Common verbs

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

say, word

Components

On'yomi

ゲン | ゴン

Kun'yomi

い(う) | こと

Example words
言ういう

to say

言葉ことば

word, language

方言ほうげん

dialect

#2

Meaning

talk, story

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

はな(す) | はなし

Example words
話すはなす

to speak, to talk

話し合いはなししあい

discussion, talk

電話でんわ

telephone

#3

Meaning

hear, ask

Components

On'yomi

ブン | モン

Kun'yomi

き(く) | き(こえる)

Example words
聞くきく

to listen, to ask

新聞しんぶん

newspaper

聞こえるきこえる

to be audible

#4

Meaning

to read

Components

On'yomi

ドク | トク

Kun'yomi

よ(む)

Example words
読むよむ

to read

読書どくしょ

reading

音読おんどく

reading aloud

#5

Meaning

write; book

Components

On'yomi

ショ

Kun'yomi

か(く)

Example words
書くかく

to write

読書どくしょ

reading

辞書じしょ

dictionary

#6

Meaning

to buy, purchase

Components

On'yomi

バイ

Kun'yomi

か(う)

Example words
買うかう

to buy

買い物かいもの

shopping

売買ばいばい

buying and selling

#7

Meaning

to sell

Components

On'yomi

バイ

Kun'yomi

う(る)

Example words
売るうる

to sell

売店ばいてん

shop, stand

売買ばいばい

buying and selling

#8

Meaning

go; line

Components

On'yomi

コウ | ギョウ

Kun'yomi

い(く) | おこな(う)

Example words
行くいく

to go

銀行ぎんこう

bank

旅行りょこう

travel, trip

#9

Meaning

come

Components

On'yomi

ライ

Kun'yomi

く(る) | きた(る)

Example words
来るくる

to come

来年らいねん

next year

来週らいしゅう

next week

#10

Meaning

return, go home

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

かえ(る)

Example words
帰るかえる

to return, to go home

帰国きこく

returning to your country

日帰りひがえり

day trip

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.