kanji

Meaning

Degrees, Times

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 又Again 廿Twenty

Example Word

態度: attitude. The Japanese noun '態度 (たいど)' refers to a person's attitude, demeanor, or behavior. It is often used to describe how someone carries themselves or reacts in a given situation. This word can be used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on the situation. For example: His attitude is very positive「彼の態度はとても前向きだ」(かれのたいどはとてもまえむきだ). Her attitude towards work is lazy「彼女の仕事に対する態度は怠惰だ」(かのじょのしごとにたいするたいどはたいだだ). The word can also imply a sense of posture or stance, both physically and metaphorically.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

58

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sit, Seat

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 坐

Example Word

座: seat. The Japanese noun '座 (ざ)' primarily means 'seat'. It refers to a place where someone sits, such as in a theater, a meeting, or any gathering. This word is often used in formal contexts or when referring to seating arrangements. For example: Please take your seat「どうぞお座りください」(どうぞおすわりください). The seats in the theater are comfortable「劇場の座は快適です」(げきじょうのざはかいてきです). Additionally, '座' can also refer to a group or association, particularly in traditional Japanese arts like Noh or Kabuki, where it denotes a troupe or guild. For example: He belongs to a famous Noh troupe「彼は有名な能の座に所属しています」(かれはゆうめいなのうのざにしょぞくしています).

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

293

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Bottom

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 氐

Example Word

到底: cannot. The Japanese adverb '到底 (とうてい)' is used to express that something is absolutely impossible or cannot be done under any circumstances. It is often used in negative sentences to emphasize the impossibility of an action or situation. For example: I cannot possibly understand「到底理解できない」(とうていりかいできない). It is impossible to finish this by today「到底今日中には終わらない」(とうていきょうじゅうにはおわらない). This adverb carries a strong sense of finality and is typically used in formal or written contexts.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

373

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Garden

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 廷Court

Example Word

家庭: family or home. The Japanese noun '家庭 (かてい)' refers to both 'home' and 'family', depending on the context. It emphasizes the domestic environment or household, often including the family unit living together. For example: My home is peaceful「私の家庭は平和です」(わたしのかていはへいわです). A happy family「幸せな家庭」(しあわせなかてい). It is commonly used in contexts discussing family life, household management, or domestic situations. The word carries a sense of warmth and togetherness, often implying a close-knit family unit.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

402

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Shop

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 占Fortune telling

Example Word

百貨店: department store. The Japanese noun '百貨店 (ひゃっかてん)' refers to a 'department store', which is a large retail establishment offering a wide range of products organized into different departments. Department stores in Japan are known for their high-quality goods, excellent customer service, and often include restaurants and entertainment facilities. For example: I bought this at the department store「これを百貨店で買いました」(これをひゃっかてんでかいました). The department store is crowded today「今日は百貨店が混んでいます」(きょうはひゃっかてんがこんでいます).

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

406

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Wide

Reading

Parts

厶Private 广Dotted cliff

Example Word

広がる: spread. The Japanese verb '広がる (ひろがる)' means 'to spread' or 'to expand'. It is used to describe something that extends over a larger area or becomes more widespread. This can refer to physical expansion, such as a stain spreading on fabric, or abstract concepts like rumors or influence spreading. For example: The news spread quickly「ニュースがすぐに広がった」(ニュースがすぐにひろがった). The view spread out before us「目の前に景色が広がった」(めのまえにけしきがひろがった). It can also imply the idea of something unfolding or opening up, such as a flower blooming or opportunities becoming available.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

428

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Bed, Floor

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 木Tree, Wood

Example Word

床: floor. The Japanese noun '床 (ゆか)' refers to the 'floor' of a building or room. It is commonly used to describe the surface that people walk on indoors. This word is often used in contexts related to architecture, interior design, and daily life. For example: The floor is clean「床がきれいです」(ゆかがきれいです). I sat on the floor「床に座りました」(ゆかにすわりました). It can also refer to the floor of a stage or platform in specific contexts. Note that '床' is distinct from '地面 (じめん)', which refers to the ground or earth outdoors.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

638

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Government office, Urban prefecture

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 付Attach

Example Word

府: prefecture. The Japanese noun '府 (ふ)' refers to a type of administrative division in Japan, specifically a 'prefecture'. Historically, it was used to denote important urban areas or governmental centers. In modern Japan, it is part of the names of certain prefectures, such as '京都府 (きょうとふ)' (Kyoto Prefecture) and '大阪府 (おおさかふ)' (Osaka Prefecture). Example sentences: Kyoto is a prefecture in Japan「京都は日本の府です」(きょうとはにほんのふです). Osaka Prefecture is known for its vibrant culture「大阪府はその活気ある文化で知られています」(おおさかふはそのかっきあるぶんかでしられています).

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

772

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Corridor, Passageway

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 郎Young man, Guy

Example Word

廊下: hallway. The Japanese noun '廊下 (ろうか)' refers to a 'hallway' or 'corridor'. It is used to describe a long, narrow passage inside a building that connects rooms. This word is commonly used in both residential and public buildings. For example: The hallway is long「廊下が長い」(ろうかがながい). Please walk quietly in the hallway「廊下では静かに歩いてください」(ろうかではしずかにあるいてください). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe a passage or pathway, but this usage is less common.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1001

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Healthy, Peaceful

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 隶

Example Word

健康: health. The Japanese adjectival noun '健康 (けんこう)' means 'health'. It refers to the state of being physically and mentally well. It is often used to describe a person's condition or lifestyle. For example: maintaining good health is important「健康を保つことは大切です」(けんこうをたもつことはたいせつです). She is in good health「彼女は健康です」(かのじょはけんこうです). This word can also be used in compound nouns, such as '健康診断 (けんこうしんだん)' (health checkup).

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1072

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Beginning, Preface

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 予Beforehand

Example Word

秩序: order. The Japanese noun '秩序 (ちつじょ)' means 'order' in the sense of a systematic or harmonious arrangement. It is often used to describe social, natural, or organizational systems where things are structured and functioning properly. For example: maintaining social order「社会の秩序を守る」(しゃかいのちつじょをまもる). The natural order of the ecosystem「生態系の秩序」(せいたいけいのちつじょ). This word is commonly used in formal or academic contexts to discuss stability, rules, or systems. It is not used to describe personal tidiness or neatness, which would be expressed with words like '整理 (せいり)'.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1159

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Warehouse

Reading

Parts

車Car 广Dotted cliff

Example Word

金庫: safe. The Japanese noun '金庫 (きんこ)' refers to a 'safe' or 'vault', typically used to store valuable items such as money, jewelry, or important documents. It is commonly found in homes, businesses, or banks. For example: The money is kept in the safe「お金は金庫に保管されています」(おかねはきんこにほかんされています). They opened the safe to retrieve the documents「彼らは書類を取り出すために金庫を開けました」(かれらはしょるいをとりだすためにきんこをあけました). The word can also metaphorically refer to a secure place or repository for something valuable.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1255

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Waste, Abolish

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 発Departure

Example Word

廃棄: disposal. The Japanese noun '廃棄 (はいき)' means 'disposal'. It refers to the act of getting rid of something, often waste or unwanted items, in a systematic or regulated manner. This term is commonly used in contexts related to waste management, recycling, or discarding obsolete items. For example: The disposal of industrial waste is strictly regulated「産業廃棄物の廃棄は厳しく規制されている」(さんぎょうはいきぶつのはいきはきびしくきせいされている). We need to dispose of old documents「古い書類を廃棄する必要がある」(ふるいしょるいをはいきするひつようがある). The word can also imply a sense of finality or irreversibility in the act of discarding.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1427

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Government office, Agency

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 丁Street

Example Word

県庁: prefecture office. The Japanese noun '県庁 (けんちょう)' refers to the 'prefecture office' or 'prefectural government office'. This is the administrative center of a prefecture in Japan, where local government affairs are managed. It is typically the main building where the governor and other government officials work. Example sentences include: The prefecture office is near the station 「県庁は駅の近くです」 (けんちょうはえきのちかくです). I went to the prefecture office today 「今日は県庁に行きました」 (きょうはけんちょうにいきました). Note that '県庁' is specifically used for the prefectural level, distinct from city or ward offices.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1679

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cheap, Bargain

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 兼Combine, Concurrently

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1835

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Ordinary, Common

Reading

Parts

聿Brush 广Dotted cliff

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1843

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Commoner, Manifold

Reading

Parts

广Dotted cliff 廿Twenty 灬Fire (火)

Example Word

庶民: commoners. The Japanese noun '庶民 (しょみん)' refers to 'commoners' or 'ordinary people'. It is used to describe the general populace, as opposed to the elite or aristocracy. This term often carries a neutral or slightly humble connotation, emphasizing the everyday lives of regular people. For example: The life of commoners is simple「庶民の生活はシンプルだ」(しょみんのせいかつはシンプルだ). Commoners enjoy festivals too「庶民もお祭りを楽しむ」(しょみんもおまつりをたのしむ). The word is commonly used in historical contexts or when discussing social classes, but it can also appear in modern contexts to contrast ordinary people with those in positions of power or wealth.

Radical

广

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1931

Handwriting