音: the kanji for sound
音 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means sound. Below are its readings, 13 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
音 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
音 has 4 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).
オン (on)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 音楽おんがく · ongaku | music |
| 発音はつおん · hatsuon | pronunciation |
| 音声おんせい · onsei | audio; voice |
| 騒音そうおん · sōon | noise |
| 録音ろくおん · rokuon | recording |
| 音読みおんよみ · on'yomi | on reading (of kanji) |
イン (in)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 母音ぼいん · boin | vowel |
| 子音しいん · shiin | consonant |
おと (oto)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 音おと · oto | sound |
| 足音あしおと · ashioto | footsteps |
| 物音ものおと · monooto | noise; sound |
ね (ne)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 本音ほんね · honne | true feelings |
| 音色ねいろ · neiro | tone; timbre |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 音楽を聞きながら仕事をします。Ongaku o kikinagara shigoto o shimasu.I work while listening to music.
- 音が聞こえますか。Oto ga kikoemasu ka.Can you hear the sound?
- 会議を録音してもいいですか。Kaigi o rokuon shite mo ii desu ka.May I record the meeting?
- 工事の騒音がうるさいです。Kōji no sōon ga urusai desu.The construction noise is loud.
- この言葉の発音を教えてください。Kono kotoba no hatsuon o oshiete kudasai.Please teach me how to pronounce this word.
- 本音を言うと、少し不安です。Honne o iu to, sukoshi fuan desu.To tell you the truth, I'm a little worried.
Questions about 音
How many strokes does 音 have?
音 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 音?
The on readings are on (オン), in (イン). The kun readings are oto (おと), ne (ね).
What are 本音 and 建前?
本音 (honne) is what you really think. 建前 (tatemae) is the position you show in public. Understanding the gap between them helps in Japanese business conversations.
What JLPT level is 音?
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 音
- 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.