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Evidence-led referenceJapanese names, readings and kanji
japanesenameatlas.infoJapanese name reference
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 5

status, rank, capacity

10 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

possess, have, exist

6 strokes · 7 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

set free, release, fire

8 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

tax, duty

12 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8

wisteria

18 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

usual, ordinary, normal

11 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

exam, school, printing

10 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8

swamp, marsh, brilliance

7 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)

3 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

build

9 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

ball, sphere

11 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

empty, sky, void

8 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

post, employment, work

18 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

soil, earth, ground

3 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8

bestow, participate in, give

3 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

stop, halt

4 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

can, passable, approval

5 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

duty, war, campaign

7 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

posture, stance, appearance

14 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

tree, wood

4 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

adhere, attach, refer to

5 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

cut, cutoff, be sharp

4 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

opinion, theory, explanation

14 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

eat, food

9 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

compare, race, ratio

4 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

ward off, defend, protect

7 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

car

7 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6

tenderness, excel, surpass

17 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

husband, man

4 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

polish, study of, sharpen

9 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6

income, obtain, reap

4 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

well, well crib, town

4 strokes · 3 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

what

7 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

south

9 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

stone

5 strokes · 6 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1

leg, foot, be sufficient

7 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

boundary, border, region

14 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2

turn, number in a series

12 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

standard, measure

11 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

safeguard, protect

20 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6

unfold, expand

10 strokes · 4 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

guidance, leading, conduct

15 strokes · 1 name reading

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

equip, provision, preparation

12 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6

home, house, residence

6 strokes · 5 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 4

vice-, assistant, aide

11 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

tree trunk, main part, talent

13 strokes · 13 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5

single, alone, spontaneously

9 strokes · 2 name readings

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Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3

Shinto shrine, constellations, palace

10 strokes · 2 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.