JLPT N1 · Japanese kanji

士

士 — gentleman

Reading
シ・さむらい
Meaning
gentleman; scholar; samurai; samurai radical
JLPT level
N1
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

士 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N1 level. Its primary reading is シ・さむらい and it means gentleman; scholar; samurai; samurai radical. 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.

士 appears in everyday japanese words such as 修士 (Masters degree program), 兵士 (soldier) and 同士 (fellow).

Japanese words containing 士

Frequently asked questions

What does 士 mean in Japanese?

士 means gentleman; scholar; samurai; samurai radical in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N1 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 士 read?

士 is read シ・さむらい. Reading it inside real words — 修士 and 兵士 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 士 — is it JLPT N1?

Yes. 士 is on the official JLPT N1 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 士 in a word?

A common word containing 士 is 修士 (しゅうし) — "Masters degree program". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 士 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 士 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