8 Kanji Containing 青 (せい) | Memorize 清, 晴, 静, and More by On-reading
Kanji containing '青' (blue) generally share similar on-readings like 'せい' (or 'じょう', 'しょう').
By combining the meaning of the radical (the component usually on the left), you can easily infer the meaning of each kanji.
Efficiently memorize these 8 kanji as a bundle, focusing on core vocabulary frequently tested in JLPT N3–N2.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Kanji | On-reading | Kun-reading | Meaning | Radical Hint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 青 | せい | あお | blue | Blue (radical itself) |
| 清 | せい | きよい | clear / pure | Water (氵) -> Water is clear |
| 晴 | せい | はれる | to clear up | Sun (日) -> Weather is clear |
| 請 | せい | こう | to request | Words (言) -> To ask with words |
| 静 | せい | しずか | quiet | Blue (青) + Dispute (争) -> Disputes cease and it becomes quiet |
| 精 | せい | - | precision / spirit | Rice (米) -> Precise without impurities like polished rice |
| 情 | じょう | なさけ | emotion / sympathy | Heart (忄) -> Heart, emotion |
| 錆 | しょう / せい | さび / さびる | rust | Metal (金) -> Rust on metal |
Item by item
Kun: あお
On: せい
blue
This is the base kanji. It is mainly read with the kun-reading 'あお' (blue) for colors, and often read with the on-reading 'せい' in words like 青年 (せいねん, youth).
Kun: きよい
On: せい
clear / pure
The water radical (氵) is attached to mean 'water is clear'. It is frequently used in words like 清潔 (せいけつ, cleanliness) and 清掃 (せいそう, cleaning).
Kun: はれる
On: せい
to clear up
The sun radical (日) is attached to mean 'the weather is clear'. It is very commonly used in daily life in expressions like 快晴 (かいせい, clear weather) and 晴れ (はれ, sunny).
Kun: こう
On: せい
to request
The word radical (言) is attached to mean 'to ask or request with words'. It's helpful to remember words like 請求 (せいきゅう, billing/request) and 申請 (しんせい, application).
Kun: しずか
On: せい
quiet
Combined with the dispute component (争), it carries the nuance of 'becoming quiet' as a dispute settles down. Used in words like 静か (しずか, quiet) and 安静 (あんせい, rest/quiet).
Kun: -
On: せい
precision / spirit
The rice radical (米) is attached to mean 'precise without impurities', like husked rice. It is mainly used in words like 精神 (せいしん, spirit/mind) and 精密 (せいみつ, precision).
Kun: なさけ
On: じょう
emotion / sympathy
The heart radical (忄) is attached to represent human emotions or mind. Unlike the others, its on-reading is often pronounced 'じょう' (e.g., 感情, かんじょう), so be careful.
Kun: さび / さびる
On: しょう / せい
rust
The metal radical (金) is attached to mean 'rust' on metal. In daily life, it is mostly used with its kun-readings 'さび' (rust) or 'さびる' (to rust).
Practice with examples
How to decide when unsure
- When in doubt about the on-reading, assuming it's read as 'せい' will often get you close to the right answer. However, '情' is frequently read as 'じょう', so it's best to remember it separately as an exception.
- When distinguishing meanings, checking the radical (the left part) is highly effective. Try pairing and comparing '清' (clear), which is related to water (氵), with '晴' (clear up), which is related to weather (日).
- '静' (quiet) has a unique structure where '青' comes on the left and '争' on the right, so be careful not to confuse its shape when writing it by hand.
Common mistakes
Both kanji mean 'clear' and can be confusing. However, in Japanese, their usages are generally quite distinct.
Wrong example: 空が清れる。(X)/Correct example: 空が晴れる。(O)
It is common to use '晴 (はれる)' with the sun (日) for weather clearing up, and '清 (きよい)' with water (氵) for clean and clear water or air.
Mini quiz
Which of the following kanji readings is **incorrect**?
One-line summary
Master these 8 kanji efficiently by using the common shape '青' and the pronunciation 'せい' as a link, while adding the meanings of their radicals!
FAQ
Are kanji containing '青' always read as 'せい'?
Not always. While most share the on-reading 'せい', there are exceptions like '情 (じょう)' where the pronunciation becomes voiced, or '錆 (しょう)' which has a different reading. It is best to memorize them along with vocabulary words.
How do I distinguish between '精' and '清'?
'清' is mainly used to describe clear and clean water (氵), as in 清潔 (せいけつ). '精' is often used to express precision and purity, like polished rice (米) with impurities removed, as in 精密 (せいみつ) or 精神 (せいしん).
