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Evidence-led referenceJapanese names, readings and kanji
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Character directory

Kanji used in Japanese name research

Browse KANJIDIC2 character records by classification and stroke count. Character glosses and readings are shown as character data, not as automatic whole-name meanings.

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1,322 charactersOrdered by the KANJIDIC frequency field when available; that field is not a baby-name popularity ranking.
Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

day, sun, Japan

4 strokes · 12 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

one, one radical (no.1)

1 stroke · 11 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

country

8 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

meeting, meet, party

6 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

person

2 strokes · 5 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

year, counter for years

6 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

large, big

3 strokes · 13 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

ten

2 strokes · 12 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

two, two radical (no. 7)

2 strokes · 9 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

book, present, main

5 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

in, inside, middle

4 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

long, leader, superior

8 strokes · 7 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

exit, leave, go out

5 strokes · 7 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

three

3 strokes · 15 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

time, hour

10 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

politics, government

9 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

matter, thing, fact

8 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

oneself

6 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

going, journey, carry out

6 strokes · 6 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

month, moon

4 strokes · 5 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

part, minute of time, segment

4 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

deliberation, consultation, debate

20 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

behind, back, later

9 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

in front, before

9 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

people, nation, subjects

5 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

life, genuine, birth

5 strokes · 25 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

take along, lead, join

10 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

five

4 strokes · 7 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

departure, discharge, publish

9 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

interval, space

12 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

vis-a-vis, opposite, even

7 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

above, up

3 strokes · 10 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

section, bureau, dept

11 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

east

8 strokes · 11 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

ground, earth

6 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

fit, suit, join

6 strokes · 10 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

market, city, town

5 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

business, vocation, arts

13 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

inside, within, between

4 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

inter-, mutual, together

9 strokes · 6 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

direction, person, alternative

4 strokes · 8 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

four

5 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

determine, fix, establish

8 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

now

4 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

new

13 strokes · 7 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

gold

8 strokes · 5 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

employee, member, number

10 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

nine

2 strokes · 4 name readings

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How to read this directory

Jōyō and jinmeiyō labels here are derived from the KANJIDIC2 grade field for reference. Current child-name character rules should still be checked against the linked Ministry of Justice source. A kanji’s general frequency rank does not establish how popular that character is in personal names.