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The Kanji Map

Kanji

Jōyō kanji, Taught in grade 3

JLPT level: N3

465 of 2500 most used kanji in newspapers

Stroke count: 8

Meaning: fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint

Kunyomi: いのち

Onyomi: メイ, ミョウ

Composition: 人 一 口 卩

命

Radical

Radical: 口

Reading: くち

Meaning: mouth, opening

Strokes: 3

⼝

Examples

Examples with audio

使命(しめい)   mission

運命(うんめい)   fate

生命(せいめい)   life

革命(かくめい)   revolution

任命する(にんめいする)   appoint

命令する(めいれいする)   order, command [v.t.]

命中する(めいちゅうする)   hit a target

命じる(めいじる)   order, command [v.t.]

寿命(じゅみょう)   life expectancy

命(いのち)   life

Onyomi Examples

命 (メイ) order, command, decree, life, destiny, fate

命運 (メイウン) fate, destiny

延命 (エンメイ) keeping alive longer, prolonging life, life extension, life-support

十月革命 (ジュウガツカクメイ) October Revolution

命婦 (ミョウブ) title for high-ranking court ladies

延命 (エンメイ) keeping alive longer, prolonging life, life extension, life-support

安心立命 (アンシンリツメイ) spiritual peace and enlightenment, keeping an unperturbed mind through faith

Kunyomi Examples

命 (いのち) life, life force, lifetime, lifespan, most important thing, foundation, core, paired tattoos of the "life" kanji on the upper arms of a man and woman (indicating unwavering love), fate, destiny, karma

命からがら (いのちからがら) for dear life, barely escaping alive

貴い命 (たっといいのち) precious life

露の命 (つゆのいのち) life as evanescent as the dew

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