男 男 means “man” or “male” in Japanese. It combines 田 (rice field) and 力 (strength), traditionally suggesting a person working with strength in the fields. Reading On’yomi: ダン (dan), ナン (nan) Kun’yomi: おとこ (otoko) Basic Information Kanji 男 Meaning man, male Stroke Count 7 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 男 is … Read more
川 川 means “river” or “stream” in Japanese. Its three flowing lines represent water moving in parallel streams. Reading On’yomi: セン (sen) Kun’yomi: かわ (kawa) Basic Information Kanji 川 Meaning river, stream Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 川 appears as a standalone word and in many Japanese place names … Read more
人 人 means “person” or “people” in Japanese. Its simple two-stroke shape is one of the most fundamental kanji forms. Reading On’yomi: ジン (jin), ニン (nin) Kun’yomi: ひと (hito) Basic Information Kanji 人 Meaning person, people Stroke Count 2 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 人 can mean a person, people in general, … Read more
水 水 means “water” in Japanese. The character originally represents flowing water, making it one of the clearest nature-related kanji. Reading On’yomi: スイ (sui) Kun’yomi: みず (mizu) Basic Information Kanji 水 Meaning water Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 水 is used for water itself, for Wednesday in 水曜日, and … Read more
生 生 means “life,” “birth,” “raw,” or “to live” in Japanese. Its shape is often explained as a young plant sprouting from the ground. Reading On’yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou) Kun’yomi: い-きる (i-kiru), う-まれる (u-mareru), なま- (nama-) Basic Information Kanji 生 Meaning life, birth, raw Stroke Count 5 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This … Read more
赤 赤 means “red” in Japanese. It is one of the first color kanji learners usually meet. Reading On’yomi: セキ (seki), シャク (shaku) Kun’yomi: あか-い (aka-i), あか- (aka-) Basic Information Kanji 赤 Meaning red Stroke Count 7 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 赤 is used for the color red, red traffic lights, … Read more
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
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
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
子 子 means “child” in Japanese. Its shape is often explained as a small child with arms outstretched. Reading On’yomi: シ (shi), ス (su) Kun’yomi: こ (ko) Basic Information Kanji 子 Meaning child, kid Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 子 appears in words for children, girls, boys, young animals, … Read more