Land, home & society

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

cultivate, plow

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

たがや(す)

Example words
耕作こうさく

cultivation, farming

農耕のうこう

agriculture, tillage

耕すたがやす

to plow, to till

#2

Meaning

boundary, border

Components

On'yomi

キョウ | ケイ

Kun'yomi

さかい

Example words
環境かんきょう

environment

国境こっきょう

national border

境界きょうかい

boundary

#3

Meaning

even, equal

Components

On'yomi

キン

Example words
平均へいきん

average

均等きんとう

equality, uniformity

均一きんいつ

uniform, flat (rate)

#4

Meaning

exist, be located

Components

On'yomi

ザイ

Kun'yomi

あ(る)

Example words
存在そんざい

existence

現在げんざい

the present, now

在庫ざいこ

stock, inventory

#5

Meaning

reside, be present

Components

On'yomi

キョ

Kun'yomi

い(る)

Example words
住居じゅうきょ

residence, dwelling

居間いま

living room

居るいる

to be (present), to exist

#6

Meaning

hall, temple

Components

On'yomi

ドウ

Example words
食堂しょくどう

cafeteria, dining hall

講堂こうどう

auditorium

堂々どうどう

dignified, imposing

#7

Meaning

guide, lead

Components

On'yomi

ドウ

Kun'yomi

みちび(く)

Example words
指導しどう

guidance, instruction

導入どうにゅう

introduction, adoption

導くみちびく

to guide, to lead

#8

Meaning

occasion; edge; contact

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

きわ

Example words
国際こくさい

international

実際じっさい

actual, in practice

交際こうさい

association, dating

#9

Meaning

belong to, genus

Components

On'yomi

ゾク

Example words
所属しょぞく

belonging (to a group)

金属きんぞく

metal

属性ぞくせい

attribute, property

#10

Meaning

loss, damage

Components

On'yomi

ソン

Kun'yomi

そこ(なう)

Example words
損害そんがい

damage, harm

損失そんしつ

loss

破損はそん

breakage, damage

#11

Meaning

to surround, to enclose

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

かこ(む)

Example words
囲むかこむ

to surround

周囲しゅうい

surroundings

囲碁いご

the game of Go

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.