Emotions & mind

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

fear, dread

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

おそ(れる) | こわ(い)

Example words
恐怖きょうふ

fear, terror

恐縮きょうしゅく

feeling obliged/sorry

恐ろしいおそろしい

frightful, terrible

#2

Meaning

be prudent, discreet

Components

On'yomi

シン

Kun'yomi

つつし(む)

Example words
慎重しんちょう

prudent, careful

謹慎きんしん

self-restraint, penance

慎むつつしむ

to be discreet, to refrain

#3

Meaning

shame, disgrace

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

は(じる) | は(ずかしい)

Example words
恥辱ちじょく

disgrace, humiliation

無恥むち

shamelessness

恥ずかしいはずかしい

embarrassing, shy

#4

Meaning

anger, get angry

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

いか(る) | おこ(る)

Example words
怒号どごう

angry shout, roar

激怒げきど

rage, fury

怒るおこる

to get angry

#5

Meaning

be troubled, worry

Components

On'yomi

ノウ

Kun'yomi

なや(む) | なや(ます)

Example words
苦悩くのう

anguish, distress

悩みなやみ

worry, trouble

悩むなやむ

to worry, to be troubled

#6

Meaning

be afraid, scary

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

こわ(い)

Example words
恐怖きょうふ

fear, terror

怖いこわい

scary, frightening

怖がるこわがる

to be afraid

#7

Meaning

busy

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

いそが(しい)

Example words
多忙たぼう

very busy

繁忙はんぼう

busy, pressed

忙しいいそがしい

busy

#8

Meaning

pride; laziness; slow

Components

On'yomi

マン

Example words
我慢がまん

patience, endurance

自慢じまん

pride, boasting

慢性まんせい

chronic

#9

Meaning

love, romance, yearn

Components

On'yomi

レン

Kun'yomi

こい | こ(う)

Example words
恋愛れんあい

romantic love

失恋しつれん

broken heart, lost love

恋人こいびと

lover, sweetheart

#10

Meaning

be puzzled, tempted

Components

On'yomi

ワク

Kun'yomi

まど(う)

Example words
誘惑ゆうわく

temptation, lure

疑惑ぎわく

suspicion, doubt

迷惑めいわく

trouble, nuisance

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.