Metal & money

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

iron pot, kettle

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

かま

Example words
茶釜ちゃがま

tea kettle

電気釜でんきがま

electric rice cooker

釜飯かまめし

rice cooked in a pot

#2

Meaning

sickle, scythe

Components

On'yomi

レン

Kun'yomi

かま

Example words
鎌倉かまくら

Kamakura (place)

鎌首かまくび

sickle-shaped neck (snake)

鎌鼬かまいたち

whirlwind cut phenomenon

#3

Meaning

brocade, splendid

Components

On'yomi

キン

Kun'yomi

にしき

Example words
錦絵にしきえ

colored woodblock print

錦繍きんしゅう

rich brocade, splendor

錦鯉にしきごい

colored carp, koi

#4

Meaning

key

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

かぎ

Example words
鍵盤けんばん

keyboard

合鍵あいかぎ

duplicate key

鍵穴かぎあな

keyhole

#5

Meaning

confine, imprison

Components

On'yomi

Example words
禁錮きんこ

imprisonment

禁錮刑きんこけい

imprisonment (sentence)

三年禁錮さんねんきんこ

three years imprisonment

#6

Meaning

pot, pan; hot pot

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

なべ

Example words
土鍋どなべ

earthenware pot

鍋物なべもの

hot pot dish

寄せ鍋よせなべ

mixed hot pot

#7

Meaning

paste, stick, affix

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Kun'yomi

は(る)

Example words
貼付ちょうふ

affixing, pasting

貼るはる

to stick, to paste

貼り紙はりがみ

poster, bill

#8

Meaning

bet, gamble

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

か(ける)

Example words
賭博とばく

gambling

賭けるかける

to bet, to wager

賭け事かけごと

gambling, betting

#9

Meaning

covet, be greedy

Components

On'yomi

ドン

Kun'yomi

むさぼ(る)

Example words
貪欲どんよく

greed, avarice

貪るむさぼる

to covet, to devour

貪婪どんらん

greed, rapacity

#10

Meaning

bribe

Components

On'yomi

Example words
賄賂わいろ

bribe, bribery

賄賂事件わいろじけん

bribery case

賄賂要求わいろようきゅう

demand for a bribe

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.