Mouth & voice

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

contain, include; hold in mouth

Components

On'yomi

ガン

Kun'yomi

ふく(む) | ふく(める)

Example words
含有がんゆう

containing (a substance)

包含ほうがん

inclusion

含むふくむ

to contain, to include

#2

Meaning

shout, cry out

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

さけ(ぶ)

Example words
絶叫ぜっきょう

scream, exclamation

叫ぶさけぶ

to shout, to cry out

叫びさけび

a shout, a cry

#3

Meaning

bloom, blossom

Components

Kun'yomi

さ(く)

Example words
咲くさく

to bloom

遅咲きおそざき

late blooming

早咲きはやざき

early blooming

#4

Meaning

summon; (honorific) eat, wear

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Kun'yomi

め(す)

Example words
召集しょうしゅう

convocation, summons

召喚しょうかん

summons (to court)

召し上がるめしあがる

to eat/drink (honorific)

#5

Meaning

blow (wind, breath)

Components

On'yomi

スイ

Kun'yomi

ふ(く)

Example words
吹奏すいそう

playing wind instruments

鼓吹こすい

advocacy, inspiration

吹くふく

to blow

#6

Meaning

grieve, lament, sigh

Components

On'yomi

タン

Kun'yomi

なげ(く)

Example words
感嘆かんたん

admiration; exclamation

悲嘆ひたん

grief, lamentation

嘆くなげく

to lament, to grieve

#7

Meaning

vomit; spit out; express

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

は(く)

Example words
吐露とろ

expressing (feelings)

吐息といき

a sigh

吐くはく

to vomit; to spit out

#8

Meaning

Tang (China); Chinese-style

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Kun'yomi

から

Example words
唐突とうとつ

abrupt, sudden

唐草からくさ

arabesque pattern

遣唐使けんとうし

envoy to Tang China

#9

Meaning

erupt, gush, spew

Components

On'yomi

フン

Kun'yomi

ふ(く)

Example words
噴火ふんか

volcanic eruption

噴出ふんしゅつ

gushing out, spewing

噴水ふんすい

fountain

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.