Learning & thinking

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

to teach, instruct

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

おし(える) | おそ(わる)

Example words
教えるおしえる

to teach

教室きょうしつ

classroom

教科書きょうかしょ

textbook

#2

Meaning

subject, department

Components

On'yomi

Example words
科学かがく

science

教科きょうか

subject (school)

内科ないか

internal medicine

#3

Meaning

calculate

Components

On'yomi

サン

Example words
算数さんすう

arithmetic

計算けいさん

calculation

暗算あんざん

mental arithmetic

#4

Meaning

diagram, plan

Components

On'yomi

ズ | ト

Kun'yomi

はか(る)

Example words
地図ちず

map

図書館としょかん

library

図工ずこう

arts and crafts

#5

Meaning

reason, logic; manage

Components

On'yomi

Example words
理由りゆう

reason

料理りょうり

cooking, cuisine

無理むり

impossible, unreasonable

#6

Meaning

to think, consider

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

かんが(える)

Example words
考えるかんがえる

to think, to consider

参考さんこう

reference

思考しこう

thought, thinking

#7

Meaning

to know, be aware of

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

し(る)

Example words
知るしる

to know

知人ちじん

acquaintance

知識ちしき

knowledge

#8

Meaning

make, create

Components

On'yomi

サク | サ

Kun'yomi

つく(る)

Example words
作るつくる

to make, to create

作文さくぶん

composition, essay

工作こうさく

handicraft

#9

Meaning

craft, construction

Components

On'yomi

コウ | ク

Example words
工場こうじょう

factory

工事こうじ

construction work

大工だいく

carpenter

#10

Meaning

to use, make use of; a task or business to attend to

Components

On'yomi

ヨウ

Kun'yomi

もち(いる)

Example words
用事ようじ

errand, business

使用しよう

use

用意ようい

preparation

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.