新: the kanji for new
新 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means new. Below are its readings, 12 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
新 is written in 13 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
新 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 12 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シン (shin)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新聞しんぶん · shinbun | newspaper |
| 新年しんねん · shinnen | New Year |
| 新人しんじん · shinjin | newcomer; new employee |
| 新幹線しんかんせん · shinkansen | bullet train |
| 新規しんき · shinki | new (account, customer) |
| 最新さいしん · saishin | latest |
| 更新こうしん · kōshin | renewal; update |
| 新商品しんしょうひん · shinshōhin | new product |
| 新卒しんそつ · shinsotsu | new graduate |
あたらしい (atarashii)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新しいあたらしい · atarashii | new |
あらた (arata)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新たなあらたな · aratana | new; fresh (formal) |
にい (nii)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新妻にいづま · niizuma | new wife |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 新しいプロジェクトが始まりました。Atarashii purojekuto ga hajimarimashita.A new project has started.
- 新幹線で大阪へ出張します。Shinkansen de Ōsaka e shutchō shimasu.I'm going to Osaka on business by bullet train.
- 今年は新人が五人入りました。Kotoshi wa shinjin ga gonin hairimashita.Five new employees joined this year.
- 契約を更新したいです。Keiyaku o kōshin shitai desu.I'd like to renew the contract.
- 最新の資料はこちらです。Saishin no shiryō wa kochira desu.Here are the latest materials.
- 新たな目標を決めました。Aratana mokuhyō o kimemashita.We set a new goal.
Questions about 新
How many strokes does 新 have?
新 is written in 13 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 新?
The on readings are shin (シン). The kun readings are atarashii (あたらしい), arata (あらた), nii (にい).
What is the difference between 新しい and 新たな?
新しい (atarashii) is the everyday word for new. 新たな (aratana) sounds more formal and is common in business writing and speeches, as in 新たな挑戦 (aratana chōsen, a new challenge).
What JLPT level is 新?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Time and seasons
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 新
- 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.