白 白 means “white” in Japanese. It is a basic color kanji and is also connected with brightness, clarity, and blankness. Reading On’yomi: ハク (haku), ビャク (byaku) Kun’yomi: しろ-い (shiro-i), しろ- (shiro-) Basic Information Kanji 白 Meaning white Stroke Count 5 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 白 can mean white, blank, clear, … Read more
年 年 means “year” in Japanese. It is essential for dates, age, school years, and talking about time. Reading On’yomi: ネン (nen) Kun’yomi: とし (toshi) Basic Information Kanji 年 Meaning year Stroke Count 6 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 年 appears in this year, last year, next year, every year, age, and … Read more
目 目 means “eye” in Japanese. Its shape is based on an eye turned vertically, making it a clear pictographic kanji. Reading On’yomi: モク (moku), ボク (boku) Kun’yomi: め (me), ま- (ma-) Basic Information Kanji 目 Meaning eye Stroke Count 5 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 目 means eye, but it also … Read more
木 木 means “tree” or “wood” in Japanese. Its shape represents a tree with branches above and roots below. Reading On’yomi: モク (moku), ボク (boku) Kun’yomi: き (ki), こ- (ko-) Basic Information Kanji 木 Meaning tree, wood Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How to Understand This Kanji 木 can refer to a living tree, … Read more
日 日 means “sun” and “day” in Japanese. Its shape comes from an ancient drawing of the sun, and it is one of the most frequent kanji in everyday Japanese. Reading On’yomi: ニチ (nichi), ジツ (jitsu) Kun’yomi: ひ (hi), -か (-ka) Basic Information Kanji 日 Meaning sun, day Stroke Count 4 JLPT Level N5 How … Read more
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
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
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
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