無 means “nothing, without”

む · mu

Also: nothingness, none, ain't

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ない

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ム, ブ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 12 strokes

The story

無 began as a picture of a dancer swinging tassels, until it was borrowed for "nothing" and 舞, dance, added feet (舛) to keep the old meaning. 無料 is free of charge, 無理 is impossible, and 無事 is safe and sound.

Used in 無料 (muryou, free of charge), 無理 (muri, impossible), and 無事 (buji, safely)

More from Cause & Reason

• 常 usual
• 由 reason
• 例 example
• 然 so
• 限 limit
• 非 not
• 完 complete
• 因 cause
• 当 hit
• 性 nature
• 的 target
• 要 need

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

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