Kanji N2

補: supplement, supply, make good

補 is a JLPT N2 kanji meaning supplement, supply, make good, written with 12 strokes. It is read ホ (on) and おぎなう (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 6. You will see it in 候補 (こうほ, candidate) and 補う (おぎなう, to supplement).

補

Meanings

  • supplement
  • supply
  • make good
  • offset
  • compensate
  • assistant
  • learner
Strokes12
JLPT levelN2
School gradeGrade 6
Frequency#332 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ホ

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

Kun reading
  • おぎなう

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 補

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

  • 候補こうほ

    candidate; contender; prospect; pick; choice

    JLPT N3
  • 補うおぎなう

    to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for

    JLPT N2
  • 補助ほじょ

    assistance; support; help; aid

    JLPT N1
  • 補償ほしょう

    compensation; reparation

    JLPT N1
  • 補給ほきゅう

    supply; supplying; replenishment

    JLPT N1
  • 補強ほきょう

    reinforcement; strengthening

    JLPT N1
  • 補充ほじゅう

    replenishment; supplementation; supplement

    JLPT N1
  • 補足ほそく

    supplement; complement

    JLPT N1

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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.