明: the kanji for bright and clear
明 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means bright, clear. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
明 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
明 has 11 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
メイ (mei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 説明せつめい · setsumei | explanation |
| 明確めいかく · meikaku | clear; definite |
| 発明はつめい · hatsumei | invention |
| 証明しょうめい · shōmei | proof; certificate |
| 照明しょうめい · shōmei | lighting |
| 不明ふめい · fumei | unknown |
| 文明ぶんめい · bunmei | civilization |
ミョウ (myou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明朝みょうちょう · myōchō | tomorrow morning |
あかり (akari)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明かりあかり · akari | light |
あかるい (akarui)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明るいあかるい · akarui | bright; cheerful |
あきらか (akiraka)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明らかあきらか · akiraka | clear; obvious |
あける (akeru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 夜明けよあけ · yoake | dawn |
あくる (akuru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明くる日あくるひ · akuru hi | the next day |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 明, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 明日あす · asu | tomorrow |
The Jōyō Kanji Table lists あす (asu) for 明日. In everyday conversation, most people say あした (ashita).
Example sentences for work and daily life
- もう一度説明していただけますか。Mō ichido setsumei shite itadakemasu ka.Could you explain that once more?
- この部屋は明るくて気持ちがいいです。Kono heya wa akarukute kimochi ga ii desu.This room is bright and pleasant.
- 在職証明書を出してください。Zaishoku shōmeisho o dashite kudasai.Please submit a certificate of employment.
- 原因はまだ不明です。Gen'in wa mada fumei desu.The cause is still unknown.
- 明日の朝、お電話します。Ashita no asa, o-denwa shimasu.I'll call you tomorrow morning.
- 目標を明確にしましょう。Mokuhyō o meikaku ni shimashō.Let's make our goals clear.
Questions about 明
How many strokes does 明 have?
明 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 明?
The on readings are mei (メイ), myou (ミョウ). The kun readings are akari (あかり), akarui (あかるい), akarumu (あかるむ), akaramu (あからむ), akiraka (あきらか), akeru (あける), aku (あく), akuru (あくる), akasu (あかす).
Is 明日 read ashita or asu?
Both. あした (ashita) is the everyday reading. あす (asu) sounds a little more formal and appears in news and business speech. みょうにち (myōnichi) is the most formal and is used in business letters and announcements.
What JLPT level is 明?
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 明
- 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.