字Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Big

Reading

Parts

人Person 一One

Example Word

大好き: love. The Japanese adjective '大好き (だいすき)' means 'love' or 'really like'. It is used to express strong affection or preference for something or someone. This word is often used in casual conversations to convey enthusiasm or deep fondness. For example: I love sushi「私は寿司が大好きです」(わたしはすしがだいすきです). He really likes cats「彼は猫が大好きです」(かれはねこがだいすきです). Note that '大好き' is stronger than '好き (すき)', which simply means 'like'.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

6

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Man, Husband

Reading

Parts

二Two 人Person

Example Word

夫: husband. The Japanese noun '夫 (おっと)' means 'husband'. It is used to refer to a married man in relation to his spouse. This term is neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. For example: my husband is kind「私の夫は優しい」(わたしのおっとはやさしい). Her husband works at a bank「彼女の夫は銀行で働いています」(かのじょのおっとはぎんこうではたらいています). Note that '夫' is more formal than other terms like '主人 (しゅじん)' or '旦那 (だんな)', which can also mean 'husband' but carry different nuances.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

133

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Heaven

Reading

Parts

大Big 一One

Example Word

天皇: emperor. The Japanese noun '天皇 (てんのう)' refers to the 'emperor' of Japan, specifically the hereditary monarch who serves as the symbolic head of state. This term is deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture, and the emperor is considered a unifying figure for the nation. For example: The emperor visited the shrine「天皇が神社を訪れた」(てんのうがじんじゃをおとずれた). The emperor's role is largely ceremonial「天皇の役割は主に儀式的です」(てんのうのやくわりはおもにぎしきてきです). The term is also used in historical contexts to refer to past emperors.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

136

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Thick, Fat

Reading

Parts

大Big 丶Dot

Example Word

太陽: sun. The Japanese noun '太陽 (たいよう)' means 'sun'. It refers to the star at the center of our solar system, which provides light and heat to Earth. This word is commonly used in both scientific and everyday contexts. For example: The sun is bright today「今日の太陽は明るい」(きょうのたいようはあかるい). The sun rises in the east「太陽は東から昇る」(たいようはひがしからのぼる). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something or someone as a source of light or energy, such as in the phrase '彼は私の太陽 (かれはわたしのたいよう)' (He is my sun).

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

147

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Lose, Fault

Reading

Parts

大Big 丿Katakana no 夫Man, Husband

Example Word

失う: lose. The Japanese verb '失う (うしなう)' means 'to lose'. It is used when someone or something loses a possession, a person, an opportunity, or even an abstract concept like hope or trust. This verb can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. For example: I lost my wallet「財布を失った」(さいふをうしなった). He lost his job「彼は仕事を失った」(かれはしごとをうしなった). She lost her confidence「彼女は自信を失った」(かのじょはじしんをうしなった). The verb often carries a sense of permanence or irreversibility, emphasizing the gravity of the loss.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

335

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Core, Heart

Reading

Parts

米Rice 大Big

Example Word

奥: interior. The Japanese noun '奥 (おく)' refers to the 'interior' or 'inner part' of something, often implying depth or a hidden area. It is commonly used to describe the back or deeper parts of a space, such as a room, house, or even a forest. For example: the interior of the house「家の奥」(いえのおく). It can also be used metaphorically to describe something profound or not easily understood, such as the depths of one's heart. For example: the depths of her heart「彼女の心の奥」(かのじょのこころのおく). This word carries a nuance of something being concealed or not immediately visible.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

382

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Strange, Unusual

Reading

Parts

大Big 可Possible

Example Word

奇麗: beautiful or clean. The Japanese adjectival noun '奇麗 (きれい)' can mean both 'clean' and 'beautiful', depending on the context. When used to describe cleanliness, it refers to something being free from dirt or clutter. For example: The room is clean「部屋は奇麗です」(へやはきれいです). When used to describe beauty, it refers to something or someone being aesthetically pleasing. For example: She is beautiful「彼女は奇麗です」(かのじょはきれいです). The word can also be used to describe something as neat or tidy, such as handwriting: Your handwriting is neat「あなたの字は奇麗です」(あなたのじはきれいです). It's important to note that '奇麗' is often written in hiragana as 'きれい' in modern Japanese.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

630

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Dedicate, Observance

Reading

Example Word

奉行: magistrate. The Japanese noun '奉行 (ぶぎょう)' refers to a magistrate or a high-ranking official in feudal Japan, typically responsible for administrative or judicial duties. This term is historically significant and often associated with the Edo period, where such officials played crucial roles in governance. For example: The magistrate issued a new decree「奉行が新しい法令を出した」(ぶぎょうがあたらしいほうれいをだした). The magistrate's decision was final「奉行の決定は最終的だった」(ぶぎょうのけっていはさいしゅうてきだった). It's important to note that this term is largely historical and may not be commonly used in modern contexts, except when referring to historical settings or figures.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

813

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Take by force, Rob

Reading

Parts

奞 大Big

Example Word

奪う: take or rob. The Japanese verb '奪う (うばう)' primarily means 'to take' or 'to rob'. It is used when someone forcibly takes something away from someone else, often implying a sense of loss or deprivation. This verb can be used in various contexts, such as physically taking an object, or metaphorically taking something intangible like time or opportunities. For example: The thief took my wallet「泥棒が私の財布を奪った」(どろぼうがわたしのさいふをうばった). The accident robbed him of his happiness「その事故は彼の幸せを奪った」(そのじこはかれのしあわせをうばった). Note that '奪う' carries a strong connotation of force or violence, and is not used for casual or neutral taking.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1167

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Invigorated

Reading

Parts

奞 田Rice field

Example Word

興奮: excitement. The Japanese verbal noun '興奮 (こうふん)' refers to a state of excitement, agitation, or arousal. It is often used to describe emotional or physical excitement, such as the thrill of an event or the agitation caused by a situation. For example: I felt excitement at the concert「コンサートで興奮を感じた」(コンサートでこうふんをかんじた). The crowd was in a state of excitement「群衆は興奮状態だった」(ぐんしゅうはこうふんじょうたいだった). This word can also be used in contexts like sports, debates, or even scientific discussions to describe heightened energy or tension.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1215

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

But, Nara

Reading

Parts

大Big 示Show, Indicate

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1248

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Play music

Reading

Parts

禾Cereal

Example Word

演奏: performance. The Japanese verbal noun '演奏 (えんそう)' refers to the act of performing music, typically on an instrument or as part of an ensemble. It is commonly used in contexts involving concerts, recitals, or any musical presentation. For example: The piano performance was beautiful「ピアノの演奏は美しかった」(ぴあののえんそうはうつくしかった). I will attend a violin performance tomorrow「明日、バイオリンの演奏を聴きに行きます」(あした、ばいおりんのえんそうをききにいきます). This word is often associated with formal or artistic settings and emphasizes the act of playing music rather than just listening to it.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1324

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Center

Reading

Parts

口Mouth 大Big

Example Word

中央: center or middle. The Japanese noun '中央 (ちゅうおう)' primarily means 'center' or 'middle'. It refers to the central part of something, whether it's a physical space, an organization, or a concept. For example: the center of the city「街の中央」(まちのちゅうおう). The middle of the room「部屋の中央」(へやのちゅうおう). It can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as the central government「中央政府」(ちゅうおうせいふ). The word is versatile and can be applied to various contexts where the concept of centrality is relevant.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1349

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Rush, Bustle

Reading

Parts

大Big 卉

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1744

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Pledge

Reading

Parts

大Big 㓞

Example Word

契約: contract. The Japanese verbal noun '契約 (けいやく)' refers to a formal agreement or contract between parties. It is commonly used in legal, business, and personal contexts to describe binding agreements. For example: We signed a contract「契約を結びました」(けいやくをむすびました). The contract has been terminated「契約は解除されました」(けいやくはかいじょされました). This term is often paired with verbs like '結ぶ (むすぶ)' (to conclude) or '解除する (かいじょする)' (to cancel) to describe the act of making or ending a contract.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1778

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Urge, Encourage

Reading

Parts

大Big 将Leader, Commander

Example Word

奨学金: scholarship. The Japanese noun '奨学金 (しょうがくきん)' refers to a 'scholarship', which is financial aid awarded to students to help pay for their education. This term is commonly used in academic contexts and can refer to both merit-based and need-based scholarships. For example: I received a scholarship「奨学金をもらいました」(しょうがくきんをもらいました). She applied for a scholarship「彼女は奨学金に申し込んだ」(かのじょはしょうがくきんにもうしこんだ). It is important to note that '奨学金' is often associated with higher education, such as university or graduate school, and can cover tuition, living expenses, or both.

Radical

大

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1957

Handwriting