Production & materials

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

make, build, create

Components

On'yomi

ゾウ

Kun'yomi

つく(る)

Example words
製造せいぞう

manufacture

構造こうぞう

structure

造るつくる

to make, to build

#2

Meaning

construct, set up; posture

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

かま(える) | かま(う)

Example words
構造こうぞう

structure

構成こうせい

composition, makeup

結構けっこう

quite; fine, no thanks

#3

Meaning

build, construct

Components

On'yomi

チク

Kun'yomi

きず(く)

Example words
建築けんちく

architecture, construction

新築しんちく

newly built

築くきずく

to build up, to establish

#4

Meaning

manufacture, make

Components

On'yomi

セイ

Example words
製品せいひん

product, goods

製作せいさく

production (of works)

日本製にほんせい

made in Japan

#5

Meaning

weave

Components

On'yomi

ショク | シキ

Kun'yomi

お(る)

Example words
組織そしき

organization

織物おりもの

woven cloth, textile

織るおる

to weave

#6

Meaning

knit, compile, edit

Components

On'yomi

ヘン

Kun'yomi

あ(む)

Example words
編集へんしゅう

editing

編成へんせい

formation, organizing

編むあむ

to knit, to braid

#7

Meaning

element; plain, bare

Components

On'yomi

ソ | ス

Example words
素材そざい

material

要素ようそ

element, factor

素直すなお

obedient, honest

#8綿

Meaning

cotton

Components

On'yomi

メン

Kun'yomi

わた

Example words
木綿もめん

cotton (cloth)

綿密めんみつ

detailed, meticulous

真綿まわた

silk floss

#9

Meaning

copper

Components

On'yomi

ドウ

Example words
銅像どうぞう

bronze statue

青銅せいどう

bronze

銅山どうざん

copper mine

#10

Meaning

ore, mineral

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Example words
鉱物こうぶつ

mineral

鉱石こうせき

ore

鉄鉱てっこう

iron ore

#11

Meaning

powder, flour

Components

On'yomi

フン

Kun'yomi

こ | こな

Example words
粉薬こなぐすり

powdered medicine

小麦粉こむぎこ

wheat flour

花粉かふん

pollen

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.