Nature & people

Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.

On'yomi (音読み) is the reading borrowed from Chinese, usually used in compound words, e.g. 三月 (さんがつ, March).

Kun'yomi (訓読み) is the native Japanese reading, used when the kanji stands alone or takes kana endings, e.g. 三つ (みっつ, three items).

By convention the readings list writes on'yomi in katakana (シュ) and kun'yomi in hiragana (さけ). Example words show furigana in hiragana, so the same on'yomi can look like シュ in the list but しゅ in a word.

Blue - the main radical the kanji is filed under in dictionaries.

Green - a component that hints at the meaning.

Orange - a component that hints at the reading (sound).

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Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.

#1

Meaning

person

Components

On'yomi

ジン | ニン

Kun'yomi

ひと

Example words
人々ひとびと

people

大人おとな

adult

三人さんにん

three people

#2

Meaning

big

Components

On'yomi

ダイ | タイ

Kun'yomi

おお | おお(きい)

Example words
大きいおおきい

big, large

大人おとな

adult

大学だいがく

university

#3

Meaning

small, little

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Kun'yomi

ちい(さい) | こ | お

Example words
小さいちいさい

small, little

小川おがわ

stream

#4

Meaning

mountain

Components

On'yomi

サン

Kun'yomi

やま

Example words
山道やまみち

mountain path

火山かざん

volcano

富士山ふじさん

Mt. Fuji

#5

Meaning

river

Components

On'yomi

セン

Kun'yomi

かわ

Example words
川岸かわぎし

riverbank

小川おがわ

stream

#6

Meaning

tree, wood

Components

On'yomi

モク | ボク

Kun'yomi

き | こ

Example words
木の実きのみ

nut, berry (of a tree)

大木たいぼく

large tree

木曜日もくようび

Thursday

#7

Meaning

fire

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

ひ | ほ

Example words
火花ひばな

spark

花火はなび

fireworks

火山かざん

volcano

#8

Meaning

water

Components

On'yomi

スイ

Kun'yomi

みず

Example words
水色みずいろ

light blue

水曜日すいようび

Wednesday

#9

Meaning

sun, day

Components

On'yomi

ニチ | ジツ

Kun'yomi

ひ | か

Example words
日本にほん

Japan

日曜日にちようび

Sunday

毎日まいにち

every day

#10

Meaning

moon, month

Components

On'yomi

ゲツ | ガツ

Kun'yomi

つき

Example words
月見つきみ

moon viewing

月曜日げつようび

Monday

一月いちがつ

January

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.