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What is the Kanji for 'Bright'? | 明

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Bright', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Bright' is 明.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bright

    Reading

    kunyomiあか

    aka

    a

    onyomiめい

    mei

    みょう

    myou

    Parts

    Day, Sun Moon, Month

    Example Word

    解明: clarification. The Japanese noun '解明 (かいめい)' refers to the act of clarifying or elucidating something, often used in contexts where a mystery, problem, or complex situation is being resolved or explained. It is commonly used in academic, scientific, or investigative settings. For example: The clarification of the mystery was achieved「その謎の解明がなされた」(そのなぞのかいめいがなされた). Researchers are working on the clarification of the phenomenon「研究者たちはその現象の解明に取り組んでいる」(けんきゅうしゃたちはそのげんしょうのかいめいにとりくんでいる). The word emphasizes the process of uncovering or making something clear that was previously unknown or misunderstood.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    8

    JLPT

    N4

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    63

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Alliance

Words Using

This kanji is used in 26 words:

    word

    明らか

    Meaning

    Clear

    word

    明後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

    word

    明日

    Meaning

    Tomorrow

    word

    説明

    Meaning

    Explanation

    word

    明るい

    Meaning

    Bright, Cheerful

    word

    明確

    Meaning

    Clear, Definite

    word

    文明

    Meaning

    Civilization

    word

    明け方

    Meaning

    Dawn

    word

    明々後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

    word

    明かり

    Meaning

    Light

    word

    証明

    Meaning

    Proof, Verification

    word

    透明

    Meaning

    Transparent

    word

    表明

    Meaning

    Statement

    word

    明朝

    Meaning

    Ming Dynasty

    word

    夜明け

    Meaning

    Dawn

    word

    明白

    Meaning

    Clear, Obvious

    word

    不明

    Meaning

    Unknown

    word

    解明

    Meaning

    Clarification

    word

    明ける

    Meaning

    End, Dawn

    word

    発明

    Meaning

    Invention

    word

    打ち明ける

    Meaning

    Confess

    word

    明治

    Meaning

    Meiji

    word

    判明

    Meaning

    Clarification

    word

    明く

    Meaning

    Open

    word

    梅雨明け

    Meaning

    End of rainy season

    word

    明瞭

    Meaning

    Clear

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 61 kanji contain the part 日 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Early, Fast

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sound

    kanji

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    Meaning

    Time, Hour

    kanji

    Meaning

    Weekday

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spring

    kanji

    Meaning

    Interval, Space

    kanji

    Meaning

    East

    kanji

    Meaning

    Star

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Write

    kanji

    Meaning

    Clear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Electricity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Darkness

    kanji

    Meaning

    Evening, Nightfall

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hot

    kanji

    Meaning

    Someone

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reflect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Simple, Single

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yesterday, Previous

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old times

    kanji

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    Meaning

    Universal, Widespread

    kanji

    Meaning

    Easy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Free time, Spare time

    kanji

    Meaning

    Decameron

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thick, Kind

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shining

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scene

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hoist, Display, Hold up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vague, Desert

    kanji

    Meaning

    Violent, Outburst

    kanji

    Meaning

    Livelihood

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rice plant

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cloudy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ascend, Rise up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thirst, Parched

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hoarse, Shout at

    kanji

    Meaning

    Purport, Delicious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    Meaning

    Brown, Woollen kimono

    kanji

    Meaning

    Calendar, Almanac

    kanji

    Meaning

    A while, Temporarily

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fragrance

    kanji

    Meaning

    Risk

    kanji

    Meaning

    Crystal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Descendants, Insects

    kanji

    Meaning

    Right, Absolutely

    kanji

    Meaning

    Audience with the, Audience

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

    kanji

    Meaning

    Turtle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Formerly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark, Foolish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark, Not clear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Effulgent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 34 kanji contain the part 月 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Blue

    kanji

    Meaning

    Morning

    kanji

    Meaning

    Before, Front

    kanji

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    Meaning

    Exist

    kanji

    Meaning

    Victory

    kanji

    Meaning

    Obey, Clothing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ritual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hope, Ambition

    kanji

    Meaning

    Raise, Grow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Time, Period

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scatter

    kanji

    Meaning

    Chest, Breast

    kanji

    Meaning

    Abdomen

    kanji

    Meaning

    Stomach

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pig, Pork

    kanji

    Meaning

    Swell

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fatten, Fertilize

    kanji

    Meaning

    Trunk

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ability, Arm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vein, Pulse

    kanji

    Meaning

    Membrane

    kanji

    Meaning

    Lazy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rise, Inflation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Placenta, Membranous sac

    kanji

    Meaning

    Clear, Cheerful

    kanji

    Meaning

    Copy, Mimeograph

    kanji

    Meaning

    Emporer, Majestic plural, Imperial we

    kanji

    Meaning

    Armpit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tray, Small low table

    kanji

    Meaning

    Kidney

    kanji

    Meaning

    Arm, Elbow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cowardice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Swelling, Tumor

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 明 mean?

明 means 'Bright'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.