Decoration & space

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

shadow, silhouette, image

Components

On'yomi

エイ

Kun'yomi

かげ

Example words
影響えいきょう

influence, effect

撮影さつえい

photographing, filming

面影おもかげ

vestige, trace, face

#2

Meaning

color, coloring

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

いろど(る)

Example words
彩色さいしき

coloring

色彩しきさい

coloring, hue

彩るいろどる

to color, to decorate

#3

Meaning

decorate, adorn

Components

On'yomi

ショク

Kun'yomi

かざ(る)

Example words
装飾そうしょく

decoration, ornament

修飾しゅうしょく

modification, embellishment

飾るかざる

to decorate

#4

Meaning

ring, circle, loop

Components

On'yomi

カン

Kun'yomi

Example words
環境かんきょう

environment

循環じゅんかん

circulation, cycle

一環いっかん

a part, a link

#5

Meaning

fan

Components

On'yomi

セン

Kun'yomi

おうぎ

Example words
扇風機せんぷうき

electric fan

扇動せんどう

incitement, agitation

扇子せんす

folding fan

#6

Meaning

hat, cap

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Example words
帽子ぼうし

hat, cap

制帽せいぼう

regulation cap

赤帽あかぼう

red cap; porter

#7

Meaning

tatami mat; fold up

Components

On'yomi

ジョウ

Kun'yomi

たた(む) | たたみ

Example words
六畳ろくじょう

six-mat room

石畳いしだたみ

stone pavement

畳むたたむ

to fold up

#8

Meaning

floor; bed

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Kun'yomi

ゆか | とこ

Example words
起床きしょう

getting out of bed

温床おんしょう

hotbed, breeding ground

床屋とこや

barbershop

#9

Meaning

edge, end, tip; proper

Components

On'yomi

タン

Kun'yomi

はし | は

Example words
端末たんまつ

terminal, device

極端きょくたん

extreme

道端みちばた

roadside

#10

Meaning

interior, depths; inner

Components

On'yomi

オウ

Kun'yomi

おく

Example words
奥義おうぎ

secrets, mysteries

奥様おくさま

someone's wife (polite)

奥深いおくぶかい

deep, profound

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.