This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

Readings

Kana: ソ、ス、もと
Romaji: so, su, moto
Kana
Romaji

Meanings

elementary, principle, naked, uncovered

Stroke Diagram

12345678910

Kanji Info

Stroke Count:  10
Radical Number:  120
Frequency:  660
Grade:  5
Skip Pattern:  2-4-6
Korean Reading:  so
Chinese Reading:  su4
Unicode:  7d20
JIS:  4147

Indexes

Halpern Index: 2458
Nelson Index: 3511
New Nelson Index: 4456
Spahn Hadamitzky Index: 6a4.12
Four Corner Index: 5090.3
Guide to Remembering Index: 737
Gakken Index: 717
Japanese Names Index: 1707
Daikanwanjiten Index: 27300
Daikanwanjiten Index and Page: 8.0978
Remembering the kanji Index: 1532
Kanji Way Index: 500
Kanji Flashcards Index: 1623
Kodansha Compact Index: 1506
Read Writing Kanji Third Index: 759
Kanji in Context Index: 636
1999 Kanji Learners Index: 1590
2013 Kanji Learners Index: 2171
French Remembering the Kanji Index: 1546
Remembering the Kanji 6th Index: 1652
Essential Kanji Index: 797
Kodansha Kanji Index: 3108
Roo 2001 Kanji Index: 1441
Read Writing the Kanji Index: 658
Tuttle Kanji Cards Index: 716

Words

(もと)
origin; source; base; basis; foundation; root; cause; ingredient; material; (somebody's) side; (somebody's) location; original cost (or capital, principal, etc.); (plant) root; (tree) trunk; first section of a waka; counter for blades of grass, tree trunks, etc., and for falcons (in falconry); handle (chopsticks, brush, etc.); grip
()
plain, white silk; prime
酵素 (こうそ)
enzyme
酸素 (さんそ)
oxygen (O)
素晴らしい (すばらしい、すんばらしい)
wonderful; splendid; magnificent
()
plain; unadorned; undecorated; unadulterated; au naturel; mere; poor; exceedingly
素材 (そざい)
raw materials; subject matter
水素 (すいそ)
hydrogen (H)
元素 (げんそ)
chemical element
素人 (しろうと、しろと、しらびと)
amateur; layman; ordinary person; novice; respectable woman (not a prostitute, hostess, geisha, etc.); unlicensed prostitute
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