Page 1
kanji
純Meaning
Pure
Reading
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
糸Thread 屯Barracks, Station troops
Example Word
単純: simple. The Japanese adjectival noun '単純 (たんじゅん)' means 'simple'. It is used to describe something that is straightforward, uncomplicated, or lacking in complexity. This word can be applied to ideas, tasks, systems, or even people's thinking. For example: This problem is simple「この問題は単純だ」(このもんだいはたんじゅんだ). His explanation was simple and easy to understand「彼の説明は単純で分かりやすかった」(かれのせつめいはたんじゅんでわかりやすかった). Note that '単純' can sometimes carry a nuance of being overly simplistic or naive, depending on the context.
Radical
糸
Stroke Count
10JLPT
N2Grade
6Frequency
784
Handwriting
kanji
順Meaning
Order, Obey
Reading
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
川River 頁Page
Example Word
順位: rank. The Japanese noun '順位 (じゅんい)' refers to a position or rank in a sequence, competition, or hierarchy. It is commonly used in contexts such as sports, exams, or rankings. For example: He got first rank in the exam「彼は試験で1位の順位を取った」(かれはしけんでいちいのじゅんいをとった). The team's rank dropped「チームの順位が下がった」(チームのじゅんいがさがった). This word emphasizes the relative position of someone or something compared to others.
Radical
頁
Stroke Count
12JLPT
N2Grade
4Frequency
954
Handwriting
kanji
準Meaning
Follow, Semi
Reading
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
氵Water (水)淮 十Ten
Example Word
基準: standard. The Japanese noun '基準 (きじゅん)' refers to a 'standard' or 'criterion'. It is used to describe a set of rules, principles, or measures that serve as a basis for comparison or judgment. This word is commonly used in contexts such as quality standards, evaluation criteria, or benchmarks. For example: The company sets high standards for its products「その会社は製品の基準を高く設定している」(そのかいしゃはせいひんのきじゅんをたかくせっていしている). This test is based on strict criteria「このテストは厳しい基準に基づいている」(このテストはきびしいきじゅんにもとづいている). The word can also imply a reference point or guideline in various fields, such as business, education, or technology.
Radical
水
Stroke Count
13JLPT
N2Grade
5Frequency
1147
Handwriting
kanji
巡Meaning
Go around, Patrol
Reading
kunyomiめぐmegu
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
⻌Walk 巛
Example Word
お巡りさん: police. The Japanese noun 'お巡りさん (おまわりさん)' is a colloquial and polite term for a police officer. It is derived from the verb '巡る (めぐる)', meaning 'to go around', and refers to the patrol duties of police officers. This term is often used by children or in casual conversations to refer to police officers in a friendly and approachable manner. For example: The police officer helped me「お巡りさんが助けてくれた」(おまわりさんがたすけてくれた). I saw a police officer on the street「通りでお巡りさんを見た」(とおりでおまわりさんをみた). The term carries a warm and respectful tone, making it suitable for everyday use.
Radical
巛
Stroke Count
6JLPT
N1Grade
7Frequency
1168
Handwriting
kanji
盾Meaning
Shield
Reading
kunyomiたてtate
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
十Ten 目Eye ⺁
Example Word
矛盾: contradiction. The Japanese verbal noun '矛盾 (むじゅん)' means 'contradiction'. It refers to a situation where two or more statements, ideas, or actions are mutually incompatible or inconsistent. This term is often used in logical, philosophical, or everyday contexts to describe conflicting elements. For example: there is a contradiction in his story「彼の話には矛盾がある」(かれのはなしにはむじゅんがある). The policy is full of contradictions「その政策は矛盾だらけだ」(そのせいさくはむじゅんだらけだ). The word originates from an ancient Chinese fable about a spear that could pierce any shield and a shield that could block any spear, highlighting the inherent contradiction.
Radical
目
Stroke Count
9JLPT
N1Grade
7Frequency
1510
Handwriting
kanji
旬Meaning
Decameron
Reading
onyomiしゅんshun
じゅんjun
Parts
日Day, Sun 勹Wrap
Example Word
上旬: first ten days of the month. The Japanese noun '上旬 (じょうじゅん)' refers to the first 10 days of a month. It is commonly used in contexts where specifying a time period within a month is necessary, such as scheduling, planning, or reporting. For example: The event will be held in the first 10 days of March「イベントは3月上旬に開催されます」(イベントはさんがつじょうじゅんにかいさいされます). I will submit the report by the first 10 days of next month「来月上旬までにレポートを提出します」(らいげつじょうじゅんまでにレポートをていしゅつします).
Radical
日
Stroke Count
6JLPT
N1Grade
7Frequency
1858
Handwriting
kanji
循Meaning
Circulate, Sequential
Reading
onyomiじゅんjun
Parts
彳Stop 盾Shield
Example Word
循環: circulation. The Japanese noun '循環 (じゅんかん)' means 'circulation'. It refers to the movement or flow of something in a circular or recurring pattern. This word is commonly used in contexts such as blood circulation, environmental cycles, or the circulation of goods and money. For example: blood circulation is important for health「血液の循環は健康に重要です」(けつえきのじゅんかんはけんこうにじゅうようです). The circulation of money stimulates the economy「お金の循環が経済を活性化します」(おかねのじゅんかんがけいざいをかっせいかします). It can also be used metaphorically to describe the cyclical nature of events or ideas.
Radical
彳
Stroke Count
12JLPT
N1Grade
9Frequency
2068
Handwriting