Cloth & qualities

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

sleeve

Components

On'yomi

シュウ

Kun'yomi

そで

Example words
半袖はんそで

short sleeves

長袖ながそで

long sleeves

袖口そでぐち

cuff, sleeve opening

#2

Meaning

hem, foot (of a mountain)

Components

On'yomi

キョ

Kun'yomi

すそ

Example words
すそ

hem, skirt

裾野すその

foot of a mountain; base

裾上げすそあげ

hemming up

#3

Meaning

come apart, burst open

Components

On'yomi

タン

Kun'yomi

ほころ(びる)

Example words
破綻はたん

failure, bankruptcy

綻びるほころびる

to come apart; to smile

財政破綻ざいせいはたん

fiscal collapse

#4

Meaning

fine, minute, dense

Components

On'yomi

Example words
緻密ちみつ

minute, elaborate

精緻せいち

precise, detailed

巧緻こうち

elaborate, exquisite

#5

Meaning

shame, shyness

Components

On'yomi

シュウ

Kun'yomi

は(じる)

Example words
羞恥しゅうち

shame, bashfulness

羞恥心しゅうちしん

sense of shame

含羞がんしゅう

bashfulness

#6

Meaning

envy, covet

Components

On'yomi

セン

Kun'yomi

うらや(む)

Example words
羨望せんぼう

envy, admiration

羨むうらやむ

to envy

羨ましいうらやましい

enviable

#7

Meaning

smelt, cast metal

Components

On'yomi

Example words
冶金やきん

metallurgy

陶冶とうや

training, cultivation

鍛冶かじ

blacksmith

#8

Meaning

ghastly; awesome

Components

On'yomi

セイ

Kun'yomi

すご(い) | すさ(まじい)

Example words
凄惨せいさん

ghastly, gruesome

凄絶せいぜつ

lurid, extreme

凄まじいすさまじい

tremendous, fierce

#9

Meaning

hook, bend; detain

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Example words
勾配こうばい

slope, gradient

勾留こうりゅう

detention, custody

勾玉まがたま

comma-shaped bead

#10

Meaning

smell, scent

Components

Kun'yomi

にお(う)

Example words
匂いにおい

smell, scent

匂うにおう

to smell (nice)

匂い袋においぶくろ

sachet, scent bag

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.