Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Onyomi reading

kanji

Meaning

Three

Reading

Parts

一One 二Two

Example Word

三百: three hundred. The Japanese noun '三百 (さんびゃく)' means 'three hundred'. It is a numerical term used to denote the quantity or number 300. This word is often used in contexts involving counting, measurements, or quantities. For example: there are three hundred people「三百人がいます」(さんびゃくにんがいます). The price is three hundred yen「値段は三百円です」(ねだんはさんびゃくえんです). Note that '三百' is a specific number and is not used metaphorically or abstractly.

Radical

一

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

28

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Mountain

Reading

Parts

凵Open box 丨Stick

Example Word

山登り: mountain climbing. The Japanese verbal noun '山登り (やまのぼり)' refers to the activity of 'mountain climbing'. It is used to describe the act of ascending mountains, often as a recreational or sporting activity. This term can be used in various contexts, such as discussing hobbies, travel plans, or physical activities. For example: I enjoy mountain climbing「私は山登りが好きです」(わたしはやまのぼりがすきです). They went mountain climbing last weekend「彼らは先週末に山登りに行きました」(かれらはせんしゅうまつにやまのぼりにいきました). It is important to note that '山登り' specifically refers to climbing mountains, not just any type of climbing.

Radical

山

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

44

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Give birth

Reading

Parts

生Life 产

Example Word

共産: communism. The Japanese noun '共産 (きょうさん)' refers to 'communism'. It is often used in political or ideological contexts to describe the system or ideology of communism. This term is commonly seen in phrases like '共産党 (きょうさんとう)', which means 'Communist Party'. For example: He supports communism「彼は共産を支持している」(かれはきょうさんをしじしている). The Communist Party won the election「共産党が選挙に勝った」(きょうさんとうがせんきょにかった). The word is neutral in tone but can carry political connotations depending on the context.

Radical

生

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

482

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Participate

Reading

Parts

厶Private 彡Fur 大Big

Example Word

参考書: reference book. The Japanese noun '参考書 (さんこうしょ)' means 'reference book'. This term is commonly used to describe books that provide detailed information or guidance on a specific subject, often used for study or research purposes. For example: I bought a reference book for the exam「試験のために参考書を買いました」(しけんのためにさんこうしょをかいました). This reference book is very useful「この参考書はとても役に立ちます」(このさんこうしょはとてもやくにたちます). It's important to note that '参考書' is often used in academic or professional contexts, where detailed and reliable information is required.

Radical

厶

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

485

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Scatter

Reading

Parts

攵Strike 月Moon, Month

Example Word

分散: distribution or dispersion. The Japanese verbal noun '分散 (ぶんさん)' primarily means 'dispersion' or 'distribution'. It is used to describe the act of spreading something out over a wide area or among many people. In statistics, it refers to the spread of data points. For example: The dispersion of light creates a rainbow「光の分散が虹を作る」(ひかりのぶんさんがにじをつくる). The company distributed the profits among its employees「会社は利益を従業員に分散した」(かいしゃはりえきをじゅうぎょういんにぶんさんした). Note that '分散' can also imply a sense of scattering or decentralization, depending on the context.

Radical

攴

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

570

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Calculate

Reading

Parts

廾Twenty 目Eye ⺮Bamboo (竹)

Example Word

掛け算: multiplication. The Japanese verbal noun '掛け算 (かけざん)' refers to the mathematical operation of multiplication. It is used in contexts involving arithmetic or calculations. For example: I learned multiplication in school「学校で掛け算を習った」(がっこうでかけざんをならった). Can you solve this multiplication problem?「この掛け算の問題を解けますか？」(このかけざんのもんだいをとけますか？). The term is commonly used in educational settings or when discussing basic math operations.

Radical

竹

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1109

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cruel, Wretched

Reading

Parts

忄 参Participate

Example Word

惨め: miserable. The Japanese adjective '惨め (みじめ)' means 'miserable'. It is used to describe a state of extreme unhappiness, suffering, or pitifulness. This word often conveys a sense of deep emotional distress or a situation that evokes pity. For example: I felt miserable after failing the exam「試験に落ちて惨めだった」(しけんにおちてみじめだった). He looked miserable after losing his job「仕事を失って惨めそうだった」(しごとをうしなってみじめそうだった). The word can also describe situations or conditions that are pitiful or wretched, such as 'a miserable life' (惨めな生活, みじめなせいかつ).

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