early
N5- On
- ソウ
- Kun
- はや(い)
- Strokes
- 6
早いはとても大切です。
はやい は とても たいせつ です。
The early is very important.
💡 The sun (日) just above the horizon (十) — early morning. 早 means early or fast.
Readings, stroke counts, common words, and example sentences for each character — focused on kanji you will meet at work.
939 kanji
early
N5早いはとても大切です。
はやい は とても たいせつ です。
The early is very important.
💡 The sun (日) just above the horizon (十) — early morning. 早 means early or fast.
fish
N5魚はとても大切です。
さかな は とても たいせつ です。
The fish is very important.
💡 A fish with head, body, and tail fins. 魚 means fish.
sky / empty
N5空港はとても大切です。
くうこう は とても たいせつ です。
The airport is very important.
💡 A hole (穴) of nothing under the sky — emptiness. 空 means sky or empty.
snow
N5「雪」という漢字を習いました。
「雪」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "雪".
💡 雪 means "snow". Its on'yomi セツ and kun'yomi ゆき. To remember it, picture "snow" every time you see 雪, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
bad
N4悪用はとても大切です。
あくよう は とても たいせつ です。
The misuse is very important.
💡 悪 means "bad". Its on'yomi アク and kun'yomi わる(い). To remember it, picture "bad" every time you see 悪, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
by means of / since
N4「以」という漢字を習いました。
「以」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "以".
💡 以 means "by means of / since". Its on'yomi イ. To remember it, picture "by means of" every time you see 以, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
mind / meaning
N4注意はとても大切です。
ちゅうい は とても たいせつ です。
The attention is very important.
💡 意 means "mind / meaning". Its on'yomi イ. To remember it, picture "mind" every time you see 意, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
medicine / doctor
N4歯医者はとても大切です。
はいしゃ は とても たいせつ です。
The dentist is very important.
💡 医 means "medicine / doctor". Its on'yomi イ. To remember it, picture "medicine" every time you see 医, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
member
N4会員はとても大切です。
かいいん は とても たいせつ です。
The member is very important.
💡 員 means "member". Its on'yomi イン. To remember it, picture "member" every time you see 員, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
institution
N4病院はとても大切です。
びょういん は とても たいせつ です。
The hospital is very important.
💡 院 means "institution". Its on'yomi イン. To remember it, picture "institution" every time you see 院, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
carry / luck
N4運転はとても大切です。
うんてん は とても たいせつ です。
The driving is very important.
💡 運 means "carry / luck". Its on'yomi ウン and kun'yomi はこ(ぶ). To remember it, picture "carry" every time you see 運, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
reflect / project
N4反映はとても大切です。
はんえい は とても たいせつ です。
The reflection (of opinions) is very important.
💡 映 means "reflect / project". Its on'yomi エイ and kun'yomi うつ(る). To remember it, picture "reflect" every time you see 映, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
garden
N4公園はとても大切です。
こうえん は とても たいせつ です。
The park is very important.
💡 園 means "garden". Its on'yomi エン and kun'yomi その. To remember it, picture "garden" every time you see 園, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
far
N4遠慮はとても大切です。
えんりょ は とても たいせつ です。
The reserve is very important.
💡 遠 means "far". Its on'yomi エン and kun'yomi とお(い). To remember it, picture "far" every time you see 遠, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
roof / shop
N4屋根はとても大切です。
やね は とても たいせつ です。
The roof is very important.
💡 屋 means "roof / shop". Its on'yomi オク and kun'yomi や. To remember it, picture "roof" every time you see 屋, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
sound
N4音はとても大切です。
おと は とても たいせつ です。
The sound is very important.
💡 音 means "sound". Its on'yomi オン and kun'yomi おと. To remember it, picture "sound" every time you see 音, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
song / sing
N4歌はとても大切です。
うた は とても たいせつ です。
The song is very important.
💡 歌 means "song / sing". Its on'yomi カ and kun'yomi うた・うた(う). To remember it, picture "song" every time you see 歌, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
house / family
N4家はとても大切です。
いえ は とても たいせつ です。
The house is very important.
💡 家 means "house / family". Its on'yomi カ・ケ and kun'yomi いえ・うち. To remember it, picture "house" every time you see 家, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
picture / stroke
N4計画はとても大切です。
けいかく は とても たいせつ です。
The plan is very important.
💡 画 means "picture / stroke". Its on'yomi ガ・カク. To remember it, picture "picture" every time you see 画, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
times / turn
N4回収はとても大切です。
かいしゅう は とても たいせつ です。
The collection is very important.
💡 回 means "times / turn". Its on'yomi カイ and kun'yomi まわ(る). To remember it, picture "times" every time you see 回, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
sea
N4海岸はとても大切です。
かいがん は とても たいせつ です。
The coast is very important.
💡 海 means "sea". Its on'yomi カイ and kun'yomi うみ. To remember it, picture "sea" every time you see 海, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
world / boundary
N4世界はとても大切です。
せかい は とても たいせつ です。
The world is very important.
💡 界 means "world / boundary". Its on'yomi カイ. To remember it, picture "world" every time you see 界, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
open
N4開催はとても大切です。
かいさい は とても たいせつ です。
The holding (an event) is very important.
💡 Two hands lifting the bar off a gate (門) to open it. 開 means to open.
music / fun
N4音楽はとても大切です。
おんがく は とても たいせつ です。
The music is very important.
💡 楽 means "music / fun". Its on'yomi ガク・ラク and kun'yomi たの(しい). To remember it, picture "music" every time you see 楽, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
building / hall
N4図書館はとても大切です。
としょかん は とても たいせつ です。
The library is very important.
💡 館 means "building / hall". Its on'yomi カン. To remember it, picture "building" every time you see 館, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
China / Han
N4「漢」という漢字を習いました。
「漢」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "漢".
💡 漢 means "China / Han". Its on'yomi カン. To remember it, picture "China" every time you see 漢, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
wake up / occur
N4起用はとても大切です。
きよう は とても たいせつ です。
The appointment (to a role) is very important.
💡 起 means "wake up / occur". Its on'yomi キ and kun'yomi お(きる). To remember it, picture "wake up" every time you see 起, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
research
N4研究はとても大切です。
けんきゅう は とても たいせつ です。
The research is very important.
💡 究 means "research". Its on'yomi キュウ and kun'yomi きわ(める). To remember it, picture "research" every time you see 究, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
hurry / sudden
N4急ぐはとても大切です。
いそぐ は とても たいせつ です。
The to hurry is very important.
💡 急 means "hurry / sudden". Its on'yomi キュウ and kun'yomi いそ(ぐ). To remember it, picture "hurry" every time you see 急, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
cow
N4牛はとても大切です。
うし は とても たいせつ です。
The cow is very important.
💡 牛 means "cow". Its on'yomi ギュウ and kun'yomi うし. To remember it, picture "cow" every time you see 牛, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
leave / past
N4撤去はとても大切です。
てっきょ は とても たいせつ です。
The removal is very important.
💡 去 means "leave / past". Its on'yomi キョ・コ and kun'yomi さ(る). To remember it, picture "leave" every time you see 去, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
capital
N4「京」という漢字を習いました。
「京」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "京".
💡 京 means "capital". Its on'yomi キョウ. To remember it, picture "capital" every time you see 京, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
strong
N4強かはとても大切です。
したたか は とても たいせつ です。
The tough is very important.
💡 強 means "strong". Its on'yomi キョウ and kun'yomi つよ(い). To remember it, picture "strong" every time you see 強, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
teach
N4説教はとても大切です。
せっきょう は とても たいせつ です。
The sermon is very important.
💡 教 means "teach". Its on'yomi キョウ and kun'yomi おし(える). To remember it, picture "teach" every time you see 教, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
business / industry
N4残業はとても大切です。
ざんぎょう は とても たいせつ です。
The overtime work is very important.
💡 業 means "business / industry". Its on'yomi ギョウ and kun'yomi わざ. To remember it, picture "business" every time you see 業, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
near
N4近所はとても大切です。
きんじょ は とても たいせつ です。
The neighborhood is very important.
💡 近 means "near". Its on'yomi キン and kun'yomi ちか(い). To remember it, picture "near" every time you see 近, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
silver
N4銀行はとても大切です。
ぎんこう は とても たいせつ です。
The bank is very important.
💡 銀 means "silver". Its on'yomi ギン. To remember it, picture "silver" every time you see 銀, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
ward / district
N4「区」という漢字を習いました。
「区」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "区".
💡 区 means "ward / district". Its on'yomi ク. To remember it, picture "ward" every time you see 区, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
measure / plan
N4計画はとても大切です。
けいかく は とても たいせつ です。
The plan is very important.
💡 計 means "measure / plan". Its on'yomi ケイ and kun'yomi はか(る). To remember it, picture "measure" every time you see 計, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
older brother
N4「兄」という漢字を習いました。
「兄」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "兄".
💡 兄 means "older brother". Its on'yomi ケイ・キョウ and kun'yomi あに. To remember it, picture "older brother" every time you see 兄, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
light (weight)
N4軽視はとても大切です。
けいし は とても たいせつ です。
The disregard is very important.
💡 軽 means "light (weight)". Its on'yomi ケイ and kun'yomi かる(い). To remember it, picture "light (weight)" every time you see 軽, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
dog
N4「犬」という漢字を習いました。
「犬」 と いう かんじ を ならいました。
I learned the kanji "犬".
💡 A dog (大 with a leash dot) wagging. 犬 means dog.
sharpen / research
N4研究はとても大切です。
けんきゅう は とても たいせつ です。
The research is very important.
💡 研 means "sharpen / research". Its on'yomi ケン and kun'yomi と(ぐ). To remember it, picture "sharpen" every time you see 研, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
test / verify
N4経験はとても大切です。
けいけん は とても たいせつ です。
The experience is very important.
💡 験 means "test / verify". Its on'yomi ケン. To remember it, picture "test" every time you see 験, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
origin
N4還元はとても大切です。
かんげん は とても たいせつ です。
The return is very important.
💡 元 means "origin". Its on'yomi ゲン・ガン and kun'yomi もと. To remember it, picture "origin" every time you see 元, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
say / word
N4言葉はとても大切です。
ことば は とても たいせつ です。
The word is very important.
💡 言 means "say / word". Its on'yomi ゲン・ゴン and kun'yomi い(う)・こと. To remember it, picture "say" every time you see 言, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
craft / construction
N4工場はとても大切です。
こうじょう は とても たいせつ です。
The factory is very important.
💡 工 means "craft / construction". Its on'yomi コウ・ク. To remember it, picture "craft" every time you see 工, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
wide
N4広報はとても大切です。
こうほう は とても たいせつ です。
The public relations is very important.
💡 広 means "wide". Its on'yomi コウ and kun'yomi ひろ(い). To remember it, picture "wide" every time you see 広, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
think
N4考えるはとても大切です。
かんがえる は とても たいせつ です。
The to think about is very important.
💡 考 means "think". Its on'yomi コウ and kun'yomi かんが(える). To remember it, picture "think" every time you see 考, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.
fit / combine
N4間に合うはとても大切です。
まにあう は とても たいせつ です。
The to be in time is very important.
💡 合 means "fit / combine". Its on'yomi ゴウ and kun'yomi あ(う). To remember it, picture "fit" every time you see 合, and link that image to the reading so the shape, sound, and meaning stick together.