People & ailments

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

I, me (masculine, casual)

Components

Kun'yomi

おれ

Example words
俺様おれさま

my noble self (arrogant)

俺達おれたち

we (masculine)

俺流おれりゅう

my own way

#2

Meaning

skill, performing art

Components

On'yomi

Example words
歌舞伎かぶき

kabuki theater

伎楽ぎがく

ancient masked dance

歌舞伎役者かぶきやくしゃ

kabuki actor

#3

Meaning

few, slight, barely

Components

On'yomi

キン

Kun'yomi

わず(か)

Example words
僅少きんしょう

few, scanty

僅差きんさ

narrow margin

僅かわずか

only, merely

#4

Meaning

proud, arrogant

Components

On'yomi

ゴウ

Kun'yomi

おご(る)

Example words
傲慢ごうまん

arrogance, pride

傲然ごうぜん

haughty, proud

傲岸ごうがん

arrogant, insolent

#5

Meaning

companion, mate

Components

On'yomi

リョ

Example words
伴侶はんりょ

companion, spouse

僧侶そうりょ

Buddhist monk

伴侶者はんりょしゃ

life partner

#6

Meaning

envy, be jealous

Components

On'yomi

シツ

Kun'yomi

ねた(む)

Example words
嫉妬しっと

jealousy, envy

嫉視しっし

envious eyes

嫉むねたむ

to be jealous

#7

Meaning

be jealous, envy

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

ねた(む)

Example words
嫉妬しっと

jealousy, envy

妬むねたむ

to envy, to be jealous

妬心としん

jealousy

#8

Meaning

bewitching, sinister

Components

On'yomi

ヨウ

Kun'yomi

あや(しい)

Example words
妖怪ようかい

monster, apparition

妖精ようせい

fairy, sprite

妖艶ようえん

bewitching, voluptuous

#9

Meaning

mark, scar, trace

Components

On'yomi

コン

Kun'yomi

あと

Example words
痕跡こんせき

trace, vestige

血痕けっこん

bloodstain

傷痕きずあと

scar

#10

Meaning

become thin, lose weight

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

や(せる)

Example words
痩身そうしん

slimming, thin body

痩せるやせる

to become thin

痩型やせがた

slim build

#11

Meaning

sore, tumor, boil

Components

On'yomi

ヨウ

Example words
腫瘍しゅよう

tumor

潰瘍かいよう

ulcer

膿瘍のうよう

abscess

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.