憂: the kanji for worry; grief
憂 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means worry; grief. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
憂 is written in 15 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
憂 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ユウ (yuu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 憂鬱ゆううつ · yūutsu | gloomy; depressed |
| 一喜一憂いっきいちゆう · ikki ichiyū | swinging between joy and worry |
うれえる (ureeru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 憂えるうれえる · ureeru | to worry about |
うれい (urei)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 憂いうれい · urei | worry; anxiety |
うい (ui)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 物憂いものうい · monoui | languid; listless |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 月曜日の朝は憂鬱だ。Getsuyōbi no asa wa yūutsu da.Monday mornings are depressing.
- テストの点に一喜一憂しないで。Tesuto no ten ni ikki ichiyū shinaide.Don't get too up or down about your test scores.
- 国の将来を憂える。Kuni no shōrai o ureeru.I worry about the future of the country.
- 備えあれば憂いなし。Sonae areba urei nashi.If you are prepared, you have nothing to worry about.
- …雨の日は物憂い気分になる。Ame no hi wa monoui kibun ni naru.Rainy days make me feel listless.
Questions about 憂
How many strokes does 憂 have?
憂 is written in 15 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 憂?
The on readings are yuu (ユウ). The kun readings are ureeru (うれえる), urei (うれい), ui (うい).
What JLPT level is 憂?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Feelings and emotions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 憂
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.