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N5

Kanji 語: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 語: word, speech, language

Key takeaways

Kanji 語: word, speech, language. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

wordspeechlanguage

On reading

Kun reading

かた.るかた.らう

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 語

word, speech, language

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

言 + 吾

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

When 'I' (吾) speak 'words' (言), it becomes 'speech' or 'language.' Imagine that the words coming from me personally are what define a language.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 漢語かんご

    Chinese-origin word / Sino-Japanese word

  • 語彙ごい

    vocabulary / word collection

  • 語句ごく

    words / phrases

  • 語源ごげん

    word origin / etymology

  • 標語ひょうご

    slogan / motto / catchphrase

  • 文語ぶんご

    classical written language / literary language

  • 略語りゃくご

    abbreviation / acronym

  • 敬語けいご

    honorific language / polite speech

Kun reading

かた.る
  • 語るかたる

    to talk / to tell / to narrate

Commonly used words

  • 漢語
    かんご

    Chinese-origin word / Sino-Japanese word

  • 語彙
    ごい

    vocabulary / word collection

  • 語句
    ごく

    words / phrases

  • 語源
    ごげん

    word origin / etymology

  • 標語
    ひょうご

    slogan / motto / catchphrase

  • 文語
    ぶんご

    classical written language / literary language

  • 語る
    かたる

    to talk / to tell / to narrate

Example sentences

Example 1

は日本にたくさんあります。

Translation

There are many Sino-Japanese words in Japanese.

Example 2

この漢の意味を調べてください。

Translation

Please check the meaning of this Sino-Japanese word.

Example 3

新しい彙を覚えました。

Translation

I learned new vocabulary.

Example 4

この本には難しい彙が多いです。

Translation

This book contains many difficult words.

Kanji 語: word, speech, language | Daily Nihongo