不: the kanji for not and un-
不 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means not, un-. Below are its readings, 13 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
不 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
不 has 2 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).
フ (fu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 不安ふあん · fuan | anxiety; worry |
| 不便ふべん · fuben | inconvenient |
| 不足ふそく · fusoku | shortage |
| 不明ふめい · fumei | unknown |
| 不満ふまん · fuman | dissatisfaction |
| 不在ふざい · fuzai | absence; being out |
| 不可ふか · fuka | not allowed; failing |
| 不要ふよう · fuyō | unnecessary |
| 不動産ふどうさん · fudōsan | real estate |
| 不正ふせい · fusei | fraud; dishonesty |
ブ (bu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 不作法ぶさほう · busahō | bad manners |
| 不用心ぶようじん · buyōjin | careless about safety |
| 不気味ぶきみ · bukimi | eerie |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 人手が不足しています。Hitode ga fusoku shite imasu.We're short of staff.
- 担当者は本日不在です。Tantōsha wa honjitsu fuzai desu.The person in charge is out today.
- 不動産屋で部屋を探しています。Fudōsan'ya de heya o sagashite imasu.I'm looking for an apartment at a real estate agency.
- 駅から遠くて少し不便です。Eki kara tōkute sukoshi fuben desu.It's far from the station, so it's a little inconvenient.
- 何か不明な点があれば聞いてください。Nanika fumei na ten ga areba kiite kudasai.If anything is unclear, please ask.
- 初めての出張で少し不安です。Hajimete no shutchō de sukoshi fuan desu.It's my first business trip, so I'm a little nervous.
Questions about 不
How many strokes does 不 have?
不 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 不?
The on readings are fu (フ), bu (ブ). 不 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What does ご不明な点 mean in a business email?
ご不明な点がございましたら (go-fumei na ten ga gozaimashitara) means "If anything is unclear." It is one of the most common closing lines in Japanese business emails.
What JLPT level is 不?
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
Colors and descriptions
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 不
- 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.