kanji

Meaning

Four

Reading

Parts

儿Legs 口Mouth

Example Word

四つ: four. The Japanese noun '四つ (よっつ)' means 'four'. It is a traditional way of counting items, often used in contexts like counting objects, ages, or in traditional settings. This term is part of the native Japanese counting system (as opposed to the Sino-Japanese system). For example: there are four apples「りんごが四つある」(りんごがよっつある). The child is four years old「その子は四つです」(そのこはよっつです). Note that '四つ' is less commonly used in modern, everyday conversation, where '四 (よん)' is more prevalent.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

77

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Country

Reading

Parts

玉Ball, Jewel 口Mouth

Example Word

米国: USA. The Japanese proper noun '米国 (べいこく)' refers to the United States of America (USA). The term is derived from the kanji '米' meaning 'rice', which is used phonetically here to represent 'America'. This term is commonly used in formal contexts, news, and official documents. For example: I am going to the USA next week「来週、米国に行きます」(らいしゅう、べいこくにいきます). The USA is a big country「米国は大きな国です」(べいこくはおおきなくにです). It is important to note that '米国' is more formal than the alternative term 'アメリカ', which is used in casual conversation.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

97

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Trouble, Distress

Reading

Parts

木Tree, Wood 囗Box

Example Word

困難: difficulty. The Japanese verbal noun '困難 (こんなん)' means 'difficulty'. It refers to a state of being hard to accomplish, deal with, or overcome. This word is often used to describe challenging situations, problems, or obstacles. For example: overcoming difficulties「困難を乗り越える」(こんなんをのりこえる). The difficulty of the task「その課題の困難」(そのかだいのこんなん). It can also be used in phrases like 'financial difficulties'「財政困難」(ざいせいこんなん). Note that '困難' is a noun and is often used in formal or serious contexts.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

515

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Map

Reading

Parts

囗Box 斗Ladle, Dipper

Example Word

地図: map. The Japanese noun '地図 (ちず)' means 'map'. It refers to a visual representation of an area, showing physical features, cities, roads, etc. This word is commonly used in everyday situations, such as when navigating or planning trips. For example: I bought a map of Tokyo「東京の地図を買いました」(とうきょうのちずをかいました). Can you show me the map?「地図を見せてくれますか？」(ちずをみせてくれますか？). It is also used in compound words like '世界地図 (せかいちず)' (world map) or '地下鉄地図 (ちかてつちず)' (subway map).

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

576

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Group, Association

Reading

Parts

囗Box 寸Measurement

Example Word

団地: complex or housing. The Japanese noun '団地 (だんち)' refers to a housing complex or residential area, typically consisting of multiple apartment buildings or houses built together. These complexes are often developed by public or private entities and are common in urban and suburban areas. For example: I live in a housing complex「私は団地に住んでいます」(わたしはだんちにすんでいます). The housing complex has a park「その団地には公園があります」(そのだんちにはこうえんがあります). The term can also imply a sense of community or shared facilities within the complex.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

598

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Revolve, Times

Reading

Parts

口Mouth

Example Word

前回: last time. The Japanese noun '前回 (ぜんかい)' means 'last time' or 'the previous time'. It is used to refer to the most recent occurrence of an event or action that has happened before. This word is commonly used in contexts where you want to compare or refer back to the previous instance of something. For example: Last time, we went to the park「前回、公園に行きました」(ぜんかい、こうえんにいきました). The results were better last time「前回の結果は良かった」(ぜんかいのけっかはよかった). It's important to note that '前回' is often used in both casual and formal settings, making it a versatile word in Japanese conversation.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

613

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Surround

Reading

Parts

井Well 口Mouth

Example Word

囲む: surround. The Japanese verb '囲む (かこむ)' means 'to surround'. It is used to describe the action of encircling or enclosing something or someone. This verb can be used in various contexts, such as physically surrounding an object, or metaphorically surrounding a topic or idea. For example: The children surrounded the teacher「子供たちは先生を囲んだ」(こどもたちはせんせいをかこんだ). The garden is surrounded by a fence「庭は柵で囲まれている」(にわはさくでかこまれている). The verb can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as surrounding a problem or issue with attention or discussion.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

711

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cause

Reading

Parts

口Mouth 大Big

Example Word

因み: reference. The Japanese noun '因み (ちなみ)' is used to introduce additional information or a related fact, often as an aside or a footnote to the main topic. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese to provide context or background information. For example: By the way, he is also a musician「因みに、彼はミュージシャンでもあります」(ちなみに、かれはミュージシャンでもあります). As a reference, this book was published last year「因みに、この本は去年出版されました」(ちなみに、このほんはきょねんしゅっぱんされました). The word is often used with the particle 'に' to form '因みに (ちなみに)', which functions similarly to 'by the way' or 'for your information' in English.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

717

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Garden

Reading

Parts

口Mouth 衣Clothes 土Soil

Example Word

遊園地: amusement park. The Japanese noun '遊園地 (ゆうえんち)' refers to an 'amusement park', a place with various attractions, rides, and entertainment facilities. It is commonly used to describe places like Disneyland or Universal Studios, where people go for leisure and fun. Example sentences: Let's go to the amusement park「遊園地に行きましょう」(ゆうえんちにいきましょう). The amusement park was crowded「遊園地は混んでいた」(ゆうえんちはこんでいた). This word is often associated with family outings or childhood memories.

Radical

囗

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

754

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Hard

Reading

Parts

囗Box 古Old

Example Word

固める: strengthen or harden. The Japanese verb '固める (かためる)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'to harden', which refers to making something physically solid or firm, such as cement or clay. The second meaning is 'to strengthen' or 'to solidify', often used in abstract contexts like relationships, plans, or resolve. For example: The cement hardened「セメントが固まった」(セメントがかたまった). She strengthened her resolve「彼女は決意を固めた」(かのじょはけついをかためた). Note that this verb can also imply making something more secure or stable, such as '固める計画 (かためるけいかく)' (to solidify a plan).

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