ChiramiN4 kanji · 5 strokes
主 means master, main
主Real origin
It began as a lamp with its flame on top: the master of the house.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- lord, chief, master, main thing
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 5
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) ぬし nushi
ぬし (nushi) 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.
Other Japanese readings: おも omo, あるじ aruji
From Chinese (onyomi) シュ shu
シュ (shu) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: ス su, シュウ shuu
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
主に おもに · omoni
mainly, primarily
Built from
- 丶 dot
- 王 king, jewel
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
Quick check
What does 主 mean?
Right: 主 means master, main.Not quite: 主 means master, main.In 主に, which reading does 主 use?
Right. 主に is read おもに (omoni): 主 takes おも, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 主に is read おもに (omoni): 主 takes おも, its Japanese reading.