Feelings & the mind

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

bad, evil

Components

On'yomi

アク | オ

Kun'yomi

わる(い)

Example words
悪いわるい

bad

悪人あくにん

bad person, villain

悪気わるぎ

ill will, malice

#2

Meaning

peaceful, safe; cheap

Components

On'yomi

アン

Kun'yomi

やす(い)

Example words
安いやすい

cheap, inexpensive

安心あんしん

relief, peace of mind

安全あんぜん

safety

#3

Meaning

dark, gloomy

Components

On'yomi

アン

Kun'yomi

くら(い)

Example words
暗いくらい

dark

暗記あんき

memorization (by heart)

明暗めいあん

light and dark

#4

Meaning

happiness, good fortune

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

しあわ(せ) | さいわ(い)

Example words
幸せしあわせ

happiness

幸福こうふく

happiness, well-being

幸運こううん

good luck

#5

Meaning

sad, sorrowful

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

かな(しい)

Example words
悲しいかなしい

sad

悲鳴ひめい

scream, shriek

悲しむかなしむ

to grieve, to feel sad

#6

Meaning

mind, intention; meaning

Components

On'yomi

Example words
意見いけん

opinion

用意ようい

preparation

意味いみ

meaning

#7

Meaning

to feel; feeling, emotion

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
感じるかんじる

to feel

感動かんどう

being moved, deep emotion

感心かんしん

admiration

#8

Meaning

thought, idea; to imagine

Components

On'yomi

ソウ | ソ

Example words
感想かんそう

impression, thoughts

予想よそう

prediction, expectation

理想りそう

ideal

#9

Meaning

mutual; appearance; minister

Components

On'yomi

ソウ | ショウ

Kun'yomi

あい

Example words
相談そうだん

consultation

相手あいて

partner, the other party

首相しゅしょう

prime minister

#10

Meaning

breath; son

Components

On'yomi

ソク

Kun'yomi

いき

Example words
ため息ためいき

a sigh

休息きゅうそく

rest, breather

息子むすこ

son

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.