Body & senses

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

chest, breast

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

むね | むな

Example words
胸囲きょうい

chest measurement

度胸どきょう

courage, nerve

胸元むなもと

chest, breast area

#2

Meaning

belly, abdomen

Components

On'yomi

フク

Kun'yomi

はら

Example words
空腹くうふく

empty stomach, hunger

満腹まんぷく

full stomach

立腹りっぷく

getting angry

#3

Meaning

internal organ, viscera

Components

On'yomi

ゾウ

Example words
心臓しんぞう

heart (organ)

内臓ないぞう

internal organs

臓器ぞうき

organ (of the body)

#4

Meaning

tongue

Components

On'yomi

ゼツ

Kun'yomi

した

Example words
弁舌べんぜつ

eloquence, speech

毒舌どくぜつ

sharp tongue

舌先したさき

tip of the tongue

#5姿

Meaning

figure, form, appearance

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

すがた

Example words
姿勢しせい

posture, stance

容姿ようし

appearance, looks

姿見すがたみ

full-length mirror

#6

Meaning

look at, regard

Components

On'yomi

Example words
視力しりょく

eyesight

無視むし

disregard, ignore

視野しや

field of view

#7

Meaning

watch over, care for

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
看板かんばん

signboard

看護かんご

nursing

看病かんびょう

nursing (a patient)

#8

Meaning

look at, view

Components

On'yomi

ラン

Example words
展覧会てんらんかい

exhibition

一覧いちらん

a look; a list

回覧かいらん

circulation (of a notice)

#9

Meaning

inhale, suck, absorb

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

す(う)

Example words
呼吸こきゅう

breathing

吸収きゅうしゅう

absorption

吸うすう

to breathe in, to suck

#10

Meaning

reflect; project; shine

Components

On'yomi

エイ

Kun'yomi

うつ(る) | は(える)

Example words
映画えいが

movie, film

反映はんえい

reflection, to reflect

映るうつる

to be reflected, to appear

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.