JLPT N2 · 16 strokes
Kanji 磨: "grind, polish, scour"
The kanji 磨 means "grind, polish, scour, improve, brush (teeth)". It is written with 16 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N2, read マ in on'yomi and みが.く, す.る 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)
マ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
みが.くす.る
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 | grind, polish, scour, improve, brush (teeth) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 16 |
| JLPT level | N2 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 1608 of 2,501 |
Common words with 磨
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 磨くto polish; to shine; to burnish; to scour · to refine (a skill, etc.); to improve; to hone; to polish (up)
- 磨き上げるto polish up; to shine up
- 磨きpolish; burnishing · improvement; becoming more skilled
- 歯を磨くto brush one's teeth
- 百戦錬磨veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles; hard-bitten
- 腕を磨くto polish one's skills
- 歯磨きdental brushing; brushing one's teeth · dentifrice; toothpaste; tooth powder
- 切磋琢磨diligent application (to work or study); cultivating one's character by studying hard · mutual encouragement (to improve); working hard together; friendly rivalry
- 研磨grinding; polishing · refining (a skill, knowledge, etc.); applying oneself (to study); disciplining oneself
- 播磨Harima (former province located in the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture)
- 達磨daruma; tumbling doll; round, red-painted good-luck doll in the shape of Bodhidharma, with a blank eye to be completed when a person's wish is granted · Bodhidharma
- 琢磨polish (jewels); cultivation
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