Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Mouth

Reading

Parts

冂Enclosure 一One

Example Word

無口: quiet. The Japanese adjectival noun '無口 (むくち)' refers to someone who is 'quiet' or 'taciturn', often describing a person who speaks little or is not talkative. It is used to characterize someone's personality or behavior. For example: He is a quiet person「彼は無口な人です」(かれはむくちなひとです). She became quiet after the incident「彼女はその出来事の後、無口になりました」(かのじょはそのできごとのあと、むくちになりました). This term is neutral and does not inherently carry a positive or negative connotation, though context can influence its interpretation.

Radical

口

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

82

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Nine

Reading

Parts

乙Second, Latter 丿Katakana no

Example Word

九百: nine hundred. The Japanese noun '九百 (きゅうひゃく)' means 'nine hundred'. It is a specific number used in counting or referring to quantities. This word is typically used in contexts involving numbers, such as prices, distances, or counts. For example: The book costs nine hundred yen「その本は九百円です」(そのほんはきゅうひゃくえんです). The train is nine hundred meters away「電車は九百メートル先です」(でんしゃはきゅうひゃくメートルさきです). It's important to note that '九百' is a compound of '九 (きゅう)' meaning 'nine' and '百 (ひゃく)' meaning 'hundred', and it follows the standard Japanese numbering system.

Radical

乛

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

225

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Suffer

Reading

Parts

艹Grass 古Old

Example Word

苦しい: painful. The Japanese adjective '苦しい (くるしい)' primarily means 'painful'. It is used to describe physical pain, emotional distress, or difficult situations. This word can also imply a sense of struggle or hardship. For example: my chest feels painful「胸が苦しい」(むねがくるしい). It was a painful decision「それは苦しい決断だった」(それはくるしいけつだんだった). In some contexts, it can also describe something that is hard to endure or tolerate, such as a tight schedule or a challenging task.

Radical

艸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

230

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Accompany, Offer

Reading

Parts

亻Person (人)共Together

Example Word

供給: supply. The Japanese verbal noun '供給 (きょうきゅう)' means 'supply'. It refers to the act of providing or furnishing something, often in the context of goods, services, or resources. This term is commonly used in economic, business, and everyday contexts. For example: The company supplies electricity「その会社は電気を供給する」(そのかいしゃはでんきをきょうきゅうする). Water supply is essential for life「水の供給は生命に不可欠だ」(みずのきょうきゅうはせいめいにふかけつだ). Note that '供給' is often paired with verbs like 'する' to form phrases like '供給する' (to supply).

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

239

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Construction

Reading

Parts

丅Down (下)一One

Example Word

細工: craft or trick. The Japanese noun '細工 (さいく)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning is 'craft', referring to the act of creating or making something with skill, often involving intricate or delicate work. For example: This wooden doll is a fine craft「この木の人形は素晴らしい細工です」(このきのにんぎょうはすばらしいさいくです). The second meaning is 'trick', referring to a clever or deceitful act, often used in contexts involving manipulation or deception. For example: He used a trick to win the game「彼はゲームに勝つために細工を使った」(かれはゲームにかつためにさいくをつかった). The word's meaning depends heavily on the context in which it is used, so pay attention to the surrounding words and situation.

Radical

工

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

411

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Long time

Reading

Example Word

久しい: long. The Japanese adjective '久しい (ひさしい)' means 'long' in the sense of a considerable amount of time having passed. It is often used to describe a period that feels lengthy or to express that something has not happened for a long time. For example: It has been a long time since we last met「私たちが最後に会ってから久しい」(わたしたちがさいごにあったからひさしい). It's been a long time since it rained「雨が降ってから久しい」(あめがふってからひさしい). This adjective conveys a sense of nostalgia or the passage of time and is typically used in written or formal contexts.

Radical

丿

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

459

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Phrase, Paragraph

Reading

Parts

勹Wrap 口Mouth

Example Word

慣用句: idiom. The Japanese noun '慣用句 (かんようく)' refers to an 'idiom' or a set phrase that has a meaning not deducible from the individual words. These expressions are deeply rooted in the language and culture, often carrying nuances and connotations that are unique to Japanese. For example: He used an idiom to explain his point「彼は自分のポイントを説明するために慣用句を使った」(かれはじぶんのポイントをせつめいするためにかんようくをつかった). Learning idioms is essential for understanding Japanese culture「慣用句を学ぶことは日本文化を理解するために不可欠だ」(かんようくをまなぶことはにほんぶんかをりかいするためにふかけつだ). Idioms often reflect historical events, folklore, or common experiences, making them a rich area of study for language learners.

Radical

口

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

549

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Crimson

Reading

Parts

糸Thread 工Construction

Example Word

紅葉: autumn leaves. The Japanese verbal noun '紅葉 (こうよう)' refers to the phenomenon of leaves changing color in autumn, often specifically to the vibrant reds and yellows seen in Japanese maple trees. It is also used to describe the act of leaves changing color. This word is deeply tied to the appreciation of seasonal beauty in Japanese culture. Example sentences: The autumn leaves are beautiful「紅葉がきれいです」(こうようがきれいです). Let's go see the autumn leaves「紅葉を見に行きましょう」(こうようをみにいきましょう).

Radical

糸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

791

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Merit, Achievement

Reading

Parts

力Power 工Construction

Example Word

成功: success. The Japanese verbal noun '成功 (せいこう)' means 'success'. It refers to the achievement of a desired goal or outcome. This word is commonly used in contexts related to personal, professional, or academic achievements. For example: His success was celebrated by everyone「彼の成功は皆に祝われた」(かれのせいこうはみんなにいわわれた). The project was a great success「そのプロジェクトは大成功だった」(そのプロジェクトはだいせいこうだった). Note that '成功' can also be used as a verb when combined with the auxiliary verb 'する', as in '成功する (せいこうする)', meaning 'to succeed'.

Radical

力

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

991

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

District

Reading

Parts

匸Side enclosure 乂Govern

Example Word

区切る: divide or separate. The Japanese verb '区切る (くぎる)' means 'to divide' or 'to separate'. It is used to describe the action of splitting something into distinct parts or sections, often by setting boundaries or markers. This verb can be applied to physical spaces, time periods, or abstract concepts. For example: divide the text into paragraphs「文章を段落で区切る」(ぶんしょうをだんらくでくぎる). Separate the room with a curtain「部屋をカーテンで区切る」(へやをカーテンでくぎる). The verb can also imply creating clear distinctions or organizing something into manageable parts.

Radical

匸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1042

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Spur on, Gallop

Reading

Parts

馬Horse 区District

Example Word

駆け足: trot. The Japanese verbal noun '駆け足 (かけあし)' refers to a light, quick run or trot. It is often used to describe a brisk pace, either literally for movement or metaphorically for doing something quickly. For example: The horse is trotting「馬が駆け足をしている」(うまがかけあしをしている). Let's finish this quickly「駆け足で終わらせよう」(かけあしでおわらせよう). This term can also imply doing something in a hurried or superficial manner, as in '駆け足で説明する (かけあしでせつめいする) (to explain something hastily).'

Radical

馬

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1111

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Chess piece

Reading

Parts

馬Horse 句Phrase, Paragraph

Radical

馬

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1206

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Warehouse

Reading

Parts

車Car 广Dotted cliff

Example Word

在庫: stock or inventory. The Japanese noun '在庫 (ざいこ)' refers to the goods or materials that a business holds in stock or inventory. It is commonly used in retail, manufacturing, and business contexts to describe the quantity of products available for sale or use. For example: The store has a lot of inventory「その店は在庫が多い」(そのみせはざいこがおおい). We need to check the stock levels「在庫を確認する必要がある」(ざいこをかくにんするひつようがある). The term can also be used metaphorically to describe the availability of non-physical items, such as ideas or resources.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1255

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Tribute

Reading

Parts

貝Shellfish 工Construction

Example Word

貢献: contribution. The Japanese noun '貢献 (こうけん)' means 'contribution'. It refers to the act of contributing to something, such as a cause, project, or society. This word is often used in contexts where someone or something has made a significant positive impact or provided valuable input. For example: His research made a great contribution to science「彼の研究は科学に大きな貢献をした」(かれのけんきゅうはかがくにおおきなこうけんをした). We aim to contribute to the community「私たちは地域に貢献することを目指しています」(わたしたちはちいきにこうけんすることをめざしています). The word can also be used in a broader sense to describe any form of support or assistance that leads to progress or improvement.

Radical

貝

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1790

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Flexed, Hooked

Reading

Parts

勹Wrap 厶Private

Radical

勹

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2014

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Misgivings, Disquieting

Reading

Parts

忄 具Tool

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2038

Handwriting