Page 1
kanji
外Meaning
Outside
Reading
kunyomiそとsoto
はずhazu
onyomiげge
がいgai
Parts
夕Evening 卜Divination
Example Word
外国: foreign country. The Japanese noun '外国 (がいこく)' means 'foreign country'. It refers to any country other than one's own. This word is often used in contexts where distinctions are made between one's home country and other countries. For example: I want to go to a foreign country 「外国に行きたい」 (がいこくにいきたい). He is from a foreign country 「彼は外国から来た」 (かれはがいこくからきた). '外国' can also be used in compound words such as '外国人 (がいこくじん)', which means 'foreigner'. Note that '外国' is a broad term and does not specify any particular country.
Radical
夕
Stroke Count
5JLPT
N5Grade
2Frequency
87
Handwriting
kanji
掛Meaning
Set, Hang
Reading
kunyomiかka
かかりkakari
onyomiがいgai
Parts
扌Hand (手)圭 卜Divination
Example Word
引っ掛ける: hook or trick. The Japanese verb '引っ掛ける (ひっかける)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'to hook', which refers to physically catching or attaching something with a hook. For example: he hooked the fish「彼は魚を引っ掛けた」(かれはさかなをひっかけた). The second meaning is 'to trick', which involves deceiving someone. For example: she tricked him into buying the car「彼女は彼を引っ掛けて車を買わせた」(かのじょはかれをひっかけてくるまをかわせた). This verb can also imply a quick or casual action, such as hanging a coat on a hook or snagging something briefly. It's versatile and context-dependent, so the intended meaning is often clear from the situation.
Radical
手
Stroke Count
11JLPT
N3Grade
8Frequency
379
Handwriting
kanji
街Meaning
Street, Boulevard
Reading
kunyomiまちmachi
onyomiがいgai
かいkai
Parts
行Go 圭
Example Word
街: town. The Japanese noun '街 (まち)' refers to a town or a city, often implying a lively or bustling area with shops, streets, and people. It is commonly used to describe urban areas or specific districts within a city. For example: Let's go to the town「街に行こう」(まちにいこう). This town is very lively「この街はとてもにぎやかだ」(このまちはとてもにぎやかだ). The word can also carry a sense of community or a specific atmosphere, such as a shopping street or a cultural district. It is distinct from '村 (むら)' (village) or '都市 (とし)' (metropolis), as it often conveys a smaller, more intimate urban space.
Radical
行
Stroke Count
12JLPT
N1Grade
4Frequency
735
Handwriting
kanji
害Meaning
Harm
Reading
onyomiがいgai
Parts
宀Roof 口Mouth 丰
Example Word
災害: disaster. The Japanese noun '災害 (さいがい)' refers to a 'disaster' or 'calamity'. It is commonly used to describe natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, or floods, but can also refer to man-made disasters. The word carries a sense of large-scale damage or harm. Example sentences: The town was hit by a natural disaster「その町は自然災害に襲われた」(そのまちはしぜんさいがいにおそわれた). We must prepare for disasters「災害に備えなければならない」(さいがいにそなえなければならない). The word is often used in news reports, safety guidelines, and discussions about emergency preparedness.
Radical
宀
Stroke Count
10JLPT
N3Grade
4Frequency
810
Handwriting
kanji
概Meaning
In general, Approximation
Reading
kunyomiおおむoomu
onyomiがいgai
Parts
木Tree, Wood 既Already, Previously
Example Word
大概: mostly. The Japanese adverb '大概 (たいがい)' means 'mostly' or 'generally'. It is used to indicate that something is true in most cases or applies to the majority of a situation. This word often conveys a sense of approximation or generalization. For example: He is mostly right「彼の言うことは大概正しい」(かれのいうことはたいがいただしい). Most people go home after work「大概の人は仕事の後家に帰る」(たいがいのひとはしごとのあといえにかえる). Note that '大概' can also imply a sense of 'probably' or 'likely' in some contexts, but its primary meaning remains 'mostly'.
Radical
木
Stroke Count
14JLPT
N1Grade
8Frequency
1025
Handwriting
kanji
涯Meaning
Edge, Horizon
Reading
kunyomiはてhate
onyomiがいgai
Parts
氵Water (水)厂Cliff 圭
Example Word
生涯: lifetime. The Japanese noun '生涯 (しょうがい)' refers to the entire duration of a person's life, from birth to death. It is often used in contexts discussing life events, achievements, or experiences that span one's entire existence. For example: He devoted his lifetime to art「彼は生涯を芸術に捧げた」(かれはしょうがいをげいじ ゅつにささげた). This word can also be used in a more abstract sense to describe the entirety of a person's life journey or experiences. Another example: She spent her lifetime in this town「彼女は生涯をこの町で過ごした」(かのじょはしょうがいをこのまちですごした).
Radical
水
Stroke Count
11JLPT
N1Grade
9Frequency
1253
Handwriting
kanji
蓋Meaning
Lid
Reading
kunyomiふたfuta
かこうkakou
けだkeda
onyomiこうkou
がいgai
かいkai
Parts
艹Grass 盍
Example Word
蓋: lid. The Japanese noun '蓋 (ふた)' means 'lid'. It refers to a cover or top that is placed over a container to close or seal it. This word is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as when referring to the lid of a pot, jar, or bottle. For example: Please put the lid on the pot「鍋に蓋をしてください」(なべにふたをしてください). The lid of this jar is hard to open「この瓶の蓋は開けにくい」(このびんのふたはあけにくい). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something that conceals or hides, as in '蓋をする (ふたをする)' which means 'to cover up' or 'to hide something'.
Radical
艸
Stroke Count
13JLPT
UnknownGrade
10Frequency
1333
Handwriting
kanji
崖Meaning
Cliff
Reading
kunyomiがけgake
onyomiがいgai
Parts
山Mountain 厓
Example Word
崖: cliff. The Japanese noun '崖 (がけ)' means 'cliff'. It refers to a steep, vertical or near-vertical rock face, often found near coastlines, mountains, or rivers. This word is commonly used in geographical contexts or to describe dangerous or dramatic landscapes. For example: Be careful near the cliff「崖の近くに気をつけて」(がけのちかくにきをつけて). The house is built on the edge of a cliff「その家は崖の端に建てられている」(その いえはがけのはしにたてられている). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe a precarious situation, such as being on the edge of a metaphorical 'cliff'.
Radical
山
Stroke Count
11JLPT
UnknownGrade
10Frequency
1429
Handwriting
kanji
該Meaning
Correspond to
Reading
onyomiがいgai
Parts
訁Say (言)亥
Example Word
当該: relevant. The Japanese noun '当該 (とうがい)' means 'relevant' or 'the said'. It is used to refer to something previously mentioned or currently under discussion. This term is often used in formal or legal contexts to specify a particular matter or subject. For example: Please refer to the relevant section「当該のセクションを参照してください」(とうがいのセクションをさんしょうしてください). The said person is not available「当該の人は利用できません」(とうがいのひとはりようできません). It is important to note that '当該' is typically used in written or formal speech rather than casual conversation.
Radical
言
Stroke Count
13JLPT
N1Grade
8Frequency
2076
Handwriting