Quick answer
活 is the kanji for "Lively". The most common reading is い.きる (ikiru). Mnemonics and example sentences are listed below.
Meaning
Lively
Also : Living · Being helped
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
9 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
The kanji 活 represents 'LIVELY'. Think of this shape as a picture representing the concept of lively.
On-reading: かつ — remember this sound by associating it with lively. Kun-reading: い.きる.
Example Sentences
会議で活発な意見が交わされたおかげで、新しいアイデアが生まれました。
かいぎでかっぱつないけんがかわされたおかげで、あたらしいあいであがうまれました。
Thanks to the lively exchange of opinions at the meeting, new ideas emerged.
学校活動に積極的に参加します。
がっこうかつどうにせっきょくてきにさんかします。
I actively participate in school activities.
Vocabulary using 活
Grammar to study at this level
- [Verb dictionary/nai form] + ように～ように (you ni) - So that
- [Verb dictionary form] + ことにする～ことにする (koto ni suru) - Decide to
- [Verb dictionary form] + ことになる～ことになる (koto ni naru) - It has been decided that
- [Noun/Verb te-form] + ばかり～ばかり (bakari) - Only / Nothing but
- [Verb/Adjective plain form] + はずだ～はずだ (hazu da) - Should be / It is expected
Last updated Jun 18, 2026
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