The body

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

leg; base

Components

On'yomi

キャク

Kun'yomi

あし

Example words
脚本きゃくほん

script, screenplay

脚光きゃっこう

limelight, spotlight

三脚さんきゃく

tripod

#2

Meaning

shoulder

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

かた

Example words
肩車かたぐるま

riding on shoulders

双肩そうけん

both shoulders

肩幅かたはば

shoulder width

#3

Meaning

fat, grease

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

あぶら

Example words
脂肪しぼう

fat, body fat

油脂ゆし

oils and fats

樹脂じゅし

resin

#4

Meaning

take off; escape; omit

Components

On'yomi

ダツ

Kun'yomi

ぬ(ぐ) | ぬ(げる)

Example words
脱出だっしゅつ

escape, breakout

脱線だっせん

derailment; digression

脱ぐぬぐ

to take off (clothes)

#5

Meaning

torso, trunk (of body)

Components

On'yomi

ドウ

Example words
胴体どうたい

torso, trunk

胴上げどうあげ

tossing up in the air

胴回りどうまわり

girth, waist

#6

Meaning

rot, decay; tofu

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

くさ(る)

Example words
腐敗ふはい

decay; corruption

豆腐とうふ

tofu

腐るくさる

to rot, to go bad

#7

Meaning

skin

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

はだ

Example words
皮膚ひふ

skin

皮膚科ひふか

dermatology

完膚かんぷ

thoroughly (as in unhurt skin)

#8

Meaning

fat (body fat)

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Example words
脂肪しぼう

fat, body fat

皮下脂肪ひかしぼう

subcutaneous fat

中性脂肪ちゅうせいしぼう

neutral fat, triglyceride

#9

Meaning

lower back, waist, hips

Components

On'yomi

ヨウ

Kun'yomi

こし

Example words
腰痛ようつう

lower back pain

腰掛けこしかけ

seat, bench

足腰あしこし

legs and lower back

#10

Meaning

arm; skill

Components

On'yomi

ワン

Kun'yomi

うで

Example words
腕力わんりょく

physical strength (of arms)

手腕しゅわん

ability, skill

腕前うでまえ

skill, ability

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.