Speech & words

Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.

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

audience (with a superior)

Components

Example words
えっけん

audience (with royalty)

はいえつ

having an audience (humble)

ないえつ

private audience

#2

Meaning

respectfully, discreetly

Components

Example words
きんしん

self-restraint, penance

きんしんねん

Happy New Year (formal)

つつし

to be reverent, to refrain

#3

Meaning

humble, modest

Components

Example words
けんきょ

modesty, humility

けんそん

humbleness, modesty

けんじょう

humbling oneself, deference

#4

Meaning

deceive, cheat, fraud

Components

Example words

fraud, swindle

しゅ

defrauding, swindling

しょう

misrepresentation

#5

Meaning

sue, lawsuit

Components

Example words
しょう

lawsuit, litigation

そうしょう

dispute, litigation

しょうよう

litigation costs

#6

Meaning

imperial edict

Components

Example words
しょうしょ

imperial rescript

しょうちょく

imperial edict

しょうめい

imperial command

#7

Meaning

examine (medically), diagnose

Components

Example words
しんさつ

medical examination

しんだん

diagnosis

しん

percussion (medical); sounding out

#8

Meaning

swear, pledge, vow

Components

Example words
せいやく

oath, vow

せんせい

oath, pledge

ちか

to swear, to vow

#9

Meaning

copy, transcribe

Components

Example words
とうほん

certified copy

とうしゃ

copying, transcription

せきとうほん

copy of family register

#10

Meaning

musical score; genealogy

Components

Example words
がく

musical score

けい

genealogy, lineage

ねん

chronological record

Practice

Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.