# 忙 — busy

忙 means “busy”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 6 strokes. On'yomi: ボウ (bou). Kun'yomi: いそが(しい) (isogashii). You'll see it in words such as 忙しい (isogashii, “busy; occupied”).

- Meaning: busy
- On'yomi: ボウ (bou)
- Kun'yomi: いそが(しい) (isogashii)
- Strokes: 6
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Feelings 2

## How to remember 忙

A heart (忄) dead (亡) to everything else: busy.

Sounds like 亡: both read ボウ.

Parts: 忄 heart · 亡 deceased

## Words with 忙

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 忙しい | いそがしい (isogashii) | busy; occupied |

## Don't confuse it with

[亡](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/deceased/) · [忘](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/forget/) · [盲](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/blind/) · [妄](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/delusion/)

## More in the “Feelings 2” set

[嫌](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/dislike/) · [恋](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/romantic-love/) · [怖](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/frightening/) · [泣](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/cry/) · [涙](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/tears/) · [忙](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/busy/)

---

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/n3-kanji/busy/. Last updated 2026-11-01.
