命

fate, command

JLPT N3 Grade 3 8 strokes

Kun'yomi: いのち
On'yomi: メイ・ミョウ
Radical: 口 · mouth (mouth, opening)

命 means "fate, command". It is a JLPT N3 kanji written in 8 strokes. It is read いのち in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and メイ・ミョウ in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 3.

命 in example sentences

トムは短命たんめいでした。

Tomu wa tanmei deshita.

Tom died young.
人ひとは死しぬ運命うんめいにある。

Hito wa shinu unmei ni aru.

Man is mortal.
トムは一命いちめいをとりとめた。

Tomu wa ichimei o toritometa.

Tom narrowly escaped death.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 命

More 口 (mouth) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 命 mean?: 命 means "fate, command". It is a JLPT N3 kanji.
How many strokes does 命 have?: 命 is written in 8 strokes.
How is 命 read?: It is read いのち in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and メイ・ミョウ in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 命?: 命 is a JLPT N3 kanji.

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