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不
不 (readings: ふ, ぶ; Japanese kanji) means “not / un-”. It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 不安 (anxiety / unease).
What does 不 mean?
| Kanji | 不 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | not / un- |
| Readings | ふ, ぶ |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 不
不 is read ふ or ぶ depending on the word.
Example words with 不
| Example | 不安 (anxiety / unease) |
|---|
Practice writing 不 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14