People & society
Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.
On'yomi & Kun'yomi
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.
What the component colors mean
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).
Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.
Meaning
to serve; to do (work)
Components
On'yomi
シ | ジ
Kun'yomi
つか（える）
work, job
way, method
to serve (a master)
work, job
accident
errand, business
to use
ambassador
use, usage
relation, connection
attendant, staff
government office
actor
member
shop clerk
company employee
guest room, parlor
passenger
you (plural)
monarch, ruler
lord, master
owner
master; husband
subject (grammar)
Practice
Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.