右 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
右 points you in one direction: right. It's the partner of 左 (left), and the two are constantly used together — for giving directions, describing which hand you write with, or telling someone which side of the road to walk on. Most of the time you'll meet 右 on its own as みぎ ("Turn right," "my right hand"), but it also slots into a handful of very common compounds like 左右 (left and right) and 右折 (a right turn at an intersection). Whenever you see 右, think "right side," and you'll rarely go wrong.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | みぎ | 右 (right), 右手 (right hand), 右側 (right side) |
| on'yomi | ウ | 左右 (さゆう, left and right), 右折 (うせつ, turning right) |
| on'yomi | ユウ | 右翼 (ゆうよく, right wing) — less common at N5 |
Here's the rule of thumb that works for most kanji: the kun'yomi (みぎ) shows up when 右 stands alone or leads an everyday word, while the on'yomi (ウ) appears inside two-kanji compounds. So 右 and 右手 use みぎ, but 左右 and 右折 flip to ウ. One thing to flag: 右 actually has two on'yomi, ウ and ユウ. For N5 you really only need ウ — ユウ turns up in a few specialised words like 右翼 (right wing).
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 5. Write the short slanting stroke first, then the long horizontal stroke across it, and finish with the 口 ("mouth") box underneath.
- Radical: the radical of 右 is 口 (mouth), the little box at the bottom.
A small but important detail: 右 and 左 (left) look like twins, but their stroke order is slightly different. In 右, you write the short top stroke first and the long horizontal stroke second; in 左, it's the reverse — the long horizontal stroke comes first. Learning that early saves you from a habit that's annoying to unlearn later.
Common words using 右
Notice the reading split in action: the standalone and everyday words (右, 右手, 右側, 右利き) all take みぎ, while the tighter compounds (左右, 右折) switch to ウ. That's the kun-versus-on pattern, working exactly as advertised.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは右手でペンを持ちます。
ヤッタンは みぎてで ペンを もちます。
Yattan holds the pen with his right hand.
右手 — the kun'yomi みぎ reading.
先生は「次の角を右折してください」と言いました。
せんせいは「つぎの かどを うせつして ください」と いいました。
Sensei said, Please turn right at the next corner.
右折 (うせつ) uses the on'yomi ウ — typical inside a compound.
弟は道を渡る前に左右をよく見ました。
おとうとは みちを わたる まえに さゆうを よく みました。
My little brother looked carefully left and right before crossing the road.
左右 (さゆう) also uses the on'yomi ウ, paired with 左 (left).
Quick recap
- 右 = right (the direction); 5 strokes; radical is 口 (mouth).
- みぎ when it stands alone or leads everyday words (右, 右手, 右側); ウ in compounds (左右, 右折).
- 右 has a second on'yomi, ユウ, but it's rare at N5.
- 右 and 左 look alike but have different stroke orders — write 右's short stroke first, 左's long stroke first.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 右 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 右 in 右手 vs 右折?
In 右手 it's the kun'yomi みぎ (右手 = みぎて, 'right hand'). In 右折 it's the on'yomi ウ (右折 = うせつ, 'turning right'). As a rule, compounds take the on'yomi.
How many strokes does 右 have, and what's its radical?
右 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth), the small box written last at the bottom of the kanji.
Why are 右 and 左 written in a different stroke order?
They look almost identical, but in 右 you write the short slanting stroke first and the long horizontal stroke second, while in 左 the long horizontal stroke comes first. It's a classic detail that trips up beginners.
Does 右 have more than one on'yomi?
Yes — ウ and ユウ. For N5 you mainly need ウ, as in 左右 (さゆう) and 右折 (うせつ). ユウ shows up in less common words such as 右翼 (ゆうよく, 'right wing').