Daily life

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

rest

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

やす(む) | やす(まる)

Example words
休むやすむ

to rest

休日きゅうじつ

holiday, day off

夏休みなつやすみ

summer vacation

#2

Meaning

thread

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

いと

Example words
毛糸けいと

wool, yarn

#3

Meaning

car, vehicle, wheel

Components

On'yomi

シャ

Kun'yomi

くるま

Example words
車いすくるまいす

wheelchair

電車でんしゃ

train

自転車じてんしゃ

bicycle

#4

Meaning

go out, exit

Components

On'yomi

シュツ

Kun'yomi

で(る) | だ(す)

Example words
出るでる

to go out, to leave

出口でぐち

exit

出すだす

to take out, to send

外出がいしゅつ

going out, outing

#5

Meaning

correct, right

Components

On'yomi

セイ | ショウ

Kun'yomi

ただ(しい) | まさ

Example words
正しいただしい

correct, right

正月しょうがつ

New Year

正午しょうご

noon

#6

Meaning

evening

Components

On'yomi

セキ

Kun'yomi

ゆう

Example words
夕方ゆうがた

evening

夕食ゆうしょく

dinner

七夕たなばた

Tanabata (star festival)

#7

Meaning

early, fast

Components

On'yomi

ソウ | サッ

Kun'yomi

はや(い)

Example words
早いはやい

early, fast

早口はやくち

fast talking

早朝そうちょう

early morning

#8

Meaning

village

Components

On'yomi

ソン

Kun'yomi

むら

Example words
村人むらびと

villager

山村さんそん

mountain village

#9

Meaning

town

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Kun'yomi

まち

Example words
下町したまち

downtown

町長ちょうちょう

town mayor

#10

Meaning

to enter, go in; to put in

Components

On'yomi

ニュウ

Kun'yomi

い(る) | はい(る) | い(れる)

Example words
入るはいる

to enter

入口いりぐち

entrance

入学にゅうがく

entering school

入れるいれる

to put in, to insert

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.