What does 飯 mean in Japanese? 飯 means cooked rice, and by extension a meal. Its most important word is ご飯 (gohan), which Japanese uses for both rice in the bowl and meals in general: 朝ご飯 is breakfast whether or not rice is served. The on’yomi ハン appears in ご飯 and its family (朝ご飯, 昼ご飯) … Read more
What does 鳥 mean in Japanese? 鳥 means bird. The kun’yomi とり (tori) is the everyday word for a bird, and it also shows up in one of Japan’s favorite foods: 焼き鳥 (yakitori, grilled chicken skewers). The on’yomi チョウ appears in compounds like 白鳥 (hakuchou, swan) and 野鳥 (yachou, wild bird). The character comes from … Read more
What does 牛 mean in Japanese? 牛 means cow or cattle. Its two highest-value words are 牛肉 (gyuuniku, beef) and 牛乳 (gyuunyuu, milk), which you will meet on every shopping trip in Japan. The on’yomi ギュウ appears in those food words and in 牛丼 (gyuudon, beef bowl). The kun’yomi うし (ushi) is the living animal. … Read more
What does 魚 mean in Japanese? 魚 means fish. Its everyday reading is the kun’yomi さかな (sakana): you will hear 魚を食べる (to eat fish) constantly in a country where fish is central to the diet. The on’yomi ギョ appears in compounds like 金魚 (kingyo, goldfish) and 人魚 (ningyo, mermaid). A second kun’yomi うお (uo) survives … Read more
What does 肉 mean in Japanese? 肉 means meat or flesh. It is one of the most practical food kanji in Japanese: the word 肉 (niku, meat) is used on its own at supermarkets, restaurants, and dinner tables every day. The on’yomi ニク covers almost every use: 牛肉 (gyuuniku, beef), 豚肉 (butaniku, pork), and 焼肉 … Read more
What does 習 mean in Japanese? 習 means to learn something by practising it, especially a skill you are taught. Its kun’yomi 習う (narau, to learn/take lessons in) is an everyday verb, and it forms core study words like 練習 (renshuu, practice) and 学習 (gakushuu, learning). The on’yomi シュウ drives the compounds: 練習 (practice), 学習 … Read more
What does 験 mean in Japanese? 験 means to test, verify, or experience. You will almost always meet it in compounds — above all 試験 (shiken, exam) and 経験 (keiken, experience) — rather than on its own. The reading is the on’yomi ケン in every common word: 試験 (exam), 経験 (experience), 実験 (jikken, experiment), 受験 … Read more
What does 試 mean in Japanese? 試 means to try, test, or attempt. Its most important word for learners is 試験 (shiken, an exam), and its kun’yomi 試す (tamesu, to try/test something) is an everyday verb. The on’yomi シ appears in 試験 (exam), 試合 (shiai, a match/game), and 入試 (nyuushi, entrance exam). The kun’yomi こころ-みる … Read more
What does 答 mean in Japanese? 答 means to answer or reply. Its kun’yomi verb 答える (kotaeru, to answer) and noun 答え (kotae, an answer) are everyday words, and it pairs naturally with 問 (ask) as the second half of question-and-answer. The on’yomi トウ gives more formal compounds: 回答 (kaitou, a reply/response) and 解答 (kaitou, … Read more
What does 題 mean in Japanese? 題 means a topic, subject, or title. You already meet it inside two everyday words: 問題 (mondai, problem/question) and 宿題 (shukudai, homework). Learning 題 mostly means recognising the words it forms. The reading is almost always the on’yomi ダイ, and there is no everyday kun’yomi. Beyond study words, 題 … Read more
