Stone, money & records

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

hard, stiff, rigid

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Kun'yomi

かた(い)

Example words
硬貨こうか

coin

強硬きょうこう

firm, hard-line

硬いかたい

hard, stiff

#2

Meaning

foundation, cornerstone

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

いしずえ

Example words
基礎きそ

foundation, basis

礎石そせき

cornerstone

定礎ていそ

laying a cornerstone

#3

Meaning

stone monument, tombstone

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

いしぶみ

Example words
石碑せきひ

stone monument

記念碑きねんひ

monument, memorial

碑文ひぶん

inscription

#4

Meaning

pierce, penetrate; carry through

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

つらぬ(く)

Example words
貫通かんつう

penetration

一貫いっかん

consistency

貫くつらぬく

to pierce; to carry out

#5

Meaning

wise, clever, intelligent

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

かしこ(い)

Example words
賢明けんめい

wise, sensible

賢人けんじん

wise man, sage

賢いかしこい

clever, smart

#6

Meaning

thief, bandit, rebel

Components

On'yomi

ゾク

Example words
盗賊とうぞく

thief, robber

海賊かいぞく

pirate

賊軍ぞくぐん

rebel army

#7

Meaning

register; membership

Components

On'yomi

セキ

Example words
戸籍こせき

family register

国籍こくせき

nationality

書籍しょせき

books, publications

#8

Meaning

sincere, cordial; serious (illness)

Components

On'yomi

トク

Example words
危篤きとく

critical condition

篤志とくし

benevolence, charity

懇篤こんとく

cordial, kind

#9

Meaning

sign, mark, token

Components

On'yomi

Example words
符号ふごう

sign, symbol, code

音符おんぷ

musical note

切符きっぷ

ticket

#10簿

Meaning

register, ledger, record book

Components

On'yomi

Example words
名簿めいぼ

name list, roster

帳簿ちょうぼ

account book, ledger

家計簿かけいぼ

household account book

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.