Hand actions 2

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

insert, put in

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Kun'yomi

さ(す)

Example words
挿入そうにゅう

insertion

挿絵さしえ

illustration

挿すさす

to insert, to put in

#2

Meaning

challenge, defy

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Kun'yomi

いど(む)

Example words
挑戦ちょうせん

challenge

挑発ちょうはつ

provocation

挑むいどむ

to challenge, to defy

#3

Meaning

withdraw, remove

Components

On'yomi

テツ

Example words
撤退てったい

withdrawal, retreat

撤去てっきょ

removal, withdrawal

撤回てっかい

retraction, withdrawal

#4

Meaning

board, load, mount

Components

On'yomi

トウ

Example words
搭乗とうじょう

boarding (a plane)

搭載とうさい

loading, equipping

搭乗券とうじょうけん

boarding pass

#5

Meaning

grasp, hold; bundle

Components

On'yomi

Example words
把握はあく

grasp, comprehension

把持はじ

grip, holding

大雑把おおざっぱ

rough, loose

#6

Meaning

open, unfold, reveal

Components

On'yomi

Example words
披露ひろう

announcement, showing

披露宴ひろうえん

wedding reception

披見ひけん

perusal, reading

#7

Meaning

aid, support, help

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

たす(ける)

Example words
扶養ふよう

support (a family)

扶助ふじょ

aid, assistance

扶けるたすける

to help, to aid

#8

Meaning

strike, hit; sumo

Components

On'yomi

ボク

Example words
撲滅ぼくめつ

eradication

打撲だぼく

blow, contusion

相撲すもう

sumo wrestling

#9

Meaning

rub, chafe, scrape

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

さす(る)

Example words
摩擦まさつ

friction

摩天楼まてんろう

skyscraper

摩耗まもう

wear, abrasion

#10

Meaning

erase, rub out, paint over

Components

On'yomi

マツ

Example words
抹消まっしょう

erasure, deletion

抹茶まっちゃ

matcha (powdered green tea)

一抹いちまつ

a touch of, a tinge

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.