Government & law

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

constitution; law

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Example words
憲法けんぽう

constitution

憲政けんせい

constitutional government

立憲りっけん

constitutionalism

#2

Meaning

right; authority, power

Components

On'yomi

ケン | ゴン

Example words
権利けんり

a right

権力けんりょく

power, authority

人権じんけん

human rights

#3

Meaning

law, rule; rhythm

Components

On'yomi

リツ | リチ

Example words
法律ほうりつ

law

規律きりつ

discipline, order

一律いちりつ

uniform, across the board

#4

Meaning

judge; cut cloth

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

た(つ) | さば(く)

Example words
裁判さいばん

trial, judgment

裁量さいりょう

discretion

裁くさばく

to judge

#5

Meaning

political party; faction

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Example words
政党せいとう

political party

与党よとう

ruling party

野党やとう

opposition party

#6

Meaning

government office, agency

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Example words
官庁かんちょう

government office

県庁けんちょう

prefectural office

気象庁きしょうちょう

Meteorological Agency

#7

Meaning

government post; to sign

Components

On'yomi

ショ

Example words
警察署けいさつしょ

police station

署名しょめい

signature

部署ぶしょ

department, post

#8

Meaning

plan, scheme, policy

Components

On'yomi

サク

Example words
政策せいさく

policy

対策たいさく

countermeasure

策略さくりゃく

strategy, scheme

#9

Meaning

emperor, imperial

Components

On'yomi

コウ | オウ

Example words
天皇てんのう

the Emperor (of Japan)

皇室こうしつ

the Imperial family

皇后こうごう

empress

#10

Meaning

empress, queen

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Example words
皇后こうごう

empress

皇太后こうたいごう

empress dowager

后妃こうひ

empress and consorts

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.