List of kanji by concept
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This Kanji index method groups together kanji that describe things that deal with the same concept, for example kanji for numbers or kanji for directions.
Kanji with multiple meanings may appear more than once.
Physical properties and attributes
Colours
色 Colours; 白 white; 黒 black; 赤 red; 紅 crimson; 青 blue; 黄 yellow; 緑 green; 金 gold; 銀 silver; 紫 violet; 紺 dark blue; 朱 vermilion; 褐 brown; 藍 indigo; 彩 brightly coloured;
Shape, size, pattern, arrangement
形 shape; 体 form; 姿 figure; 模 pattern; 柄 design, pattern; 円 circle; 丸 circular; 曲 curve; 弧 arc; 環 ring, surround; 輪 ring; 凹 concave; 凸 convex; 角 angle; 斜 diagonal; 球 sphere; 圏 sphere; 玉 ball; 線 line; 列 row, line; 並 line up; 大 large; 巨 huge; 小 small; 微 minute; 狭 narrow; 端 edge or border; 縁 edge; 周 perimeter; 境 boundary; 枠 frame, border; 端 end, tip; 側 side; 隅 corner; 高 tall; 長 long; 短 short; 広 wide; 幅 width;
Miscellaneous properties
硬 hard; 軟 soft; 重 heavy; 軽 light (weight); 固 solid, firm; 液 liquid; 強 strong; 弱 weak; 厚 thick; 濃 thick, concentrated; 薄 dilute, thin; 細 slender; 緻 fine, delicate; 微 delicate; 鋭 sharp; 太 fat, thick; 深 deep; 浅 shallow; 暑 hot; 熱 hot; 温 warm; 暖 warm; 冷 cold; 寒 cold; 干 dry; 乾 dry; 湿 damp; 潤 moist; 浄 clean; 汚 dirty; 粘 sticky; 艶 glossy;
Directions and spatial relationships
北 north; 南 south; 東 east; 西 west; 左 left; 右 right; 下 down; 上 up; 前 front; 後 back; 裏 rear, back; 底 bottom; 外 outside; 中 inside/middle; 内 inside; 央 centre; 奥 interior; 間 between; 入 direction in; 出 direction out; 方 direction; 近 near; 遠 distant; 向 toward
Movement
来 come; 行 go; 旅 travel; 往 go, depart; 帰 return; 参 go (esp. visit); 落 fall, drop; 赴 go to; 越 go beyond, exceed; 倒 fall over; 墜 fall down, crash; 揚 raise, elevate
Numbers, counting, sequence
数 number; 零 zero; 一 one; 二 two; 三 three; 四 four; 五 five; 六 six; 七 seven; 八 eight; 九 nine; 十 ten; 百 100; 千 1,000; 万 10,000; 億 100,000,000; 兆 1,000,000,000,000; 第 ordinal marker; 初 first; 乙 second (ordinal); 丙 third (ordinal); 桁 digit; 双 pair; 多 many; 少 few; 半 half; 両 both; 各 each; 毎 every; 次 next; 翌 the following; 番 numerical order; 順 sequence; 序 sequence
Counters
個 general counter; 台 counter for machines and vehicles; 枚 counter for flat things; 本 counter for cylindrical things; 隻 counter for ships; 冊 counter for books; 匹 counter for animals; 疋 counter for small animals or insects; 頭 counter for large animals; 羽 counter for birds and rabbits; 箇 counter for articles; 足 counter for pairs of footwear; 札 counter for bonds, tickets; 杯 counter for cupfuls; 軒 counter for houses; 戸 counter for houses; 輪 counter for wheels and flowers; 畳 counter for tatami mats; 斤 counter for loaves of bread; 丁 miscellaneous counter
Handling amounts
算 calculation; 倍 times, double; 増 increase, add; 殖 increase; 耗 decrease, consume; 減 dwindle, decrease; 縮 shrink, contract; 加 add to; 除 division; 分 divide; 剖 split in two
Units
Units of length: 尺 Japanese foot (around 30 cm); 寸 1/10 Japanese foot (around 3 cm); 厘 (around 0.3 mm); 里 league (around 3.9 km)
Units of area: 坪 two-mat area (around 3.3 m²); 畝 30 tsubo (around 100 m²)
Units of volume: 勺 ladle (around 18 ml); 升 (around 1.8 l); 斗 (around 18 l); 石 (around 180 l)
Units of weight: 匁 (around 3.75 grams); 斤 (around 600 g)
Time
日 day; 週 week; 月 month; 年 year; 曜 day of week; 暦 calendar; 朝 morning; 午 noon; 昼 daytime; 夕 evening; 晩 evening; 宵 early evening; 夜 night; 暁 sunrise; 旭 rising sun; 旦 sunrise; 暮 sunset; 時 time, hour; 分 minute; 秒 second; 今 now; 早 early; 遅 late; 前 before; 後 after; 久 long ago; 旧 former; 曽 formerly; 近 recent; 先 ahead, previous; 間 interval of time; 期 time period; 暫 a while; 紀 era; 昨 previous time; 回 number of times; 頃 time, about; 際 moment, occasion; 度 number of times; 昔 antiquity; 永 eternity; 旬 period of 10 days; 始 begin; 終 end; 古 old; 老 old; 若 young; 新 new;
Seasons
季 season; 候 season; 節 season, period; 春 spring; 夏 summer; 秋 autumn; 冬 winter
Days of the week
曜 weekday; 日 Sunday; 月 Monday; 火 Tuesday; 水 Wednesday; 木 Thursday; 金 Friday; 土 Saturday
Nature
Sky and heavens
日 sun; 陽 sun or yang principle; 月 moon; 星 star; 天 sky or heaven; 空 sky or void; 気 air; 宇 universe;
Natural substances
金 metal or gold; 銀 silver; 銅 copper; 鉛 lead; 鉄 iron; 銑 pig iron; 鋼 steel; 鉱 ore; 晶 crystal; 玉 jewel; 珠 pearl or jewel; 水 water; 氷 ice; 汽 steam, vapour; 石 stone; 炭 coal; 灰 ash; 土 earth; 地 ground or earth; 砂 sand; 沙 sand; 泥 mud; 塩 salt; 丹 cinnabar; 硫 sulphur; 酸 acid, oxygen; 窒 nitrogen; 材 timber, material; 油 oil; 脂 fat;
Weather and other natural phenomena
雲 cloud; 曇 cloud; 雨 rain; 虹 rainbow; 風 wind; 雪 snow; 嵐 storm; 候 climate; 晴 fine weather; 霞 haze or mist; 雷 lightning or thunder; 霧 fog or mist; 霜 frost; 露 dew; 波 wave; 潮 tide; 渦 whirlpool; 洪 flood; 震 earthquake; 災 natural disaster; 暗 dark; 闇 dark; 冥 dark; 光 light; 明 light; 陰 yin principle or shadow; 影 shadow; 煙 smoke or fumes; 電 electricity; 磁 magnet; 火 fire; 炎 blaze
Landscape and topography
陸 land; 野 field; 畑 field; 原 field; 田 rice paddy; 牧 pasture; 里 countryside; 壌 fertile soil; 漠 desert; 山 mountain; 岳 peak or mountain; 峰 peak; 峠 mountain pass; 丘 hill; 岡 hill; 阜 hill; 坂 slope; 麓 foot of mountain; 堤 embankment; 谷 valley; 溪 mountain stream or valley; 峡 gorge; 渓 ravine; 窟 cave; 岩 rock or boulder; 巌 rock or boulder; 漠 desert; 川 river; 河 river or stream; 泉 water spring; 滝 waterfall; 瀬 shallows, rapids; 堀 ditch; 畔 levee; 沢 swamp; 沼 marsh; 海 ocean or sea; 洋 ocean; 沖 open sea; 湖 lake; 池 pond; 潟 lagoon; 礁 reef; 江 creek or bay; 湾 bay, gulf; 岸 shore; 磯 seashore; 浜 beach; 浦 bay, beach; 崖 cliff; 崎 promontory or cape; 埼 promontory; 岬 headland; 島 island;
Animals
- See also Food and Drink
犬 dog; 狗 dog; 猫 cat; 鼠 mouse; 兎 rabbit; 馬 horse; 牛 cow; 羊 sheep; 豚 pig; 鹿 deer; 獣 beast; 畜 livestock; 象 elephant; 虎 tiger; 熊 bear; 狼 wolf; 狐 fox; 狸 raccoon dog (tanuki); 猿 monkey; 龜/亀 turtle; 鯆 dolphin; 鯨 whale; 虫 insect; 昆 insect; 蜂 bee; 蚊 mosquito; 蚕 silkworm; 蛍 firefly; 蛇 snake; 鰐 alligator or crocodile
Fish
魚 fish; 貝 shellfish; 鯉 carp; 鮒 crucian carp; 鮠 minnow; 鱒 trout; 鮭 salmon; 鱸 sea bass; 鯛 sea bream; 鰌 stone loach; 鱈 cod; 鰻 eel; 鯊 goby; 鯖 mackerel; 鰯 sardine; 鯵 scad / horse mackerel; 鰊 herring; 鰍 bullhead; 鯰 catfish; 鰈/鮃 flounder; 鰤 amberjack; 鮃 sole; 鮫 shark;
Birds
鳥 bird; 鶏 chicken; 鴨 duck; 鷹 hawk; 鶴 crane; 雀 sparrow; 梟 owl; 燕 swallow; 烏/鴉 crow;
Animal parts
羽 feather, wing; 翼 wing; 毛 fur; 尾 tail; 牙 tusk, fang; 角 horn; 爪 claw;
Plants and trees
- See also Food and Drink
植 plant; 木 tree; 樹 tree; 林 grove; 森 forest; 松 pine; 杉 cedar; 桜 cherry; 梅 plum; 梨 pear; 柿 persimmon; 栃 horse chestnut; 藤 wisteria; 桑 mulberry; 桃 peach; 柳 willow; 桂 cinnamon tree; 草 grass; 稲 rice plant; 麻 hemp or flax; 竹 bamboo; 葛 vine; 茨 brier; 菊 chrysanthemum; 栽 cultivation of plants; 藻 algae, seaweed; 茸 mushroom; 菌 fungi or bacteria; 根 root; 幹 tree trunk; 枝 branch; 葉 leaf; 花 flower; 芽 bud; 苗 seedling; 茎 stem;
People
General
人 person; 者 person (usually with qualifier); 民 people; 男 man; 女 woman; 雄 male; 雌 female; 翁 old man; 婆 old woman; 嬢 young lady; 子 child; 子 child; 坊 boy, sonny; 郎 son, boy; 童 juvenile; 徒 gang or junior; 私 I; 僕 I; 俺 I; 彼 he; 君 you; 自 oneself; 己 oneself; 我 self, ego;
Roles and status
主 master or husband; 夫 husband or man; 妻 wife; 婦 wife or lady; 王 king; 皇 emperor or sovereign; 帝 Mikado or emperor; 姫 princess; 媛 princess; 妃 princess, queen; 后 empress; 伯 earl, count; 侯 lord, marquis; 爵 noble rank; 士 man or gentleman; 方 honorable person; 漢 honorable man or Han person; 彦 boy, high-status man; 傑 great man; 紳 gentleman; 氏 courtesy title; 長 leader; 係 person in charge; 督 supervisor; 師 expert; 仲 intermediary; 使 messenger; 医 doctor; 友 friend; 僚 colleague; 輩 fellow, comrade; 客 guest, customer; 賓 guest, VIP; 隣 neighbour; 奴 servant, fellow; 隷 underling; 仙 hermit;
Family relationships
家 family; 族 family; 名 name; 父 father; 母 mother; 親 parent; 嫁 wife, bride; 娘 daughter; 弟 younger brother; 妹 younger sister; 兄 older brother; 姉 older sister; 爺 grandfather; 婆 grandmother; 祖 ancestor; 孫 grandchild; 叔 aunt, uncle; 伯 aunt, uncle; 甥 nephew; 姪 niece; 婿 son-in-law, bridegroom; 昆 descendants; 戚 relatives; 婚 marry; 姻 matrimony; 嫡 legitimate wife/family; 寡 widow;
Groups
国 country; 社 company; 団 group; 派 faction, group; 組 association, assemble; 群 flock, crowd
Body
General
身 body; 体 body; 肉 flesh; 血 blood; 脈 vein; 筋 muscles; 骨 bone; 髄 marrow; 節 joint; 皮 skin; 膚 skin; 肌 skin; 皺 wrinkle; 腺 gland;
Head and neck
頭 head; 脳 brain; 髪 hair; 顔 face; 髭 beard; 額 forehead; 耳 ear; 目 eye; 眼 eyeball; 眉 eyebrow; 瞳 pupil; 鼻 nose; 顎 jaw; 口 mouth; 唇 lips; 歯 tooth; 舌 tongue; 頬 cheek; 頤 chin; 喉 throat; 咽 throat; 首 neck;
Torso and organs
胴 torso; 背 back; 脊 backbone; 呂 backbone; 椎 backbone; 肋 rib; 胸 chest; 腹 stomach; 胃 stomach; 臍 navel; 腰 waist; 臓 entrails; 腸 intestines; 心 heart; 肺 lung; 肝 liver; 膵 pancreas; 腎 kidney; 胆 gall bladder; 肛 anus; 膣 vagina;
Arms and legs
肢 limb; 腕 arm; 肩 shoulder; 脇 armpit; 肘 elbow; 手 hand; 拳 fist; 指 finger; 爪 nail; 掌 palm; 尻 buttocks; 股 thighs; 脚 leg; 足 leg, foot; 膝 knee; 踝 ankle; 踵 heel;
Body functions
汗 sweat; 泪 tear; 涙 tear; 唾 saliva; 精 sperm; 尿 urine; 便 faeces; 胎 foetus; 妊 pregnant; 娠 pregnant; 生 birth; 産 give birth; 哺 suckle; 息 breath; 寝 sleep; 眠 sleep; 睡 sleep; 夢 dream
Health, illness, medicine
生 life; 死 death; 健 healthy; 康 healthy; 力 strength; 病 illness; 症 disease; 疾 disease; 患 sick; 疫 epidemic; 骸 corpse; 痛 pain; 疲 tired; 休 rest; 痩 weight loss; 瘍 ulcer; 痘 pox; 痢 diarrhoea; 癌 cancer; 傷 wound; 痕 scar; 医 medicine, doctor; 療 heal; 癒 heal; 治 cure; 剤 medicine; 錠 pill; 薬 drug;
Gestures and sports
立 stand up; 走 run; 座 sit; 踊 jump; 歩 walk; 泳 swim; 止 stop
Emotions and senses
Emotions
情 emotion; 感 feeling, emotion; 気 feeling, mood; 愛 love; 恋 love; 慕 adoration; 崇 reverence, adoration; 恭 respect; 敬 respect; 慈 affection, benevolence; 憎 hate; 好 like; 嫌 dislike; 蔑 contempt; 恐 fear or anxiety; 虞 fear or anxiety; 怖 fear or anxiety; 畏 fear or anxiety; 慄 fear; 惧 apprehension; 悲 sadness; 哀 sadness or pity; 憂 sadness, anxiety; 煩 anxiety, annoyance; 愁 melancholy; 鬱 melancholy; 惜 regret; 憾 regret; 悔 remorse; 懐 yearning; 憧 yearning, adoration; 憬 yearning; 戚 grief; 恨 resentment; 怨 resentment; 慨 indignation, resentment; 寂 loneliness; 楽 fun; 愉 fun; 娯 fun; 幸 happiness; 嬉 happiness; 喜 joy; 悦 joy; 慶 joy; 歓 joy; 快 pleasure; 笑 laughter; 疑 doubt or suspicion; 迷 doubt; 迷 confusion; 紛 confusion; 惑 bewilderment; 慌 disconcertion; 驚 surprise; 欲 desire; 怒 anger; 激 violent excitement; 暴 violent rage; 憤 indignation; 傲 pride; 恥 shame; 羞 shame; 妬 envy; 羨 envy; 嫉 envy;
Senses
見 see; 聞 hear; 聴 listen; 音 sound; 静 quiet; 味 taste, flavour; 辣 bitter; 辛 pungent; 触 touch, feel; 嗅 smell; 芳 fragrant; 匂 fragrant; 香 pleasant smell; 臭 bad smell; 盲 blind;
Judgment
思 think; 考 think; 正 correct; 良 good; 善 good; 悪 bad; 理 reason
Food and drink
- See also Animals and Plants
食 eat, meal; 飲 drink; 米 rice; 飯 cooked rice, meal; 餅 rice cake; 麦 wheat or barley; 粒 grain; 穀 cereal; 穂 ear of grain; 果 fruit; 実 fruit; 菜 vegetable; 豆 bean; 麺 noodles; 芋 potato; 粉 flour; 卵 egg; 糖 sugar; 肉 meat; 乳 milk; 酪 dairy products; 蜜 honey; 菓 confectionery; 栗 chestnut; 酒 alcoholic drink; 酎 sake; 酌 serve alcohol; 酢 vinegar; 漬 pickle; 汁 juice, soup; 茶 tea; 炊 cook; 焼 bake; 煎 roast, boil; 蒸 steam; 醸 brew; 揚 fry; 丼 bowl of food; 箸 chopsticks; 鮨 sushi;
Man-made structures and artefacts
Towns, cities, buildings, structures, roads
村 village; 町 town; 市 city; 京 capital city; 都 metropolis; 畿 capital; 街 street, city district; 建 build; 家 house; 宅 home; 屋 roof, house, shop; 店 shop; 荘 villa; 亭 pavilion; 園 garden; 芝 lawn, turf; 庭 garden, courtyard; 室 room; 房 room; 廊 corridor; 壁 wall; 戸 door; 扉 door; 窓 window; 棚 shelf; 門 gate; 垣 fence; 塀 wall, fence; 柵 fence; 寮 dormitory; 蔵 storehouse; 庫 storage room; 倉 warehouse; 舎 building; 館 public building; 閣 imposing building; 宮 palace; 殿 hall, palace; 堂 hall; 楼 tower; 塔 tower; 城 castle; 塁 base, fort; 獄 prison; 宿 inn; 駅 station; 港 harbour; 津 harbour; 橋 bridge; 碑 monument; 桟 wooden structure; 桁 beam, column; 柱 pillar; 棟 ridgepole; 壇 podium; 台 pedestal; 井 well; 炉 fireplace, hearth; 道 path or road; 路 path or road; 途 way, route; 岐 fork in the road; 辻 crossroads;
Vehicles and machines
車 vehicle, wheel; 軸 axle; 機 machine; 械 contraption; 船 boat; 艇 boat; 舟 small boat; 舶 oceangoing ship; 舷 side of a ship; 乗 ride, board; 搭 board, load; 力 power
Clothing and textiles
布 cloth; 巾 cloth, towel; 衣 garment; 服 clothes; 装 attire; 絹 silk; 袖 sleeve; 裾 hem, cuff; 襟 collar; 帯 belt; 靴 shoes; 履 footwear; 帽 hat; 着 wear; 糸 thread; 縫 sew; 織 weave; 紡 spin (yarn); 綿 cotton; 錦 brocade;
Miscellaneous manufactured items
品 article; 器 vessel; 鉢 bowl; 丼 bowl; 杯 cup; 鍋 pot; 釜 kettle; 皿 plate, dish; 板 board, plate; 盤 disk, board; 盆 basin, tray; 瓶 bottle, jar; 缶 tin can; 箸 chopsticks; 蓋 lid; 栓 stopper, plug; 卓 table; 椅 chair; 机 desk; 床 bed; 膳 tray, small table; 箱 box; 灯 lamp; 袋 bag; 俵 straw sack, bag; 籠 basket; 扇 fan; 枕 pillow; 幕 curtain; 帆 sail; 畳 tatami mat; 傘 umbrella; 磁 porcelain; 陶 pottery; 瓦 tile; 紙 paper; 箋 paper; 革 leather; 塗 paint; 漆 lacquer; 棒 rod; 維 fibre; 網 net; 索 cord; 縄 rope; 綱 rope; 弦 string; 針 needle; 鎌 sickle; 管 pipe; 槽 tank; 鎖 chain; 串 skewer; 具 tool; 鍵 key; 錠 lock; 鈴 bell; 鐘 bell; 鋳 casting; 鏡 mirror; 棺 coffin; 窯 stove, kiln; 臼 millstone, mortar; 錘 spindle, plumb; 枢 hinge, pivot; 斤 axe; 鈎 fish hook;
Human activities
Money and commerce
金 money or gold; 銭 coin; 札 banknote; 円 yen; 幣 currency; 財 wealth; 富 rich; 買 buy; 購 purchase; 売 sell; 業 business, industry; 商 trade; 貿 trade; 販 marketing; 卸 wholesale; 払 pay; 貝 cowry (ancient Chinese currency); 貨 goods, property; 宝 treasure, wealth; 産 product; 工 manufacture; 価 price; 値 price; 高 expensive; 安 cheap; 廉 cheap; 資 capital; 賃 fee or wages; 料 fee; 費 expense; 営 management; 職 employment; 働 work; 稼 work, earn; 給 salary; 俸 salary; 償 recompense; 債 debt, bond; 貯 savings; 税 tax; 租 tax; 賦 levy, instalment; 賄 bribe; 賂 bribe; 賭 gamble;
Culture, arts, music, learning
芸 art; 絵 picture, painting; 画 picture; 楽 music; 曲 musical composition; 歌 song; 謡 song, noh chant; 唄 song; 諧 harmony; 琴 cithare, harp; 笛 flute; 鼓 drum; 拍 clap, beat (music); 節 tune, melody; 詩 poetry; 詠 recite poetry; 俳 haiku; 劇 drama, play; 祭 festival; 校 school; 学 study, school; 生 student; 塾 private school; 科 faculty; 教 teach; 究 study, research; 研 study, research; 知 know; 卒 graduate; 儒 Confucianism;
Language, communication
語 language; 言 say; 話 speak; 声 voice; 告 tell; 談 discuss; 聞 ask; 問 question; 答 answer; 吟 recite; 読 read; 書 write; 本 book; 文 text; 図 map, diagram; 筆 writing, brush; 字 character; 辞 word; 詞 words; 句 phrase; 記 written record; 刊 publish; 誌 document, journal; 訃 obituary; 信 message; 報 inform; 説 explain; 題 topic; 表 express; 伝 transmit; 論 discourse; 講 lecture; 宣 proclaim
Religion, supernatural world
神 god; 宗 religion, sect; 教 religion; 聖 sacred; 祈 pray; 仏 Buddha; 寺 Buddhist temple; 僧 Buddhist priest; 尼 Buddhist nun; 禅 Zen; 社 Shinto shrine; 刹 temple; 詣 temple visit; 宮 shrine; 派 sect; 魂 soul; 霊 spirit; 魔 demon, witch; 鬼 ghost, devil; 幻 phantom, apparition; 竜 dragon;
Chinese-Japanese signs of zodiac
The four trines of the Chinese-Japanese horoscope:
A. 01. 鼠 (子) Rat - 05. 龍 (辰) Dragon - 09. 猴 (申) Monkey ; B. 02. 牛 (丑) Ox - 06. 蛇 (巳) Snake - 10. 雞 / 鷄 (酉) Rooster
C. 03. 虎 (寅) Tiger - 07. 馬 (午) Horse - 11. 狗 (戌) Dog ; D. 04. 兔 (卯) Rabbit - 08. 羊 (未) Goat - 12. 豬 (亥) China: Pig Japan: Boar
Note that in Japan the new sign of zodiac starts on January 01, while in China it starts, according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, at the new moon that falls between January 21 and February 20, so that persons born in January or February may have two different signs in the two countries.
War, fighting, weapons
武 military; 戦 battle; 闘 battle; 敵 enemy; 攻 attack; 斬 slash; 伐 attack or punish; 殺 kill; 撃 attack; 討 attack; 殴 beat, assault; 撃 beat, attack; 射 shoot at; 襲 raid; 征 conquer; 兵 soldier; 刀 sword or katana; 矛 halberd; 戈 spear; 剣 sword; 斬 cut with a sword; 盾 shield; 甲 armour; 侍 samurai; 忍 ninja or shinobi; 偵 spy; 弓 bow; 矢 arrow; 銃 gun; 砲 gun or cannon; 将 commander; 曹 sergeant; 尉 military officer; 軍 troops; 隊 corps; 班 squad, corps; 陣 battle formation, camp; 屯 barracks; 爆 bomb; 弾 bullet; 艦 warship;