JLPT N1 · 9 strokes
Kanji 保: "protect, guarantee, keep"
The kanji 保 means "protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read ホ, ホウ in on'yomi and たも.つ in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ホホウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
たも.つ
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 5 |
| Frequency rank | 146 of 2,501 |
Common words with 保
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 保つto keep; to preserve; to hold; to retain · to last; to endure; to keep well (food); to wear well
- 確保securing; obtaining; ensuring; guarantee · belay; belaying
- 保証guarantee; security; assurance; pledge · warranty
- 保護protection; safeguard; guardianship; custody · preservation; conservation
- 保存preservation; conservation; storage; maintenance · save (to storage)
- 保管charge; custody; safekeeping; deposit
- 保護者guardian; protector; patron; parent
- 保健室infirmary (at a school, workplace, etc.); health center; nurse's office; nurse's room
- 保険insurance · guarantee; warranty
- 保留reservation; putting on hold; deferment; withholding
- 保持retention; maintenance; preservation
- 保有possession; retention; maintenance; holding
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