Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Four

Reading

Parts

儿Legs 口Mouth

Example Word

四百: four hundred. The Japanese noun '四百 (よんひゃく)' means 'four hundred'. This is a specific number used in counting or quantifying objects, amounts, or other numerical contexts. It is a combination of '四 (よん)' meaning 'four' and '百 (ひゃく)' meaning 'hundred'. Example sentences: There are four hundred books in the library「図書館には四百冊の本があります」(としょかんにはよんひゃくさつのほんがあります). The event had four hundred participants「そのイベントには四百人の参加者がいました」(そのイベントにはよんひゃくにんのさんかしゃがいました).

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

77

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Country

Reading

Parts

玉Ball, Jewel 口Mouth

Example Word

自国: home country. The Japanese noun '自国 (じこく)' refers to one's own country or homeland. It is often used in contexts where someone is comparing or discussing their own country in relation to others. For example: I love my homecountry「私は自国が大好きです」(わたしはじこくがだいすきです). The policies of my homecountry are strict「自国の政策は厳しい」(じこくのせいさくはきびしい). This term is commonly used in formal or political discussions.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

97

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Trouble, Distress

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 囗Box

Example Word

困る: trouble. The Japanese verb '困る (こまる)' means 'to be in trouble' or 'to be troubled'. It is used to express a state of difficulty, distress, or inconvenience. This verb often conveys a sense of being at a loss or not knowing what to do in a situation. For example: I am in trouble because I lost my wallet「財布をなくして困っている」(さいふをなくしてこまっている). It can also be used to describe a situation where someone is inconvenienced or bothered by something: It troubles me when people are late「人が遅れると困る」(ひとがおくれるとこまる). The verb is commonly used in everyday conversation to express personal difficulties or challenges.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

515

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Map

Reading

Parts

囗Box 斗Ladle, Dipper

Example Word

図書室: library. The Japanese noun '図書室 (としょしつ)' refers to a 'library', specifically a room or space where books and other reading materials are kept for reading or borrowing. It is commonly used in schools, universities, or public buildings. For example: I borrowed a book from the library「図書室から本を借りました」(としょしつからほんをかりました). The library is quiet「図書室は静かです」(としょしつはしずかです). This word is often associated with educational or institutional settings, and it emphasizes the function of the space as a repository for books and study materials.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

576

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Group, Association

Reading

Parts

囗Box 寸Measurement

Example Word

団体: group. The Japanese noun '団体 (だんたい)' refers to a 'group' or 'organization', typically a formal or organized one. It is often used to describe entities such as corporations, associations, or clubs. For example: a sports organization「スポーツ団体」(スポーツだんたい). The group held a meeting「その団体は会議を開いた」(そのだんたいはかいぎをひらいた). This word emphasizes the collective nature of the group, often implying a structured or official entity.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

598

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Revolve, Times

Reading

Parts

口Mouth

Example Word

回る: rotate. The Japanese verb '回る (まわる)' primarily means 'to rotate' or 'to revolve'. It is used to describe the action of something moving in a circular or spinning motion. This verb can be applied to physical objects, such as wheels or planets, as well as abstract concepts like time or events. For example: the earth rotates around the sun「地球は太陽の周りを回る」(ちきゅうはたいようのまわりをまわる). The fan is spinning「扇風機が回っている」(せんぷうきがまわっている). Additionally, '回る' can also imply going around a place, as in 'to tour' or 'to make rounds', for example: he went around the city「彼は街を回った」(かれはまちをまわった).

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

613

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Surround

Reading

Parts

井Well 口Mouth

Example Word

周囲: surroundings. The Japanese noun '周囲 (しゅうい)' refers to the area or environment around something or someone. It can describe physical surroundings, such as the area around a building, or the social environment, such as the people around a person. For example: The surroundings are quiet「周囲は静かです」(しゅういはしずかです). He is aware of his surroundings「彼は周囲に気を配っている」(かれはしゅういにはきをくばっている). This word is often used in contexts where the focus is on the environment or the people around a subject.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

711

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cause

Reading

Parts

口Mouth 大Big

Example Word

原因: cause. The Japanese noun '原因 (げんいん)' means 'cause'. It refers to the reason or source behind an event, situation, or phenomenon. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts to explain why something happened. For example: the cause of the accident is unknown「事故の原因は不明です」(じこのげんいんはふめいです). Stress is the cause of his illness「ストレスが彼の病気の原因です」(ストレスがかれのびょうきのげんいんです). It can also be used in compound phrases like '根本原因 (こんぽんげんいん)' (root cause) to emphasize the primary source of an issue.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

717

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Garden

Reading

Parts

口Mouth 衣Clothes 土Soil

Example Word

園: garden. The Japanese noun '園 (その)' primarily means 'garden'. It refers to a cultivated area of land, often used for growing plants, flowers, or vegetables. This word can also be used in compound words to denote specific types of gardens or parks, such as '動物園 (どうぶつえん)' (zoo) or '幼稚園 (ようちえん)' (kindergarten). Example sentences: The garden is beautiful「その園は美しい」(そのそのはうつくしい). I went to the zoo「動物園に行った」(どうぶつえんにいった).

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

754

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Hard

Reading

Parts

囗Box 古Old

Example Word

頑固: stubborn. The Japanese adjectival noun '頑固 (がんこ)' means 'stubborn'. It is used to describe someone who is unyielding or inflexible in their opinions, attitudes, or behavior. This word often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the person is unreasonably resistant to change or compromise. For example: my grandfather is stubborn「私の祖父は頑固だ」(わたしのそふはがんこだ). He is too stubborn to admit his mistake「彼は間違いを認めるには頑固すぎる」(かれはまちがいをみとめるにはがんこすぎる). The term can also be used to describe objects or situations that are difficult to change or fix, such as a 'stubborn stain' (頑固な汚れ, がんこなよごれ).

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

765

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Prisoner, Criminal

Reading

Parts

人Person 囗Box

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1646

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sphere, Range

Reading

Parts

囗Box 巻Scroll

Example Word

圏: sphere or region. The Japanese suffix '圏 (けん)' is used to denote a sphere, region, or area, often in a geographical, cultural, or conceptual sense. It is commonly attached to nouns to specify a particular area or domain. For example: the economic sphere「経済圏」(けいざいけん). The metropolitan area「首都圏」(しゅとけん). The influence sphere「影響圏」(えいきょうけん). This suffix is versatile and can be used in various contexts to describe boundaries or areas of influence.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

2004

Handwriting