List of kanji by concept

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

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

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 人 counter for people

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)

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

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; 蟻 ant; 蛇 snake; 蛆 worm/grub/maggot; 犀 rhinoceros; 鰐 alligator or crocodile; 蛸 octopus

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

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; 児 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

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

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

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

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; 俎 altar of sacrifice; 犠 sacrifice

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;