Meaning
The kanji 批 carries the core meaning of criticizing, evaluating, or commenting on something — and in formal or legal contexts, it also means to ratify or officially approve. You will encounter this kanji regularly in newspapers, academic texts, and any formal discussion touching on society, politics, art, or literature.
Structurally, 批 combines two parts: the left side is 扌 (the hand radical, a simplified form of 手 meaning "hand"), and the right side is 比 (ひ, meaning "compare" or "rank side by side"). Together they evoke someone using their hand — their judgment, their pen, their touch — to compare and evaluate. Picture an editor marking up a manuscript, or a judge carefully weighing evidence. That deliberate, hands-on act of comparison and assessment is exactly what 批 captures.
This kanji has 7 strokes and is classified as a high-school level Joyo kanji, not assigned to any elementary school grade. It falls under JLPT N2, placing it at the intermediate-to-upper-intermediate level. While it rarely surfaces in casual conversation, written Japanese is full of it — wherever people discuss opinions, evaluations, reviews, or official decisions. The character bridges two distinct but equally important domains: critical analysis and formal approval.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
批 has one on'yomi reading: ヒ (hi). This is by far the most common — and in practice, the only — reading you will encounter in everyday Japanese. It always appears in compound words (jukugo) and never stands alone. Nearly every useful vocabulary item built on 批 uses this single reading, so mastering ヒ is all you need.
- 批判 (hihan) — criticism, critique; the act of evaluating and pointing out problems
- 批評 (hihyō) — review, commentary; a more detailed or literary form of critique
- 批准 (hijun) — ratification; formal approval of a treaty or international agreement
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
批 has no standard kun'yomi reading in modern Japanese. This is fairly common for kanji that entered the language primarily through Chinese scholarly and official texts — they carried their sound across but never developed a native Japanese pronunciation in everyday speech. Unlike many kanji that demand juggling multiple readings, 批 asks only one thing of you: remember ヒ. When you see 批, read it as hi — every time, without exception.
Common Words & Compounds
Despite having only one reading, 批 anchors a substantial set of important compound words. The most useful ones, grouped by theme:
Criticism & Evaluation (日常・学術)
- 批判 (hihan) — criticism, critique; used when pointing out flaws or problems. Very common in academic and journalistic writing.
- 批評 (hihyō) — review, commentary; more refined or literary criticism, like a book or film review
- 批判的 (hihanteki) — critical (adjective); as in 批判的思考 (critical thinking)
- 批判力 (hihanryoku) — critical thinking ability, the capacity to evaluate and critique
- 批判精神 (hihan seishin) — critical spirit, the mindset of questioning and evaluating
- 自己批判 (jiko hihan) — self-criticism; honestly evaluating one's own actions
People & Roles
- 批評家 (hihyōka) — critic; a professional reviewer or commentator (art, literature, film, etc.)
- 文芸批評家 (bungei hihyōka) — literary critic
Formal / Legal Approval
- 批准 (hijun) — ratification (of a treaty or international agreement)
- 批准書 (hijunsho) — instrument of ratification; the formal document
Broader Compounds
- 社会批判 (shakai hihan) — social criticism; critiquing society or social structures
- 文芸批評 (bungei hihyō) — literary criticism as a field or practice
Example Sentences
その政策は多くの専門家から批判を受けた。
Sono seisaku wa ooku no senmonka kara hihan wo uketa.
That policy received criticism from many experts.
彼女は鋭い批評で知られる文芸批評家だ。
Kanojo wa surudoi hihyō de shirareru bungei hihyōka da.
She is a literary critic known for her sharp commentary.
その映画は批評家から高い評価を得た。
Sono eiga wa hihyōka kara takai hyōka wo eta.
That film received high praise from critics.
批判的に考えることは、大学で求められる重要なスキルだ。
Hihanteki ni kangaeru koto wa, daigaku de motomerareru jūyō na sukiru da.
Thinking critically is an important skill required at university.
日本はその条約を批准するかどうか検討している。
Nihon wa sono jōyaku wo hijun suru ka dō ka kentō shite iru.
Japan is considering whether to ratify that treaty.
彼は他人を批判する前に、自己批判をすべきだ。
Kare wa tanin wo hihan suru mae ni, jiko hihan wo subeki da.
Before criticizing others, he should engage in some self-criticism.
その論文は現代社会に対する鋭い批判を含んでいる。
Sono ronbun wa gendai shakai ni taisuru surudoi hihan wo fukunde iru.
That thesis contains sharp criticism directed at modern society.
彼女の批評は辛口だが、いつも的確だ。
Kanojo no hihyō wa karakuchi da ga, itsumo tekikaku da.
Her reviews are harsh, but always spot-on.
政府の決定に対して、野党から強い批判が上がった。
Seifu no kettei ni taishite, yatō kara tsuyoi hihan ga agatta.
Strong criticism from the opposition party arose in response to the government's decision.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hand (扌) gripping a red pen, carefully comparing (比) two drafts side by side. That is precisely what an editor or critic does — they apply judgment and scrutiny to compare, evaluate, and mark up the work. The red pen leaves its traces: 批判 (criticism), 批評 (review). The left side tells you the action (a hand at work), and the right side tells you the method (comparison). Whenever you spot the hand radical next to 比, think: "a critical hand, comparing." The Sino-Vietnamese reading PHÊ — as in phê bình (critique) — sounds remarkably close to the Japanese ヒ (hi), reflecting how both languages inherited the same Chinese pronunciation centuries ago.