What does 重 mean in Japanese?
重 means “heavy.” You will often see it in 重い (omoi), the opposite of 軽い (karui, light).
As ジュウ, it also carries the idea of importance, as in 重要 (juuyou, important).
Reading
On’yomi: ジュウ (juu), チョウ (chou)
Kun’yomi: おも-い (omo-i), かさ-ねる (kasa-neru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 重 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | heavy, important |
| Stroke Count | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
重い is used for physical weight, as in 重い荷物 (heavy luggage), and also for things that feel serious, such as 重い病気 (a serious illness). 重要 is a slightly formal word for “important”; in everyday conversation, 大切 (taisetsu) is often used instead, especially for things that matter personally.
Common Words
- 重い（おもい / omoi） — heavy; serious
- 重さ（おもさ / omosa） — weight
- 体重（たいじゅう / taijuu） — body weight
- 重要（じゅうよう / juuyou） — important
- 重ねる（かさねる / kasaneru） — to stack, to pile up
- 貴重品（きちょうひん / kichouhin） — valuables
Example Sentences
-
この荷物は重いので、手伝ってください。
このにもつはおもいので、てつだってください。 / Kono nimotsu wa omoi node, tetsudatte kudasai.
This luggage is heavy, so please give me a hand.
-
最近、体重が増えました。
さいきん、たいじゅうがふえました。 / Saikin, taijuu ga fuemashita.
I’ve put on weight recently.
-
これはとても重要な書類です。
これはとてもじゅうようなしょるいです。 / Kore wa totemo juuyou na shorui desu.
This is a very important document.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
重さ (weight) is the noun form of 重い, made by replacing い with さ. 貴重品 is a word you may see on signs at hotels and lockers, reminding you to look after your valuables.
Summary
Use 重い for heavy things and serious matters, 重要 for importance, and learn each reading together with its word.
Want to study more JLPT N4 kanji by theme? See our JLPT N4 Kanji Study List.