Stone & metal

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

go (board game)

Components

On'yomi

Example words
囲碁いご

the game of go

碁盤ごばん

go board

碁石ごいし

go stones

#2

Meaning

smash, crush, break

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Kun'yomi

くだ(く)

Example words
破砕はさい

crushing, smashing

粉砕ふんさい

pulverization

砕くくだく

to crush, to break

#3

Meaning

saltpeter, niter

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Example words
硝酸しょうさん

nitric acid

硝石しょうせき

saltpeter, niter

硝煙しょうえん

gunpowder smoke

#4

Meaning

reef, submerged rock

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Example words
暗礁あんしょう

hidden reef; snag

岩礁がんしょう

reef

珊瑚礁さんごしょう

coral reef

#5

Meaning

polish, grind, improve

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

みが(く)

Example words
研磨けんま

polishing; training

磨耗まもう

wear, abrasion

磨くみがく

to polish, to brush

#6

Meaning

sulfur

Components

On'yomi

リュウ

Example words
硫黄いおう

sulfur

硫酸りゅうさん

sulfuric acid

硫化りゅうか

sulfuration

#7

Meaning

gun, firearm

Components

On'yomi

ジュウ

Example words
銃器じゅうき

firearms

拳銃けんじゅう

pistol, handgun

小銃しょうじゅう

rifle

#8

Meaning

fish, angle; lure

Components

On'yomi

チョウ

Kun'yomi

つ(る)

Example words
釣りつり

fishing

釣り合いつりあい

balance, harmony

魚釣りさかなつり

fishing (for fish)

#9

Meaning

bowl, pot, basin

Components

On'yomi

ハチ

Example words
植木鉢うえきばち

flower pot

火鉢ひばち

brazier, hibachi

鉢巻きはちまき

headband

#10

Meaning

inscription; brand; engrave

Components

On'yomi

メイ

Example words
銘柄めいがら

brand, name (of goods)

感銘かんめい

deep impression

銘記めいき

engraving in memory

#11

Meaning

bell, small bell

Components

On'yomi

レイ

Kun'yomi

すず

Example words
呼び鈴よびりん

doorbell, buzzer

風鈴ふうりん

wind chime

鈴虫すずむし

bell cricket

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.