Vehicles & horses

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

compare

Components

On'yomi

カク

Kun'yomi

くら(べる)

Example words
比較ひかく

comparison

比較的ひかくてき

comparatively

較差こうさ

range, difference

#2

Meaning

shine, sparkle

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

かがや(く)

Example words
光輝こうき

brightness, radiance

輝くかがやく

to shine, to sparkle

輝きかがやき

brilliance, glitter

#3

Meaning

eaves; counter for houses

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

のき

Example words
軒先のきさき

edge of the eaves

一軒家いっけんや

detached house

軒並みのきなみ

row of houses; all alike

#4

Meaning

load; publish, record

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

の(せる) | の(る)

Example words
掲載けいさい

publication (in print)

積載せきさい

loading (cargo)

記載きさい

mention, statement (in writing)

#5

Meaning

fellow, colleague; comrades

Components

On'yomi

ハイ

Example words
先輩せんぱい

senior, senpai

後輩こうはい

junior, kouhai

輩出はいしゅつ

producing (many talents)

#6

Meaning

gallop, run; drive

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

か(ける) | か(る)

Example words
駆使くし

making full use of

疾駆しっく

galloping, speeding

駆けるかける

to run, to gallop

#7

Meaning

make noise, be boisterous

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

さわ(ぐ)

Example words
騒音そうおん

noise

騒動そうどう

disturbance, uproar

騒ぐさわぐ

to make noise, to clamor

#8

Meaning

be surprised, astonished

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

おどろ(く)

Example words
驚異きょうい

wonder, marvel

驚嘆きょうたん

admiration, astonishment

驚くおどろく

to be surprised

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.