elementary, principle, naked, uncovered
On'yomi (音読み)
- ソ
- ス
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- もと
About this kanji
The kanji 「素」 primarily means "elementary" or "principle," and it can also refer to something that is "naked" or "uncovered." This kanji is often used in nouns rather than verbs. For example, in the word 簡素 (かんそ), it means "simple," while in 酸素 (さんそ), it refers to "oxygen." You might also encounter 素材 (そざい), which means "ingredient," and 素人 (しろうと), meaning "amateur." Additionally, 素直 (すなお) describes someone who is "obedient" or "honest." When using this kanji, remember that it often conveys a sense of purity or fundamental elements.
Example sentences
素晴らしい業績を残した。
He left behind a wonderful achievement.
Meanings across languages
- English
- elementary, principle, naked, uncovered
- Tiếng Việt
- căn bản, nguyên lý, trần trụi, không che đậy
- 日本語
- 素, 原理, 素っ裸, さらけ出された
- 한국어
- 초등, 원리, 벌거벗은, 드러난
- 中文
- 初步, 原理, 赤裸裸, 无遮掩
- id
- dasar
- th
- พื้นฐาน
- es
- elemental
- fr
- élémentaire
- de
- elementar
- pt
- elementar
Common compounds
- 簡素かんそsimple, plain, modest
- 酸素さんそoxygen (O)
- 素材そざいingredient, (raw) material, resource
- 素人しろうとamateur, layman, ordinary person
- 素直すなおobedient, meek, docile
- 炭素たんそcarbon (C)
- 要素ようそcomponent, factor, item (e.g. in list)
- 塩素えんそchlorine (Cl)
Want to actually learn this kanji?
The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.