'. It is used to describe something that is required or essential for a particular purpose or situation. It can be used in various contexts, such as in daily life, work, or academic settings. For example: It is necessary to study hard「勉強する必要がある」(べんきょうするひつようがある). Is this document necessary?「この書類は必要ですか？」(このしょるいはひつようですか？). The word can also be used to express the necessity of actions or items, as in '必要なもの (ひつようなもの) (necessary items)'.

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

264

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Brush

Reading

Parts

⺮Bamboo (竹)聿Brush

Example Word

筆: brush. The Japanese noun '筆 (ふで)' refers to a 'brush', specifically a writing or painting brush. This term is commonly used in the context of traditional Japanese calligraphy (書道, しょどう) and painting. The brush is an essential tool in these art forms, and the quality of the brush can significantly affect the outcome of the work. For example: I bought a new brush「新しい筆を買いました」(あたらしいふでをかいました). She is skilled with a brush「彼女は筆が上手です」(かのじょはふでがじょうずです). In addition to its literal meaning, '筆' can also be used metaphorically to refer to someone's writing style or ability, as in '彼の筆は鋭い (かれのふではするどい)' (His writing is sharp).

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