What is the Kanji for 'Reason'? | 由

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

The Japanese Kanji for 'Reason' is 由.

kanji

由

Meaning

Reason

Reading

kunyomiよし

yoshi

onyomiゆう

yuu

ゆ

Parts

十Ten 口Mouth

Example Word

理由: reason. The Japanese noun '理由 (りゆう)' means 'reason'. It refers to the cause, explanation, or justification for something. This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to explain why something happened or why someone did something. For example: What is the reason for your absence?「欠席の理由は何ですか？」(けっせきのりゆうはなんですか？). There is no reason to worry「心配する理由はない」(しんぱいするりゆうはない). It can also be used in legal or logical contexts to denote grounds or rationale.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

278

Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 由

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

kanji

十

Meaning

Ten

kanji

口

Meaning

Mouth

由 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 9 other kanji:

kanji

画

Meaning

Picture

kanji

黄

Meaning

Yellow

kanji

油

Meaning

Oil

kanji

届

Meaning

Report, Deliver

kanji

抽

Meaning

Pluck, Extract

kanji

宙

Meaning

Midair

kanji

笛

Meaning

Flute

kanji

軸

Meaning

Axle, Axis

kanji

袖

Meaning

Sleeve

Words Using 由

This kanji is used in 5 words:

word

理由

Meaning

Reason

word

自由

Meaning

Freedom, Liberty

word

経由

Meaning

Via

word

由来

Meaning

Origin

word

不自由

Meaning

Discomfort

Kanji Related to 由 Through the Part 十

These 31 kanji contain the part 十 as well.

kanji

千

Meaning

Thousand

kanji

早

Meaning

Early, Fast

kanji

木

Meaning

Tree, Wood

kanji

土

Meaning

Soil

kanji

田

Meaning

Rice field

kanji

計

Meaning

Measure, Plan

kanji

直

Meaning

Straight, Repair

kanji

古

Meaning

Old

kanji

南

Meaning

South

kanji

牛

Meaning

Cow

kanji

午

Meaning

Noon

kanji

支

Meaning

Branch, Support

kanji

真

Meaning

Truth

kanji

単

Meaning

Simple, Single

kanji

卒

Meaning

Graduate

kanji

辛

Meaning

Hard, Spicy

kanji

協

Meaning

Cooperate

kanji

率

Meaning

Command, Proportion

kanji

準

Meaning

Follow, Semi

kanji

聴

Meaning

Listen

kanji

徳

Meaning

Virtue

kanji

博

Meaning

Extensive, Doctor

kanji

針

Meaning

Needle

kanji

盾

Meaning

Shield

kanji

壊

Meaning

Demolition, Break down

kanji

索

Meaning

Search, Rope

kanji

汁

Meaning

Juice, Soup

kanji

懐

Meaning

Bosom, Pocket

kanji

卑

Meaning

Mean, Lowly

kanji

傘

Meaning

Umbrella, Parasol

kanji

升

Meaning

Sho, Measuring box

Kanji Related to 由 Through the Part 口

These 102 kanji contain the part 口 as well.

kanji

四

Meaning

Four

kanji

右

Meaning

Right

kanji

中

Meaning

Center

kanji

日

Meaning

Day, Sun

kanji

田

Meaning

Rice field

kanji

名

Meaning

Name

kanji

目

Meaning

Eye

kanji

足

Meaning

Foot, Sufficient

kanji

石

Meaning

Stone

kanji

高

Meaning

High, Expensive

kanji

同

Meaning

Same

kanji

兄

Meaning

Older brother

kanji

古

Meaning

Old

kanji

西

Meaning

West

kanji

国

Meaning

Country

kanji

園

Meaning

Garden

kanji

谷

Meaning

Valley

kanji

京

Meaning

Capital

kanji

言

Meaning

Say

kanji

語

Meaning

Language, Word

kanji

知

Meaning

Know

kanji

鳴

Meaning

Chirp

kanji

回

Meaning

Revolve, Times

kanji

船

Meaning

Ship

kanji

合

Meaning

Fit, Match

kanji

台

Meaning

Pedestal, Machine

kanji

員

Meaning

Member

kanji

事

Meaning

Thing

kanji

味

Meaning

Flavor

kanji

問

Meaning

Question, Problem

kanji

束

Meaning

Bundle, Bind

kanji

和

Meaning

Peace

kanji

因

Meaning

Cause

kanji

加

Meaning

Join, Add

kanji

喜

Meaning

Rejoice

kanji

咲

Meaning

Bloom, Blossom

kanji

呼

Meaning

Invite, Call

kanji

吸

Meaning

Inhale, Suck

kanji

可

Meaning

Possible

kanji

号

Meaning

Number

kanji

周

Meaning

Circumference

kanji

豆

Meaning

Beans

kanji

句

Meaning

Phrase, Paragraph

kanji

聖

Meaning

Saint, Holy

kanji

品

Meaning

Product

kanji

告

Meaning

Announce

kanji

各

Meaning

Each

kanji

器

Meaning

Vessel

kanji

害

Meaning

Harm

kanji

史

Meaning

History

kanji

喫

Meaning

Ingest, Consume

kanji

憲

Meaning

Constitution

kanji

央

Meaning

Center

kanji

善

Meaning

Good, Virtuous

kanji

吉

Meaning

Lucky, Good luck

kanji

命

Meaning

Command, Life

kanji

囲

Meaning

Surround

kanji

占

Meaning

Fortune telling

kanji

否

Meaning

Negate

kanji

司

Meaning

Director

kanji

倉

Meaning

Warehouse

kanji

哲

Meaning

Sagacious, Philosophy

kanji

含

Meaning

Contain, Include

kanji

喝

Meaning

Hoarse, Shout at

kanji

叫

Meaning

Shout

kanji

吐

Meaning

Spit, Spew

kanji

嘆

Meaning

Sigh

kanji

舌

Meaning

Tongue

kanji

君

Meaning

Ruler, You

kanji

豪

Meaning

Great man, Magnificent

kanji

拐

Meaning

Kidnap

kanji

尋

Meaning

Inquire

kanji

喚

Meaning

Yell, Call

kanji

嘱

Meaning

Request, Entrust

kanji

唆

Meaning

Entice, Instigate

kanji

如

Meaning

As, Likeness

kanji

唇

Meaning

Lips, Lip

kanji

亭

Meaning

Inn, Pavilion

kanji

哀

Meaning

Pity, Sorrow

kanji

噴

Meaning

Spout, Erupt

kanji

唯

Meaning

Only, Solely

kanji

獣

Meaning

Beast, Animal

kanji

唱

Meaning

Chant

kanji

吏

Meaning

Officer, Official

kanji

呈

Meaning

Display, Present

kanji

召

Meaning

Seduce, Summon

kanji

啓

Meaning

Enlighten, State respectfully

kanji

嚇

Meaning

Upbraid, Menacing

kanji

后

Meaning

Empress

kanji

唐

Meaning

Tang dynasty

kanji

喪

Meaning

Loss, Mourn, Mourning

kanji

嗣

Meaning

Heir

kanji

呪

Meaning

Curse

kanji

喉

Meaning

Throat

kanji

呂

Meaning

Bath

kanji

哺

Meaning

Nurse, Suckle

kanji

嗅

Meaning

Smell, Sniff

kanji

喩

Meaning

Compare, Metaphor

kanji

嘲

Meaning

Ridicule, Insult

kanji

唄

Meaning

Shamisen song

kanji

咽

Meaning

Windpipe

kanji

唾

Meaning

Sputum, Saliva

Learn the Kanji 由

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 由 mean?

由 means 'Reason'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

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