Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
普

普·universal, general

On-yomi
フ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

12 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
普通ふつうordinary, normal; local (train)
普段ふだんusually, ordinarily
普及ふきゅうspread, widespread adoption
普遍的ふへんてきuniversal

Example sentences

  1. 普通の電車で行きます。

    ふつうのでんしゃでいきます。

    I'll go on the local train.

  2. 普段は七時に起きます。

    ふだんはしちじにおきます。

    I usually get up at seven.

  3. スマホは短い間に普及した。

    スマホはみじかいあいだにふきゅうした。

    Smartphones spread in a short time.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 普段 as ふうだん — it is ふだん, with a short ふ
  • Assuming 普通 always means 'ordinary'; on a train timetable it means the local service that stops everywhere

Memory aid

Picture it

Things lined up side by side (並) under the sun (日) — the sun falling on everyone alike.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

What does the kanji 普 mean?