popular  obsolete reading  rarely used kanji form  JLPT N1  usually written using kana alone  noun  noun (generic) 

• sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), Indian lotus, lotus
• rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

popular  search-only kana form  JLPT N3  noun  noun (generic)  idiomatic expression  usually written using kana alone  card games 

• storm, tempest
• uproar, hullabaloo, storm (e.g. of protest), winds (e.g. of change)
• pile of 3 cards of the same value in oicho-kabu

popular  rarely used kanji form  usually written using kana alone  noun  noun (generic) 

• duck
• easy mark, sucker, sitting duck

popular  JLPT N3  noun  noun (generic)  colloquial  usually written using kana alone  food, cooking  prefix 

• legume (esp. edible legumes or their seeds, e.g. beans, peas, pulses), bean, pea
• soya bean (Glycine max), soybean, soy
• female genitalia (esp. the clitoris)
• kidney
• small, miniature, baby, midget, small-scale
• child

popular  irregular okurigana  noun  noun (generic)  usually written using kana alone 

• slip, omission
• upshot, denouement, outcome, final result
• punch line (of a joke)

popular  noun  noun (generic)  noun (suffix)  usually written using kana alone 

• coming out, going out, outflow, efflux, rising (of the Sun or the Moon)
• attending (work), appearing (on stage), one's turn to go on
• start, beginning
• origins, background, person (or item) originating from ..., graduate of ..., native of ..., member of ... (lineage)
• architectural member that projects outward
• highest point of the stern of a ship
• amount (comprising something), amount of time or effort required to do something

popular  gikun or jukujikun  JLPT N5  usually written using kana alone  noun  noun (generic)  derogatory 

• glasses, eyeglasses, spectacles
• judgment, judgement, discrimination, discernment, insight
• four-eyes

popular  usually written using kana alone  noun  noun (generic) 

• whale (Cetacea spp.)

popular  search-only kana form  rarely used kanji form  JLPT N1  noun  noun (generic)  counter  usually written using kana alone  noun taking the genitive case particle の  adjective (generic) 

• swing, shake, sweep, wave, wag
• appearance, behaviour, behavior
• pretence, pretense, (false) show, pretending
• (a customer) coming to restaurant, ryokan, etc. without a reservation or introduction
• postures (of a dance)
• lead in (to a joke, question, etc.), setup
• unsewn part of a hanging sleeve on a traditional Japanese woman's garment
• counter for swords, blades, etc.

popular  JLPT N4  usually written using kana alone  adverb  noun taking the genitive case particle の  adjective (generic)  noun  noun (generic) 

• generally, on the whole, mostly, almost, nearly, approximately, roughly, about
• general, rough
• outline, main points, gist, substance, essence
• in the first place, first and foremost, from the start, to begin with