The body 2

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

liver; vital point

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

きも

Example words
肝臓かんぞう

liver

肝心かんじん

essential, vital

肝試しきもだめし

test of courage

#2

Meaning

threaten, menace

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

おびや(かす) | おど(す)

Example words
脅威きょうい

threat, menace

脅迫きょうはく

threat, intimidation

脅すおどす

to threaten

#3

Meaning

womb, uterus; fetus

Components

On'yomi

タイ

Example words
胎児たいじ

fetus, unborn baby

胎盤たいばん

placenta

母胎ぼたい

mother's womb

#4

Meaning

gall bladder; courage

Components

On'yomi

タン

Example words
大胆だいたん

bold, daring

胆力たんりょく

courage, nerve

落胆らくたん

discouragement

#5

Meaning

placenta; cell

Components

On'yomi

ホウ

Example words
細胞さいぼう

cell (biology)

同胞どうほう

compatriot, sibling

胞子ほうし

spore

#6

Meaning

swell, expand

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

ふく(らむ)

Example words
膨張ぼうちょう

expansion, swelling

膨大ぼうだい

enormous, bulky

膨らむふくらむ

to swell, to expand

#7

Meaning

membrane, film

Components

On'yomi

マク

Example words
粘膜ねんまく

mucous membrane

鼓膜こまく

eardrum

網膜もうまく

retina

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.