What is the meaning and reading of the kanji "不"?

The kanji "不" belongs to JLPT N4 and means "Not, Un-, Non-". Its Onyomi is "フ (fu), ブ (bu)" and Kunyomi is "".

JLPT N4

不

Not, Un-, Non-

Q: Is there a memory mnemonic for "不"?

Yes! Radical breakdown: "一 (one/ceiling) + 人 (person, here a falling or struggling figure)". Mnemonic Story: "Imagine a hapless **person** (人) trying to stand upright, but they're constantly hitting their head on a low, unyielding **ceiling** (一). No matter how hard they try, they are *not* able to stand tall, they are *un*able to succeed, making this a clear symbol of negation – *not* happening!"

Onyomi

フ (fu), ブ (bu)

Kunyomi

—

🧠 Memory Mnemonic

🔍 Radical Breakdown

一 (one/ceiling) + 人 (person, here a falling or struggling figure)

📖 Mnemonic Story

Imagine a hapless **person** (人) trying to stand upright, but they're constantly hitting their head on a low, unyielding **ceiling** (一). No matter how hard they try, they are *not* able to stand tall, they are *un*able to succeed, making this a clear symbol of negation – *not* happening!

💡 Quick Hint: Head-hitting ceiling

Essential N4 Vocabulary

不安

ふあん

Anxiety, uneasy

不便

ふべん

Inconvenient

不足

ふそく

Insufficiency, lack

Kanji Practice Quiz

Verify your memory for "不"

試験の前は＿＿＿＿＿になる。

🎉 正解 / Correct!

解説: 「不安」は「ふあん」と読み、「心配」という意味です。
English: 不安 (fuan) means 'anxiety' or 'uneasy'.

🦅

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