Explanation
of Kanji Entry Format
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When you write kanji, try to copy the handwritten style (on the left). Do not copy the kanji in print style. |
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くん reading = pronunciation native to Japan. Written in ひらがな. (The reading introduced in the lesson is written in a larger font.) |
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オン reading = pronunciation originated in China. Written in カタカナ. (The reading introduced in the lesson is written in a larger font.) |
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The "～" symbol (pronounced as なになに "so-and-so")
in the くん readings means that a particular kanji requires
additional ひらがな (called おくりがな) to be a complete word
as in
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A "radical" is a component of kanji that is used to classify each kanji systematically. You will also see this information in a kanji dictionary. The nickname of the radical is written on the right. |
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Some kanji compounds are, by convention, read in certain ways as
a whole, and cannot be subdivided into the オン vs. くん reading for each
character. For example, the word 今日 is pronounced as きょう ("today")
as a whole and it cannot be subdivided into separate kanji readings
for 今 and 日. Such words are noted with a red flag ( 
= inseparable reading). |