楽: the kanji for fun, easy, music
楽 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means fun, easy, music. Below are its readings, 13 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
楽 is written in 13 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
楽 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).
ガク (gaku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 音楽おんがく · ongaku | music |
| 楽器がっき · gakki | musical instrument |
| 楽譜がくふ · gakufu | sheet music |
| 声楽せいがく · seigaku | vocal music |
ラク (raku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 楽らく · raku | easy; comfortable |
| 気楽きらく · kiraku | carefree; relaxed |
| 娯楽ごらく · goraku | entertainment |
| 楽園らくえん · rakuen | paradise |
| 楽天的らくてんてき · rakutenteki | optimistic |
たのしい (tanoshii)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 楽しいたのしい · tanoshii | fun; enjoyable |
| 楽しみたのしみ · tanoshimi | something to look forward to |
たのしむ (tanoshimu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 楽しむたのしむ · tanoshimu | to enjoy |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 楽, 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 |
|---|---|
| 神楽かぐら · kagura | sacred Shinto music and dance |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- お会いできるのを楽しみにしています。O-ai dekiru no o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.I'm looking forward to meeting you.
- 昨日のパーティーは楽しかったです。Kinō no pātī wa tanoshikatta desu.Yesterday's party was fun.
- 新しいシステムで仕事が楽になりました。Atarashii shisutemu de shigoto ga raku ni narimashita.The new system made work easier.
- どうぞお気楽にお越しください。Dōzo o-kiraku ni o-koshi kudasai.Please feel free to drop by.
- 何か楽器を演奏しますか。Nanika gakki o ensō shimasu ka.Do you play any instruments?
- 週末は日本の温泉を楽しみました。Shūmatsu wa Nihon no onsen o tanoshimimashita.I enjoyed a Japanese hot spring on the weekend.
Questions about 楽
How many strokes does 楽 have?
楽 is written in 13 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 楽?
The on readings are gaku (ガク), raku (ラク). The kun readings are tanoshii (たのしい), tanoshimu (たのしむ).
What does 楽しみにしています mean in an email?
楽しみにしています (tanoshimi ni shite imasu) means "I'm looking forward to it." It is a warm way to end an email before a meeting, as in お会いできるのを楽しみにしています.
What JLPT level is 楽?
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 楽
- 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.