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
気 気 represents spirit, energy, air, or mood. It originally depicted steam rising, capturing the idea of something intangible yet present — like atmosphere, feeling, or vital energy. Reading On’yomi: キ (KI)、 ケ (KE) Basic Information Kanji 気 Meaning spirit, energy, mood, air Stroke Count 6 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 気 … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
力 力 represents power, strength, and physical force. Its shape depicts a flexed arm muscle, conveying the idea of muscular effort and capability. Reading On’yomi: リョク (RYOKU)、 リキ (RIKI) Kun’yomi: ちから (chikara) Basic Information Kanji 力 Meaning power, strength, force Stroke Count 2 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 力 can refer to … Read more
右 右 means ‘right’ as in the right-hand side or direction. It combines the element for hand with the concept of the right side. Reading On’yomi: ウ (U)、 ユウ (YUU) Kun’yomi: みぎ (migi) Basic Information Kanji 右 Meaning right Stroke Count 5 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 右 is used for physical … Read more