Movement

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

differ; violate

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

ちが(う) | ちが(える)

Example words
違反いはん

violation, breach

相違そうい

difference, discrepancy

違うちがう

to differ, to be wrong

#2

Meaning

welcome, greet, meet

Components

On'yomi

ゲイ

Kun'yomi

むか(える)

Example words
歓迎かんげい

welcome

送迎そうげい

pick-up and drop-off

迎えるむかえる

to welcome, to greet

#3

Meaning

dispatch, send

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

つか(う) | つか(わす)

Example words
派遣はけん

dispatch, sending

遣唐使けんとうし

envoy to Tang China

小遣いこづかい

pocket money

#4

Meaning

be crowded; put into

Components

Kun'yomi

こ(む) | こ(める)

Example words
申込みもうしこみ

application, booking

見込みみこみ

prospect, expectation

込むこむ

to be crowded

#5

Meaning

late; slow

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

おく(れる) | おそ(い)

Example words
遅刻ちこく

being late, tardiness

遅延ちえん

delay

遅いおそい

slow, late

#6

Meaning

way, route, on the way

Components

On'yomi

Example words
途中とちゅう

on the way, midway

用途ようと

use, purpose

途端とたん

the moment (when)

#7

Meaning

escape, flee

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

に(げる) | のが(す)

Example words
逃走とうそう

flight, escape

逃亡とうぼう

fleeing, escape

逃げるにげる

to run away, to flee

#8

Meaning

be transparent; pass through

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

す(く) | す(ける)

Example words
透明とうめい

transparent

浸透しんとう

permeation

透けるすける

to be see-through

#9

Meaning

press, urge, draw near

Components

On'yomi

ハク

Kun'yomi

せま(る)

Example words
迫力はくりょく

force, impact (of a scene)

圧迫あっぱく

pressure, oppression

迫るせまる

to draw near, to press

#10

Meaning

avoid, evade, shelter

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

さ(ける) | よ(ける)

Example words
避難ひなん

evacuation, refuge

回避かいひ

avoidance, evasion

避けるさける

to avoid

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.