小 小 means “small” or “little” in Japanese. Its shape suggests something small, with a central stroke and two smaller side marks. Reading On’yomi: ショウ (shou) Kun’yomi: ちい-さい (chii-sai), こ- (ko-), お- (o-) Basic Information Kanji 小 Meaning small, little Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 小 describes small size, … Read more
女 女 means “woman” or “female” in Japanese. It is a basic kanji for people and also an important radical in many family-related characters. Reading On’yomi: ジョ (jo), ニョ (nyo) Kun’yomi: おんな (onna), め- (me-) Basic Information Kanji 女 Meaning woman, female Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 女 appears … Read more
What does 気 mean in Japanese? 気 is one of the most important Japanese kanji. It can mean spirit, energy, mood, feeling, air, or atmosphere depending on the word. You will see 気 in many common expressions such as 元気 (healthy, energetic), 天気 (weather), 気持ち (feeling), and 人気 (popularity). Because 気 has many meanings, it … 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
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
力 力 represents power, strength, and physical force. Its shape depicts a flexed arm muscle, conveying the idea of muscular effort and capability. Reading On’yomi: リョク (ryoku), リキ (riki) Kun’yomi: ちから (chikara) Basic Information Kanji 力 Meaning power, strength, force Stroke Count 2 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 力 can refer to … Read more
What does 出 mean in Japanese? 出 means “go out, exit, put out” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 出る (to go out; to appear), 出す (to take out; to send), and 出口 (exit). For learners, the key is to study 出 through real vocabulary. The examples below show … Read more
What does 十 mean in Japanese? 十 means “ten” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 十 (ten), 十日 (the tenth day; ten days), and 十人 (ten people). For learners, the key is to study 十 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, … Read more
手 手 means “hand” in Japanese. It represents the human hand and is used both literally and metaphorically. Reading On’yomi: シュ (shu) Kun’yomi: て (te), た- (ta-) Basic Information Kanji 手 Meaning hand Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 手 can mean the physical hand, a method, a skill, or … Read more
What does 車 mean in Japanese? 車 means “car, vehicle” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 車 (car; vehicle), 電車 (train), and 自転車 (bicycle). For learners, the key is to study 車 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji. … Read more
