Thread & cloth

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

investigate, examine, twist

Components

On'yomi

キュウ

Kun'yomi

ただ(す)

Example words
糾弾きゅうだん

denunciation, censure

紛糾ふんきゅう

complication, disorder

糾明きゅうめい

thorough investigation

#2

Meaning

cocoon

Components

On'yomi

ケン

Kun'yomi

まゆ

Example words
繭玉まゆだま

cocoon-shaped decoration

蚕繭さんけん

silkworm cocoon

繭糸けんし

cocoon silk thread

#3

Meaning

search, rope, cord

Components

On'yomi

サク

Example words
検索けんさく

search, retrieval

索引さくいん

index

模索もさく

groping, fumbling

#4

Meaning

thread, strap; beginning

Components

On'yomi

ショ | チョ

Kun'yomi

Example words
情緒じょうちょ

emotion, feelings

端緒たんしょ

beginning, clue

由緒ゆいしょ

history, origin

#5

Meaning

gentleman

Components

On'yomi

シン

Example words
紳士しんし

gentleman

紳士服しんしふく

men's clothing

紳士的しんしてき

gentlemanly

#6

Meaning

fine, slender, delicate

Components

On'yomi

セン

Example words
繊維せんい

fiber

繊細せんさい

delicate, sensitive

化繊かせん

synthetic fiber

#7

Meaning

spin (thread)

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

つむ(ぐ)

Example words
紡績ぼうせき

spinning (industry)

混紡こんぼう

blended spinning

紡ぐつむぐ

to spin (thread)

#8

Meaning

accumulate; involve, trouble

Components

On'yomi

ルイ

Example words
累積るいせき

accumulation

累計るいけい

cumulative total

係累けいるい

dependents, encumbrances

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.