Speech & the face

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

harmony; joke

Components

On'yomi

カイ

Example words
諧調かいちょう

harmony, tune

俳諧はいかい

haikai (comic linked verse)

諧謔かいぎゃく

joke, humor

#2

Meaning

visit a shrine; attainment

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

まい(る)

Example words
参詣さんけい

visiting a shrine/temple

造詣ぞうけい

scholarship, attainments

初詣はつもうで

first shrine visit of the year

#3

Meaning

avail; investigate

Components

On'yomi

セン

Example words
詮索せんさく

prying, inquiry

所詮しょせん

after all, in the end

詮議せんぎ

deliberation, examination

#4

Meaning

who

Components

On'yomi

スイ

Kun'yomi

だれ

Example words
だれ

who

誰何すいか

challenging (who goes there)

誰彼だれかれ

this and that person

#5

Meaning

give up; truth

Components

On'yomi

テイ

Kun'yomi

あきら(める)

Example words
諦観ていかん

resignation; clear insight

諦めるあきらめる

to give up

要諦ようてい

gist, essential point

#6

Meaning

riddle, mystery

Components

On'yomi

メイ

Kun'yomi

なぞ

Example words
謎解きなぞとき

solving a riddle

謎謎なぞなぞ

riddle, puzzle

謎めくなぞめく

to be mysterious

#7

Meaning

obituary, news of death

Components

On'yomi

Example words
訃報ふほう

obituary notice

訃音ふいん

news of a death

訃告ふこく

announcement of death

#8

Meaning

jaw, chin

Components

On'yomi

ガク

Kun'yomi

あご

Example words
顎関節がくかんせつ

jaw joint

上顎じょうがく

upper jaw

下顎かがく

lower jaw

#9

Meaning

time, about (when)

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

ころ

Example words
日頃ひごろ

usually, always

近頃ちかごろ

recently, nowadays

年頃としごろ

marriageable age

#10

Meaning

must, necessary

Components

On'yomi

Example words
必須ひっす

essential, indispensable

急須きゅうす

small teapot

須要しゅよう

essential point

#11

Meaning

sudden; in order

Components

On'yomi

トン

Example words
整頓せいとん

tidying up, order

頓着とんちゃく

caring about, heeding

頓挫とんざ

setback, standstill

#12

Meaning

cheek

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

ほお

Example words
頰骨ほおぼね

cheekbone

頰張るほおばる

to stuff cheeks with food

頰杖ほおづえ

resting chin on hand

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.