九 九 represents the number nine. Its curved shape is sometimes compared to a bent elbow or hook, and it is the last single-digit number before ten. Reading On’yomi: キュウ (kyuu), ク (ku) Kun’yomi: ここの-つ (kokono-tsu) Basic Information Kanji 九 Meaning nine Stroke Count 2 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 九 has … 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
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
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.
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
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
空 空 means ‘sky’ or ’empty/hollow.’ It combines the cave radical (穴) with the element for work (工), originally suggesting a hollow space, which expanded into the meaning of the vast open sky. Reading On’yomi: クウ (kuu) Kun’yomi: そら (sora), あ-く (a-ku), から (kara) Basic Information Kanji 空 Meaning sky, empty, void Stroke Count 8 … Read more
月 月 means ‘moon’ and ‘month.’ Its shape depicts a crescent moon. Because the traditional Japanese calendar was lunar, the same kanji represents both the moon and months of the year. Reading On’yomi: ゲツ (getsu), ガツ (gatsu) Kun’yomi: つき (tsuki) Basic Information Kanji 月 Meaning moon, month Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to … Read more