Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 貨 (ka) – Goods, Freight, Money 貨 Readings: カ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Goods, freight, money, property The kanji 貨 combines 貝 (shellfish, representing money/wealth) and 化 (to transform/change), signifying ‘goods that circulate or transform as wealth/money’. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 貨 has […]

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 築 (chiku, kizuku) – Build & Construct 築 Readings: チク (Onyomi), きず.く (Kunyomi) Meaning: build, construct, erect Phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The radical 竹 (bamboo) symbolizes construction materials (like scaffolding), and 筑 (a phonetic component also meaning a type of stringed instrument) provides the sound. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 績 (SEKI) – Achievement & Results 績 Readings: セキ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: achievement, results, merits, exploits The kanji 績 combines 糸 (ito: thread, silk) and 責 (seki: responsibility, duty, blame, to urge). The “thread” radical often relates to weaving, spinning, or something produced. The “責” component provides the sound and also

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 仏 (Hotoke / Butsu / Futsu) – Buddha, France 仏 Readings: ぶつ, ふつ (Onyomi), ほとけ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Buddha, France, Buddhist The kanji 仏 is formed from 人 (person) and 弗 (not, to turn over, to reject). It originally depicted a person turning over or in reverse, symbolizing a transformation or transcendence.

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 募 (BOSHU, TSUNORU) – Recruit, Collect, Raise 募 Readings: ボ (Onyomi), つの-る (Kunyomi) Meaning: recruit, collect, raise (funds), gather 形声文字 (Phono-semantic compound). Composed of 莫 (bò, a phonetic component representing “to set, evening,” but originally having the meaning of “to collect” or “to gather”) and 力 (lì, “power”). The combination suggests

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 損 (son) – Understanding Loss and Damage 損 Readings: ソン (Onyomi), そこなう, そこねる (Kunyomi) Meaning: loss, damage, disadvantage The kanji 損 combines the radical 扌 (tehen, meaning hand or action) with the phonetic component 員 (in), which suggests something round or complete. Together, it conveys the idea of an action (hand)

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 絡 (Raku) – Entwine, Connect, Involve 絡 Readings: ラク (Onyomi), からむ, からめる (Kunyomi) Meaning: entwine, intertwine, coil, get involved, connect The kanji 絡 is composed of two parts: the radical 糸 (ito), meaning “thread” or “silk,” on the left, which signifies entanglement, twisting, or connection. The right part, 各 (kaku), is

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 角 (kaku, kado, tsuno) – Angle, Corner, Horn 角 Readings: カク (Onyomi), かど, つの (Kunyomi) Meaning: angle, corner, horn The kanji 角 is a pictograph depicting a horn, specifically an animal’s horn, which later extended its meaning to include “corner” or “angle” due to the sharp, pointed nature of horns. View

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 令 (rei) – Master Commands, Laws, and More! 令 Readings: レイ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: orders, commands, excellent, good, government ordinance, law, regulations, precept, make The character 令 (lìng) depicts a person (人) kneeling and listening to a command from above (represented by the top stroke). It originally meant ‘command’ or ‘order’.

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 版 (Han) – Edition, Version 版 Readings: ハン (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: edition, version, block, printing plate The kanji 版 combines 片 (かた – piece, slice, one-sided) and 反 (はん – phonetic component suggesting a board or block). Together, it depicts a flat piece or board used for printing, hence its meanings

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 層 (Sō) – Layer, Stratum, Class 層 Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: layer, stratum, floor, story (of a building), class (social) The kanji 層 combines 尸 (shikabane), meaning “corpse” or “roof/enclosure”, and 曽 (sō), meaning “formerly” or “once”. The component 曽 suggests layers or piling up. Together, it visually represents stacked

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 患 (wazurau, KAN) – Sickness & Suffering 患 Readings: カン (Onyomi), わずら.う (Kunyomi) Meaning: afflicted, illness, suffer, trouble, fall ill The kanji 患 combines 串 (kushi, skewer/pierce) and 心 (kokoro, heart/mind). It originally depicted something piercing the heart, symbolizing suffering or affliction. The addition of the ⺜ (yamaidare) radical further emphasizes

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 城 (Shiro/Jou) – Castle 城 Readings: ジョウ (Onyomi), しろ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Castle, fortified position The character 城 combines 土 (earth, soil) and 成 (to become, to build, to complete). Together, it suggests “something built on earth” or “an earthen mound/fortification that has been completed,” leading to the meaning of a castle

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 庁 (chou) – Agency, Office, Board 庁 Readings: チョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: Agency, government office, board, court The kanji 庁 is composed of the radical 广 (mamadare), meaning “house” or “shelter,” and the component 丁 (chou), which acts phonetically to represent the “chou” sound and also carries meanings related to “order”

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 了 (RYŌ) – Master “Finish” and “Complete” 了 Readings: リョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: finish, complete, understand, acknowledge From a pictograph representing the end or completion of something, possibly a final mark or the end of a line. View JLPT N2 Kanji List How to Write – Stroke Order The kanji 了

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 軽 (karui/kei) – Light, Slight, Easy 軽 Readings: ケイ (Onyomi), かるい, かるやか, かろやか (Kunyomi) Meaning: light, slight, trifling, unimportant The kanji 軽 combines 車 (kuruma, vehicle) and 巠 (kei, a phonetic component suggesting “through” or “lightness”). This combination implies a “light vehicle” or something that moves easily, giving rise to the

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 練 (Ren) – Master Practice and Refinement 練 Readings: レン (Onyomi), ね.る, ねり (Kunyomi) Meaning: practice, refine, train, drill, knead, polish The kanji 練 combines the radical 糸 (thread) and 東 (east). 東 originally depicted a bag tied at both ends, suggesting twisting or winding. Thus, 練 visually represents the repeated

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 岩 (iwa) – Rock & Boulder 岩 Readings: がん (Onyomi), いわ (Kunyomi) Meaning: Rock, boulder 形声文字 (Keisei Moji – phonetic-semantic character). The character combines the 石 (いし – stone/rock) radical with the 岳 (がく – peak/mountain) phonetic component. It depicts a stone on a mountain, signifying a large rock or boulder.

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 承 (Shou, Uketamawaru) – To Acknowledge, Receive, Assent 承 Readings: ショウ (Onyomi), うけたまわ.る (Kunyomi) Meaning: to accede to, to receive, to hear, to be informed, to undertake, to acknowledge, to agree, to accept, to comply with, to consent The kanji 承 is thought to represent a person kneeling (related to 卩

Learn Japanese N2 Kanji: 略 (ryaku) – Abbreviation, Omission, Outline 略 Readings: リャク (Onyomi), (Kunyomi) Meaning: abbreviation, omission, outline, summary, strategy The character 略 (liáo) is composed of 畧 (liáo), which depicts “a field” (田) and “a foot” (疋), indicating “measuring or mapping out a field.” This evolved to mean “outline,” “abbreviation,” or “summary.” View