Explore 明 through brightness, tomorrow and explanation. Connect each reading with a complete word and a useful context.

The idea

明 has 8 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 明るい（あかるい）, 明日（あした）, 説明（せつめい）, 明かり（あかり） as whole words. The table shows each reading in context.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
明るいあかるいThis room is bright.
明日あしたIt will rain tomorrow.
説明せつめいAfter hearing the explanation, I understood the way.
明かりあかりPlease turn on the light.

Examples

  • 明日あしたは雨あめです。It will rain tomorrow.
  • 説明せつめいを聞きいて、道みちが分わかりました。After hearing the explanation, I understood the way.
  • この部屋へやは明あかるいです。This room is bright.
  • 母ははは明あかるい人ひとです。My mother is a cheerful person.
  • 明あかりをつけてください。Please turn on the light.
  • 先生せんせいが説明せつめいします。The teacher explains.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

明るい describes light or a cheerful person. 明日 is read あした as a whole word, not by combining the usual readings. Compare 明 with 朋: notice their different parts.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 明るい in hiragana.

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    あかるい

    明るい is read あかるい. In context: This room is bright. Learn the reading with the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 明日 in hiragana.

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    あした

    明日 is read あした. In context: It will rain tomorrow. Learn the reading with the whole word.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 説＿（せつめい）［明／朋］.

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    明

    明 completes 説明, read せつめい. In context: After hearing the explanation, I understood the way.

Use it today

Write 明 using the stroke-order diagram. Cover the table, read 明るい and 明日, and make a sentence with one of them.