Kanji N3

最: utmost, most, extreme

最 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning utmost, most, extreme, written with 12 strokes. It is read サイ, シュ (on) and もっとも, つま (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 4. You will see it in 最も (もっとも, most) and 最近 (さいきん, recently).

最

Meanings

  • utmost
  • most
  • extreme
Strokes12
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 4
Frequency#82 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • サイ
  • シュ

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

Kun reading
  • もっとも
  • つま

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.

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Now draw it

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

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Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 12. Start at the dot.

Common words with 最

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

  • 最ももっとも

    most; extremely

    JLPT N4
  • 最近さいきん

    recently; lately; these days; nowadays

    JLPT N4
  • 最後さいご

    end; conclusion

    JLPT N4
  • 最高さいこう

    best; supreme; wonderful; finest

    JLPT N3
  • 最終さいしゅう

    last; final; closing

    JLPT N3
  • 最初さいしょ

    beginning; outset; first; onset

    JLPT N4
  • 最低さいてい

    least; lowest; minimum

    JLPT N3
  • 最中さいちゅう

    (in) the middle of; (in) the midst of

    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.