Metals & weather

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

sharp, keen

Components

On'yomi

エイ

Kun'yomi

するど(い)

Example words
鋭利えいり

sharp, keen

鋭角えいかく

acute angle

鋭いするどい

sharp, pointed

#2

Meaning

lead (metal)

Components

On'yomi

エン

Kun'yomi

なまり

Example words
鉛筆えんぴつ

pencil

亜鉛あえん

zinc

黒鉛こくえん

graphite

#3

Meaning

appraise; model, example

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

かがみ

Example words
鑑定かんてい

appraisal, judgment

鑑賞かんしょう

appreciation (of art)

図鑑ずかん

illustrated reference book

#4

Meaning

chain; lock, close off

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

くさり

Example words
閉鎖へいさ

closure, blockade

連鎖れんさ

chain (reaction)

鎖国さこく

national isolation

#5

Meaning

dull, blunt, slow

Components

On'yomi

ドン

Kun'yomi

にぶ(い)

Example words
鈍感どんかん

insensitive, obtuse

鈍角どんかく

obtuse angle

鈍いにぶい

dull, blunt

#6

Meaning

demand, need

Components

On'yomi

ジュ

Example words
需要じゅよう

demand

需給じゅきゅう

supply and demand

必需品ひつじゅひん

necessities

#7

Meaning

shake, tremble, quake

Components

On'yomi

シン

Kun'yomi

ふる(える)

Example words
地震じしん

earthquake

震動しんどう

vibration, tremor

震えるふるえる

to tremble, to shake

#8

Meaning

fog, mist

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

きり

Example words
濃霧のうむ

dense fog

霧雨きりさめ

drizzle, mist rain

朝霧あさぎり

morning fog

#9

Meaning

thunder, lightning

Components

On'yomi

ライ

Kun'yomi

かみなり

Example words
雷鳴らいめい

thunder(clap)

落雷らくらい

lightning strike

地雷じらい

land mine

#10

Meaning

dew; expose, reveal

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

つゆ

Example words
露出ろしゅつ

exposure

暴露ばくろ

disclosure, exposure

朝露あさつゆ

morning dew

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.