明
bright
N4- Onyomi
- メイ
- Kunyomi
- あか(るい)
- Stroke count
- 8
- JLPT
- N4
Mnemonic
The sun (日) and moon (月) together give the most light. 明 means bright or clear.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 8
- 1上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- 2左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- 3横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- 4外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- 5中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- 6この漢字は8画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 8 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Stroke-order data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Practice Writing
Trace the faded character with your mouse or finger. Hide the outline to test yourself.
Structure
Radical
日
sun
Component
月
moon
Sun 日 and moon 月 side by side give the brightest light — "bright". A left-right balanced kanji.
Writing Tips
- Keep the 日 radical compact on the left, and let the right side stand a little taller.
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
説明explanation明日tomorrow明示explicit statement弁明explanation克明scrupulousness言明declaration
Example sentences (3)
説明はとても大切です。
せつめい は とても たいせつ です。
setsumei wa totemo taisetsu desu.
The explanation is very important.
毎日明日を使います。
まいにち あした を つかいます。
mainichi ashita o tsukaimasu.
I use the tomorrow every day.
明示の意味を調べました。
めいじ の いみ を しらべました。
meiji no imi o shirabemashita.
I looked up the meaning of "explicit statement".