Mouth & speech
Tap an example word to hear it pronounced.
On'yomi & Kun'yomi
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.
What the component colors mean
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.
threat, intimidation
warning shot
menace, intimidation
blackmail, extortion
applause, cheering
a thundering shout
scrutiny, careful selection
reciting poetry
troubadour, minstrel
kimono fabric, draper
Wu reading (of kanji)
enemies in the same boat
suggestion, hint
instigation, abetment
to instigate, to tempt
heir, successor
succession, heir
heir, successor
lips
labial sound
lip-reading
loss
mourning clothes
period of mourning
presentation, exhibit
presentation (as a gift)
disclosure, exposure
the only one, unique
materialism
only, merely
Practice
Test yourself on this lesson's kanji.