Hand actions

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

hang; multiply; cost

Components

On'yomi

カイ

Kun'yomi

か(ける)

Example words
掛け算かけざん

multiplication

腰掛けこしかけ

seat, bench

掛けるかける

to hang; to multiply

#2

Meaning

exchange, convert

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

か(える)

Example words
交換こうかん

exchange

換気かんき

ventilation

転換てんかん

conversion, switch

#3

Meaning

put up, post, hoist

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

かか(げる)

Example words
掲示けいじ

notice, posting

掲載けいさい

publication (in print)

掲げるかかげる

to put up, to hoist

#4

Meaning

carry, take along; join

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

たずさ(える)

Example words
携帯けいたい

mobile phone; carrying

連携れんけい

cooperation, tie-up

携えるたずさえる

to carry, to take along

#5

Meaning

arrest, detain; adhere to

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

かか(わる)

Example words
拘束こうそく

restraint, binding

拘置こうち

detention, custody

拘留こうりゅう

detention, custody

#6

Meaning

refrain; hold back; note down

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

ひか(える)

Example words
控除こうじょ

deduction

控訴こうそ

appeal (court)

控えるひかえる

to hold back, to refrain

#7

Meaning

take (a photo), film

Components

On'yomi

サツ

Kun'yomi

と(る)

Example words
撮影さつえい

photographing, filming

空撮くうさつ

aerial photography

撮るとる

to take (a photo)

#8

Meaning

sweep, clean

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

は(く)

Example words
掃除そうじ

cleaning

清掃せいそう

cleaning, sweeping

掃くはく

to sweep

#9

Meaning

choose, select

Components

On'yomi

タク

Kun'yomi

えら(ぶ)

Example words
選択せんたく

selection, choice

採択さいたく

adoption, selection

二者択一にしゃたくいつ

choosing one of two

#10

Meaning

extract, draw out

Components

On'yomi

チュウ

Example words
抽出ちゅうしゅつ

extraction

抽選ちゅうせん

lottery, drawing lots

抽象ちゅうしょう

abstraction, abstract

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.