# 清 — pure; clean

清 means “pure; clean”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou), シン (shin). Kun'yomi: きよ(い) (kiyoi). You'll see it in words such as 清らか (kiyoraka, “clean; clear”).

- Meaning: pure; clean
- On'yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou), シン (shin)
- Kun'yomi: きよ(い) (kiyoi)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Qualities 1

## How to remember 清

Sounds like 青: both read セイ.

Parts: 氵 water · 青 blue

## Words with 清

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 清らか | きよらか (kiyoraka) | clean; clear |
| 清い | きよい (kiyoi) | clean; clear |

## Don't confuse it with

[青](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/blue/) · [情](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/emotion/) · [晴](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/clear-weather/) · [精](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/refined/)

## More in the “Qualities 1” set

[単](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/simple/) · [完](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/complete/) · [危](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/dangerous/) · [異](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/different/) · [適](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/suitable/) · [清](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pure/) · [険](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/steep/) · [均](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/level/)

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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/n2-kanji/pure/. Last updated 2026-11-01.