Study & school

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

effort, diligence

Components

On'yomi

ベン

Example words
勉強べんきょう

study

勉学べんがく

study, learning

#2

Meaning

to learn, to practice

Components

On'yomi

シュウ

Kun'yomi

なら(う)

Example words
習うならう

to learn (from someone)

学習がくしゅう

study, learning

練習れんしゅう

practice, drill

#3

Meaning

to research, to investigate

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

きわ(める)

Example words
研究けんきゅう

research

究めるきわめる

to master, to look into thoroughly

#4

Meaning

to polish, to grind; research

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

と(ぐ)

Example words
研究けんきゅう

research

研ぐとぐ

to sharpen, to grind

研修けんしゅう

training, workshop

#5

Meaning

rank, grade; class

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Example words
学級がっきゅう

class (in school)

上級じょうきゅう

advanced level

高級こうきゅう

high-class, high-grade

#6

Meaning

topic, title; problem

Components

On'yomi

ダイ

Example words
問題もんだい

problem, question

話題わだい

topic of conversation

宿題しゅくだい

homework

#7

Meaning

to ask; question

Components

On'yomi

モン

Kun'yomi

と(う) | と(い)

Example words
問題もんだい

problem, question

質問しつもん

question, query

問うとう

to ask, to inquire

#8

Meaning

chapter; badge, emblem

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Example words
文章ぶんしょう

sentence, writing

楽章がくしょう

movement (of music)

#9

Meaning

poem, poetry

Components

On'yomi

Example words
詩人しじん

poet

詩集ししゅう

poetry collection

#10

Meaning

work, trade, business; studies

Components

On'yomi

ギョウ | ゴウ

Kun'yomi

わざ

Example words
授業じゅぎょう

class, lesson

工業こうぎょう

industry

農業のうぎょう

agriculture

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.