kanji Guide

雨 雨 represents rain. Its shape depicts falling raindrops beneath a cloud, making it one of the most visually descriptive kanji. Reading On’yomi: ウ (U) Kun’yomi: あめ (ame)、 あま- (ama-) Basic Information Kanji 雨 Meaning rain Stroke Count 8 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 雨 refers specifically to rain but also serves … Read more

円 円 means ‘circle’ and is also the kanji for the Japanese currency, the yen (¥). Its shape suggests a rounded, enclosed form. Reading On’yomi: エン (EN) Kun’yomi: まる-い (maru-i) Basic Information Kanji 円 Meaning yen, circle, round Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji While 円 primarily appears in money … Read more

王 王 means ‘king’ or ‘ruler.’ Its three horizontal strokes connected by a vertical line represent a person who stands between heaven, humanity, and earth — the three realms a king governs. Reading On’yomi: オウ (OU) Basic Information Kanji 王 Meaning king Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 王 has … Read more

下 下 means ‘below,’ ‘under,’ or ‘down.’ It shows a horizontal line with a short stroke pointing downward, visually indicating something beneath a surface. Reading On’yomi: カ (KA)、 ゲ (GE) Kun’yomi: した (shita)、 しも (shimo)、 くだ-る (kuda-ru)、 お-りる (o-riru) Basic Information Kanji 下 Meaning below, down, under Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to … Read more

音 音 means ‘sound’ or ‘noise.’ It places 立 (stand) above 日 (sun/day), evoking the idea of a voice or sound that stands up and projects outward from its source. Reading On’yomi: オン (ON)、 イン (IN) Kun’yomi: おと (oto)、 ね (ne) Basic Information Kanji 音 Meaning sound, noise Stroke Count 9 JLPT Level N5 How … Read more

火 火 represents fire. Its shape depicts flames rising upward, making it one of the most visually intuitive kanji. Reading On’yomi: カ (KA) Kun’yomi: ひ (hi)、 ほ- (ho-) Basic Information Kanji 火 Meaning fire Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 火 refers to fire itself but also appears in 火曜日 … Read more

花 花 means ‘flower’ or ‘blossom.’ It combines the grass radical (艹) at the top with the character 化 (change/transform), suggesting something that blooms and transforms from a bud. Reading On’yomi: カ (KA) Kun’yomi: はな (hana) Basic Information Kanji 花 Meaning flower, blossom Stroke Count 7 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 花 … Read more

一 一 is the simplest kanji, meaning ‘one.’ It is a single horizontal stroke representing the number one, and is the foundation of the Japanese number system. Reading On’yomi: イチ (ICHI)、 イツ (ITSU) Kun’yomi: ひと- (hito-) Basic Information Kanji 一 Meaning one Stroke Count 1 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji While 一 … Read more

貝 貝 means ‘shellfish’ or ‘shell.’ Historically, shells were used as currency in ancient China and Japan, which is why 貝 appears as a radical in many kanji related to money, value, and trade. Reading Kun’yomi: かい (kai) Basic Information Kanji 貝 Meaning shell, shellfish Stroke Count 7 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This … Read more

学 学 means ‘study,’ ‘learning,’ or ‘school.’ It depicts a child (子) under a roof with learning materials above, suggesting a child learning under the guidance of a teacher. Reading On’yomi: ガク (GAKU) Kun’yomi: まな-ぶ (mana-bu) Basic Information Kanji 学 Meaning study, learning, science Stroke Count 8 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji … Read more