Grain & vessels

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稿

Meaning

manuscript, draft

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Example words
原稿げんこう

manuscript

投稿とうこう

contribution, posting

草稿そうこう

draft

#2

Meaning

excel, be superior

Components

On'yomi

シュウ

Kun'yomi

ひい(でる)

Example words
優秀ゆうしゅう

excellent, outstanding

秀才しゅうさい

talented person, genius

秀でるひいでる

to excel, to surpass

#3

Meaning

name, title; praise

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Kun'yomi

とな(える)

Example words
名称めいしょう

name, designation

称賛しょうさん

praise, admiration

対称たいしょう

symmetry

#4

Meaning

rice plant

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

いね | いな

Example words
稲作いなさく

rice cultivation

水稲すいとう

paddy rice

稲穂いなほ

ear of rice

#5

Meaning

oversee, supervise

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
監督かんとく

director, supervisor

監視かんし

monitoring, surveillance

監獄かんごく

prison

#6

Meaning

steal, rob

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

ぬす(む)

Example words
盗難とうなん

theft, robbery

強盗ごうとう

robbery, burglar

盗むぬすむ

to steal

#7

Meaning

tray; board; disc

Components

On'yomi

バン

Example words
基盤きばん

foundation, base

円盤えんばん

disc, discus

地盤じばん

ground, base

#8

Meaning

tray; Bon festival

Components

On'yomi

ボン

Example words
盆地ぼんち

basin (geography)

盆栽ぼんさい

bonsai

お盆おぼん

Bon festival

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.