Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Man

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 力Power

Example Word

男: man. The Japanese noun '男 (おとこ)' means 'man'. It refers to an adult human male. This word is commonly used in everyday conversation and can be used to describe someone's gender, role, or identity. For example: that man is tall「あの男は背が高い」(あのおとこはせがたかい). He is a strong man「彼は強い男だ」(かれはつよいおとこだ). The word can also be used in compound words, such as '男の子 (おとこのこ)' (boy) or '男らしい (おとこらしい)' (manly).

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

86

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rice field

Reading

Parts

十Ten 口Mouth

Example Word

田: rice field. The Japanese noun '田 (た)' refers to a 'rice field' or 'paddy field'. It specifically denotes a field where rice is cultivated, which is a common agricultural practice in Japan. This word is often used in compound words related to farming or rural areas. For example: there is a rice field near my house「私の家の近くに田がある」(わたしのいえのちかくにたがある). The rice fields are beautiful in the summer「夏の田は美しい」(なつのたはうつくしい). The word can also appear in names of places or surnames, reflecting the historical importance of rice cultivation in Japanese culture.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

100

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Town

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 丁Street

Example Word

下町: downtown. The Japanese noun '下町 (したまち)' refers to the traditional downtown or lower-lying areas of a city, often associated with older neighborhoods, working-class communities, and a sense of local culture and history. These areas are typically contrasted with more modern or upscale districts. For example: I live in the downtown area「私は下町に住んでいます」(わたしはしたまちにすんでいます). The downtown has a nostalgic atmosphere「下町は懐かしい雰囲気があります」(したまちはなつかしいふんいきがあります). The term often evokes images of narrow streets, small shops, and a close-knit community.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

211

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Report

Reading

Parts

日Day, Sun 丨Stick

Example Word

申し込み: application. The Japanese noun '申し込み (もうしこみ)' means 'application'. It refers to the act of applying for something, such as a service, event, or membership. This word is commonly used in formal or business contexts. For example: I submitted an application for the event「イベントに申し込みをした」(イベントにもうしこみをした). Please fill out the application form「申し込み用紙に記入してください」(もうしこみようしにきにゅうしてください). The term can also imply a request or proposal, depending on the context.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

221

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Reason

Reading

Parts

十Ten 口Mouth

Example Word

経由: via. The Japanese verbal noun '経由 (けいゆ)' means 'via' or 'by way of'. It is used to indicate the route or means through which something is done or achieved. This term is commonly used in contexts involving travel, communication, or processes. For example: I will go to Osaka via Kyoto「京都経由で大阪に行きます」(きょうとけいゆでおおさかにいきます). The package was sent via airmail「その小包は航空便経由で送られました」(そのこづつみはこうくうびんけいゆでおくられました). It can also be used metaphorically to describe indirect methods or channels.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

278

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Turn

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 米Rice 丿Katakana no

Example Word

番号: number. The Japanese noun '番号 (ばんごう)' means 'number'. It refers to a numerical identifier used for various purposes, such as phone numbers, identification numbers, or serial numbers. For example: What is your phone number?「あなたの電話番号は何ですか？」(あなたのでんわばんごうはなんですか？). Please write your student number here「ここに学生番号を書いてください」(ここにがくせいばんごうをかいてください). This word is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to refer to any kind of numerical identifier.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

300

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

World

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 介Mediate, Jammed in

Example Word

限界: limit. The Japanese noun '限界 (げんかい)' means 'limit'. It refers to the boundary or point beyond which something cannot or should not go. This word is often used in contexts involving physical, mental, or abstract boundaries. For example: I reached my limit「限界に達した」(げんかいにたっした). The limit of human endurance「人間の限界」(にんげんのげんかい). It can also be used to describe the maximum capacity or extent of something, such as 'the limit of technology'「技術の限界」(ぎじゅつのげんかい).

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

309

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Picture

Reading

Parts

一One 凵Open box 由Reason

Example Word

洋画: foreign film. The Japanese noun '洋画 (ようが)' refers to 'foreign films', particularly those from Western countries. It is commonly used to distinguish non-Japanese films from domestic Japanese films (邦画, ほうが). This term is often used in discussions about cinema, movie genres, or cultural comparisons. Example sentences: I enjoy watching foreign films「洋画を見るのが好きです」(ようがをみるのがすきです). This theater specializes in foreign films「この映画館は洋画専門です」(このえいがかんはようがせんもんです). Note that '洋画' specifically emphasizes the Western origin of the films, as '洋' refers to the West or Western culture.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

384

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rare, Different

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 井Well

Example Word

異なる: differ. The Japanese verb '異なる (ことなる)' means 'to differ' or 'to be different'. It is used to indicate a distinction or variation between two or more things, ideas, or situations. This verb is often used in formal or written contexts to highlight differences. For example: Their opinions differ「彼らの意見は異なる」(かれらのいけんはことなる). The two cultures are different「二つの文化は異なる」(ふたつのぶんかはことなる). Note that '異なる' is typically used in its dictionary form or in polite forms like '異なります (ことなります)', and it is less common in casual speech.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

453

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Stay, Detain

Reading

Example Word

留守番: house sitting. The Japanese noun '留守番 (るすばん)' refers to the act of looking after a house or property while the owner is away. It is commonly used when someone stays at home to take care of things, such as receiving packages, watching over pets, or ensuring security. For example: I will do the house-sitting「私が留守番をします」(わたしがるすばんをします). The dog is good at house-sitting「その犬は留守番が上手です」(そのいぬはるすばんがじょうずです). This term is often used in contexts where someone is temporarily responsible for a home in the absence of its usual occupants.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

626

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Armor, Shell

Reading

Parts

田Rice field ｜

Example Word

甲: shell or first. The Japanese noun '甲 (こう)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning refers to the shell of a turtle or tortoise, often used in traditional contexts or literature. For example: the turtle's shell is hard「亀の甲は硬い」(かめのこうはかたい). The second meaning is 'first' in a sequence, such as in the traditional ordering system (甲, 乙, 丙, etc.), which is similar to 'A, B, C' in English. For example: this is the first item「これは甲の項目です」(これはこうのこうもくです). The word is also used in compound words like '甲羅 (こうら)' (shell) or '甲乙 (こうおつ)' (first and second).

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

696

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Tatami, Fold up

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 冝

Example Word

畳: tatami. The Japanese noun '畳 (たたみ)' refers to 'tatami', which are traditional Japanese straw mats used as flooring material in homes and other buildings. Tatami mats are typically made of woven straw and have a soft, yet firm texture. They are a defining feature of traditional Japanese rooms and are often associated with Japanese culture and aesthetics. For example: The room has tatami flooring「その部屋は畳の床です」(そのへやはたたみのゆかです). I sat on the tatami mat「畳の上に座りました」(たたみのうえにすわりました). Tatami mats are often measured in '畳 (じょう)', a unit that represents the size of one tatami mat, which is roughly 1.65 square meters.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

983

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Field

Reading

Parts

火Fire 田Rice field

Example Word

田畑: fields. The Japanese noun '田畑 (たはた)' refers to cultivated fields, specifically rice fields (田) and other crop fields (畑). It is used to describe agricultural land where crops are grown. This word is often used in rural or farming contexts. For example: the fields stretch far and wide「田畑が広がっている」(たはたがひろがっている). Farmers work in the fields「農家は田畑で働く」(のうかはたはたではたらく). Note that '田畑' is a compound noun combining two types of fields, emphasizing the broader agricultural landscape.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1077

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Abbreviation, Strategy

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 各Each

Example Word

略: abbreviation. The Japanese noun '略 (りゃく)' refers to an abbreviation or a shortened form of something. It is commonly used in contexts where something is being summarized or condensed, such as in the names of organizations, titles, or technical terms. For example: This is an abbreviation of the company name「これは会社名の略です」(これはかいしゃめいのりゃくです). The abbreviation for 'United Nations' is 'UN'「国際連合の略はUNです」(こくさいれんごうのりゃくはUNです). It can also imply simplification or omission of details, as in: He explained it in a simplified way「彼はそれを略して説明した」(かれはそれをりゃくしてせつめいした).

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1148

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Livestock

Reading

Parts

玄Profound, Mysterious 田Rice field

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1514

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Apprehensive

Reading

Parts

田Rice field

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1783

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Edge of, Shore

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 半Half

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1860

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Furrow

Reading

Parts

亩 久Long time

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2059

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Capital, Suburbs of capital

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 幺Slight 戈

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2107

Handwriting