為: the kanji for do; act
為 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means do; act. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
為 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
為 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
イ (i)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 行為こうい · kōi | act; deed |
| 作為さくい · sakui | artificiality |
| 人為的じんいてき · jin'iteki | man-made; artificial |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 為, 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 |
|---|---|
| 為替かわせ · kawase | exchange (money) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 親切な行為に感謝した。Shinsetsu na kōi ni kansha shita.I was grateful for the kind act.
- 為替の動きをニュースで見た。Kawase no ugoki o nyūsu de mita.I watched exchange-rate movements on the news.
- この事故は人為的なミスが原因だ。Kono jiko wa jin'iteki na misu ga gen'in da.This accident was caused by human error.
- 無作為に選んだ人に聞いた。Musakui ni eranda hito ni kiita.We asked randomly selected people.
- 危険な行為はやめてください。Kiken na kōi wa yamete kudasai.Please stop any dangerous behavior.
Questions about 為
How many strokes does 為 have?
為 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 為?
The on readings are i (イ). 為 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 為?
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
Movement and actions
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 為
- 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.