音 — how to write the kanji for “sound”

音 (“sound” and “noise”) is a JLPT N4 kanji taught in first grade in Japan. In newspapers it is the 491st most used kanji. KANJIDIC2 gives it 3 on readings and 2 kun readings, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts sit stacked: 立 (“stand up”), strokes 1–5; 日 (“day”), strokes 6–9, each finished before the next. On its own it is the word oto, “sound; noise”. Read on, it forms 音楽 (“music”), 騒音 (“noise”) and 音声 (“voice”); the native reading ne gives 本音 (“real intention”) and 音色 (“tone color”). Chinese reads it yīn, “sound”, at HSK 3.

Strokes

9

JLPT

N4

Radical

音 (“sound”)

On

オン, イン, -ノン

Kun

ね, おと