kanji Guide 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
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) Kun’yomi: — Basic Information Kanji 王 Meaning king Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji … 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
雨 is the Japanese kanji for rain. Learn its readings ame and u, plus common words such as 雨の日 and 大雨.
休 休 means ‘rest’ or ‘take a break.’ It depicts a person (人) leaning against a tree (木), painting a vivid picture of someone resting in the shade. Reading On’yomi: キュウ (kyuu) Kun’yomi: やす-む (yasu-mu) Basic Information Kanji 休 Meaning rest, vacation, holiday Stroke Count 6 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 休 … Read more
九 means nine in Japanese. Learn how to read 九 as kyuu and ku, with common number words and example sentences.
火 is the Japanese kanji for fire. Learn its meaning, readings hi and ka, and common words such as 火山 and 火曜日.
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
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 On’yomi: — Kun’yomi: かい (kai) Basic Information Kanji 貝 Meaning shell, shellfish Stroke Count 7 JLPT Level N5 How to … Read more
気 is a common Japanese kanji meaning spirit, energy, mood, air, or feeling. Learn its readings, common words such as 元気 and 天気, and example sentences.