Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Flat

Reading

Parts

干Dry 丷Divide

Example Word

平方: square. The Japanese noun '平方 (へいほう)' refers to 'square' in the mathematical sense, specifically indicating the square of a number or a unit of area. It is commonly used in contexts involving mathematics, geometry, and measurements. For example: the square of 5 is 25「5の平方は25です」(ごのへいほうはにじゅうごです). This room is 20 square meters「この部屋は20平方メートルです」(このへやはにじゅうへいほうメートルです). The term is often paired with units of measurement, such as '平方メートル (へいほうメートル)' (square meters) or '平方キロメートル (へいほうキロメートル)' (square kilometers).

Radical

干

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

111

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Soldier

Reading

Parts

丘Hill 八Eight

Example Word

兵: soldier. The Japanese noun '兵 (へい)' primarily means 'soldier'. It refers to a person who serves in an army or military force. This term is often used in formal or historical contexts. For example: The soldier fought bravely「兵は勇敢に戦った」(へいはゆうかんにたたかった). Many soldiers were injured「多くの兵が負傷した」(おおくのへいがふしょうした). The word can also appear in compound nouns, such as '兵士 (へいし)' which also means 'soldier', but '兵' alone is more concise and often used in literary or formal settings.

Radical

八

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

218

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Illness

Reading

Parts

丙Third, Third class 疒Sick

Example Word

病気: illness. The Japanese verbal noun '病気 (びょうき)' means 'illness' or 'disease'. It refers to a state of poor health or a specific medical condition. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe physical or mental health issues. For example: He has a serious illness「彼は重い病気です」(かれはおもいびょうきです). I caught a cold and got sick「風邪をひいて病気になりました」(かぜをひいてびょうきになりました). It can also be used metaphorically to describe societal or systemic issues, such as 'the illness of society' (社会の病気, しゃかいのびょうき).

Radical

疒

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

249

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Line, Row

Reading

Parts

䒑Herbs 业Business (業)

Example Word

並び: line or row. The Japanese noun '並び (ならび)' refers to a 'line' or 'row' of things or people arranged in an orderly manner. It can be used to describe physical arrangements, such as a line of trees or a row of seats, as well as abstract sequences, like a series of events. For example: a line of trees「木の並び」(きのならび). A row of houses「家の並び」(いえのならび). The word can also imply a sense of order or sequence, as in 'the order of events'「事件の並び」(じけんのならび).

Radical

一

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

525

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Design, Handle

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 丙Third, Third class

Example Word

銘柄: brand. The Japanese noun '銘柄 (めいがら)' refers to a brand, particularly in the context of products, goods, or stocks. It is often used to specify a particular brand name or type of product. For example: This brand of coffee is popular「この銘柄のコーヒーは人気です」(このめいがらのコーヒーはにんきです). I bought a new brand of wine「新しい銘柄のワインを買いました」(あたらしいめいがらのワインをかいました). In financial contexts, it can also refer to a specific stock or security, as in: This stock is performing well「この銘柄は好調です」(このめいがらはこうちょうです).

Radical

木

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

745

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Close, Shut

Reading

Parts

門Gate 才Talent, Age

Example Word

閉店: closing. The Japanese verbal noun '閉店 (へいてん)' refers to the act of closing a store or business for the day. It is commonly used in contexts related to retail, restaurants, or any establishment that operates on a daily schedule. For example: The store is closing now「店はもう閉店です」(みせはもうへいてんです). What time does the shop close?「お店は何時に閉店しますか？」(おみせはなんじにへいてんしますか？). It can also be used to indicate permanent closure, as in 'The shop closed permanently last month'「その店は先月閉店しました」(そのみせはせんげつへいてんしました). Note that '閉店' is often paired with '開店 (かいてん)', which means 'opening'.

Radical

門

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

907

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Join, Put together

Reading

Parts

亻Person (人)并

Example Word

合併: merger. The Japanese noun '合併 (がっぺい)' refers to the act of combining or merging two or more entities into one. This term is commonly used in business contexts to describe the merger of companies, but it can also apply to other types of organizations or even abstract concepts. For example: The merger of the two companies was successful「二つの会社の合併は成功した」(ふたつのかいしゃのがっぺいはせいこうした). The merger of the two towns created a larger city「二つの町の合併で大きな市ができた」(ふたつのまちのがっぺいでおおきないちができた). It's important to note that '合併' implies a formal and often legal process of unification.

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1043

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Wall, Fence

Reading

Parts

土Soil 屏

Example Word

塀: wall or fence. The Japanese noun '塀 (へい)' refers to a fence or wall, typically used to enclose or divide spaces. It is commonly seen around properties, gardens, or buildings. The word can describe both low fences and tall walls, depending on the context. For example: The house is surrounded by a high wall「その家は高い塀に囲まれている」(そのいえはたかいへいにかこまれている). There is a wooden fence around the garden「庭の周りに木の塀がある」(にわのまわりにきのへいがある). Note that '塀' often implies a man-made structure, distinguishing it from natural barriers.

Radical

土

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1491

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Mochi rice cake

Reading

Parts

飠Eat (食)并

Example Word

餅: rice cake. The Japanese noun '餅 (もち)' refers to a traditional Japanese food made from glutinous rice that has been pounded into a sticky, elastic mass. It is often shaped into round or rectangular forms and can be eaten in various ways, such as grilled, boiled, or as part of soups and desserts. '餅' is particularly associated with Japanese New Year celebrations, where it is used in dishes like 'お雑煮 (おぞうに)' (ozōni), a soup containing mochi. Example sentences include: I ate a rice cake「餅を食べた」(もちをたべた). Rice cakes are sticky「餅は粘り気がある」(もちはねばりけがある).

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1530

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Money, Cash

Reading

Parts

敝 巾Towel

Example Word

貨幣: currency. The Japanese noun '貨幣 (かへい)' refers to 'currency' or 'money' in a formal or economic context. It specifically denotes the physical form of money, such as coins and banknotes, used as a medium of exchange. This term is often used in discussions about economics, history, or finance. For example: The history of currency is fascinating「貨幣の歴史は興味深い」(かへいのれきしはきょうみぶかい). This country uses a unique currency「この国は独特な貨幣を使う」(このくにはどくとくなかへいをつかう). Note that '貨幣' is more formal than 'お金 (おかね)', which is the everyday term for money.

Radical

巾

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1686

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cover over

Reading

Parts

艹Grass 敝

Radical

艸

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1754

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Tsubo, Two mat area

Reading

Parts

土Soil 平Flat

Example Word

坪: tsubo. The Japanese noun '坪 (つぼ)' refers to a traditional unit of area measurement in Japan, equivalent to approximately 3.3 square meters. It is commonly used in real estate and construction to describe the size of land or buildings. For example: this land is 100 tsubo「この土地は100坪です」(このとちはひゃくつぼです). The house has a garden of 30 tsubo「その家には30坪の庭があります」(そのいえにはさんじゅうつぼのにわがあります). The term 'tsubo' is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and is still widely used today, especially in contexts involving traditional architecture or land transactions.

Radical

土

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1777

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Evil, Exhaustion

Reading

Parts

敝 廾Twenty

Radical

廾

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1891

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Majesty

Reading

Parts

⻖ 坒

Example Word

陛下: majesty. The Japanese noun '陛下 (へいか)' is a term of respect used to refer to a reigning emperor or empress. It is a formal and honorific title, often used in official or ceremonial contexts. For example: His Majesty the Emperor「天皇陛下」(てんのうへいか). Her Majesty the Empress「皇后陛下」(こうごうへいか). The term is always used with the utmost respect and is not used in casual conversation. It is important to note that '陛下' is not used to refer to oneself or to address someone directly; it is used when speaking about the emperor or empress in the third person.

Radical

阜

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1940

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Third, Third class

Reading

Parts

一One 内Inside

Radical

一

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2064

Handwriting