Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Man

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 力Power

Example Word

男子: boy. The Japanese noun '男子 (だんし)' refers to a male child or young man, typically used in contexts such as schools, sports, or formal settings. It emphasizes the male gender and is often used in contrast to '女子 (じょし)', which means 'girl'. For example: The boys are playing soccer「男子がサッカーをしている」(だんしがサッカーをしている). This school is for boys only「この学校は男子だけです」(このがっこうはだんしだけです). The term can also appear in compound words like '男子校 (だんしこう)', meaning 'boys' school'.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

86

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rice field

Reading

Parts

十Ten 口Mouth

Example Word

水田: paddy. The Japanese noun '水田 (すいでん)' refers to a 'paddy field', which is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice. This term is specifically used in the context of agriculture and farming. Example sentences: The paddy fields are beautiful in the summer「夏の水田は美しい」(なつのすいでんはうつくしい). Farmers work hard in the paddy fields「農家は水田で一生懸命働く」(のうかはすいでんでいっしょうけんめいはたらく).

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

申し出る: offer. The Japanese verb '申し出る (もうしでる)' means 'to offer' or 'to propose'. It is used when someone voluntarily offers something, such as help, a suggestion, or a proposal. This verb often implies a formal or polite context, and it is commonly used in situations where someone is stepping forward to provide assistance or make a suggestion. For example: He offered to help「彼は手伝いを申し出た」(かれはてつだいをもうしでた). She proposed a new plan「彼女は新しい計画を申し出た」(かのじょはあたらしいけいかくをもうしでた). The verb can also be used in more formal settings, such as business or official proposals.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

221

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Reason

Reading

Parts

十Ten 口Mouth

Example Word

不自由: discomfort. The Japanese verbal noun '不自由 (ふじゆう)' primarily means 'discomfort' or 'inconvenience'. It refers to a state of being unable to do something freely or comfortably, often due to physical, mental, or situational constraints. This word is commonly used to describe a lack of freedom or difficulty in performing actions. For example: He feels discomfort due to his injury「彼はけがで不自由を感じている」(かれはけがでふじゆうをかんじている). Living without electricity is inconvenient「電気がない生活は不自由だ」(でんきがないせいかつはふじゆうだ). The word can also imply a sense of dependency or limitation, such as in the phrase '不自由な体 (ふじゆうなからだ)', meaning 'a body with disabilities'.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

278

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Turn

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 米Rice 丿Katakana no

Example Word

順番: order. The Japanese noun '順番 (じゅんばん)' means 'order' or 'turn'. It refers to the sequence or arrangement in which things occur or are done. This word is commonly used in contexts where people or things are arranged in a specific sequence, such as waiting in line or following a set procedure. For example: It's your turn「あなたの順番です」(あなたのじゅんばんです). Please wait for your turn「順番を待ってください」(じゅんばんをまってください). The word can also be used to describe the order of events or steps in a process, such as in cooking or instructions.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

300

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

World

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 介Mediate, Jammed in

Example Word

境界: boundary. The Japanese noun '境界 (きょうかい)' refers to a boundary or border, often used to describe a physical or conceptual line separating two areas, ideas, or states. It can be used in various contexts, such as geographical boundaries, personal limits, or abstract distinctions. For example: the boundary between the two countries「二つの国の境界」(ふたつのくにのきょうかい). The boundary between dreams and reality「夢と現実の境界」(ゆめとげんじつのきょうかい). This word is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, emphasizing the idea of separation or division.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

309

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Picture

Reading

Parts

一One 凵Open box 由Reason

Example Word

映画館: cinema. The Japanese noun '映画館 (えいがかん)' refers to a 'cinema' or 'movie theater', a place where films are shown to the public. This word is commonly used when discussing going out to watch movies. For example: Let's go to the cinema「映画館に行きましょう」(えいがかんにいきましょう). The cinema is crowded today「今日は映画館が混んでいます」(きょうはえいがかんがこんでいます). It's important to note that '映画館' specifically refers to the physical location where movies are screened, distinguishing it from other related terms like '映画 (えいが)', which simply means 'movie' or 'film'.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

384

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rare, Different

Reading

Parts

田Rice field 井Well

Example Word

異常: abnormal. The Japanese adjectival noun '異常 (いじょう)' means 'abnormal' or 'unusual'. It is used to describe something that deviates from the norm or is out of the ordinary. This word can be applied to various contexts, such as weather, behavior, or conditions. For example: The weather is abnormal today「今日の天気は異常だ」(きょうのてんきはいじょうだ). His behavior is unusual「彼の行動は異常だ」(かれのこうどうはいじょうだ). It can also be used in medical contexts to describe abnormal conditions or symptoms. For instance: The patient has abnormal symptoms「患者は異常な症状がある」(かんじゃはいじょうなしょうじょうがある).

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

453

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Stay, Detain

Reading

Example Word

留学: study abroad. The Japanese verbal noun '留学 (りゅうがく)' refers to the act of studying abroad, typically in a foreign country for a certain period of time. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is pursuing education or research in a different country. For example: I want to study abroad in America「アメリカに留学したいです」(あめりかにりゅうがくしたいです). She is studying abroad in France「彼女はフランスに留学しています」(かのじょはふらんすにりゅうがくしています). The term is often associated with higher education but can also apply to language studies or specialized training programs.

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

侵略: invasion. The Japanese noun '侵略 (しんりゃく)' means 'invasion'. It refers to the act of forcefully entering and taking control of a territory, often by military force. This term is commonly used in historical, political, or military contexts. For example: The country suffered from foreign invasion「その国は外国の侵略に苦しんだ」(そのくにはがいこくのしんりゃくにくるしんだ). The invasion caused widespread destruction「侵略は広範囲な破壊を引き起こした」(しんりゃくはこうはんいなはかいをひきおこした). It can also be used metaphorically to describe non-physical intrusions, such as cultural or economic invasions.

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