Change, divide & continue

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).

?

Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.

#1

Meaning

to choose, to select

Components

On'yomi

セン

Kun'yomi

えら(ぶ)

Example words
選ぶえらぶ

to choose

選手せんしゅ

athlete, player

選挙せんきょ

election

#2

Meaning

to raise, to cite; to hold (an event)

Components

On'yomi

キョ

Kun'yomi

あ(げる)

Example words
挙げるあげる

to raise, to cite

選挙せんきょ

election

挙手きょしゅ

raising one's hand

#3

Meaning

difference; to hold out

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

さ(す)

Example words
差すさす

to hold up (an umbrella), to insert

時差じさ

time difference

#4

Meaning

to fold, to break, to bend

Components

On'yomi

セツ

Kun'yomi

お(る) | お(れる)

Example words
折るおる

to fold, to break

折れるおれる

to snap, to break

折り紙おりがみ

origami (paper folding)

#5

Meaning

node, joint; season; moderation

Components

On'yomi

セツ | セチ

Kun'yomi

ふし

Example words
季節きせつ

season

節約せつやく

thrift, saving

音節おんせつ

syllable

#6

Meaning

secondary, deputy, vice-

Components

On'yomi

フク

Example words
副業ふくぎょう

side job

副食ふくしょく

side dish

副題ふくだい

subtitle

#7

Meaning

separate, different; to part

Components

On'yomi

ベツ

Kun'yomi

わか(れる)

Example words
別れるわかれる

to part, to separate

特別とくべつ

special

#8

Meaning

to change; strange

Components

On'yomi

ヘン

Kun'yomi

か(わる) | か(える)

Example words
変わるかわる

to change

大変たいへん

very; terrible, tough

変化へんか

change, transformation

#9

Meaning

to continue, to keep on

Components

On'yomi

ゾク

Kun'yomi

つづ(く) | つづ(ける)

Example words
続くつづく

to continue (intransitive)

続けるつづける

to continue (transitive)

連続れんぞく

continuation, series

#10

Meaning

to contend, to compete, to dispute

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

あらそ(う)

Example words
争うあらそう

to compete, to dispute

戦争せんそう

war

競争きょうそう

competition

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.