JLPT N1 · 13 strokes
Kanji 義: "righteousness, justice, morality"
The kanji 義 means "righteousness, justice, morality, honor, loyalty, meaning". It is written with 13 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read ギ in on'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)
ギ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
no recorded reading
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 | righteousness, justice, morality, honor, loyalty, meaning |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 13 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 5 |
| Frequency rank | 415 of 2,501 |
Common words with 義
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 義務duty; obligation; responsibility
- 正義justice; right; righteousness · correct meaning; correct explanation
- 義理duty; sense of duty; honor; honour · in-law; relation by marriage
- 主義doctrine; rule; principle; -ism
- 講義lecture
- 定義definition
- 意義meaning; significance
- 義母mother-in-law · foster mother
- 義父father-in-law · foster father
- 義morality; righteousness; justice; honour (honor) · meaning
- 有意義significant; useful; meaningful; worthwhile
- 正義感sense of justice; feeling of righteousness; moral sense
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.