Actions & effort

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

extend, enlarge

Components

On'yomi

カク

Example words
拡大かくだい

enlargement, expansion

拡張かくちょう

extension, expansion

拡散かくさん

diffusion, spread

#2

Meaning

wield, brandish; command

Components

On'yomi

Example words
指揮しき

command, direction

発揮はっき

display, exhibit (ability)

揮発きはつ

volatilization

#3

Meaning

throw away, discard

Components

On'yomi

シャ

Kun'yomi

す(てる)

Example words
取捨しゅしゃ

adoption or rejection

四捨五入ししゃごにゅう

rounding off

捨てるすてる

to throw away

#4

Meaning

carry, bear; take charge

Components

On'yomi

タン

Kun'yomi

にな(う) | かつ(ぐ)

Example words
担当たんとう

being in charge

負担ふたん

burden, load

担任たんにん

homeroom teacher; charge

#5

Meaning

search, look for

Components

On'yomi

タン

Kun'yomi

さぐ(る) | さが(す)

Example words
探検たんけん

exploration

探求たんきゅう

pursuit, quest

探すさがす

to look for

#6

Meaning

push; infer, recommend

Components

On'yomi

スイ

Kun'yomi

お(す)

Example words
推理すいり

reasoning, deduction

推薦すいせん

recommendation

推測すいそく

conjecture, guess

#7

Meaning

manipulate, handle

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

あやつ(る) | みさお

Example words
操作そうさ

operation, handling

体操たいそう

gymnastics, exercise

操るあやつる

to manipulate, to operate

#8

Meaning

worship, bow; humbly

Components

On'yomi

ハイ

Kun'yomi

おが(む)

Example words
参拝さんぱい

visiting a shrine/temple

拝見はいけん

to see (humble)

拝むおがむ

to pray to, to worship

#9

Meaning

criticize; comment

Components

On'yomi

Example words
批判ひはん

criticism

批評ひひょう

criticism, review

批准ひじゅん

ratification

#10

Meaning

work, serve; diligence

Components

On'yomi

キン | ゴン

Kun'yomi

つと(める)

Example words
勤務きんむ

service, duty (work)

通勤つうきん

commuting to work

勤めるつとめる

to work (for), to serve

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.