The mouth

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

throat, pharynx

Components

On'yomi

イン

Kun'yomi

むせ(ぶ)

Example words
咽喉いんこう

throat

咽頭いんとう

pharynx

嗚咽おえつ

sobbing

#2

Meaning

song, ballad

Components

On'yomi

バイ

Kun'yomi

うた

Example words
小唄こうた

ballad, ditty

長唄ながうた

long epic song

端唄はうた

short lyric song

#3

Meaning

smell, sniff

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

か(ぐ)

Example words
嗅覚きゅうかく

sense of smell

嗅ぐかぐ

to smell, to sniff

嗅神経きゅうしんけい

olfactory nerve

#4

Meaning

throat

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

のど

Example words
喉頭こうとう

larynx

喉元のどもと

throat; critical moment

喉仏のどぼとけ

Adam's apple

#5𠮟

Meaning

scold, rebuke

Components

On'yomi

シツ

Kun'yomi

しか(る)

Example words
𠮟責しっせき

reproof, rebuke

𠮟るしかる

to scold

𠮟咤しった

scolding into action

#6

Meaning

curse, spell

Components

On'yomi

ジュ

Kun'yomi

のろ(う)

Example words
呪文じゅもん

spell, incantation

呪縛じゅばく

spell, binding curse

呪うのろう

to curse

#7

Meaning

saliva, spit

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

つば

Example words
唾液だえき

saliva

生唾なまつば

watering mouth

唾棄だき

contempt, disdain

#8

Meaning

ridicule, mock

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Kun'yomi

あざけ(る)

Example words
嘲笑ちょうしょう

ridicule, derision

自嘲じちょう

self-mockery

嘲るあざける

to ridicule, to mock

#9

Meaning

suckle, nurse

Components

On'yomi

Example words
哺乳ほにゅう

lactation, nursing

哺乳類ほにゅうるい

mammal

哺育ほいく

rearing, nursing

#10

Meaning

metaphor, comparison

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

たと(える)

Example words
比喩ひゆ

metaphor, simile

隠喩いんゆ

metaphor

直喩ちょくゆ

simile

#11

Meaning

spine; musical pitch

Components

On'yomi

Example words
風呂ふろ

bath

語呂ごろ

sound, ring (of words)

風呂敷ふろしき

wrapping cloth

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.