非 means “not, wrong”

ひ · hi

Also: un-, mistake, negative, injustice

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あらず

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヒ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 8 strokes

The story

Picture two wings spread back to back, each pulling the other way: 非 is "not" or "wrong". It glows above every 非常口, the emergency exit, and 是非, right and wrong, also means "by all means".

Used in 非常口 (hijouguchi, emergency exit), 非常に (hijou ni, extremely), and 是非 (zehi, by all means)

More from Cause & Reason

• 完 complete
• 因 cause
• 当 hit
• 性 nature
• 的 target
• 要 need
• 直 straight
• 果 fruit
• 必 certain
• 無 nothing
• 常 usual
• 由 reason

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

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