Trees & wood

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

core, nucleus; nuclear

Components

On'yomi

カク

Example words
核心かくしん

core, kernel

核兵器かくへいき

nuclear weapon

中核ちゅうかく

core, nucleus

#2

Meaning

coffin, casket

Components

On'yomi

カン

Example words
石棺せっかん

stone coffin, sarcophagus

出棺しゅっかん

carrying out a coffin

納棺のうかん

placing in a coffin

#3

Meaning

plant, cultivate

Components

On'yomi

サイ

Example words
栽培さいばい

cultivation

盆栽ぼんさい

bonsai

植栽しょくさい

planting, landscaping

#4

Meaning

crosspiece; jetty; frame

Components

On'yomi

サン

Example words
桟橋さんばし

pier, wharf

桟敷さじき

box seats (theater)

桟道さんどう

plank road (on a cliff)

#5

Meaning

pivot, hinge; central

Components

On'yomi

スウ

Example words
中枢ちゅうすう

center, nucleus

枢軸すうじく

axis, pivot

枢要すうよう

pivotal, essential

#6

Meaning

Japanese cedar

Components

Kun'yomi

すぎ

Example words
杉並木すぎなみき

row of cedar trees

杉材すぎざい

cedar wood

杉の木すぎのき

cedar tree

#7

Meaning

analyze, divide

Components

On'yomi

セキ

Example words
分析ぶんせき

analysis

解析かいせき

analysis, parsing

透析とうせき

dialysis

#8

Meaning

stopper, plug, cork

Components

On'yomi

セン

Example words
消火栓しょうかせん

fire hydrant

血栓けっせん

blood clot, thrombus

栓抜きせんぬき

bottle opener

#9

Meaning

tank, vat, tub

Components

On'yomi

ソウ

Example words
水槽すいそう

water tank, aquarium

浴槽よくそう

bathtub

歯槽しそう

tooth socket (alveolus)

#10

Meaning

shelf, rack

Components

Kun'yomi

たな

Example words
本棚ほんだな

bookshelf

戸棚とだな

cupboard, cabinet

棚上げたなあげ

shelving (an issue)

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.