字Jōyō KanjiOrganized by Radical

kanji

Meaning

Eat, Food

Reading

Parts

良Good 人Person

Example Word

食べる: eat. The Japanese verb '食べる (たべる)' means 'to eat'. It is a common verb used to describe the action of consuming food. This verb is often used in daily conversations and can be conjugated to fit different tenses and levels of politeness. For example: I eat breakfast every morning「私は毎朝朝食を食べる」(わたしはまいあさちょうしょくをたべる). She is eating sushi now「彼女は今寿司を食べている」(かのじょはいますしをたべている). The verb '食べる' can also be used in various expressions and idiomatic phrases, making it a versatile and essential verb in Japanese.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

153

Radical Form

飠

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Drink

Reading

Parts

欠Lack 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

飲み物: drink. The Japanese noun '飲み物 (のみもの)' means 'drink'. It refers to any beverage that can be consumed, such as water, tea, coffee, or juice. This word is commonly used in everyday conversations when discussing what to drink or offering someone a beverage. For example: What would you like to drink?「何か飲み物はいかがですか？」(なにかのみものはいかがですか). I bought some drinks at the store「店で飲み物を買いました」(みせでのみものをかいました). It's important to note that '飲み物' is a general term and can refer to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, depending on the context.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

541

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Foster

Reading

Example Word

栄養: nutrition. The Japanese noun '栄養 (えいよう)' means 'nutrition'. It refers to the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. This word is commonly used in contexts related to health, diet, and biology. For example: good nutrition is important for health「良い栄養は健康に重要です」(よいえいようはけんこうにじゅうようです). This food is rich in nutrition「この食べ物は栄養が豊富です」(このたべものはえいようがほうふです). The word can also be used in compound words like '栄養素 (えいようそ)' which means 'nutrient'.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

693

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Cooked rice, Food

Reading

Parts

反Anti 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

夕飯: dinner. The Japanese noun '夕飯 (ゆうはん)' refers to the evening meal, commonly known as 'dinner'. It is a compound of '夕 (ゆう)', meaning 'evening', and '飯 (はん)', meaning 'meal' or 'cooked rice'. This word is used in everyday conversation to refer to the main meal eaten in the evening. For example: Let's eat dinner「夕飯を食べましょう」(ゆうはんをたべましょう). What's for dinner tonight?「今夜の夕飯は何ですか？」(こんやのゆうはんはなんですか？). It is a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

723

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Building

Reading

Parts

官Government, Bureaucrat 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

図書館: library. The Japanese noun '図書館 (としょかん)' refers to a 'library', a place where books, magazines, and other materials are kept for reading, studying, or borrowing. It is a common word used in everyday conversation and formal contexts. For example: I went to the library「図書館に行きました」(としょかんにいきました). The library is quiet「図書館は静かです」(としょかんはしずかです). This word is often used in combination with other words to specify the type of library, such as 'public library' (公立図書館, こうりつとしょかん) or 'university library' (大学図書館, だいがくとしょかん).

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

747

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Decorate

Reading

Parts

巾Towel 人Person 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

飾る: decorate. The Japanese verb '飾る (かざる)' means 'to decorate' or 'to adorn'. It is used when embellishing or beautifying something, such as a room, a cake, or even oneself. This verb can be applied to both physical objects and abstract concepts. For example: She decorated the room with flowers「彼女は部屋を花で飾った」(かのじょはへやをはなでかざった). He adorned himself with jewelry「彼は宝石で身を飾った」(かれはほうせきでみをかざった). The verb can also imply adding something to enhance appearance or value, as in 'to embellish a story'「話を飾る」(はなしをかざる).

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1040

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Sated, Satiated

Reading

Parts

包Wrap 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

飽くまで: thoroughly. The Japanese adverb '飽くまで (あくまで)' means 'thoroughly' or 'to the very end'. It conveys a sense of persistence, determination, or doing something completely without compromise. This word is often used to emphasize that something is done to the fullest extent or that a stance is unwavering. For example: He thoroughly denied the accusations「彼は飽くまでその非難を否定した」(かれはあくまでそのひなんをひていした). I will thoroughly pursue this matter「私は飽くまでこの問題を追求します」(わたしはあくまでこのもんだいをついきゅうします). The nuance of '飽くまで' often implies a strong resolve or an unyielding attitude.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1442

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Domesticate

Reading

Parts

司Director 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

飼う: keep. The Japanese verb '飼う (かう)' means 'to keep' or 'to raise' and is specifically used in the context of keeping animals as pets or livestock. It implies taking care of an animal over time. For example: I keep a dog「犬を飼う」(いぬをかう). They raise chickens「彼らは鶏を飼う」(かれらはにわとりをかう). This verb is commonly used when talking about pets or domesticated animals, and it carries a sense of responsibility and care.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1506

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Mochi rice cake

Reading

Parts

并 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

餅: rice cake. The Japanese noun '餅 (もち)' refers to a traditional Japanese food made from glutinous rice that has been pounded into a sticky, elastic mass. It is often shaped into round or rectangular forms and can be eaten in various ways, such as grilled, boiled, or as part of soups and desserts. '餅' is particularly associated with Japanese New Year celebrations, where it is used in dishes like 'お雑煮 (おぞうに)' (ozōni), a soup containing mochi. Example sentences include: I ate a rice cake「餅を食べた」(もちをたべた). Rice cakes are sticky「餅は粘り気がある」(もちはねばりけがある).

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1530

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Feed

Reading

Parts

耳Ear 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

餌: feed or bait. The Japanese noun '餌 (えさ)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'feed', referring to food given to animals, such as pets or livestock. For example: I gave feed to the dog「犬に餌をあげた」(いぬにえさをあげた). The second meaning is 'bait', used in the context of fishing or trapping. For example: He put bait on the hook「彼は針に餌をつけた」(かれははりにえさをつけた). The word is versatile and can be used in both domestic and outdoor settings, depending on the context.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1696

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Starve, Hunger

Reading

Parts

几 飠Eat (食)

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1764

Handwriting

kanji

Meaning

Starve

Reading

Parts

我Self, Ego 飠Eat (食)

Example Word

餓鬼: brat. The Japanese noun '餓鬼 (がき)' is a colloquial term often used to describe a mischievous or unruly child, similar to the English word 'brat'. It carries a slightly negative or playful tone, depending on the context. In Buddhist contexts, '餓鬼' refers to 'hungry ghosts', but in everyday usage, it is almost exclusively used to refer to children. Example sentences: That kid is such a brat「あの子は本当に餓鬼だ」(あのこはほんとうにがきだ). Don't act like a brat「餓鬼みたいなことをするな」(がきみたいなことをするな). Note that this term can be considered rude or offensive if used directly toward someone, so it is often used in a teasing or informal manner among friends or family.

Radical

食

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

1794

Handwriting