The hand

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

push open; greet

Components

On'yomi

アイ

Example words
挨拶あいさつ

greeting

挨拶状あいさつじょう

greeting card

挨拶回りあいさつまわり

courtesy rounds

#2

Meaning

fist

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

こぶし

Example words
拳銃けんじゅう

handgun, pistol

拳法けんぽう

martial arts, kempo

鉄拳てっけん

iron fist

#3

Meaning

sprain; be crushed

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

くじ(く)

Example words
挫折ざせつ

setback, frustration

頓挫とんざ

setback, standstill

捻挫ねんざ

sprain

#4

Meaning

approach, press

Components

On'yomi

サツ

Example words
挨拶あいさつ

greeting

挨拶文あいさつぶん

greeting message

年始の挨拶ねんしのあいさつ

New Year greetings

#5

Meaning

sincere, earnest

Components

On'yomi

Example words
真摯しんし

sincere, earnest

真摯なしんしな

sincere (attributive)

真摯にしんしに

earnestly

#6

Meaning

wipe, mop

Components

On'yomi

ショク

Kun'yomi

ふ(く) | ぬぐ(う)

Example words
払拭ふっしょく

wiping away, dispelling

拭くふく

to wipe

拭うぬぐう

to wipe off

#7

Meaning

catch, grasp

Components

On'yomi

ソク

Kun'yomi

とら(える)

Example words
捕捉ほそく

capture, grasp

捉えるとらえる

to catch, to grasp

把捉はそく

grasp, comprehension

#8

Meaning

make progress

Components

On'yomi

チョク

Kun'yomi

はかど(る)

Example words
進捗しんちょく

progress

進捗率しんちょくりつ

rate of progress

捗るはかどる

to make progress

#9

Meaning

twist, wrench

Components

On'yomi

ネン

Kun'yomi

ね(じる) | ひね(る)

Example words
捻挫ねんざ

sprain

捻出ねんしゅつ

contriving, raising (funds)

捻るひねる

to twist

#10

Meaning

abduct, pull

Components

On'yomi

Example words
拉致らち

abduction

拉致事件らちじけん

abduction case

拉致問題らちもんだい

abduction issue

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.