最 means “most, utmost”

さい · sai

Also: extreme

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

もっとも, つま

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

サイ, シュ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 12 strokes

The story

Take (取) with a lid clapped on top: picture snatching the best prize and covering it before anyone else can. 最 is "the most": 最高 is the best, 最初 the very first, 最後 the very last, and 最近 the most recent days.

Used in 最近 (saikin, recently), 最後 (saigo, last), and 最高 (saikou, the best)

More from How Much, How Many

• 加 add
• 増 increase
• 両 both
• 割 split
• 種 seed
• 程 extent
• 積 pile up
• 単 single
• 類 kind
• 余 surplus
• 等 equal
• 列 row

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

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