最
最 — Utmost
utmost, most, extreme
On’yomiサイ (sai)
On’yomiシュ (shu)
Kun’yomiもっとも (mottomo)
Kun’yomiつま (tsuma)
Stroke order (12 strokes)
Watch the strokes draw themselves in the correct order — numbers mark where each stroke starts. Diagram from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA).
Common words using 最
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最も | もっとも mottomo | most; extremely |
| 最近 | さいきん saikin | recently; lately; these days |
| 最後 | さいご saigo | end; conclusion; last |
| 最高 | さいこう saikou | best; supreme; wonderful |
| 最終 | さいしゅう saishuu | last; final; closing |
| 最初 | さいしょ saisho | beginning; outset; first |
Study notes
最 is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 12 strokes. It is taught in Japanese elementary school (grade 4), so native children learn it early — a good sign it appears everywhere. Ranked #82 of the 2,500 most frequent kanji in newspapers. On’yomi (音読み) are Chinese-derived readings mostly used in compound words; kun’yomi (訓読み) are native Japanese readings, with any highlighted part written in hiragana after the kanji (okurigana).
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