Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Time, Hour

Reading

Parts

日Day, Sun 寺Temple

Example Word

目覚まし時計: alarm clock. The Japanese noun '目覚まし時計 (めざましどけい)' refers to an 'alarm clock', a device used to wake someone up at a specific time. It is commonly used in daily life to ensure punctuality. For example: I set the alarm clock for 7 AM「目覚まし時計を7時にセットした」(めざましどけいをしちじにセットした). The alarm clock didn't ring this morning「今朝、目覚まし時計が鳴らなかった」(けさ、めざましどけいがならなかった). This word is a compound of '目覚まし (めざまし)', meaning 'waking up', and '時計 (とけい)', meaning 'clock'.

Radical

日

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

14

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Thing

Reading

Parts

⺕Hand 亅Barb 一One 口Mouth

Example Word

事務員: clerk. The Japanese noun '事務員 (じむいん)' refers to a 'clerk' or 'office worker'. This term is commonly used to describe someone who performs administrative or clerical tasks in an office setting. It is a neutral term and does not imply any specific rank or seniority. For example: She works as a clerk「彼女は事務員として働いています」(かのじょはじむいんとしてはたらいています). The clerk is organizing the documents「事務員が書類を整理しています」(じむいんがしょるいをせいりしています). This word is often used in professional or formal contexts to describe someone handling routine office duties.

Radical

亅

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

16

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Self

Reading

Parts

目Eye 丿Katakana no

Example Word

自国: home country. The Japanese noun '自国 (じこく)' refers to one's own country or homeland. It is often used in contexts where someone is comparing or discussing their own country in relation to others. For example: I love my homecountry「私は自国が大好きです」(わたしはじこくがだいすきです). The policies of my homecountry are strict「自国の政策は厳しい」(じこくのせいさくはきびしい). This term is commonly used in formal or political discussions.

Radical

自

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

20

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Hold

Reading

Parts

寺Temple 扌Hand (手)

Example Word

持ち上げる: lift. The Japanese verb '持ち上げる (もちあげる)' means 'to lift' or 'to raise something up'. It is commonly used when physically picking up or elevating an object. For example: He lifted the box「彼は箱を持ち上げた」(かれははこをもちあげた). The crane lifted the heavy load「クレーンが重い荷物を持ち上げた」(クレーンがおもいにものをもちあげた). Additionally, '持ち上げる' can be used metaphorically to describe elevating someone's status or praising them excessively, as in: The media lifted him up as a hero「メディアは彼を英雄として持ち上げた」(メディアはかれをえいゆうとしてもちあげた).

Radical

手

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

47

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Ground

Reading

Parts

土Soil 也To be

Example Word

遊園地: amusement park. The Japanese noun '遊園地 (ゆうえんち)' refers to an 'amusement park', a place with various attractions, rides, and entertainment facilities. It is commonly used to describe places like Disneyland or Universal Studios, where people go for leisure and fun. Example sentences: Let's go to the amusement park「遊園地に行きましょう」(ゆうえんちにいきましょう). The amusement park was crowded「遊園地は混んでいた」(ゆうえんちはこんでいた). This word is often associated with family outings or childhood memories.

Radical

土

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

53

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Next

Reading

Parts

冫Ice (水)欠Lack

Example Word

次々: one after another. The Japanese adverb '次々 (つぎつぎ)' means 'one after another' or 'in succession'. It is used to describe events, actions, or things happening continuously or in rapid sequence. This word emphasizes the flow or progression of events without interruption. For example: new products are released one after another「新製品が次々と発表される」(しんせいひんがつぎつぎとはっぴょうされる). People entered the room one after another「人々が次々と部屋に入った」(ひとびとがつぎつぎとへやにはいった). The adverb often pairs with particles like 'と' to emphasize the continuous nature of the action.

Radical

欠

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

101

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cure, Reign

Reading

Parts

氵Water (水)台Pedestal, Machine

Example Word

政治家: politician. The Japanese noun '政治家 (せいじか)' refers to a 'politician', someone who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of an elected office. This term is used to describe individuals who are engaged in the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power. For example: That politician is very popular「あの政治家はとても人気がある」(あのせいじかはとてもにんきがある). He became a politician after retiring from the military「彼は軍隊を引退した後、政治家になった」(かれはぐんたいをいんたいしたあと、せいじかになった). The term can be used in both formal and informal contexts, and it carries a neutral connotation unless specified otherwise by the context in which it is used.

Radical

水

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

317

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Character

Reading

Parts

子Child 宀Roof

Example Word

十字路: crossroads. The Japanese noun '十字路 (じゅうじろ)' refers to a 'crossroads' or an intersection where two roads cross each other, typically forming a cross shape. This word is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. In a literal sense, it describes a physical intersection, while metaphorically, it can signify a point of decision or a critical juncture in life. Example sentences include: At the crossroads, turn left「十字路で左に曲がってください」(じゅうじろでひだりにまがってください). Life is full of crossroads「人生には十字路がたくさんある」(じんせいにはじゅうじろがたくさんある).

Radical

子

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

370

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Temple

Reading

Parts

土Soil 寸Measurement

Example Word

寺院: temple. The Japanese noun '寺院 (じいん)' refers to a 'temple', specifically a Buddhist temple. This term is used to describe a place of worship and practice for Buddhists, often characterized by its architecture, statues, and religious activities. For example: I visited a famous temple「有名な寺院を訪れました」(ゆうめいなじいんをおとずれました). The temple is very old「その寺院はとても古いです」(そのじいんはとてもふるいです). It's important to note that '寺院' is distinct from '神社 (じんじゃ)', which refers to Shinto shrines.

Radical

寸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

408

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Resemble

Reading

Parts

亻Person (人)以By means of

Example Word

似ている: resemble. The Japanese verb '似ている (にている)' means 'to resemble' or 'to be similar'. It is used to describe a likeness or similarity between two things, people, or situations. This verb is often used in comparisons, such as when saying someone looks like another person or when two objects share similar characteristics. For example: she resembles her mother「彼女は母親に似ている」(かのじょはははおやににている). These two paintings are similar「この二つの絵は似ている」(このふたつのえはにている). The verb is typically used in its te-form (似ている) to indicate a state of resemblance or similarity.

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

464

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Ear

Reading

Parts

一One 三Three 丨Stick

Example Word

耳: ear. The Japanese noun '耳 (みみ)' means 'ear'. This word refers to the organ of hearing in humans and animals. It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. For example: my ear hurts「耳が痛い」(みみがいたい). She whispered in my ear「彼女は私の耳に囁いた」(かのじょはわたしのみみにささやいた). Additionally, '耳' can be used metaphorically to describe something that resembles an ear in shape, such as the handle of a cup, referred to as '耳' in Japanese. It is a versatile word that appears in various idiomatic expressions and compound words.

Radical

耳

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

465

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Show, Indicate

Reading

Parts

二Two 小Small

Example Word

示唆: hint. The Japanese noun '示唆 (しさ)' means 'hint' or 'suggestion'. It refers to an indirect indication or clue that implies something without stating it explicitly. This word is often used in formal or intellectual contexts, such as academic discussions, literature, or professional advice. For example: The professor gave a hint about the exam questions「教授は試験問題について示唆を与えた」(きょうじゅはしけんもんだいについてしさをあたえた). Her words contained a subtle suggestion「彼女の言葉には微妙な示唆が含まれていた」(かのじょのことばにはびみょうなしさがふくまれていた). Note that '示唆' is more formal than other words like 'ヒント' (hint) or '暗示' (あんじ, implication), and it often carries a nuanced or sophisticated tone.

Radical

示

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

574

Radical Form

礻

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Child

Reading

Parts

儿Legs 旧Old, Past

Example Word

幼児: toddler. The Japanese noun '幼児 (ようじ)' refers to a young child, typically between the ages of 1 and 6 years old, who is in the early stages of childhood. This term is often used in educational, medical, and parenting contexts to describe children who are not yet in elementary school. For example: The toddler is playing in the park「幼児が公園で遊んでいる」(ようじがこうえんであそんでいる). This daycare is for toddlers「この保育園は幼児向けです」(このほいくえんはようじむけです). The word emphasizes the stage of development rather than just the age, and it is commonly used in phrases like '幼児教育 (ようじきょういく)' (early childhood education).

Radical

儿

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

750

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Word, Resign

Reading

Parts

舌Tongue 辛Hard, Spicy

Example Word

辞典: dictionary. The Japanese noun '辞典 (じてん)' refers to a 'dictionary', a reference book containing words and their meanings, often arranged alphabetically. It is commonly used for language learning or looking up definitions. For example: I bought a new dictionary「新しい辞典を買いました」(あたらしいじてんをかいました). This dictionary is very useful「この辞典はとても便利です」(このじてんはとてもべんりです). The word can also refer to specialized dictionaries, such as a kanji dictionary『漢字辞典』(かんじじてん).

Radical

辛

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

941

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Attend to, Samurai

Reading

Parts

亻Person (人)寺Temple

Example Word

侍: samurai. The Japanese noun '侍 (さむらい)' refers to a 'samurai', a member of the warrior class in feudal Japan. Samurai were known for their strict code of honor, discipline, and martial skills. The term is often associated with loyalty, bravery, and the bushido (the way of the warrior). Example sentences: The samurai fought bravely「侍は勇敢に戦った」(さむらいはゆうかんにたたかった). He is a descendant of a samurai family「彼は侍の家系の子孫です」(かれはさむらいのかけいのしそんです). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who embodies the qualities of a samurai, such as honor and discipline.

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

961

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Exclude, Remove

Reading

Parts

⻖ 余Excess

Example Word

解除: cancellation. The Japanese noun '解除 (かいじょ)' refers to the act of canceling, revoking, or releasing something, such as a contract, restriction, or state of being. It is commonly used in formal or technical contexts. For example: cancellation of the contract「契約の解除」(けいやくのかいじょ). The state of emergency has been lifted「緊急事態が解除された」(きんきゅうじたいがかいじょされた). It can also refer to the removal of a lock or restriction, as in '解除コード (かいじょコード) (unlock code)'. This word is often used in legal, technical, or administrative settings.

Radical

阜

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1003

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Affection, Mercy

Reading

Parts

心Heart 兹

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1367

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Feed

Reading

Parts

飠Eat (食)耳Ear

Example Word

餌: feed or bait. The Japanese noun '餌 (えさ)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'feed', referring to food given to animals, such as pets or livestock. For example: I gave feed to the dog「犬に餌をあげた」(いぬにえさをあげた). The second meaning is 'bait', used in the context of fishing or trapping. For example: He put bait on the hook「彼は針に餌をつけた」(かれははりにえさをつけた). The word is versatile and can be used in both domestic and outdoor settings, depending on the context.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1696

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Magnet, Porcelain

Reading

Parts

石Stone 兹

Radical

石

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1904

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Nourishing

Reading

Parts

氵Water (水)兹

Radical

水

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2010

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Briar, Thorn

Reading

Parts

艹Grass 次Next

Radical

艸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2032

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Two

Reading

Parts

一One 弍

Radical

弋

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2069

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Imperial seal, Emperor's seal

Reading

Parts

玉Ball, Jewel 爾

Radical

玉

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2131

Handwriting