Kanji N1

素: elementary, principle, naked

素 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning elementary, principle, naked, written with 10 strokes. It is read ソ, ス (on) and もと (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 5. You will see it in 素材 (そざい, ingredient) and 要素 (ようそ, element).

素

Meanings

  • elementary
  • principle
  • naked
  • uncovered
Strokes10
JLPT levelN1
School gradeGrade 5
Frequency#660 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ソ
  • ス

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

Kun reading
  • もと

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 10. Start at the dot.

Common words with 素

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

  • 素材そざい

    ingredient; (raw) material; resource

    JLPT N1
  • 要素ようそ

    element; component; factor; item (e.g. in list)

    JLPT N3
  • 素直すなお

    obedient; meek; docile; unaffected

    JLPT N2
  • 炭素たんそ

    carbon (C)

    JLPT N1
  • 酸素さんそ

    oxygen (O)

    JLPT N3
  • 簡素かんそ

    simple; plain; modest

    JLPT N1
  • 素人しろうと

    amateur; layman; ordinary person; novice

    JLPT N2
  • 水素すいそ

    hydrogen (H)

    JLPT N2

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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; the Spanish meanings they lack, translated by Naraio from their English, are shared under the same licence. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY. Sentences split into words with IPADIC © NAIST and IPA, through Lindera.