Meaning
The kanji 非 means not, wrong, or non-. It works as a negative prefix — equivalent to the English non-, un-, in-, or anti-. Attach 非 to the front of a noun and you flip its meaning: 公式 (official) becomes 非公式 (unofficial), 合法 (legal) becomes 非合法 (illegal). It turns up constantly in newspapers, legal documents, and formal speech.
The character itself encodes the concept visually. 非 is believed to have originated as a pictograph of two wings spread in opposite directions. The two symmetrical halves fan outward from a central vertical stroke, like mirrored forces pulling apart. That image of divergence — things standing in contradiction to each other — became the meaning: opposition, negation, not.
非 also carries a moral edge. Words like 非行 (misconduct) and 非道 (inhumanity) show that 非 can mean morally wrong or unjust, not just logically negative. The kanji has 8 strokes, is taught in Japanese elementary school at grade 5, and uses 非 itself as its radical (Kangxi radical 175).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
ヒ (HI) — The only reading you need. Since 非 almost always functions as a prefix in compound nouns and adjectives, ヒ covers virtually every real-world usage. Learn this one reading and the entire vocabulary set opens up.
- 非常 (hijou) — extraordinary; emergency; very much
- 非難 (hinan) — criticism; blame; censure
- 非行 (hikou) — misconduct; delinquency; wrongdoing
- 非凡 (hibon) — extraordinary; outstanding; exceptional
- 是非 (zehi) — by all means; certainly; right and wrong
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
あらず (arazu) — A classical reading meaning it is not or not so. It survives in old literature and proverbs but has no role in modern Japanese. Today's speakers use ではない or ではありません instead. You can skip this for N3 — the on'yomi ヒ is all you need.
Common Words & Compounds
Emergency and Extraordinary Situations:
- 非常 (hijou) — extraordinary; emergency; extremely
- 非常口 (hijouguchi) — emergency exit
- 非常事態 (hijou jitai) — state of emergency
- 非常時 (hijouji) — time of emergency; crisis
Criticism and Moral Wrongdoing:
- 非難 (hinan) — criticism; blame; censure
- 非行 (hikou) — misconduct; delinquency; bad behavior
- 非道 (hidou) — inhumanity; cruelty; injustice
Negation Prefix (un-, non-, il-):
- 非公式 (hikoushiki) — unofficial; informal
- 非公開 (hikoukai) — private; closed to the public
- 非合法 (higouhou) — illegal; unlawful
- 非課税 (hikazei) — tax-exempt; tax-free
- 非現実的 (higenjitsuteki) — unrealistic; impractical
Exceptional Quality and Judgment:
- 非凡 (hibon) — extraordinary; exceptional; outstanding
- 是非 (zehi) — by all means; right and wrong; good and bad
Example Sentences
非常口はどこですか。
Hijouguchi wa doko desu ka.
Where is the emergency exit?
その映画は非常に面白かった。
Sono eiga wa hijou ni omoshirokatta.
That movie was extremely interesting.
是非、私たちのパーティーに来てください。
Zehi, watashitachi no paatii ni kite kudasai.
Please definitely come to our party.
彼の行動を非難するのは正しくない。
Kare no koudou wo hinan suru no wa tadashiku nai.
It is not right to criticize his actions.
非公式な会議で話し合いました。
Hikoushiki na kaigi de hanashiaimashita.
We discussed it in an informal meeting.
非合法な活動には参加できません。
Higouhou na katsudou ni wa sanka dekimasen.
I cannot participate in illegal activities.
彼女は非凡な才能を持っている。
Kanojo wa hibon na sainou wo motte iru.
She has extraordinary talent.
子供の非行は深刻な社会問題です。
Kodomo no hikou wa shinkoku na shakai mondai desu.
Juvenile delinquency is a serious social problem.
非常事態が宣言されました。
Hijou jitai ga sengen saremashita.
A state of emergency was declared.
この商品は非課税です。
Kono shouhin wa hikazei desu.
This product is tax-exempt.
Memory Tip
Study the shape of 非: two symmetrical halves separated by a central vertical line, with horizontal strokes fanning outward on both sides. Picture two people standing back-to-back, arms crossed, each facing away from the other — saying no to each other. Spot 非 at the start of a word and the image clicks: whatever follows is being rejected, negated, or declared wrong. Non-, un-, not — that is 非.