People 3

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

good, beautiful, excellent

Components

On'yomi

Example words
佳作かさく

fine work; honorable mention

絶佳ぜっか

superb, exquisite

佳境かきょう

climax, best part

#2

Meaning

plan, undertake, scheme

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

くわだ(てる)

Example words
企業きぎょう

enterprise, company

企画きかく

planning, project

企てるくわだてる

to plan, to scheme

#3

Meaning

by chance; even (number); pair

Components

On'yomi

グウ

Example words
偶然ぐうぜん

by chance, coincidence

偶数ぐうすう

even number

配偶者はいぐうしゃ

spouse

#4

Meaning

debt, loan, bond

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Example words
債務さいむ

debt, liabilities

負債ふさい

liabilities, debt

国債こくさい

government bond

#5

Meaning

hold (an event); urge

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

もよお(す)

Example words
開催かいさい

holding (an event)

主催しゅさい

sponsorship, organizing

催すもよおす

to hold (an event)

#6

Meaning

samurai; wait upon

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

さむらい

Example words
侍医じい

court physician

侍女じじょ

lady-in-waiting

侍従じじゅう

attendant, chamberlain

#7

Meaning

stretch, extend, grow

Components

On'yomi

シン

Kun'yomi

の(びる) | の(ばす)

Example words
伸縮しんしゅく

expansion and contraction

追伸ついしん

postscript (P.S.)

伸びるのびる

to stretch, to grow

#8

Meaning

urge, prompt, stimulate

Components

On'yomi

ソク

Kun'yomi

うなが(す)

Example words
促進そくしん

promotion, acceleration

催促さいそく

demand, reminder

促すうながす

to urge, to prompt

#9

Meaning

accompany, go with

Components

On'yomi

ハン | バン

Kun'yomi

ともな(う)

Example words
同伴どうはん

accompanying, going together

伴奏ばんそう

musical accompaniment

伴うともなう

to accompany, to entail

#10

Meaning

bow, lie prostrate; hide

Components

On'yomi

フク

Kun'yomi

ふ(せる) | ふ(す)

Example words
起伏きふく

ups and downs, undulation

潜伏せんぷく

concealment, lying hidden

伏せるふせる

to lie down; to turn down

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.