吉: the kanji for good luck
吉 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means good luck. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
吉 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
吉 has 2 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).
キチ (kichi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 大吉だいきち · daikichi | excellent luck |
| 吉日きちじつ · kichijitsu | lucky day |
キツ (kitsu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 吉報きっぽう · kippō | good news … |
| 不吉ふきつ · fukitsu | ominous; unlucky |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- おみくじで大吉が出た。Omikuji de daikichi ga deta.I drew "excellent luck" in my fortune.
- 結婚式は吉日に行うことが多い。Kekkonshiki wa kichijitsu ni okonau koto ga ōi.Weddings are often held on lucky days.
- 合格の吉報が届いた。Gōkaku no kippō ga todoita.The good news that I passed arrived.
- 黒い猫を不吉だと思う人もいる。Kuroi neko o fukitsu da to omou hito mo iru.Some people think black cats are unlucky.
- 吉報を待っています。Kippō o matte imasu.I'm waiting for good news.
Questions about 吉
How many strokes does 吉 have?
吉 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 吉?
The on readings are kichi (キチ), kitsu (キツ). 吉 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 吉?
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
Study, language and culture
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 吉
- 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.