Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Ten

Reading

Parts

丨Stick 一One

Example Word

何十: dozens. The Japanese noun '何十 (なんじゅう)' means 'dozens'. It is used to indicate an unspecified number of items, typically in the range of tens. This word is often used when the exact number is not important or when the speaker wants to emphasize that there are many items. For example: There are dozens of books「何十冊もの本がある」(なんじゅうさつものほんがある). Dozens of people attended the event「何十人もの人がイベントに参加した」(なんじゅうにんものひとがイベントにさんかした). Note that '何十' is often followed by a counter (e.g., 冊 for books, 人 for people) to specify what is being counted.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

30

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Half

Reading

Parts

丷Divide 干Dry

Example Word

半径: radius. The Japanese noun '半径 (はんけい)' means 'radius'. It is used in mathematics and geometry to describe the distance from the center of a circle to its circumference. This term is also used in everyday contexts to describe the range or extent of something circular or spherical. For example: the radius of the circle is 5 meters「円の半径は5メートルです」(えんのはんけいはごメートルです). The explosion affected everything within a 10-kilometer radius「爆発は半径10キロメートル以内に影響を及ぼした」(ばくはつははんけいじゅっキロメートルいないにえいきょうをおよぼした).

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

228

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Thousand

Reading

Parts

十Ten 丿Katakana no

Example Word

八千: eight thousand. The Japanese noun '八千 (はっせん)' literally means 'eight thousand'. It is a numerical term used to denote the quantity 8,000. This word is often used in contexts involving counting, measurements, or large quantities. For example: there are eight thousand people in the stadium「スタジアムには八千人がいる」(スタジアムにははっせんにんがいる). The price of the car is eight thousand dollars「その車の値段は八千ドルです」(そのくるまのねだんははっせんドルです). Note that '八千' is a specific number and is not used metaphorically or abstractly.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

261

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

South

Reading

Parts

十Ten 冂Enclosure 羊Sheep

Example Word

南極: Antarctica. The Japanese noun '南極 (なんきょく)' refers to 'Antarctica', the southernmost continent on Earth. It is often used in geographical or scientific contexts. For example: Antarctica is very cold「南極はとても寒い」(なんきょくはとてもさむい). Penguins live in Antarctica「ペンギンは南極に住んでいる」(ペンギンはなんきょくにすんでいる). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something extremely cold or remote, though this usage is less common.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

493

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Extensive, Doctor

Reading

Parts

十Ten 尃

Example Word

博物: natural history. The Japanese noun '博物 (はくぶつ)' refers to 'natural history', which is the study of organisms and natural objects. This term is often used in contexts related to museums, education, and scientific research. For example: The museum has a natural history exhibit「博物館には博物の展示がある」(はくぶつかんにははくぶつのてんじがある). He studies natural history「彼は博物を研究している」(かれははくぶつをけんきゅうしている). The term can also be associated with collections of natural specimens, such as plants, animals, and minerals.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

521

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Simple, Single

Reading

Parts

⺍Small 日Day, Sun 十Ten

Example Word

単純: simple. The Japanese adjectival noun '単純 (たんじゅん)' means 'simple'. It is used to describe something that is straightforward, uncomplicated, or lacking in complexity. This word can be applied to ideas, tasks, systems, or even people's thinking. For example: This problem is simple「この問題は単純だ」(このもんだいはたんじゅんだ). His explanation was simple and easy to understand「彼の説明は単純で分かりやすかった」(かれのせつめいはたんじゅんでわかりやすかった). Note that '単純' can sometimes carry a nuance of being overly simplistic or naive, depending on the context.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

554

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Noon

Reading

Parts

𠂉Person (人)十Ten

Example Word

午後: afternoon. The Japanese noun '午後 (ごご)' refers to the time period of the 'afternoon'. It is commonly used to indicate the time of day from around 12:00 PM (noon) until evening, typically around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM. This word is often used in schedules, appointments, or when specifying time. For example: I have a meeting in the afternoon「午後に会議があります」(ごごにかいぎがあります). Let's meet at 3 PM in the afternoon「午後3時に会いましょう」(ごごさんじにあいましょう). Note that '午後' is often paired with specific times, such as '午後2時 (ごごにじ)' for 2:00 PM.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

753

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Eminent

Reading

Parts

早Early, Fast 卜Divination

Example Word

食卓: dining table. The Japanese noun '食卓 (しょくたく)' refers to a 'dining table', the piece of furniture where meals are eaten. It is commonly used in contexts related to family meals, dining settings, or household furniture. For example: We gather around the dining table every evening「毎晩、食卓を囲みます」(まいばん、しょくたくをかこみます). The dining table is set for dinner「食卓には夕食が並んでいます」(しょくたくにはゆうしょくがならんでいます). This word emphasizes the communal aspect of eating together, often highlighting family or social gatherings.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1118

Radical Form

龺

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Graduate

Reading

Parts

十Ten 人Person

Example Word

卒業: graduation. The Japanese verbal noun '卒業 (そつぎょう)' means 'graduation'. It refers to the act of completing a course of study, typically from a school or university. This word is commonly used in contexts related to education, such as graduating from high school or university. For example: I graduated from university last year「私は去年大学を卒業しました」(わたしはきょねんだいがくをそつぎょうしました). She will graduate from high school next spring「彼女は来春高校を卒業します」(かのじょはらいしゅんこうこうをそつぎょうします). Additionally, '卒業' can sometimes be used metaphorically to indicate moving on from a phase or stage in life, such as '卒業する' meaning 'to graduate from' a particular habit or mindset.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1191

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Mean, Lowly

Reading

Parts

白White 丿Katakana no 十Ten

Example Word

卑しい: vulgar or greedy. The Japanese adjective '卑しい (いやしい)' can mean 'greedy' or 'vulgar'. When used to mean 'greedy', it describes someone who is excessively desirous of wealth or possessions. For example: He is greedy for money「彼は金に卑しい」(かれはかねにいやしい). When used to mean 'vulgar', it describes something or someone that is lacking in refinement or good taste. For example: Her manners are vulgar「彼女のマナーは卑しい」(かのじょのマナーはいやしい). The word carries a negative connotation and is often used to criticize someone's behavior or character.

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1213

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cooperate

Reading

Parts

十Ten 劦

Example Word

農協: agricultural cooperative. The Japanese noun '農協 (のうきょう)' refers to an 'agricultural cooperative', which is an organization formed by farmers to collectively manage the production, distribution, and sale of agricultural products. These cooperatives play a significant role in Japan's agricultural sector, providing services such as purchasing supplies, marketing produce, and offering financial services to their members. Example sentences: The agricultural cooperative supports local farmers「農協は地元の農家を支援しています」(のうきょうはじもとののうかをしえんしています). I bought rice from the agricultural cooperative「農協から米を買いました」(のうきょうからこめをかいました).

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1354

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sho, Measuring box

Reading

Parts

十Ten 廾Twenty

Radical

十

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1809

Handwriting