# 由 — derive from; reason

由 means “derive from; reason”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 5 strokes. On'yomi: ユウ (yuu), ユ (yu), ユイ (yui). Kun'yomi: よし (yoshi).

- Meaning: derive from; reason
- On'yomi: ユウ (yuu), ユ (yu), ユイ (yui)
- Kun'yomi: よし (yoshi)
- Strokes: 5
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Big ideas

## How to remember 由

Parts: 日 sun; day · 丨 stick

## Don't confuse it with

[申](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/say-humbly/) · [甲](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/armour/) · [油](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/oil/) · [伸](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/extend/)

## More in the “Big ideas” set

[件](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/case/) · [基](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/foundation/) · [由](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/derive-from/) · [然](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/as-it-is/) · [命](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/command/) · [存](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/be-aware/) · [才](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/talent/)

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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/n3-kanji/derive-from/. Last updated 2026-11-01.