Kanji N3

化: change, take the form of, influence

化 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning change, take the form of, influence, written with 4 strokes. It is read カ, ケ (on) and ばける, ばかす, ふける (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 3. You will see it in 文化 (ぶんか, culture) and 変化 (へんか, change).

化

Meanings

  • change
  • take the form of
  • influence
  • enchant
  • delude
  • -ization
Strokes4
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 3
Frequency#89 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • カ
  • ケ

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

Kun reading
  • ばける
  • ばかす
  • ふける
  • けする

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.

1234

Now draw it

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

12340 / 4

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 4. Start at the dot.

Common words with 化

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

  • 文化ぶんか

    culture; civilization; civilisation

    JLPT N4
  • 変化へんか

    change; variation; alteration; mutation

    JLPT N3
  • 化学かがく

    chemistry

    JLPT N3
  • 化粧けしょう

    make-up; makeup; cosmetics

    JLPT N3
  • 強化きょうか

    strengthening; intensifying; reinforcement

    JLPT N2
  • 悪化あっか

    deterioration; getting worse; worsening

    JLPT N1
  • 化石かせき

    fossil

    JLPT N1
  • 文化財ぶんかざい

    cultural assets; cultural property

    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.