Creation & structure

Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.

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

create, originate

Components

Example words
そうぞう

creation

そうりつ

founding, establishment

どくそう

originality

#2

Meaning

play (music); present

Components

Example words
えんそう

musical performance

がっそう

ensemble, concert

かなでる

to play (an instrument)

#3

Meaning

dress, equip; pretend

Components

Example words
そう

device, apparatus

ふくそう

clothing, attire

へんそう

disguise

#4

Meaning

unfold, expand; exhibit

Components

Example words
てんかい

development, unfolding

てん

exhibition, display

はってん

development, growth

#5

Meaning

layer, stratum; class

Components

Example words
かいそう

social stratum, class

こうそう

high-rise, high-altitude

だんそう

fault (geology); gap

#6

Meaning

storehouse; store away

Components

Example words
れいぞう

refrigerator

ちょぞう

storage

ぞうしょ

book collection

#7

Meaning

exist; know, suppose

Components

Example words
そんざい

existence

ぞん

preservation, saving

そんぞく

continued existence

#8

Meaning

prosper; heap up

Components

Example words
せいだい

grand, magnificent

ぜんせい

height, prime

to heap up, to serve

#9

Meaning

step, grade; means

Components

Example words
だんかい

stage, phase

かいだん

stairs

しゅだん

means, method

#10

Meaning

shaku (length unit); scale

Components

Example words
しゃく

scale, measure, yardstick

しゅくしゃく

reduced scale

しゃくはち

shakuhachi (bamboo flute)

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.