明 means “bright”

あかるい · akarui

Also: light

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あかり, あかるい, あかるむ, あからむ, あきらか

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

メイ, ミョウ, ミン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 8 strokes

The story

Sun and moon together: when both celestial lights combine, all darkness vanishes. Tomorrow is always brighter.

Also means "tomorrow" (明日, ashita), composed of 日 (sun) + 月 (moon)

Words with 明

• 明日 (あした, ashita): tomorrow

More from Seasons & Time

• 春 spring
• 秋 autumn
• 昼 noon
• 夏 summer
• 時 time
• 週 week
• 朝 morning
• 新 new
• 暗 dark
• 夕 evening
• 今 now
• 冬 winter

Learn 明 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.