N4 kanji · 12 strokes
朝 means morning
朝
十 grass · 日 sun · 十 grass · 月 moon
朝Real origin
The sun (日) rising between the grass while the moon (月) is still out: morning.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- morning, dynasty, regime, epoch
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 12
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) あさ asa
あさ (asa) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) チョウ chou
チョウ (chou) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
朝日 あさひ · asahi
morning sun
Built from
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 朝 mean?
Right: 朝 means morning.Not quite: 朝 means morning.In 朝日, which reading does 朝 use?
Right. 朝日 is read あさひ (asahi): 朝 takes あさ, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 朝日 is read あさひ (asahi): 朝 takes あさ, its Japanese reading.