Trees & wood

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

rot, decay

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

く(ちる)

Example words
老朽ろうきゅう

decrepitude, dilapidation

不朽ふきゅう

immortal, everlasting

朽ちるくちる

to rot, to decay

#2

Meaning

wither, dry up

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

か(れる) | か(らす)

Example words
枯死こし

withering to death

栄枯えいこ

rise and fall, vicissitudes

枯れるかれる

to wither

#3

Meaning

vermilion, cinnabar red

Components

On'yomi

シュ

Example words
朱色しゅいろ

vermilion (color)

朱肉しゅにく

red ink pad (for seals)

朱印しゅいん

red seal stamp

#4

Meaning

soft, gentle, flexible

Components

On'yomi

ジュウ | ニュウ

Kun'yomi

やわ(らかい)

Example words
柔軟じゅうなん

flexible, soft

柔道じゅうどう

judo

柔らかいやわらかい

soft

#5

Meaning

peach

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

もも

Example words
白桃はくとう

white peach

桃色ももいろ

pink (color)

黄桃おうとう

yellow peach

#6

Meaning

cup, glass; counter for cupfuls

Components

On'yomi

ハイ

Kun'yomi

さかずき

Example words
乾杯かんぱい

a toast, cheers

祝杯しゅくはい

celebratory toast

一杯いっぱい

one cupful; full

#7

Meaning

handle; pattern; character

Components

On'yomi

ヘイ

Kun'yomi

がら | え

Example words
横柄おうへい

arrogant, haughty

人柄ひとがら

character, personality

家柄いえがら

family status, lineage

#8

Meaning

column, section; railing

Components

On'yomi

ラン

Example words
欄干らんかん

railing, banister

空欄くうらん

blank column, blank space

備考欄びこうらん

remarks column

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.