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最
最 (readings: さい, もっと; Japanese kanji) means “most / -est”. It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 最近 (recently).
What does 最 mean?
| Kanji | 最 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | most / -est |
| Readings | さい, もっと |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 最
最 is read さい or もっと depending on the word.
Example words with 最
| Example | 最近 (recently) |
|---|
Practice writing 最 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14