kanji

Meaning

Mouth

Reading

Parts

冂Enclosure 一One

Example Word

出入り口: entrance. The Japanese noun '出入り口 (でいりぐち)' refers to an 'entrance' or 'exit'. It is commonly used to denote a point of entry or exit in buildings, rooms, or other enclosed spaces. The word combines the characters for 'exit' (出) and 'entrance' (入), emphasizing its dual function. For example: Please use the main entrance「メインの出入り口を使ってください」(めいんのでいりぐちをつかってください). The emergency exit is over there「非常口はあそこです」(ひじょうぐちはあそこです). Note that while '出入り口' can refer to both entrances and exits, context usually clarifies its specific meaning.

Radical

口

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

82

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Nine

Reading

Parts

乙Second, Latter 丿Katakana no

Example Word

九つ: nine. The Japanese noun '九つ (ここのつ)' means 'nine'. This word is specifically used to count items or objects, and it is part of the traditional Japanese counting system for general objects (as opposed to the Sino-Japanese system used for numbers in isolation or specific categories). It is often used in contexts where items are being counted individually, such as in shopping or when describing quantities. For example: there are nine apples「りんごが九つある」(りんごがここのつある). I bought nine books「本を九つ買いました」(ほんをここのつかいました). Note that '九つ' is typically used for counting objects, while '九 (きゅう)' is used for abstract numbers or specific counting systems like time or age.

Radical

乛

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

225

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Suffer

Reading

Parts

艹Grass 古Old

Example Word

苦: suffering. The Japanese noun '苦 (く)' refers to 'suffering' or 'hardship'. It is often used in contexts related to physical or emotional pain, difficulties, or challenges. This word is commonly found in Buddhist teachings, where it is one of the fundamental concepts, but it is also used in everyday language to describe personal struggles. For example: life is full of suffering「人生は苦に満ちている」(じんせいはくにみちている). He endured great hardship「彼は大きな苦を耐えた」(かれはおおきなくをたえた). The word can also appear in compounds, such as '苦痛 (くつう)' (pain) or '苦労 (くろう)' (hardship).

Radical

艸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

230

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Accompany, Offer

Reading

Parts

亻Person (人)共Together

Example Word

提供: provide. The Japanese verbal noun '提供 (ていきょう)' means 'provide' or 'supply'. It is commonly used in contexts where something is being offered or made available, such as services, information, or goods. For example: The company provides free Wi-Fi「その会社は無料のWi-Fiを提供しています」(そのかいしゃはむりょうのWi-Fiをていきょうしています). This restaurant provides vegetarian options「このレストランはベジタリアン向けのメニューを提供しています」(このレストランはベジタリアンむけのメニューをていきょうしています). The word is often used in formal or business settings, and it emphasizes the act of giving or making something accessible to others.

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

239

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Construction

Reading

Parts

丅Down (下)一One

Example Word

工学部: engineering. The Japanese noun '工学部 (こうがくぶ)' refers to the 'engineering department' or 'faculty of engineering' at a university. It is commonly used to describe the academic division or department that focuses on engineering studies. For example: He is studying in the engineering department「彼は工学部で勉強しています」(かれはこうがくぶでべんきょうしています). The engineering department is in that building「工学部はあの建物にあります」(こうがくぶはあのたてものにあります). This term is specific to academic contexts and is widely understood in Japanese educational settings.

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

句: phrase. The Japanese noun '句 (く)' refers to a 'phrase' or a short group of words. It is commonly used in contexts related to poetry, literature, or grammar. For example, in haiku, a '句' is one of the three lines that make up the poem. It can also refer to idiomatic expressions or fixed phrases. Example sentences: This phrase is beautiful「この句は美しい」(このくはうつくしい). He wrote a haiku with three phrases「彼は三つの句で俳句を書いた」(かれはみっつのくではいくをかいた).

Radical

口

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

549

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Crimson

Reading

Parts

糸Thread 工Construction

Example Word

口紅: lipstick. The Japanese noun '口紅 (くちべに)' refers to 'lipstick', a cosmetic product applied to the lips to add color or texture. It is commonly used in everyday conversations about makeup and beauty. Example sentences: She bought a new lipstick「彼女は新しい口紅を買った」(かのじょはあたらしいくちべにをかった). This lipstick color is beautiful「この口紅の色はきれい」(このくちべにのいろはきれい). The word is a combination of '口 (くち)', meaning 'mouth', and '紅 (べに)', meaning 'red' or 'crimson', reflecting its traditional association with red pigments.

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

区分: division or classification. The Japanese verbal noun '区分 (くぶん)' refers to the act of dividing or classifying something into distinct categories or sections. It is often used in contexts where organization or categorization is required, such as in administrative, academic, or logistical settings. For example: The books are divided by genre「本はジャンルで区分されています」(ほんはじゃんるでくぶんされています). We need to classify these documents「これらの書類を区分する必要があります」(これらのしょるいをくぶんするひつようがあります). Note that '区分' can also imply a systematic or logical separation, making it distinct from more casual terms like '分ける (わける)' which simply means 'to divide'.

Radical

匸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1042

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Spur on, Gallop

Reading

Parts

馬Horse 区District

Example Word

駆る: drive. The Japanese verb '駆る (かる)' primarily means 'to drive' or 'to compel'. It is often used to describe the act of driving animals, such as horses or cattle, or metaphorically to describe being driven by emotions or circumstances. For example: He drove the horses across the field「彼は馬を野原に駆った」(かれはうまをのはらにかった). Fear drove her to act quickly「恐怖が彼女を素早く行動させた」(きょうふがかのじをすばやくこうどうさせた). This verb can also imply urgency or being propelled by an external force, making it versatile in both literal and figurative contexts.

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