入 — Kanji Reference
入 (enter): 2 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ニュウ. Kun: い-る、い-れる、はい-る.
入
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | enter |
| Strokes | 2 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | ニュウ |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | い-る、い-れる、はい-る |
| Radical | 入 (Iru) - U+5165 |
Stroke Order
The kanji 入 is written in two strokes:
- Stroke 1: A short, diagonal stroke starting from the top right and moving down to the left.
- Stroke 2: A longer, sweeping stroke starting from the left, moving down, and curving slightly to the right.
Note: Unlike the kanji 人 (person), where the left stroke is longer, in 入, the right stroke is the longer, sweeping one.
Radical Analysis
The kanji 入 is its own radical (部首: 入). It depicts the shape of an object entering or pointing into an opening. It represents the concept of motion toward the inside or the act of inclusion.
Mnemonic
- The Arrowhead: Imagine the kanji is an arrowhead pointing into a hole. The short stroke is the tip, and the long stroke is the shaft guiding it into the entrance.
- The Tent: Think of it as a simple tent entrance. You have to duck down (the short stroke) and step inside (the long stroke) to enter.
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
ニュウ (nyuu)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 入学 | にゅうがく | nyūgaku | school entrance |
| 入院 | にゅういん | nyūin | hospitalization |
| 入口 | いりぐち | iriguchi | entrance |
| 入場 | にゅうじょう | nyūjō | admission |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
い-る (i-ru)
Used primarily in formal or specific contexts like "entering" a state.
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 気に入る | きにいる | ki ni iru | to like / to be pleased with |
い-れる (i-reru)
Transitive verb: to put something in.
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 入れる | いれる | ireru | to put in |
| 手に入れる | てにいれる | te ni ireru | to obtain |
はい-る (hai-ru)
Intransitive verb: to enter.
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 入る | はいる | hairu | to enter |
JLPT N5 Words Using 入
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 入口 | いりぐち | iriguchi | entrance | N5 |
| 入る | はいる | hairu | to enter | N5 |
| 入れる | いれる | ireru | to put in | N5 |
| 入学 | にゅうがく | nyūgaku | school entrance | N5 |
| 入院 | にゅういん | nyūin | hospitalization | N5 |
| 入社 | にゅうしゃ | nyūsha | joining a company | N4 |
| 収入 | しゅうにゅう | shūnyū | income | N4 |
| 購入 | こうにゅう | kōnyū | purchase | N3 |
| 侵入 | しんにゅう | shinnyū | invasion | N2 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 部屋に入ります。 | へやに はいります。 | Heya ni hairimasu. | I will enter the room. |
| カバンに本を入れます。 | かばんに ほんを いれます。 | Kaban ni hon o iremasu. | I will put the book in the bag. |
| ４月に大学に入学しました。 | しがつに だいがくに にゅうがくしました。 | Shigatsu ni daigaku ni nyūgaku shimashita. | I entered university in April. |
| この靴は気に入っています。 | このくつは きに いっています。 | Kono kutsu wa ki ni itte imasu. | I like these shoes. |
| 入口はどこですか。 | いりぐちは どこですか。 | Iriguchi wa doko desu ka? | Where is the entrance? |
| 毎日、お風呂に入ります。 | まいにち、 おふろに はいります。 | Mainichi, ofuro ni hairimasu. | I take a bath every day. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人 | ひと (hito) | person | The left stroke is longer and the right stroke is shorter. |
| 八 | はち (hachi) | eight | The strokes do not touch; they are separated. |
Usage Frequency Note
入 is one of the most fundamental kanji in the Japanese language. It is taught in the first grade of elementary school and appears with extremely high frequency in daily life, from signs (入口 - entrance) to formal business documents (入社 - joining a company). It is essential for both daily conversation and formal writing.