# 爽 — refreshing; clear-headed

爽 means “refreshing; clear-headed”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: ソウ (sou). Kun'yomi: さわ(やか) (sawayaka). You'll see it in words such as 爽やか (sawayaka, “fresh; refreshing”).

- Meaning: refreshing; clear-headed
- On'yomi: ソウ (sou)
- Kun'yomi: さわ(やか) (sawayaka)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Feelings 8

## How to remember 爽

Parts: 大 big · 爻 crossing lines

## Words with 爽

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 爽やか | さわやか (sawayaka) | fresh; refreshing |

## Don't confuse it with

[卒](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/graduate/) · [衰](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/decline/)

## More in the “Feelings 8” set

[恣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/selfish/) · [爽](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/refreshing/) · [惰](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/idle/) · [畏](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/be-in-awe/) · [諦](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/give-up/) · [苛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/torment/) · [妬](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/envy/) · [羞](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/be-ashamed/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/refreshing/. Last updated 2026-11-01.