The Kanji Kentai (Kanken) Level 10 covers the 80 characters taught in elementary school grade 1.
一 · 右 · 雨 · 円 · 王 · 音 · 下 · 火 · 花 · 貝 · 学 · 気 · 九 · 休 · 玉 · 金 · 空 · 月 · 犬 · 見 · 五 · 口 · 校 · 左 · 三 · 山 · 子 · 四 · 糸 · 字 · 耳 · 七 · 車 · 手 · 十 · 出 · 女 · 小 · 上 · 森 · 人 · 水 · 正 · 生 · 青 · 夕 · 石 · 赤 · 千 · 川 · 先 · 早 · 草 · 足 · 村 · 大 · 男 · 竹 · 中 · 虫 · 町 · 天 · 田 · 土 · 二 · 日 · 入 · 年 · 白 · 八 · 百 · 文 · 木 · 本 · 名 · 目 · 立 · 力 · 林 · 六
一
Radical: 一
Strokes: 1 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: イチ イツ
Kun-Readings: ひと ひと(つ)
Origin: A single horizontal line representing the number one.
Meanings: 1. The number one. One. ex. 一足す一は二。One plus one is two. 2. The first. The start. 3. Everyone.
- 一 - いち - 1. One. First. ex. ロンドンは世界最大の都市の一つです。London is one of the largest cities in the world. 2. The start. The beginning. ex. 一からやり直す。Do it over again from the beginning. 3. The best. ex. 一二を争う。[Idiom, lit. Fighting for one or two.] To be one of the best.. 4. (Prefixed onto another word) A certain one. One of many. ex. 一新聞記者のメモ。A memo from one of the newspaper reporters. (N5)
- 一々 - いちいち - 1. One by one. ex. 品物を一々手に取って見た。He picked up the articles one by one and examined them. 2. Without leaving a single one behind. ex. 彼は私のしたことに一々文句を言う。He finds faults with everything I do. (N1)
- 一つ - ひとつ - 1. The first number. One. 2. One year old. 3. By that thing alone. ex. 母の手一つで育てられた。She was raised by a single mother. 4. The same. ex. みんなの気持ちが一つになる。Everyone felt the same. (N5)
- 一まず - ひとまず - 1. For now. For the time being. ex. 一まずお帰りください。Please return home for the time being. (N1)
右
Radical: 口
Strokes: 5 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: ウ ユウ
Kun-Readings: みぎ
Origin: Character created by joining 又 (right hand) and 口 (thing). Represents the right hand holding an object to protect it.
Meanings: 1. Right. 2. The act of continuing to protect the way of thinking or the way of doing practiced up until now.
- 右 - みぎ - 1. The direction that, if you were facing north, would be to the east. Right hand. ex. 右から二つ目の席。The second seat from the right. 2. A position that seeks to maintain the current way of thinking and doing things. ex. イギリスは右に揺れているように思われる。Britain seems to be swinging to the right. (N5)
雨
Radical: 雨
Strokes: 8 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ウ
Kun-Readings: あめ あま
Origin: Character drawn to show rain falling from the sky.
Meanings: 1. Rain. Raining.
円
Radical: 冂
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: エン
Kun-Readings: まる(い)
Origin: Original character was 圓. Character created by joining 員 (round) and 口 (enclosure). Represents encircling something.
Meanings: 1. Round shape. Circle. Circular. 2. Peaceful. 3. Denomination of money.
王
Radical: 王
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: オウ
Kun-Readings: -
Origin: Character drawing of a large battle axe. Represents a great person through the image of something large and broad.
Meanings: 1. The head of a kingdom. King. 2. The best thing by far.
音
Radical: 音
Strokes: 9 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: オン イン
Kun-Readings: おと ね
Origin: A one 一 inserted into the mouth 口 of 言 (clearly say). Represents a voice that can't clearly be heard, since there is something inside the mouth.
Meanings: 1. Sound. 2. News. 3. A way of reading kanji that originally came from ancient China. The "On-Reading."
下
Radical: 一
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: カ ゲ
Kun-Readings: した しも もと さ(げる) さ(がる) くだ(る) くだ(す) くだ(さる) お(ろす) お(りる)
Origin: Represents the state of something being under a cover.
Meanings: 1. Under. 2. A low place. 3. Going lower. Descending. 4. To be inferior. 5. Towards the end.
火
Radical: 火
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: カ
Kun-Readings: ひ ほ
Origin: Character drawing of a burning flame.
Meanings: 1. Burning. Fire. 2. A light. 3. Conflagration.
花
Radical: 艹
Strokes: 7 (Radical + 4)
On-Readings: カ
Kun-Readings: はな
Origin: Character joining 化 (change) and 艹 (grass). A flower that changes form from a bud.
Meanings: 1. Flower of a plant. 2. A beautiful, showy thing.
貝
Radical: 貝
Strokes: 7 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: -
Kun-Readings: かい
Origin: Character drawing of a cowry shell with cracks or of two shells.
Meanings: 1. Shell. Seashell.
学
Radical: 子
Strokes: 8 (Radical + 5)
On-Readings: ガク
Kun-Readings: まな(ぶ)
Origin: Original character was 學. Character joining 爻 (to mingle), 𦥑 (both hands), 宀 (house with a roof), and 子 (child). 爻 is the x symbol repeated twice to convey intersection. The character represents the act of learning as children mingle with a teacher.
Meanings: 1. To study. To learn. 2. Knowledge gained through practice. 3. School.
気
Radical: 气
Strokes: 6 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: キ ケ
Kun-Readings: -
Origin: Original character was 氣. Character joining 气 (steam) and 米 (rice). Character drawn to show the gaseous vapor hanging above. 氣 specifically represents the vapor created when rice is steamed.
Meanings: 1. Atmosphere. Gas. 2. Breathing. 3. Natural phenomenon. 4. Movement of the heart or spirit. 5. Condition.
九
Radical: 乙
Strokes: 2 (Radical + 1)
On-Readings: キュウ ク
Kun-Readings: ここの ここの(つ)
Origin: Character drawn of a bent and twisted arm. It represents the number 9, which is the last of the cardinal numbers, by presenting the idea of not being able to go any further.
Meanings: 1. The number nine. Nine. 2. The ninth.
休
Radical: 人 (亻)
Strokes: 6 (Radical + 4)
On-Readings: キュウ
Kun-Readings: やす(む) やす(まる) やす(める)
Origin: Character joining 木 (tree) and 亻 (person). Representing a person resting next to a tree.
Meanings: 1. To rest. 2. To stop. To cease.
玉
Radical: 玉
Strokes: 5 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ギョク
Kun-Readings: たま
Origin: Character drawing of an accessory made from three gems connected by a cord.
Meanings: 1. Pearl. Jewel. 2. Splendid. Beautiful. 3. The feeling of reverence for the emperor or other people. 4. Round thing.
金
Radical: 金
Strokes: 8 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: キン コン
Kun-Readings: かね かな
Origin: Character joining 今 (contained inside), 八 (metallic grains), and 土 (dirt). Representing the tiny bits of gold contained inside the soil.
Meanings: 1. Minerals like gold, silver, copper, and iron. Metal. 2. A metal that is yellow with a beautiful luster. Gold. 3. Golden color. Valuable. 4. Money. 5. Word expressing the amount of gold contained; caret.
空
Radical: 穴
Strokes: 8 (Radical + 3)
On-Readings: クウ
Kun-Readings: そら あ(く) あ(ける) から
Origin: Character joining 工 (broken through) and 穴 (hole). Represents the emptiness of a hole broken open.
Meanings: 1. Sky. Heaven. 2. Nothingness. Empty. 3. Without content. Lie. 4. Impossible. Fruitless. 5. To clear out. To be vacant. 6. Pertaining to airplanes.
月
Radical: 月
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ゲツ ガツ
Kun-Readings: つき
Origin: Character drawing of a crescent moon.
Meanings: 1. Moon. 2. One of the twelve divisions of the year. Month. 3. Monday.
犬
Radical: 犬
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ケン
Kun-Readings: いぬ
Origin: Character drawing of a dog. The On-Reading is an onomatopoeic word for the sound of a dog's bark.
Meanings: 1. The animal dog. 2. A pointless thing. 3. Spy.
見
Radical: 見
Strokes: 7 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ケン
Kun-Readings: み(る) み(える) み(せる)
Origin: Character joining 目 (eye) and 儿 (person). Something that stands out catches a person's eye. Because the thing that stands out becomes visible, this character also has the meaning of "to appear."
Meanings: 1. To see. To be visible. 2. To meet a person. 3. To appear. 4. Thought.
五
Radical: 二
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: ゴ
Kun-Readings: いつ いつ(つ)
Origin: Character representing two lines intersecting. When counting numbers with one hand, you start going back in the opposite direction after you reach 5; this character represents the number 5 at this crossing point.
Meanings: 1. The number five. Five. 2. The fifth.
口
Radical: 口
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: コウ ク
Kun-Readings: くち
Origin: Character drawn to represent the shape of a hole or of a person's mouth.
Meanings: 1. Mouth. To say something. 2. Place to enter and exit. 3. Number of people.
校
Radical: 木
Strokes: 10 (Radical + 6)
On-Readings: コウ
Kun-Readings: -
Origin: Character joining 交 (to cross) and 木 (tree). Represents the place where teaching and learning intersect.
Meanings: 1. Place of instruction. 2. To compare. To examine.
左
Radical: 工
Strokes: 5 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: サ
Kun-Readings: ひだり
Origin: Character joining 𠂇 (left hand) and 工 (work). Represents the left hand helping to support the right hand's work when doing handiwork.
Meanings: 1. Left. 2. The positions of communism and socialism.
三
Radical: 一
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: サン
Kun-Readings: み み(つ) みっ(つ)
Origin: Character representing the number three with three horizontal lines.
Meanings: 1. The number three. Three. 2. The third.
山
Radical: 山
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: サン
Kun-Readings: やま
Origin: Character drawing of a mountain with three peaks.
Meanings: 1. Mountain. 2. Temple.
子
Radical: 子
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: シ ス
Kun-Readings: こ
Origin: Character drawing of the form of a small child.
Meanings: 1. Child. 2. Man. Person. 3. Seed. 4. A small thing. 5. Word expressing something. 6. The first of the 12 zodiac signs. The time at midnight, as well as the two hour period centered on midnight (11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.). The Rat. 7. The northern point on the compass.
四
Radical: 口
Strokes: 5 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: シ
Kun-Readings: よ よ(つ) よっ(つ) よん
Origin: Character joining 口 (symbol of a box) and 八 (symbol for dividing). It represents a number that can be divided into two, specifically the even number four. Originally the character for four was four horizontal lines, but because it was easily mixed up with 三、it was changed to the character 四.
Meanings: 1. The number four. Four. 2. The fourth.
糸
Radical: 糸
Strokes: 6 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: シ
Kun-Readings: いと
Origin: Original character was 絲. It joined two strands of 糸 (raw silk thread). It represents a thin silk thread.
Meanings: 1. Thread.
字
Radical: 子
Strokes: 6 (Radical + 3)
On-Readings: ジ
Kun-Readings: あざ
Origin: Character joining 子 (small child) and 宀 (house). It represents birthing and raising a child inside of a house. If you look at the word 文字 (characters), it is composed of the parents (sentences - 文) and children (individual characters - 字).
Meanings: 1. Character. Letter. 2. Small division of a town or village.
耳
Radical: 耳
Strokes: 6 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ジ
Kun-Readings: みみ
Origin: Character drawn in the shape of an ear.
Meanings: 1. Ear.
七
Radical: 一
Strokes: 2 (Radical + 1)
On-Readings: シチ
Kun-Readings: なな なな(つ) なの
Origin: Character represents the number seven from the figure cut from the center of a horizontal bar.
Meanings: 1. The number seven. Seven. 2. The seventh.
車
Radical: 車
Strokes: 7 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: シャ
Kun-Readings: くるま
Origin: Character drawing of a two-wheeled vehicle with its wheels fastened to an axle.
Meanings: 1. Wheel. 2. A vehicle with wheels.
手
Radical: 手
Strokes: 4 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: シュ
Kun-Readings: て た
Origin: Character drawing in the shape of a hand.
Meanings: 1. Hand. Palm. 2. Person. 3. Method. 4. To do by oneself.
十
Radical: 十
Strokes: 2 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ジュウ ジッ
Kun-Readings: とお と
Origin: Character represents everything coming together in a single vertical line. Used to show the tens digit of a number. The number ten was 一十 but that was later simplified to be simply 十.
Meanings: 1. A numerical unit. Represents the tens place. The number ten. Ten. 2. The tenth. 3. Everything. Not lacking in anything.
出
Radical: 凵
Strokes: 5 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: シュツ スイ
Kun-Readings: で(る) だ(す)
Origin: Character joining 止 (foot) and 凵 (hollow). Represents stepping out of a cave.
Meanings: 1. Going out. Taking out. 2. To appear.
女
Radical: 女
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ジョ ニョ ニョウ
Kun-Readings: おんな め
Origin: Character drawing of the graceful, limber body of a woman.
Meanings: 1. Woman. 2. Daughter.
- 王女 - おうじょ - 1. Female child of a monarch. ex. 王女は彼を見て笑わずにいられなかった。The princess couldn't help laughing at him. (N2)
- 女 - おんな - 1. When dividing humans by their bodily functions, the group that is generally considered to be able to give birth to children. Female. ex. 黒い服の女をみた。I saw a woman in black. (N5)
- 女の子 - おんなのこ 1. A female human who is not yet an adult. ex. その女の子は木登りが大好きだった。That girl loved climbing trees. (N5)
- 女王 - じょおう - 1. A female monarch. A queen. ex. 女王は昨日テレビで国民に演説した。The Queen made an address to the nation on television yesterday. 2. The woman who is the strongest or most gorgeous in a society. ex. バラは花の女王と呼ばれている。The rose is called the queen of flowers. (N3)
- 女子 - じょし - 1. A girl. ex. 五年生の女子。A fifth-year female student. 2. Female. ex. 女子社員。A female company employee. (N3)
小
Radical: 小
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ショウ
Kun-Readings: ちい(さい) こ お
Origin: A character with three small dots. It represents something small and in pieces.
Meanings: 1. Small. 2. Few.
- 小さい - ちいさい - 1. The condition of being small in height, width, etc. ex. 小さい家。A small house. 2. Short in years. Very young. ex. 小さいころの思い出。Memories of when I was young. 3. Small in quantity or degree. ex. 小さい数。A small number. 4. Narrow (-minded, etc.) ex. 心の小さい人。A small-minded person. 5. Not large-scale. ex. 小さい会社。A small company. (N5)
- 小さな - ちいさな - 1. Small (thing). ex. 小さな町。A small town. (N5)
上
Radical: 一
Strokes: 3 (Radical + 2)
On-Readings: ジョウ ショウ
Kun-Readings: うえ うわ かみ あ(げる) あ(がる) のぼ(る) のぼ(せる) のぼ(す)
Origin: Character represents something set on top of a writing board.
Meanings: 1. Above. 2. A high place. 3. Towards the beginning. 4. To rise. To climb. 5. To be superior. 6. Edge. Side. 7. To be related to. To point towards.
- 上がる - あがる - 1. To go to a high place. ex. 階段を上がる。To climb the stairs. 屋上に上がる。 To go up to the roof. 2. To become good at or skilled at. ex. 料理のうでが上がる。My ability in cooking grows. 3. To increase (in price). ex. 十年前とくらべて、物価が上がっている。Compared to ten years ago, prices have increased. 4. To feel stressed and nervous. ex. 人前に出ると上がる。 Appearing in public makes me nervous. 5. To get out (of the bath). ex. 湯から上がる。 To get out of the hot tub. 6. To enter into a house (from the genkan). ex. どうぞ、上がってください。 Please, come in. 7. To enroll in a school. ex. この四月から小学校へ上がる。 Starting this April, I will be going to elementary school. 8. Respectful word for "to eat" or "to drink." Also a humble word for "to go" or "to come." ex. 何を上りますか。 Would you like something to eat? おわびに上がりました。 I went to apologize. 9. Something is finished. ex. 雨が上がる。 The rain stopped. 10. Verbal suffix meaning that an action has been finished, completed, or done to its fullest extent. ex. すり上がる。To be off the press. ちぢみ上がる。To freeze up (in fear) or to shrivel up. 晴れ上がる。To clear up. (N4)
- 上げる - あげる - 1. To move higher. ex. たなに箱を上げる。I put the box up on the shelf. 2. To move (a body part) upwards. ex. 顔を上げる。He raises his head. 3. To throw up eaten food. ex. その子は夕食で食べたものを上げた。That boy has thrown up his dinner. 4. To let advance in education. ex. 子どもを学校へ上げる。She sends her kid to school. 5. To offer to a god or to Buddha. ex. せんこうを上げる。He offers sticks of incense. 6. To raise or improve an amount. ex. スピードを上げる。It increases speed. 7. To speak in a loud voice or to make loud sounds. ex. 大声をあげる。She speaks (loudly) with a loud voice. 8. Polite way of saying "to give" (to someone of lower status). Usually written in kana. ex. お菓子をあげる。I gave candy (to some kids). 9. Polite way of saying "to do for" (someone of lower status). Usually written in kana. ex. 弟に本を読んであげる。I (did the favor of) read(ing) the book to my little brother. 10. Verbal suffix meaning "to do completely," "to accomplish," or "to do enough of." ex. あみ上げる。 To finish knitting. 書き上げる。 To finish writing. 仕上げる。To complete. 11. Verbal suffix meaning "to praise the listener and deprecate oneself." ex. 申し上げる。 To say (humbly). 存じ上げる。 To know someone (expressed humbly). (N5)
- 上 - うえ - 1. A high place. ex. マンションの上の階。Upper floor of an apartment complex. 2. To have lived many years. ex. 上の子は七才になります。My older kid turned seven. 3. The surface or exterior of something. ex. 海の上。The surface of the ocean. 4. A high status or grade. ex. 一つ上のクラス。The highest class (in school). 5. Added to what already exists. Usually written in kana. ex. 寒いうえに雨までふってきた。It was cold and, in addition, it started to rain. 6. After. Usually written in kana. ex. よく考えたうえでお返事をください。Please reply after carefully thinking it over. (N5)
- 上 - うわ - 1. Prefix denoting that something is in a higher position, degree, etc. ex. 上くちびる。 Upper lip. 上乗せ。 Adding (an extra amount). (N3)
- 上 - かみ - 1. A high position. Above. The upper part. ex. 学校は坂の上にある。 The school is on top of the hill. 2. Upstream. ex. 川の上の方。 Up the river. 3. A person with high social standing. A government office or administration. ex. お上にうったえる。 Appeal to the authorities. 4. First half. ex. 上半期。 First half of the year. 上の句。 First part of a poem. (N3)
- 上手 - じょうず - 1. To have superior ability making or doing something. Also, someone who has that superior ability. ex. 兄は話が上手だ。My little brother is really good at telling stories. ピアノを上手に弾く。To play the piano extremely well. 2. A compliment. ex. お上手を言う。You say that very well. (N5)
森
Radical: 木
Strokes: 12 (Radical + 8)
On-Readings: シン
Kun-Readings: もり
Origin: Character joining three of the character 木 (tree). Represents the condition of trees growing thickly together and thereby a forest.
Meanings: 1. Forest. 2. Quiet. Still.
- 森 - もり - A place where a lot of tall trees grow thickly. ex. うす暗い森。A gloomy forest. (N4)
人
Radical: 人
Strokes: 2 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: ジン ニン
Kun-Readings: ひと
Origin: Character drawing of a standing person seen from the side.
Meanings: 1. Person. Human. 2. Word used to count people.
水
正
生
青
Radical: 青
Strokes: 8 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: セイ ショウ
Kun-Readings: あお あお(い)
Origin: Original character was 靑. The top part of the character is a form of 生 and the bottom part is a form of 丼. The character thus joins together 生 (sprouts of green grass) and 丼 (spring water collected in a well). It represents the blue color like that of green sprouts and spring water.
Meanings: 1. Blue. 2. Young. Immature.
- 青 - あお - 1. The color of the clear sky. ex. 青のクレヨン。 A blue crayon. 2. Green. ex. 木々の青が目にしみる。The green of the trees is a sight to behold.(N5)
- 青い - あおい - 1. Having the color blue. ex. 青いタオル。A blue towel. 青い海。 The blue ocean. 2. Having the color green. ex. 青いウメの実。Green plum fruit. 3. A poor facial complexion when the color in one's face vanishes. ex. わすれものをして、青くなった。 My face went pale because I forgot something. (N5)
夕
石
赤
Radical: 赤
Strokes: 7 (Radical + 0)
On-Readings: セキ シャク
Kun-Readings: あか あか(い) あか(らむ) あか(らめる)
Origin: Character joining 大 (spreading out large) and 火 (fire). Represents the color of a large, bright red burning fire.
Meanings: Meanings: 1. Red. Red color. 2. Plain. Bare. 3. Lack of excess.
- 赤 - あか - 1. The color of blood. Red. ex. 赤の絵の具。Red paint. 2. Communism. A member of the Communist Party. (Also written アカ). (N5)
- 赤い - あかい - 1. Having the color red. ex. 赤いくつ。Red shoes. 顔が赤くなっている。 His face is turning red. (N5)