光: the kanji for light
光 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means light. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
光 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
光 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コウ (kou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 観光かんこう · kankō | sightseeing; tourism |
| 光線こうせん · kōsen | ray of light |
ひかる (hikaru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 光るひかる · hikaru | to shine |
ひかり (hikari)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 光ひかり · hikari | light |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 京都は人気の観光地です。Kyōto wa ninki no kankōchi desu.Kyoto is a popular tourist spot.
- 夏は太陽の光線が強い。Natsu wa taiyō no kōsen ga tsuyoi.The sun's rays are strong in summer.
- 夜空に星が光っている。Yozora ni hoshi ga hikatte iru.Stars are shining in the night sky.
- 部屋に朝の光が差し込んだ。Heya ni asa no hikari ga sashikonda.Morning light streamed into the room.
- 家族で沖縄に観光に行った。Kazoku de Okinawa ni kankō ni itta.We went sightseeing in Okinawa with the family.
Questions about 光
How many strokes does 光 have?
光 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 光?
The on readings are kou (コウ). The kun readings are hikaru (ひかる), hikari (ひかり).
What JLPT level is 光?
N3. 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 N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Nature, food and animals
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 光
- 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.