JLPT N4 · 11 strokes
Kanji 理: "logic, arrangement, reason"
The kanji 理 means "logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth". It is written with 11 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N4, read リ in on'yomi and ことわり 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)
リ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
ことわり
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 | logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT level | N4 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 2 |
| Frequency rank | 86 of 2,501 |
Common words with 理
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 理由reason; grounds; pretext; excuse
- 無理unreasonable; unnatural; unjustifiable · impossible
- 理解understanding; comprehension; appreciation · sympathy
- 料理cooking; cookery; cuisine; food · dealing with (skillfully); handling (well); managing
- 管理control; management (e.g. of a business)
- 処理processing; dealing with; treatment; disposition
- 整理sorting; arrangement; organization; putting in order · liquidation; settlement; consolidation; clearance (e.g. debt)
- 理想ideal; ideals
- 無理やりforcibly; by force; against one's will
- 理屈theory; reason; logic · (unreasonable) argument; strained logic; excuse; pretext
- 理性reason; reasoning power; (one's) sense
- 理不尽injuste, déraisonnable, absurde, révoltant
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