JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji
劣 — inferiority
- Reading
- レツ・おと.る
- Meaning
- inferiority; be inferior to; be worse
- JLPT level
- N1
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
劣 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is レツ・おと.る and it means inferiority; be inferior to; be worse. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
劣 appears in everyday japanese words such as 劣る (to fall behind).
Japanese words containing 劣
Frequently asked questions
What does 劣 mean in Japanese?
劣 means inferiority; be inferior to; be worse in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 劣 read?
劣 is read レツ・おと.る. Reading it inside real words — 劣る — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 劣 — is it JLPT N1?
Yes. 劣 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 劣 in a word?
A common word containing 劣 is 劣る (おとる) — "to fall behind". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 劣 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 劣 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Learn every JLPT kanji in context
InputDojo gives you the full JLPT N5–N1 kanji list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Japanese content. Free to start.
Start free