明 bright

Also: clear

On'yomi: メイ、ミョウ
Kun'yomi: あか-るい、あき-らか
Strokes: 8
JLPT: N4
Taught in: Primary school, year 2

In the kun'yomi, the kana after a dash are written after the kanji (okurigana): あか-るい.

Stroke order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

明 is written in 8 strokes. Each panel adds the next one; the dot marks where the brush starts.

Remember it

The sun (日) and the moon (月) shine side by side — nothing could be brighter or clearer.

A common word

説明せつめい explanation

Example sentences

この部屋は明るいですね。
このへやはあかるいですね。
This room is bright, isn't it.
説明がとても分かりやすかった。
せつめいがとてもわかりやすかった。
The explanation was very easy to understand.

Kanji that share a part

日 is its radical. 78 kanji share it in all.

月 is a component. 70 kanji share it in all.