Japanese kanji 有: exist; have

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 有る (ある) and 有名 (ゆうめい). 有 has 6 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• ここに地図ちずが有あります。There is a map here.
• 時間じかんがまだ有あります。There is still time.
• 彼かれは有名ゆうめいな歌手かしゅです。He is a famous singer.
• この店みせは有名ゆうめいです。This shop is famous.
• この駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうは有料ゆうりょうです。This car park charges a fee.
• 入場にゅうじょうは有料ゆうりょうですか。Is there an admission fee?

Watch out

有る (ある) means exist; have; 有名 (ゆうめい) means famous. Learn the reading with the whole word. In ordinary writing ある is usually in kana; 有 is common in compounds such as 有名. Compare the indicated parts of 有 and 右: 月 and 口.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 有る in hiragana.

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   ある

   有る is read ある and means exist; have. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 有名 in hiragana.

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   ゆうめい

   有名 is read ゆうめい and means famous. Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿料（ゆうりょう）.

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   有

   有 completes 有料, read ゆうりょう; the completed word means subject to a fee.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 有 from memory, and read 有る and 有名 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.