# 性 — nature; gender

性 means “nature; gender”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 8 strokes. On'yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou). It has no common kun'yomi. You'll see it in words such as 性 (sei, “nature”).

- Meaning: nature; gender
- On'yomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou)
- Kun'yomi: —
- Strokes: 8
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Qualities 1

## How to remember 性

The heart (忄) you are born (生) with: your nature.

Sounds like 生: both read セイ.

Parts: 忄 heart · 生 life; birth

## Words with 性

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 性 | せい (sei) | nature |

## More in the “Qualities 1” set

[実](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/reality/) · [現](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/present/) · [当](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/hit-the-mark/) · [性](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/nature/) · [要](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/need/) · [和](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/harmony/) · [平](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/flat/) · [確](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/certain/) · [勢](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/momentum/)

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