入 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 入 is about going in or putting something in — entering a room, inserting a coin, admitting someone to a school or hospital. It shows up in two everyday kun verbs that beginners mix up constantly: 入る (はいる, "to enter" — something goes in by itself) and 入れる (いれる, "to put in" — you put something in). In compound words it switches to the on'yomi ニュウ, where it carries the idea of "entering" or "intake": 入学 (entering school), 入院 (entering hospital), 輸入 (bringing goods in — importing).
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | はい.る | 入る (to enter), 入口 (entrance — い.り stem) |
| kun'yomi | い.れる | 入れる (to put in) |
| on'yomi | ニュウ | 入学 (starting school), 入院 (hospitalization), 輸入 (import) |
Here's the rule of thumb that works for most kanji: the kun'yomi (はい.る / い.れる) shows up when the kanji stands more or less alone with hiragana endings, while the on'yomi (ニュウ) appears inside two-kanji compound words. So 入る uses はい.る, but 入学 uses ニュウ.
One special note: 入口 ("entrance") is read いりぐち, not はいりぐち. It uses the い.り stem (the same root family as 入る), and the 口 softens to ぐち. This is a common everyday word, so it's worth memorizing as a set.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 2. Write the longer left-falling stroke first, then the right-falling stroke that tucks underneath it. The two strokes meet near the top, with the right stroke starting a little below the peak.
- Radical: 入 is its own radical, the "enter" radical (にゅう). It's a small, two-stroke radical, so you won't see it hidden inside many other kanji — 入 mostly appears on its own.
Watch the look-alike: 入 vs 人 ("person"). In 入, the strokes cross over near the top so the left stroke pokes up highest. In 人, the two strokes meet at the very top like a tent (∧) and don't cross. A handy memory: 人 is a person standing with legs apart; 入 has its arm crossed in as it goes in a door.
Common words using 入
Notice the reading split in action: the lone verbs 入る and 入れる take the kun'yomi, while every compound (入学, 入院, 輸入) flips to ニュウ. And keep an eye on the pair 入る (はいる, intransitive — something enters) versus 入れる (いれる, transitive — you put something in).
Example sentences
ヤッタンは部屋に入る前にノックします。
ヤッタンは へやに はいる まえに ノックします。
Yattan knocks before entering the room.
入る — the kun'yomi はい.る (intransitive: Yattan himself enters).
モチはコーヒーに砂糖を入れた。
モチは コーヒーに さとうを いれた。
Mochi put sugar in the coffee.
入れる — the kun'yomi い.れる (transitive: Mochi puts something in).
弟は四月に小学校に入学します。
おとうとは しがつに しょうがっこうに にゅうがくします。
My little brother starts elementary school in April.
入学 — the on'yomi ニュウ, used in compounds.
Quick recap
- 入 = enter / insert / put in; just 2 strokes; it's the "enter" radical itself.
- はい.る for 入る (to enter, intransitive); い.れる for 入れる (to put in, transitive); ニュウ in compounds (入学, 入院, 輸入).
- 入口 is the irregular set reading いりぐち, using the い.り stem.
- Don't confuse 入 with 人 (person): in 入 the strokes cross; in 人 they meet at the top like a tent.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 入 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 入る and 入れる?
入る (はいる) is intransitive — something enters by itself ('I enter the room'). 入れる (いれる) is transitive — you put something in ('I put sugar in'). Same kanji, but the okurigana and reading change with the role.
Why is 入口 read いりぐち and not はいりぐち?
入口 ('entrance') uses the い.り stem (from the 入る verb family) plus 口, which voices to ぐち. It's a fixed everyday reading worth memorizing as a set: いりぐち.
How is 入 different from 人?
They look similar but mean different things: 入 means 'enter' and its two strokes cross near the top, while 人 means 'person' and its strokes meet at the very top like a tent (∧) without crossing.
How do I read 入 in compounds like 入学 and 入院?
Compounds use the on'yomi ニュウ: 入学 = にゅうがく ('starting school') and 入院 = にゅういん ('hospitalization'). As a rule, two-kanji compounds take the on'yomi reading.