# 最 — most; utmost

最 means “most; utmost”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 12 strokes. On'yomi: サイ (sai). Kun'yomi: もっと(も) (mottomo). You'll see it in words such as 最も (mottomo, “most; extremely”).

- Meaning: most; utmost
- On'yomi: サイ (sai)
- Kun'yomi: もっと(も) (mottomo)
- Strokes: 12
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Numbers & amounts 1

## How to remember 最

Under the sun (日), take (取) the most you can.

Parts: 日 sun; day · 取 take

## Words with 最

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 最も | もっとも (mottomo) | most; extremely |

## Don't confuse it with

[撮](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/take-a-photo/) · [暖](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/warm-weather/) · [暇](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/spare-time/)

## More in the “Numbers & amounts 1” set

[全](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/whole/) · [最](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/most/) · [約](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/promise/) · [総](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/overall/) · [加](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/add/) · [数](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/number/) · [第](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/ordinal-number/) · [増](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/increase/) · [各](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/each/)

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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/most/. Last updated 2026-11-01.