Government & economy

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

politics, government

Components

On'yomi

セイ | ショウ

Kun'yomi

まつりごと

Example words
政治せいじ

politics

政府せいふ

government

行政ぎょうせい

administration

#2

Meaning

system, control; rule

Components

On'yomi

セイ

Example words
制度せいど

system, institution

制服せいふく

uniform

強制きょうせい

compulsion, coercion

#3

Meaning

unite, govern; overall

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

す(べる)

Example words
伝統でんとう

tradition

統一とういつ

unification

大統領だいとうりょう

president

#4

Meaning

territory, jurisdiction

Components

On'yomi

リョウ

Example words
大統領だいとうりょう

president

領土りょうど

territory

要領ようりょう

the main point, the knack

#5

Meaning

pass through; manage; sutra

Components

On'yomi

ケイ | キョウ

Kun'yomi

へ(る)

Example words
経済けいざい

economy

経験けいけん

experience

経つたつ

(time) to pass

#6

Meaning

run (a business), manage

Components

On'yomi

エイ

Kun'yomi

いとな(む)

Example words
営業えいぎょう

business (operation)

経営けいえい

management

営むいとなむ

to run, to conduct

#7

Meaning

expense, cost; spend

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

つい(やす)

Example words
費用ひよう

cost, expense

学費がくひ

school fees, tuition

消費しょうひ

consumption

#8

Meaning

tax, duty

Components

On'yomi

ゼイ

Example words
税金ぜいきん

tax (money)

消費税しょうひぜい

consumption tax

税関ぜいかん

customs

#9

Meaning

prize, reward; praise

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Example words
賞金しょうきん

prize money

受賞じゅしょう

winning a prize

賞状しょうじょう

certificate of merit

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.