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What is the Kanji for 'Simple' and 'Single'? | 単

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

The Japanese Kanji for 'Simple' and 'Single' is 単.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Simple, Single

    Reading

    onyomiたん

    tan

    Parts

    Small Day, Sun Ten

    Example Word

    単独: alone or independent. The Japanese adjectival noun '単独 (たんどく)' means 'alone' or 'independent'. It is used to describe something or someone that is acting or existing without assistance or accompaniment. This word can be applied to various contexts, such as actions, decisions, or states of being. For example: He went on a solo trip「彼は単独で旅行に行った」(かれはたんどくでりょこうにいった). The company operates independently「その会社は単独で運営されている」(そのかいしゃはたんどくでうんえいされている). Note that '単独' often carries a nuance of self-sufficiency or lack of external support.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    9

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    4

    Frequency

    554

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Small

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 3 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fight, War

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bullet, Projectile

    kanji

    Meaning

    Zen

Words Using

This kanji is used in 9 words:

    word

    簡単

    Meaning

    Easy

    word

    単位

    Meaning

    Unit

    word

    単に

    Meaning

    Merely

    word

    単純

    Meaning

    Simple

    word

    単なる

    Meaning

    Mere

    word

    単語

    Meaning

    Word

    word

    単数

    Meaning

    Singular

    word

    単独

    Meaning

    Alone, Independent

    word

    単調

    Meaning

    Monotonous

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 10 kanji contain the part ⺍ as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Learn

    kanji

    Meaning

    Labor

    kanji

    Meaning

    Manage

    kanji

    Meaning

    Brain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Worry, Distress

    kanji

    Meaning

    Severe, Strict

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prosper, Flourish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cherry

    kanji

    Meaning

    Nest

    kanji

    Meaning

    Firefly

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

    Bright

    kanji

    Meaning

    Electricity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Darkness

    kanji

    Meaning

    Evening, Nightfall

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hot

    kanji

    Meaning

    Someone

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reflect

    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 31 kanji contain the part 十 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Early, Fast

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tree, Wood

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rice field

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measure, Plan

    kanji

    Meaning

    Straight, Repair

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old

    kanji

    Meaning

    South

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Noon

    kanji

    Meaning

    Branch, Support

    kanji

    Meaning

    Truth

    kanji

    Meaning

    Graduate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hard, Spicy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cooperate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reason

    kanji

    Meaning

    Command, Proportion

    kanji

    Meaning

    Follow, Semi

    kanji

    Meaning

    Listen

    kanji

    Meaning

    Virtue

    kanji

    Meaning

    Extensive, Doctor

    kanji

    Meaning

    Needle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shield

    kanji

    Meaning

    Demolition, Break down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Search, Rope

    kanji

    Meaning

    Juice, Soup

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bosom, Pocket

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Umbrella, Parasol

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sho, Measuring box

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 単 mean?

単 means 'Simple' and 'Single'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Fourth 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.