天 天 means “heaven,” “sky,” or “nature” in Japanese. Its shape can be understood as something above a person. Reading On’yomi: テン (ten) Kun’yomi: あめ (ame), あま- (ama-) Basic Information Kanji 天 Meaning heaven, sky Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 天 appears in words about the sky, weather, heaven, … Read more
大 大 means “big,” “large,” or “great” in Japanese. Its shape represents a person standing with arms stretched wide. Reading On’yomi: ダイ (dai), タイ (tai) Kun’yomi: おお-きい (oo-kii), おお- (oo-) Basic Information Kanji 大 Meaning big, large, great Stroke Count 3 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 大 describes physical size, importance, intensity, … Read more
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