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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

    yu

    Parts

    口Mouth 十Ten

    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

    5

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    3

    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

    口

    Meaning

    Mouth

    kanji

    十

    Meaning

    Ten

由 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 9 other kanji:

    kanji

    宙

    Meaning

    Midair

    kanji

    軸

    Meaning

    Axle, Axis

    kanji

    笛

    Meaning

    Flute

    kanji

    黄

    Meaning

    Yellow

    kanji

    油

    Meaning

    Oil

    kanji

    届

    Meaning

    Report, Deliver

    kanji

    抽

    Meaning

    Pluck, Extract

    kanji

    袖

    Meaning

    Sleeve

    kanji

    画

    Meaning

    Picture

Words Using 由

This kanji is used in 5 words:

    word

    自由

    Meaning

    Freedom, Liberty

    word

    経由

    Meaning

    Via

    word

    不自由

    Meaning

    Discomfort

    word

    由来

    Meaning

    Origin

    word

    理由

    Meaning

    Reason

Kanji Related to 由 Through the Part 口

These 102 kanji contain the part 口 as well.

    kanji

    君

    Meaning

    Ruler, You

    kanji

    吉

    Meaning

    Lucky, Good luck

    kanji

    園

    Meaning

    Garden

    kanji

    囲

    Meaning

    Surround

    kanji

    名

    Meaning

    Name

    kanji

    史

    Meaning

    History

    kanji

    豆

    Meaning

    Beans

    kanji

    品

    Meaning

    Product

    kanji

    船

    Meaning

    Ship

    kanji

    右

    Meaning

    Right

    kanji

    呂

    Meaning

    Bath

    kanji

    中

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    唇

    Meaning

    Lips, Lip

    kanji

    高

    Meaning

    High, Expensive

    kanji

    獣

    Meaning

    Beast, Animal

    kanji

    叫

    Meaning

    Shout

    kanji

    谷

    Meaning

    Valley

    kanji

    古

    Meaning

    Old

    kanji

    合

    Meaning

    Fit, Match

    kanji

    司

    Meaning

    Director

    kanji

    唆

    Meaning

    Entice, Instigate

    kanji

    和

    Meaning

    Peace

    kanji

    哲

    Meaning

    Sagacious, Philosophy

    kanji

    石

    Meaning

    Stone

    kanji

    舌

    Meaning

    Tongue

    kanji

    喚

    Meaning

    Yell, Call

    kanji

    目

    Meaning

    Eye

    kanji

    嘱

    Meaning

    Request, Entrust

    kanji

    語

    Meaning

    Language, Word

    kanji

    各

    Meaning

    Each

    kanji

    喪

    Meaning

    Loss, Mourn, Mourning

    kanji

    句

    Meaning

    Phrase, Paragraph

    kanji

    吐

    Meaning

    Spit, Spew

    kanji

    聖

    Meaning

    Saint, Holy

    kanji

    倉

    Meaning

    Warehouse

    kanji

    喫

    Meaning

    Ingest, Consume

    kanji

    央

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    噴

    Meaning

    Spout, Erupt

    kanji

    嗅

    Meaning

    Smell, Sniff

    kanji

    命

    Meaning

    Command, Life

    kanji

    味

    Meaning

    Flavor

    kanji

    善

    Meaning

    Good, Virtuous

    kanji

    吏

    Meaning

    Officer, Official

    kanji

    吸

    Meaning

    Inhale, Suck

    kanji

    京

    Meaning

    Capital

    kanji

    嘲

    Meaning

    Ridicule, Insult

    kanji

    嚇

    Meaning

    Upbraid, Menacing

    kanji

    台

    Meaning

    Pedestal, Machine

    kanji

    咲

    Meaning

    Bloom, Blossom

    kanji

    拐

    Meaning

    Kidnap

    kanji

    召

    Meaning

    Seduce, Summon

    kanji

    唐

    Meaning

    Tang dynasty

    kanji

    号

    Meaning

    Number

    kanji

    周

    Meaning

    Circumference

    kanji

    占

    Meaning

    Fortune telling

    kanji

    兄

    Meaning

    Older brother

    kanji

    嘆

    Meaning

    Sigh

    kanji

    事

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    如

    Meaning

    As, Likeness

    kanji

    喝

    Meaning

    Hoarse, Shout at

    kanji

    田

    Meaning

    Rice field

    kanji

    喉

    Meaning

    Throat

    kanji

    咽

    Meaning

    Windpipe

    kanji

    問

    Meaning

    Question, Problem

    kanji

    后

    Meaning

    Empress

    kanji

    足

    Meaning

    Foot, Sufficient

    kanji

    喜

    Meaning

    Rejoice

    kanji

    加

    Meaning

    Join, Add

    kanji

    唄

    Meaning

    Shamisen song

    kanji

    豪

    Meaning

    Great man, Magnificent

    kanji

    器

    Meaning

    Vessel

    kanji

    亭

    Meaning

    Inn, Pavilion

    kanji

    否

    Meaning

    Negate

    kanji

    啓

    Meaning

    Enlighten, State respectfully

    kanji

    員

    Meaning

    Member

    kanji

    含

    Meaning

    Contain, Include

    kanji

    知

    Meaning

    Know

    kanji

    言

    Meaning

    Say

    kanji

    告

    Meaning

    Announce

    kanji

    憲

    Meaning

    Constitution

    kanji

    鳴

    Meaning

    Chirp

    kanji

    呪

    Meaning

    Curse

    kanji

    可

    Meaning

    Possible

    kanji

    唱

    Meaning

    Chant

    kanji

    因

    Meaning

    Cause

    kanji

    喩

    Meaning

    Compare, Metaphor

    kanji

    尋

    Meaning

    Inquire

    kanji

    同

    Meaning

    Same

    kanji

    唯

    Meaning

    Only, Solely

    kanji

    回

    Meaning

    Revolve, Times (counter for occurrences)

    kanji

    西

    Meaning

    West

    kanji

    日

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    四

    Meaning

    Four

    kanji

    束

    Meaning

    Bundle, Bind

    kanji

    哀

    Meaning

    Pity, Sorrow

    kanji

    呼

    Meaning

    Invite, Call

    kanji

    唾

    Meaning

    Sputum, Saliva

    kanji

    国

    Meaning

    Country

    kanji

    嗣

    Meaning

    Heir

    kanji

    哺

    Meaning

    Nurse, Suckle

    kanji

    害

    Meaning

    Harm

    kanji

    呈

    Meaning

    Display, Present

Kanji Related to 由 Through the Part 十

These 31 kanji contain the part 十 as well.

    kanji

    協

    Meaning

    Cooperate

    kanji

    計

    Meaning

    Measure, Plan

    kanji

    真

    Meaning

    Truth

    kanji

    率

    Meaning

    Command, Proportion

    kanji

    南

    Meaning

    South

    kanji

    単

    Meaning

    Simple, Single

    kanji

    古

    Meaning

    Old

    kanji

    盾

    Meaning

    Shield

    kanji

    支

    Meaning

    Branch, Support

    kanji

    徳

    Meaning

    Virtue

    kanji

    木

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    卑

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    針

    Meaning

    Needle

    kanji

    土

    Meaning

    Soil

    kanji

    壊

    Meaning

    Demolition, Break down

    kanji

    懐

    Meaning

    Bosom, Pocket

    kanji

    田

    Meaning

    Rice field

    kanji

    準

    Meaning

    Follow, Semi

    kanji

    升

    Meaning

    Sho, Measuring box

    kanji

    千

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    索

    Meaning

    Search, Rope

    kanji

    午

    Meaning

    Noon

    kanji

    卒

    Meaning

    Graduate

    kanji

    汁

    Meaning

    Juice, Soup

    kanji

    聴

    Meaning

    Listen

    kanji

    傘

    Meaning

    Umbrella, Parasol

    kanji

    博

    Meaning

    Extensive, Doctor (phd)

    kanji

    辛

    Meaning

    Hard, Spicy

    kanji

    牛

    Meaning

    Cow

    kanji

    直

    Meaning

    Straight, Repair

    kanji

    早

    Meaning

    Early, Fast

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.