犬 犬 means ‘dog.’ It is often taught as a pictograph of a dog, and learners can remember it by comparing it with 大 (large/big), which looks similar but has no dot. Reading On’yomi: ケン (ken) Kun’yomi: いぬ (inu) Basic Information Kanji 犬 Meaning dog Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This … Read more
金 金 means ‘gold,’ ‘metal,’ or ‘money.’ It also represents Friday (金曜日). The kanji is said to depict metal ore in the ground beneath a roof, suggesting the smelting of precious metal. Reading On’yomi: キン (kin), コン (kon) Kun’yomi: かね (kane), かな- (kana-) Basic Information Kanji 金 Meaning gold, money, metal Stroke Count 8 JLPT … Read more
玉 玉 means ‘jewel,’ ‘ball,’ or ‘bead.’ It looks very similar to 王 (king) but has an added dot representing a precious gem or a round object. Reading On’yomi: ギョク (gyoku) Kun’yomi: たま (tama) Basic Information Kanji 玉 Meaning ball, jewel, gem Stroke Count 5 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 玉 can … Read more
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
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
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
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
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 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