Kanji N1

基: fundamentals, radical (chem), counter for machines

基 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning fundamentals, radical (chem), counter for machines, written with 11 strokes. It is read キ (on) and もと, もとい (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 基本 (きほん, basics) and 基準 (きじゅん, standard).

基

Meanings

  • fundamentals
  • radical (chem)
  • counter for machines
  • foundation
Strokes11
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#241 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • キ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • もと
  • もとい

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

1234567891011

Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

12345678910110 / 11

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 11. Start at the dot.

Common words with 基

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 基本きほん

    basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation

    JLPT N3
  • 基準きじゅん

    standard; criterion; norm; benchmark; measure

    JLPT N2
  • 基金ききん

    fund; foundation

    JLPT N1
  • 基礎きそ

    foundation; basis

    JLPT N2
  • 基地きち

    base (military, expedition, etc.)

    JLPT N2
  • 基盤きばん

    base; basis; foundation; footing; infrastructure

    JLPT N2
  • 基づくもとづく

    to be based (on); to be founded (on)

    JLPT N3
  • 基もと

    origin; source; beginning

    JLPT N3

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.