Kanji N1

独: single, alone, spontaneously

独 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning single, alone, spontaneously, written with 9 strokes. It is read ドク, トク (on) and ひとり (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 独自 (どくじ, original) and 独立 (どくりつ, independence).

独

Meanings

  • single
  • alone
  • spontaneously
  • Germany
Strokes9
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#365 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ドク
  • トク

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

Kun reading
  • ひとり

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 9. Start at the dot.

Common words with 独

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

  • 独自どくじ

    original; unique; distinctive; characteristic

    JLPT N1
  • 独立どくりつ

    independence; self-reliance; supporting oneself

    JLPT N3
  • 単独たんどく

    sole; single; solo

    JLPT N1
  • 独特どくとく

    peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic

    JLPT N3
  • 独裁どくさい

    dictatorship; despotism; autocracy

    JLPT N1
  • 独占どくせん

    monopoly; monopolization; exclusivity

    JLPT N1
  • 独身どくしん

    unmarried; single

    JLPT N3
  • 孤独こどく

    solitude; loneliness; isolation

    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.