Nature & living things

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

flower

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

はな

Example words
花火はなび

fireworks

花見はなみ

flower viewing

#2

Meaning

grass

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

くさ

Example words
草木くさき

plants, vegetation

雑草ざっそう

weed

#3

Meaning

bamboo

Components

On'yomi

チク

Kun'yomi

たけ

Example words
竹林ちくりん

bamboo grove

竹馬たけうま

stilts

#4

Meaning

woods, grove

Components

On'yomi

リン

Kun'yomi

はやし

Example words
松林まつばやし

pine woods

竹林ちくりん

bamboo grove

山林さんりん

mountain forest

#5

Meaning

forest

Components

On'yomi

シン

Kun'yomi

もり

Example words
青森あおもり

Aomori (place name)

森林しんりん

forest, woodland

#6

Meaning

dog

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

いぬ

Example words
子犬こいぬ

puppy

番犬ばんけん

watchdog

#7

Meaning

insect, bug

Components

On'yomi

チュウ

Kun'yomi

むし

Example words
昆虫こんちゅう

insect

毛虫けむし

caterpillar

#8

Meaning

shellfish, shell

Components

Kun'yomi

かい

Example words
貝殻かいがら

seashell

#9

Meaning

ball, jewel

Components

On'yomi

ギョク

Kun'yomi

たま

Example words
目玉めだま

eyeball

水玉みずたま

water drop, polka dot

#10

Meaning

gold, metal, money

Components

On'yomi

キン | コン

Kun'yomi

かね | かな

Example words
お金おかね

money

金曜日きんようび

Friday

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.