Objects & doors

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

can, tin

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
缶詰かんづめ

canned food

空缶あきかん

empty can

製缶せいかん

can manufacturing

#2

Meaning

adorn, make up

Components

On'yomi

ショウ

Example words
化粧けしょう

makeup, cosmetics

化粧品けしょうひん

cosmetics

美粧びしょう

adornment, beautification

#3

Meaning

solemn, quietly

Components

On'yomi

シュク

Example words
厳粛げんしゅく

solemn, grave

静粛せいしゅく

quiet, still

自粛じしゅく

self-restraint

#4

Meaning

furrow, ridge (in a field)

Components

On'yomi

ボウ

Kun'yomi

うね | せ

Example words
畝間うねま

furrow between ridges

畝織りうねおり

ribbed weave

砂畝すなうね

sand ripples/dunes

#5

Meaning

door, title page

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

とびら

Example words
開扉かいひ

opening a door

鉄扉てっぴ

iron door

門扉もんぴ

gate door, leaf

#6

Meaning

return, go back

Components

On'yomi

レイ

Kun'yomi

もど(す) | もど(る)

Example words
戻るもどる

to return, to go back

払い戻しはらいもどし

refund, repayment

後戻りあともどり

turning back, reverting

#7

Meaning

quit, dismiss

Components

On'yomi

Example words
罷免ひめん

dismissal, removal

罷業ひぎょう

strike (labor)

罷り通るまかりとおる

to pass unchallenged

#8

Meaning

gauze, net; arrange

Components

On'yomi

Example words
網羅もうら

network, comprehensive coverage

羅列られつ

enumeration

森羅万象しんらばんしょう

all things in nature

#9

Meaning

fear, apprehension

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

おそれ

Example words
おそれ

fear, risk (of)

危虞きぐ

danger, apprehension

虞犯ぐはん

likely to offend (juvenile)

#10

Meaning

captive, prisoner

Components

On'yomi

リョ

Kun'yomi

とりこ

Example words
捕虜ほりょ

prisoner of war

とりこ

captive; enthralled

虜囚りょしゅう

captive, prisoner

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.