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4 strokes
Frequency: 11
JLPT N4
Grade 1

Meanings

in
inside
middle
mean
center

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
チュウ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
なか
うち
あた.る
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
あたる
かなえ

Common Words

Noun
Freq #75
1

inside; interior

Examples
彼は自分のお金を全部箱のに入れた。
He put all his money in the box.
2

Adverb (fukushi)

among; within

Examples
これらの商品のから1つ選びなさい。
Choose one from among these products.
3

middle; center; centre

4

Adverb (fukushi)

during; while; middle; midst; amid

Examples
身を切るような寒いでわざわざ遊ばなくてもいいじゃない。
You don't have to play outside in the biting wind.
5

interval; gap

6

mean; average

7

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

second (of three, e.g. sons, volumes); middle

8

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

medium grade; medium quality

9

Archaic

red-light district

Freq #180
1

Common noun; Adverb (fukushi)

inside; within

Examples
エイズが私が生きているうちに治ることを願っているよ。
I have a dream that AIDS will be cured in my lifetime.
2

Word usually written using kana alone; Common noun; Adverb (fukushi)

while (e.g. one is young); during; within (e.g. a day); in the course of

Examples
あの少年は店から店を歩いているうちに盗み癖がでてしまった。
The young boy got sticky fingers when he walked into stores.
3

Word usually written using kana alone; Common noun; Adverb (fukushi); As 〜のうち

among; amongst; (out) of; between

Examples
私の息子二人のうち、一人は教師で、もう一人は医者です。
One of my sons is a teacher, and the other is a doctor.
教会は私の家とあなたの家のにあります。
The church is between my house and yours.
4

Word usually written using kana alone; Common noun; Also 裡, 裏; as 〜のうちに after a noun representing a state or condition

in (secret, chaos, poverty, etc.); amidst; with (e.g. success)

Examples
うちで働いてみたいかね」とウッドさんが尋ねました。
"Would you like to work for me, Tony?" asked Mr Wood.
5

Common noun

within oneself; one's feelings; inner thoughts

6

内 only; Word usually written using kana alone; Common noun

we; our company; our organization

Examples
うちの一番腕利きの交渉者はいつも強引に有利な取り引きをする。
Our best negotiators always drive a hard bargain.
7

内 only; Word usually written using kana alone; Common noun; Also 家

one's home; one's family

8

内 only; Common noun

my spouse; my husband; my wife

9

内 only; Common noun; In a letter after the husband's name

signed on behalf of (husband's name) by his wife

10

内 only; Word usually written using kana alone; Pronoun; Kansai-ben; Primarily used by women and children

I; me

11

内 only; Archaic; Common noun

imperial palace grounds

12

内 only; Archaic; Common noun

emperor

ゅう
Freq #303
1

Common noun

medium (size); average (grade, level, etc.); middle

2

Suffix

in; within; out of (e.g. ten people); among

Examples
空気のごく小さい粒子がガンのもとになり得る。
Tiny particles in the air can cause cancer.
ある調査によると、今日では5人3人が外交問題には無関心のようだ。
According to a survey, three in five people today are indifferent to foreign affairs.
10人3人はビデオを持っている。
Three out of ten persons have a video.
3

Suffix

during; while; in (the course of); within (a period); throughout

Examples
彼は旅行に病気になった。
He got sick during the trip.
4

Suffix

currently (doing); in the process of; in the middle of; under (e.g. construction, investigation)

Examples
隣の部屋では会議です。
There is a conference going on in the next room.
5

Common noun

middle way; moderation

6

Common noun

second volume (of three)

7

Abbreviation; Common noun

junior high school; middle school

8

Abbreviation; Common noun

China

中々
中中
仲々
仲仲
却々
却却
Freq #405
1

Word usually written using kana alone; Adverb (fukushi); Adjectival nouns or quasi-adjectives (keiyodoshi)

very; considerably; easily; readily; fairly; quite; highly; rather

Examples
あいつは、なかなかいい奴だぜ!
He is a good joker.
2

Word usually written using kana alone; Adverb (fukushi); With a verb in the negative

by no means; not readily

Examples
いまどき良い仕事はなかなか得がたいのを忘れないでね。
Don't forget that good jobs are very hard to come by these days.
3

Common noun

middle; half-way point

4

Word usually written using kana alone; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

excellent; wonderful; very good

ちゅう
Adverb
Noun
Freq #424
1

on the way; en route

Examples
学校へ行く途中でトムに会った。
I met Tom on my way to school.
2

in the middle of; midway; halfway

Examples
途中であきらめるな。
Don't give up halfway.
なか
Noun
Freq #638
1

back (of the body)

Examples
このブラウスはボタンが背中にある。
This blouse buttons at the back.
当る
中る
中たる
たる
Godan verb
Freq #932
1

Intransitive verb

to be hit; to strike

Examples
私は顔に冷たい風が当たるのを感じた。
I felt a cold wind on my face.
彼は発砲したが当たらなかった
He fired but missed.
2

Intransitive verb

to touch; to be in contact; to be affixed

3

Intransitive verb; Often as ...に当たる

to be equivalent to; to be applicable; to apply to

Examples
日本の桜はまさにイギリスのバラにあたる
The cherry blossom is to Japan what the rose is to England.
4

Intransitive verb

to be right on the money (of a prediction, criticism, etc.)

Examples
不思議な話だが、彼の予言は当たった
Strange to say, his prediction has come true.
5

Intransitive verb

to be selected (in a lottery, etc.); to win

Examples
福引きでカメラが当たった
I got a camera in a lottery.
6

Intransitive verb

to be successful; to go well; to be a hit

7

Intransitive verb

to face; to confront

8

Intransitive verb

to lie (in the direction of)

9

Intransitive verb

to undertake; to be assigned

10

Intransitive verb

to be stricken (by food poisoning, heat, etc.); to be afflicted

Examples
彼はフグにあたった
He was poisoned by the globefish he ate.
11

Intransitive verb

to be called on (e.g. by a teacher)

12

Intransitive verb

to treat (esp. harshly); to lash out at

13

Intransitive verb; As 〜するには当たらない, etc.

to be unnecessary

14

Intransitive verb; Baseball; Usu. as 当たっている

to be hitting well; to be on a hitting streak

15

Intransitive verb

to feel a bite (in fishing)

16

Intransitive verb

(of fruit, etc.) to be bruised; to spoil

17

Transitive verb

to feel (something) out; to probe into; to check (i.e. by comparison)

18

Transitive verb

to shave

19

Transitive verb; As 〜の〜に当たる

to be a relative of a person; to be a ... in relation to ...; to stand in a relationship

ゅうちゅう
Noun
Freq #1088
1

Noun or participle which takes the aux. verb suru; Transitive verb; Intransitive verb

concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention

Examples
私は読書に集中していた。
I was concentrating on reading.
2

Noun or participle which takes the aux. verb suru; Transitive verb; Intransitive verb

concentration (of population, buildings, power, etc.); centralization; convergence; focus (of a debate, questions, etc.)

Examples
彼の仕事の大半が都市部に集中している。
The bulk of his work is in the urban area.
3

within a collection of works

ゅうしん
Freq #1181
1

Common noun; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

center; centre; middle; heart; core; focus; pivot; emphasis; balance

Examples
その町の中心にすてきな公園がある。
There is a nice park in the center of the town.
2

Suffix

-centered; -centred; -focused; -oriented; centered on; focused on

そのなか
Expression
Freq #1189
1

Usu. 〜に, 〜で

wherein; therein; thereinto; among which

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

The core concepts or meanings associated with this specific kanji.

in

Constituents

The visual building blocks used to craft this character's story.

stick
mouth

Mnemonic Stories

A stick of pocky goes in your mouth.

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