Study & knowledge

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

England, English; excellent

Components

On'yomi

エイ

Example words
英語えいご

English language

英国えいこく

England, Britain

英会話えいかいわ

English conversation

#2

Meaning

lesson; section; to assign

Components

On'yomi

Example words
課題かだい

assignment, task

一課いっか

lesson one

課長かちょう

section chief

#3

Meaning

instruction; kun reading

Components

On'yomi

クン

Example words
訓練くんれん

training

教訓きょうくん

lesson, moral

音訓おんくん

on and kun readings

#4

Meaning

to try, to test

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

こころ(みる) | ため(す)

Example words
試験しけん

examination, test

試合しあい

match, game

試すためす

to try out

#5

Meaning

test, verification; effect

Components

On'yomi

ケン | ゲン

Example words
試験しけん

examination, test

実験じっけん

experiment

経験けいけん

experience

#6

Meaning

to memorize; to wake; to sense

Components

On'yomi

カク

Kun'yomi

おぼ(える) | さ(める)

Example words
覚えるおぼえる

to memorize, to remember

目覚ましめざまし

alarm (clock)

感覚かんかく

sense, sensation

#7

Meaning

to explain; a theory

Components

On'yomi

セツ | ゼイ

Kun'yomi

と(く)

Example words
説明せつめい

explanation

小説しょうせつ

novel

説くとく

to explain, to preach

#8

Meaning

example; precedent

Components

On'yomi

レイ

Kun'yomi

たと(える)

Example words
例えばたとえば

for example

例文れいぶん

example sentence

#9

Meaning

code, canon; ceremony

Components

On'yomi

テン

Example words
辞典じてん

dictionary

古典こてん

the classics

事典じてん

encyclopedia

#10

Meaning

complete, finished, whole

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
完成かんせい

completion

完全かんぜん

perfect, complete

完了かんりょう

completion, conclusion

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.