Assorted 3

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).

?

Grey - another building block, with no clear meaning or sound role.

#1

Meaning

sub-, second; Asia

Components

On'yomi

Example words
亜熱帯あねったい

subtropics

亜鉛あえん

zinc

東亜とうあ

East Asia

#2

Meaning

military officer rank

Components

On'yomi

Example words
大尉たいい

captain (army)

中尉ちゅうい

first lieutenant

尉官いかん

company officer

#3

Meaning

old man, venerable elder

Components

On'yomi

オウ

Kun'yomi

おきな

Example words
老翁ろうおう

old man

塞翁が馬さいおうがうま

blessing in disguise

翁草おきなぐさ

pasqueflower

#4

Meaning

shell, husk, crust

Components

On'yomi

カク

Kun'yomi

から

Example words
地殻ちかく

earth's crust

卵殻らんかく

eggshell

貝殻かいがら

seashell

#5

Meaning

control, jurisdiction

Components

On'yomi

カツ

Example words
管轄かんかつ

jurisdiction, control

直轄ちょっかつ

direct control

所轄しょかつ

jurisdiction

#6

Meaning

article, clause; goodwill

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
定款ていかん

articles of incorporation

借款しゃっかん

loan (between nations)

落款らっかん

artist's signature/seal

#7

Meaning

hunger, starve

Components

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

う(える)

Example words
飢餓きが

starvation, famine

飢饉ききん

famine

飢えるうえる

to starve, to hunger

#8

Meaning

rectify, correct, straighten

Components

On'yomi

キョウ

Kun'yomi

た(める)

Example words
矯正きょうせい

correction, straightening

奇矯ききょう

eccentric, odd

矯めるためる

to straighten, to correct

#9

Meaning

dawn, daybreak

Components

On'yomi

ギョウ

Kun'yomi

あかつき

Example words
払暁ふつぎょう

dawn, daybreak

暁星ぎょうせい

morning star

通暁つうぎょう

thorough knowledge

#10

Meaning

balance, weigh

Components

On'yomi

コウ

Example words
均衡きんこう

equilibrium, balance

平衡へいこう

balance, equilibrium

度量衡どりょうこう

weights and measures

#11

Meaning

insect; elder brother

Components

On'yomi

コン

Example words
昆虫こんちゅう

insect

昆布こんぶ

kelp, kombu

昆虫採集こんちゅうさいしゅう

insect collecting

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.