kanji

Meaning

Three

Reading

Parts

一One 二Two

Example Word

三角形: triangle. The Japanese noun '三角形 (さんかくけい)' means 'triangle'. It refers to a three-sided polygon in geometry. This word is commonly used in mathematical contexts or when describing shapes. For example: draw a triangle「三角形を描いてください」(さんかくけいをえがいてください). The roof has a triangular shape「屋根は三角形の形をしています」(やねはさんかくけいのかたちをしています). The word is a combination of '三 (さん)' meaning 'three', '角 (かく)' meaning 'angle', and '形 (けい)' meaning 'shape'.

Radical

一

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

28

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Mountain

Reading

Parts

凵Open box 丨Stick

Example Word

山脈: mountain range. The Japanese noun '山脈 (さんみゃく)' refers to a 'mountain range', which is a series of connected mountains. This term is used in geographical contexts to describe large landforms. For example: The Himalayas are a famous mountain range「ヒマラヤ山脈は有名な山脈です」(ヒマラヤさんみゃくはゆうめいなさんみゃくです). We crossed the mountain range by train「私たちは山脈を電車で越えました」(わたしたちはさんみゃくをでんしゃでこえました).

Radical

山

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

44

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Give birth

Reading

Parts

生Life 产

Example Word

不動産屋: real estate agent. The Japanese noun '不動産屋 (ふどうさんや)' refers to a 'real estate agent' or 'real estate agency'. This term is used to describe a person or business that deals with the buying, selling, and renting of properties. It is commonly used in everyday conversations when discussing housing or property matters. For example: I went to the real estate agent to find a new apartment「新しいアパートを探しに不動産屋に行った」(あたらしいアパートをさがしにふどうさんやにいった). The real estate agent showed us several houses「不動産屋が私たちにいくつかの家を見せてくれた」(ふどうさんやがわたしたちにいくつかのいえをみせてくれた).

Radical

生

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

482

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Participate

Reading

Parts

厶Private 彡Fur 大Big

Example Word

参考: reference. The Japanese noun '参考 (さんこう)' means 'reference'. It is used to indicate something that is consulted for information or guidance. This word is commonly used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts when referring to materials, data, or advice that helps in making decisions or understanding a topic. For example: Please use this book as a reference「この本を参考にしてください」(このほんをさんこうにしてください). This data is for reference only「このデータは参考までです」(このデータはさんこうまでです). The word can also imply that the information is supplementary and not definitive.

Radical

厶

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

485

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Scatter

Reading

Parts

攵Strike 月Moon, Month

Example Word

解散: disband. The Japanese verbal noun '解散 (かいさん)' means 'disband'. It is commonly used to describe the act of a group, organization, or assembly breaking up or dissolving. For example: The club disbanded「クラブが解散した」(クラブがかいさんした). The parliament was dissolved「議会が解散された」(ぎかいがかいさんされた). This term is often used in formal or official contexts, such as political or organizational settings. It can also imply the end of a gathering or meeting, as in 'The meeting disbanded at 5 PM'「会議は午後5時に解散した」(かいぎはごご5じにかいさんした).

Radical

攴

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

570

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Calculate

Reading

Parts

廾Twenty 目Eye ⺮Bamboo (竹)

Example Word

決算: settlement or closing. The Japanese noun '決算 (けっさん)' refers to the process of settling accounts or financial statements, often at the end of a fiscal period. It is commonly used in business and finance contexts to describe the finalization of financial records, such as profit and loss statements or balance sheets. For example: The company is preparing for the settlement「会社は決算の準備をしている」(かいしゃはけっさんのじゅんびをしている). The fiscal year closing is next week「決算は来週です」(けっさんはらいしゅうです). Note that '決算' can also refer to the act of closing or finalizing something, not just financial accounts.

Radical

竹

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1109

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cruel, Wretched

Reading

Parts

忄 参Participate

Example Word

悲惨: misery. The Japanese noun '悲惨 (ひさん)' means 'misery' or 'tragedy'. It is used to describe a state of extreme unhappiness, suffering, or distress, often due to unfortunate events or circumstances. This word carries a strong emotional weight and is typically used in serious contexts, such as describing the aftermath of a disaster, a tragic story, or a dire situation. For example: The misery after the earthquake was unbearable「地震後の悲惨は耐えられなかった」(じしんごのひさんはたえられなかった). The tragedy of war left the country in ruins「戦争の悲惨が国を廃墟にした」(せんそうのひさんがくにをはいきょにした).

Radical

心

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1352

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Umbrella, Parasol

Reading

Parts

人Person 十Ten

Example Word

傘: umbrella. The Japanese noun '傘 (かさ)' means 'umbrella'. This word refers to the object used to protect oneself from rain or sunlight. It is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to weather. For example: I forgot my umbrella「傘を忘れました」(かさをわすれました). Please lend me an umbrella「傘を貸してください」(かさをかしてください). The word can also be used in compound words, such as '雨傘 (あまがさ)' (rain umbrella) or '日傘 (ひがさ)' (parasol).

Radical

人

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1542

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Praise, Agree

Reading

Parts

貝Shellfish 夫Man, Husband

Example Word

賛成: agreement. The Japanese verbal noun '賛成 (さんせい)' means 'agreement' or 'approval'. It is used to express consent or support for an idea, proposal, or opinion. This word is commonly used in formal and informal contexts, such as meetings, discussions, or everyday conversations. For example: I agree with your opinion「あなたの意見に賛成です」(あなたのいけんにさんせいです). The committee approved the proposal「委員会はその提案に賛成した」(いいんかいはそのていあんにさんせいした). Note that '賛成' is often paired with the particle 'に' to indicate what is being agreed upon, as in '提案に賛成する (ていあんにさんせいする) (to agree with the proposal)'.

Radical

貝

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1571

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Bitter, Acid

Reading

Parts

酉Bird of the zodiac 夋

Example Word

酸: acid. The Japanese suffix '酸 (さん)' means 'acid'. It is used in chemistry to denote substances that have acidic properties. This suffix is commonly attached to the names of specific acids, such as hydrochloric acid (塩酸, えんさん) or sulfuric acid (硫酸, りゅうさん). For example: This solution contains hydrochloric acid「この溶液には塩酸が含まれている」(このようえきにはえんさんがふくまれている). Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive「硫酸は非常に腐食性が高い」(りゅうさんはひじょうにふしょくせいがたかい). The suffix '酸' is essential in scientific and chemical contexts to identify and describe acidic compounds.

Radical

酉

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1586

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Palisade

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 冊Book, Volume

Radical

木

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1872

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Scaffold, Plank bridge

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 㦮

Radical

木

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1876

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Silkworm

Reading

Parts

虫Insect 天Heaven

Radical

虫

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2015

Handwriting