Deceit & illusion

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

Europe

Components

On'yomi

オウ

Example words
欧米おうべい

Europe and America, the West

欧州おうしゅう

Europe

西欧せいおう

Western Europe

#2

Meaning

deceive, cheat

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

あざむ(く)

Example words
詐欺さぎ

fraud, swindle

詐欺師さぎし

swindler, con artist

欺くあざむく

to deceive

#3

Meaning

oppress, tyrannize

Components

On'yomi

ギャク

Kun'yomi

しいた(げる)

Example words
虐待ぎゃくたい

abuse, cruelty

残虐ざんぎゃく

cruelty, atrocity

虐げるしいたげる

to oppress, to torment

#4

Meaning

empty, void; false

Components

On'yomi

キョ | コ

Kun'yomi

むな(しい)

Example words
虚無きょむ

nihility, emptiness

虚栄きょえい

vanity

空虚くうきょ

emptiness, hollowness

#5

Meaning

illusion, phantom

Components

On'yomi

ゲン

Kun'yomi

まぼろし

Example words
幻想げんそう

fantasy, illusion

幻覚げんかく

hallucination

夢幻むげん

dreams and phantasms

#6

Meaning

second (of a series); B; chic

Components

On'yomi

オツ

Example words
乙女おとめ

maiden, young girl

甲乙こうおつ

A and B; superiority

乙種おつしゅ

type B, second class

#7

Meaning

dare, venture, be bold

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

あ(えて)

Example words
敢行かんこう

daring execution

果敢かかん

resolute, bold

敢えてあえて

daringly, deliberately

#8

Meaning

pledge, promise, contract

Components

On'yomi

ケイ

Kun'yomi

ちぎ(る)

Example words
契約けいやく

contract, agreement

契機けいき

opportunity, turning point

契るちぎる

to pledge, to vow

#9

Meaning

snatch, rob, take by force

Components

On'yomi

ダツ

Kun'yomi

うば(う)

Example words
奪取だっしゅ

seizure, capture

争奪そうだつ

scramble, contest

奪ううばう

to snatch, to rob

#10

Meaning

offer, dedicate, serve

Components

On'yomi

ホウ

Kun'yomi

たてまつ(る)

Example words
奉仕ほうし

service, dedication

信奉しんぽう

belief, faith

奉るたてまつる

to offer, to present

#11

Meaning

scarce, meager

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

とぼ(しい)

Example words
欠乏けつぼう

shortage, deficiency

貧乏びんぼう

poverty

乏しいとぼしい

scarce, meager

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.