99Cards
BeginnerDifficulty
148 minTime
Kanji That Build Many WordsThemes
Overview
Open it when you are ready to practice word-building patterns next.
Practice This Deck
Open the dedicated practice room for flashcards, quiz, and review.
Previous deckCompound PowerhousesCompound Powerhouses gathers 99 kanji centered on compound building.Next deckKanji in Japanese Place NamesStudy 99 kanji that keep Japanese place names in view.
Cards in This Deck
99 Cards
- 01大large, bigThis fundamental kanji for "big" appears in common words like 大切 for importance or 大丈夫 for being okay.
- 02本book, present, mainMeaning "origin" or "book," this kanji builds essential words like 本当 for truth and 本社 for a main office.
- 03中in, inside, middleThis kanji for "middle" or "inside" is used in everyday terms like 中指 for the middle finger and 中古 for second-hand items.
- 04同same, agree, equalLearn how "same" works in the adjective 同じ and as a building block for words like 同士 for companions.
- 05自oneselfThis "self" kanji is vital for understanding words like 自転車 for bicycle and 自ら for doing something oneself.
- 06分part, minute of time, segmentWhether counting minutes or using 分かる to understand, this kanji for "parts" is used in countless combinations.
- 07後behind, back, laterUse this kanji for "after" or "behind" in words ranging from a book's afterword, 後書き, to a delay, 遅れ.
- 08前in front, beforeThis kanji marks positions and time, appearing in 前日 for the previous day or 前半 for the first half of something.
- 09上above, upFrom describing your upper body, 上半身, to being skillful, 上手, this kanji for "up" is found everywhere.
- 10方direction, person, alternativeThis flexible kanji is used for directions, 方向, and grammar structures like 方がいい for giving advice.
- 11定determine, fix, establishLook for this kanji in words related to routine or stability, such as 定例 for regular events or 定数 for constants.
- 12手handThe kanji for "hand" builds common body terms like 手足 for limbs and compound words like 手術 for surgery.
- 13実reality, truth, seedUse this kanji to speak about truth or reality in words like 実 for "actually" or 実験 for a scientific experiment.
- 14動move, motion, changeFrom the movements of 動き to the living creatures in 動物, this kanji is core to many action-based words.
- 15主lord, chief, masterThis kanji for "main" or "master" identifies people in charge, as seen in 主席 for a chairman or head.
- 16下below, down, descendThis kanji is used for "down" in words like 下半身 for the lower body and the verb 降りる for getting off a train.
- 17気spirit, mind, airExplore subtle moods and feelings through this "spirit" kanji in words like 気味 for a sensation or 気配 for a sign.
- 18小little, smallThis kanji for "small" builds words for things on a minor scale, like 小雨 for light rain or 小屋 for a little shack.
- 19多many, frequent, muchDescribe variety and volume with this kanji for "many," used in 多数 for a large number and 多様 for diversity.
- 20向yonder, facing, beyondThis kanji relates to directions and facing, found in 向き for orientation and 向上 for upward improvement.
- 21際occasion, side, edgeYou can build words about an occasion or edge, such as 際立つ, using this character.
- 22反anti-The anti- meaning makes this character essential for compound words like 反応.
- 23元beginning, former time, originCharacters for beginning and origin are highly productive in everyday vocabulary, seen in 元日.
- 24近near, early, akinYou can attach this character for near to various parts of speech to make words like 近代.
- 25利profit, advantage, benefitThe idea of advantage provides a strong foundation for assembling common terms like 利益 and 利用.
- 26組association, braid, plaitLearning this character for association helps you unlock structural words like 組織.
- 27集gather, meet, congregateWith its meaning of gather, this kanji easily combines to create group-oriented vocabulary like 集団.
- 28在exist, outskirts, suburbsThis character for existence is widely attached to other elements to form words like 在学.
- 29件affair, case, matterMastering this matter and case character expands your ability to read formal vocabulary like 件数.
- 30団group, associationYou will frequently see this group character driving the meaning of collective terms like 団体.
- 31別separate, branch off, divergeWords focusing on separation or distinction heavily rely on this kanji, as seen in 別名.
- 32必invariably, certain, inevitableThe strong meaning of certain acts as a versatile building block for necessity terms like 必要.
- 33応apply, answer, yesThis character for answer readily attaches to diverse concepts to create words like 応援.
- 34位rank, grade, throneConnecting the idea of rank to other kanji produces useful positioning terms like 位置.
- 35置placement, put, setThe action of placement is central to assembling directional or organizational words like 置き換える.
- 36格status, rank, capacityTerms denoting status or capacity, such as 格差, rely completely on this character.
- 37有possess, have, existA fundamental concept like possess naturally pairs with a huge variety of kanji, forming words like 有無.
- 38過overdo, exceed, go beyondThis character for overdo functions almost like a prefix, significantly multiplying the words you can understand, such as 過去.
- 39少few, littleYou will encounter the meaning of few in plenty of basic combination words like 少量.
- 40供submit, offer, presentThis kanji for offer is a core component that branches out into important logistical terms like 供給.
- 41可can, passable, approval可 helps build many essential words expressing approval or possibility, such as 可能.
- 42比compare, race, ratioMastering the "compare" meaning of 比 unlocks useful vocabulary like 比例 and 比べる.
- 43補supplement, supply, make good補 frequently combines with other kanji to form words related to assistance or supplementing, like 補助.
- 44番turn, number in a seriesYou will see 番 in many everyday words related to numbers and order, including 番号 and 番組.
- 45備equip, provision, preparationThe kanji 備 is a key building block for words concerning preparation and equipment, such as 備える.
- 46配distribute, spouse, exile配 brings the idea of distribution to numerous compound words, like 配達 and 配分.
- 47残remainder, leftover, balanceMany common Japanese words use 残 to express things that are left behind or remaining, such as 残り.
- 48限limit, restrict, to best of abilityKnowing 限 makes it easier to learn a wide variety of terms related to limits and restrictions, like 限界.
- 49形shape, form, style形 acts as the core character for a large number of vocabulary words describing shapes and forms, including 形式.
- 50差distinction, difference, variationThe kanji 差 forms many words dealing with differences or distinctions, such as 差別.
- 51個individual, counter for articlesBeyond its use as a counter, 個 builds key terms related to individuals, like 個人 and 個性.
- 52量quantity, measure, weight量 provides the foundation for many Japanese words measuring amount or quantity.
- 53段grade, steps, stairsLearning 段 unlocks words associated with grades, steps, and stages, such as 段階.
- 54効merit, efficacy, efficiency効 shows up in a variety of useful words describing efficiency and effects, including 効果.
- 55周circumference, circuit, lapYou will use 周 to read and write many words indicating surroundings or perimeters, like 周辺.
- 56登ascend, climb up登 acts as a core piece for common vocabulary about climbing or registering, such as 登録.
- 57色colorAs the kanji for color, 色 naturally forms a vast array of descriptive words and phrases.
- 58異uncommon, different, queerness異 frequently combines with other characters to create words focused on differences and the uncommon.
- 59素elementary, principle, naked素 is a fundamental kanji used to build words related to elements and materials, like 素材.
- 60込crowded, mixture, in bulk込 attaches to many verbs to create new everyday words expressing inclusion or becoming crowded, such as 込む.
- 61倍double, twice, timesThe concept of "double" makes 倍 an important building block for vocabulary like 倍増 and 倍率.
- 62途route, way, roadThe kanji 途 adds the idea of a "route" to build common terms like 途中 and 途上.
- 63普universal, wide(ly), generallyKnowing 普 helps you construct everyday vocabulary like 普段 and 普通 through its "universal" meaning.
- 64級class, rank, gradeThe meaning "rank" gives 級 a central role in forming words that organize levels, such as 級友.
- 65等etc., and so forth, class (first)As a kanji for "equal", 等 frequently combines with other characters to create terms like 等価 and 等分.
- 66版printing block, printing plate, editionThe concept of an "edition" connects 版 to a variety of publishing vocabulary, including 版画 and 版権.
- 67削plane, sharpen, whittleYou will use 削 to build words related to reducing or shaving things down, such as 削減 and 削除.
- 68密secrecy, density (pop), minutenessThe "secrecy" and "density" meanings of 密 generate a wide range of compound words, from 密接 to 密輸.
- 69混mix, blend, confuseBy adding the idea of "mix", 混 builds numerous useful verbs like 混ぜる, 混じる, and 混ざる.
- 70載ride, board, get onThe kanji 載 provides the core meaning of "place" or "board" in vocabulary like 載る.
- 71遠distant, farThe kanji 遠 forms the basis for spatial and conceptual words relating to "distant", such as 遠距離 and 遠慮.
- 72縮shrink, contract, shrivelThe meaning "shrink" makes 縮 a productive component for words like 縮小 and 縮む.
- 73束bundle, sheaf, reamMastering 束 helps you put together words related to a "bundle" or managing things, like 束縛.
- 74列file, row, rankThe "row" concept of 列 is used to build vocabulary that lines things up, including 列車 and 列島.
- 75需demand, request, needUnderstanding 需 unlocks essential economic and practical words related to "demand", such as 需要 and 需給.
- 76届deliver, reach, arriveThe kanji 届 anchors everyday verbs and nouns about having things "deliver" or arrive, like 届け出 and 届く.
- 77充allot, fillThe kanji 充 brings its "fill" meaning to create highly common vocabulary like 十分 and 充実.
- 78緒thong, beginning, inceptionBy providing meanings like "beginning" and "cord", 緒 helps you form words such as 糸口 and 緒戦.
- 79包wrap, pack up, coverThe idea to "wrap" makes 包 the foundation for practical terms like 包む and 包丁.
- 80称appellation, praise, admireThe kanji 称 supplies the meaning of "name" and "praise" to construct advanced vocabulary like 称賛.
- 81促stimulate, urge, pressThe meaning of urging or stimulating drives the creation of vocabulary like 促進 and 促す.
- 82透transparent, permeate, filterLearners encounter this character for transparency when reading everyday terms such as 透明.
- 83純genuine, purity, innocenceIdeas of purity and innocence expand into various compounds, most notably 純粋 and 純情.
- 84御honorable, manipulate, governThis honorable prefix attaches to many words to add politeness, building familiar terms like お父さん.
- 85尊revered, valuable, preciousExpressing reverence or value, this kanji constructs essential language like 尊重 and 尊ぶ.
- 86飢hungry, starveConcepts of starvation and hunger anchor words such as 飢える and 飢餓.
- 87粗coarse, rough, ruggedYou will use this character for coarseness or roughness to understand adjectives and nouns like 粗末 and 粗大.
- 88宜best regards, goodGreetings and expressions of appropriateness frequently rely on this shape, seen heavily in 宜しく.
- 89款goodwill, article, sectionIts specific meanings covering sections of documents and goodwill contribute to formal vocabulary building.
- 90閲review, inspection, revisionThe action of reviewing or inspecting is a key component of administrative and technical terms like 閲覧.
- 91敢daring, brave, boldA sense of daring or boldness establishes the root for expressive words like 敢然 and 敢えて.
- 92享enjoy, receive, undergoVerbs related to receiving or enjoying draw upon this symbol, producing words like 享受.
- 93其thatServing as a classic demonstrative for "that", it forms the foundation of phrases like その他 and 其の儘.
- 94此coming, current, lastThe fundamental concept of "this" or the current moment links together common time expressions such as この間 and この頃.
- 95某so-and-so, one, a certainDesignating a certain unspecified person or thing adds grammatical utility to terms like 何がし.
- 96於at, in, onActing as a structural particle for location or reference, it shapes functional vocabulary like 於いて.
- 97只only, free, in additionA simple idea of "only" or "free" translates into highly frequent conversational staples like 只今.
- 98或a certain, one, orIndicating alternatives or possibilities provides the framework for conjunctions and modifiers such as 或いは and 或る.
- 99但however, butWords providing exceptions or conditions, such as 但し and 但し書き, stem directly from this logical connector.