Grade 3 kanji
Lesson 20

Regions, metal & more

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

light (not heavy)

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

かる(い)

Example words
軽いかるい

light, not heavy

手軽てがる

easy, handy

軽食けいしょく

light meal, snack

#2

Meaning

prefecture

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Example words
県立けんりつ

prefectural (run by the prefecture)

県道けんどう

prefectural road

#3

Meaning

shining, bright

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Note

In modern Japanese it appears almost only in 昭和 (the Shōwa era, 1926-1989).

Example words
昭和しょうわ

the Showa era

昭和時代しょうわじだい

the Showa period

#4

Meaning

to arrange, to put in order

Components

tap

On'yomi

セイ

Kun'yomi

ととの(える) | ととの(う)

Example words
整えるととのえる

to arrange, to get in order

整理せいり

sorting out, tidying

調整ちょうせい

adjustment, regulation

#5

Meaning

iron

Components

On'yomi

テツ

Example words
地下鉄ちかてつ

subway, metro

鉄道てつどう

railway

#6

Meaning

to climb, to ascend

Components

On'yomi

トウ | ト

Kun'yomi

のぼ(る)

Example words
登るのぼる

to climb

登山とざん

mountain climbing

登校とうこう

going to school

#7

Meaning

thing, object

Components

On'yomi

ブツ | モツ

Kun'yomi

もの

Example words
動物どうぶつ

animal

買い物かいもの

shopping

#8

Meaning

beforehand, in advance

Components

On'yomi

Example words
予定よてい

plan, schedule

予習よしゅう

preparation (before a lesson)

予約よやく

reservation, booking

#9

Meaning

road, path

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

Example words
道路どうろ

road, roadway

線路せんろ

railway track

通路つうろ

passage, aisle

#10

Meaning

bean

Components

On'yomi

トウ | ズ

Kun'yomi

まめ

Example words
枝豆えだまめ

edamame

大豆だいず

soybean

豆腐とうふ

tofu

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.