People & roles

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

young man; suffix for male names

Components

On'yomi

ロウ

Example words
新郎しんろう

bridegroom

野郎やろう

guy, rascal

太郎たろう

Taro (name)

#2

Meaning

beside, nearby

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

かたわ(ら)

Example words
傍観ぼうかん

looking on, bystanding

傍聴ぼうちょう

listening in, attending

傍らかたわら

beside, nearby

#3

Meaning

shop, store; pave

Components

On'yomi

Example words
店舗てんぽ

shop, store

舗装ほそう

paving (a road)

老舗しにせ

long-established store

#4

Meaning

great, powerful; Australia

Components

On'yomi

ゴウ

Example words
豪雨ごうう

torrential rain

富豪ふごう

wealthy person

豪華ごうか

luxurious, gorgeous

#5

Meaning

male; heroic

Components

On'yomi

ユウ

Kun'yomi

おす | お

Example words
雄大ゆうだい

grand, magnificent

英雄えいゆう

hero

雌雄しゆう

male and female; victory or defeat

#6

Meaning

female (animal)

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

めす | め

Example words
雌雄しゆう

male and female

雌花めばな

female flower

雌鳥めんどり

hen

#7

Meaning

demon, ogre, ghost

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

おに

Example words
鬼才きさい

genius, wizard

鬼門きもん

unlucky direction; weak point

餓鬼がき

hungry ghost; brat

#8

Meaning

give, grant; take part

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

あた(える)

Example words
与党よとう

ruling party

授与じゅよ

conferment, granting

与えるあたえる

to give, to grant

#9

Meaning

combine, serve concurrently

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

か(ねる)

Example words
兼業けんぎょう

side business

兼用けんよう

dual use

兼ねるかねる

to combine, to serve as both

#10

Meaning

all, everyone

Components

On'yomi

カイ

Kun'yomi

みな

Example words
皆勤かいきん

perfect attendance

皆無かいむ

none at all, nil

皆さんみなさん

everyone

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.