Sound components
While the kanji constitute a logographic script, they're not just little pictures of the things they represent. In fact, the vast majority of kanji were created on the basis of sound.
Out of the 3,500 most important kanji, 75% either include or serve as a sound component.
What is a sound component?
To understand the role of sound in the formation of the kanji, we have to look back to ancient China, where the script originated.
When the speakers of Old Chinese had to write down a word for which no character had been invented yet, they turned to one strategy time and time again:
- Find a character that has a vaguely related meaning.
- Find a character for a word that sounds alike.
- Squish the two characters together!
Case study: the character 星 star
For instance, take the Old Chinese word for "star", which sounded something like sleng. Following that process, some ancient Chinese folks created the character for star more or less like so:
- Find a character that has a vaguely related meaning.
Stars appear in the sky, like the sun. So we'll take the character 日 sun. - Find a character for a word that sounds alike.
Sleng sounds just like the Old Chinese word for live, so we'll take the character 生 live. - Squish the two characters together!
日 sun + 生 sleng = 星 star!
When a kanji component has been used for its sound value, like 生 here, it's known as an 音符 onpu in Japanese, meaning something like "sound indicator". Since they are a subset of the kanji components, I refer to them here as sound components.
What does this have to do with modern Japanese?
Something like half of all Japanese words have Chinese roots. In addition to being written in kanji, these words are pronounced using Japanese approximations of ancient Chinese sounds. These Sino-Japanese pronunciations of the kanji are called 音読み on'yomi, meaning sound readings.
An awareness of the kanji's sound components will go a long way towards helping you pronounce words read using on'yomi. Once in a while, you might even be able to guess the pronunciation of words containg kanji or readings that you've never encountered before.
An example: the sound component 生
For example, if you know any of the following words:
- 先生 sensei (teacher)
- 学生 gakusei (student)
- 生活 seikatsu (life)
...then you know that the kanji 生 live has the on'yomi セイ sei.
With the knowledge that 生 can serve as a sound component, you have an immediate advantage when learning words like the following:
- 火星 kasei (Mars)
- 姓名 seimei (first and last name)
- 性格 seikaku (personality)
As you can see, even though the characters' readings don't have much to do with the original Chinese pronunciations anymore, the sound components still provide us with some useful information as students of Japanese. Kanji that sounded similar in ancient China still tend sound similar in modern Sino-Japanese words.
Sound components and meaning components
To be clear, it's not always as easy as in the examples above! Some sound components only vaguely hint at a character's sound, via rhyme or looser connections, obscured by the passage of time. Moreover, the fact that a component can serve as a sound mark doesn't mean that it always does. For example, 産 give birth is pronounced not as セイ sei, but サン san.
But even the absence of a sound component can tell you something about a kanji. To illustrate, let's take that same example 産, where the component 生 fails us as a sound indicator.
When we learn that 産 give birth is read as サン san, we know right away that 生 live is not a sound component. And since it's not being used for its sound, we can deduce that it's most likely being used for its meaning instead. Indeed, the meanings of 生 live and 産 give birth are closely related: birth is the start of life. Components used in this way are called meaning components (in Japanese 意符 ifu). They provide you with a focal point for remembering the meaning of the character.
Sound components and meaning components go hand in hand; awareness of one enhances your awareness of the other. Together, they reveal the logic behind the structure of the kanji. Kanjijump helps you stay attuned to the presence of sound components by clearly indicating them prominently in multiple places. In this way, you can not only remember the kanji's pronunciation better, but you can also gain insight into its structure and meaning.
What about the kun'yomi?
There are also native Japanese readings, the 訓読み kun'yomi, meaning expository readings, and these are just as important as on'yomi. Some kanji are used primarily for their kun'yomi, with their on'yomi seldom appearing in modern Japanese. A few kanji, being native Japanese inventions (国字 kokuji), don't even have an on'yomi.
But the name 音読み on'yomi (sound reading) hints that the Chinese-derived pronunciations somehow embody the kanji's essential sound. Accordingly, in Kanjijump, the kun'yomi take a backseat to the on'yomi and English keywords. The kun'yomi are treated in character entries, but the Kanjijump UI prioritizes the on'yomi throughout.
Now, a kanji doesn't really have one essential sound. But learners will benefit from treating the on'yomi this way during kanji study. Paying special attention to the on'yomi has some practical advantages. The first has already been mentioned above: an understanding of on'yomi and sound indicators helps you identify meaning indicators. These is key to understanding the logic behind a character's structure. Another benefit applies when you're quizzing yourself on a kanji's meaning.
Using sound components to differentiate kanji with similar meanings
If you've gotten beyond the very beginning stages of your studies, you've likely come across the problem of kanji with similar meanings. Say you're studying with flashcards, and you come to a flashcard with the English keyword use on the front. You definitely know the kanji 使 use, but you slip up and give the answer 用 utilize instead--now what? If you're using paper flashcards, do you put the card back in the pile? If you're using something like Anki, do you mark this card as a failure, and lose your progress, even if you're sure you know that kanji?
This is a minor problem in the grand scheme of things, and if it hasn't bothered you in your studies, you don't have to worry about it, at least for now. But in case this is something that has bothered you in the past, you can remedy the situation by including the on'yomi when you're testing your recall of kanji meanings.
The chance for confusion is much smaller when you quiz yourself with cards looking like:
- シ
utilize - ヨウ
use
Just for the sake of thoroughness, here's another example of two kanji with similar meanings, who also share a component: 欄 and 柱. Normally, the similarity in shape and meaning could easily throw you off.
- チュウ
pillar - ラン
column
If you know your sound components 闌 and 主, it's nearly impossible to mix up the two.
If you're worried that this makes things too easy, remember that when you get to the point where you're actually writing out or typing a Japanese word in real life, you will likely have both the pronunciation and meaning in your mind before you think of the kanji. In this way, a kanji-recall quiz starting from the kanji's meaning and reading might actually be a better test of your skills than a kanji-recall quiz from meaning alone.
Now, Kanjijump is still in its early stages, so many of the on'yomi prominently displayed throughout may be rare or even obsolete in modern Japanese. However, even nonsense syllables have their place in education--ask any musician who has studied solfege. You could do worse than to keep a few extra on'yomi in your head.
The 810 sound components
These are all the components that are used for their sound value in the 3,500 most important characters in modern Japanese. A component is only included here if either:
- the component is used for its sound value in two or more of those 3,500 characters
- the component itself corresponds to one of those 3,500 characters.
Kanjijump aims to include etymological information only when it can help the student of Japanese see connections between important characters. For that reason, components that have their origins as sound indicators but do not meet the above criteria have been excluded from this list.
Below the on'yomi in katakana, the Middle Chinese reading is given.
Used in 15+ characters:
wrapping
pprau→
spoon
ppi↗
embankment*
kkuei→
plants*
shrang→
perching bird*
tchyui→
white
brak
square
vâng→
can
ka↗
early riser*
tchya↗
notch*
kkâk
supporting hands*
kken→
shore*
fu↗
Used in 12+ characters:
swiping hand*
yei↘
baby*
sieu↗
tool*
kkung→
strong arm*
liok
arrow
syi↗
old
kku↗
clenching mouth*
kkim→
mother
mou↗
tunnel*
kkeng→
piles*
lei↗
coin*
dzan→
order
lien→
swordsman*
tsiem→
ward
kiu→
Used in 11+ characters:
tail*
si→
blue
tseng→
germinate*
you→
gravestone*
ttsio→
high
kkau→
sad*
fî→
point*
duai↘
Used in 10+ characters:
blade
ttau→
cliff
ngre→
tree trunk*
kkan→
block
ttrang→
temple
zi↘
stork
kkuan↘
beans
dou↘
bucket*
yûng↘
sunshine*
yâng→
advocate*
jyâng→
deceased
mvâng→
surplus
yio→
unit
ttan→
chopping hand*
bran↘
add
kkra→
resemblance
sieu↘
unite
ppieng→
flank
kkrap
Used in 8+ characters:
inch*
tsuon↘
corded arrow
yok
woman
nio↗
join
ghap
silver*
kkon↘
sheep
yâng→
mile*
li↗
good
liâng→
skin
bi→
sound
im→
daybreak
ttan↘
basket*
gi→
heaps
driûng→
direct
driok
opposite
phan→
deer legs*
bi→
platform
yi→
capital
kkiang→
divination
tchyem→
mix
kkrau→
valley
kkuk
bone
kkuot
tiger stripes
khu→
monk*
ttsong→
bundle
syûk
purple*
tsi↗
flying dragon*
jyin→
truth
tchyin→
sunset*
mâk
place in order
van→
wrap up
pprau→
graduate
ttsuit
wicked lawmaker*
biek
commander
ttsiâng→
engraving
luk
pleasant*
yu→
brew*
siâng→
awning*
ghat
Used in 7+ characters:
come out
chyui↘
cloud*
yiun→
arrive
tchyi↘
part
fun→
few
syeu↗
crossed legs*
kkiou↗
tablespoon*
tchyâk
five
ngu↗
bed
spouted bucket*
yûng↗
next
tsi↘
arm
tchyi→
sea*
muoi↗
adhere
fu↘
roll
güen→
army
kkiun→
origin
ngüan→
summon
drieu↘
boss
si→
even
dzei→
insomniac*
üan↗
peak*
vûng→
ruffled bird*
drak
open jar*
you→
Used in 6+ characters:
one
it
earth
tu↗
grabbing hand*
you↘
standing person*
lip
child
ttsi↗
grain
ghua→
axe
kkion→
leviathan*
ppra→
rope*
kki↗
altar
gi→
ear
nji↗
door
ghu↗
brush
yuit
create*
jra↘
proper
tchyeng→
soft leather
yuî→
strange
gi→
necessary
ppit
light
kkuâng→
tower*
liu→
hotpot*
krue→
omen
drieu↗
abundance*
vuk
dragon
liûng→
roll of cloth
shio→
wide
kkuâng↗
hog*
ghoi↗
uncle*
syuk
choke
tchim→
dawn*
ngeu→
thus
nji↗
birds chirping
sau↘
blade of grass
phonetic "man"
muan→
letter
kkran↗
muffled speaking*
luan→
sour*
tsuin→
dawdle
liong→
Used in 5+ characters:
rice field
den→
footprint*
tchyi↗
seashell
ppai↘
teacher*
ttuoi→
pattern
mvun→
river
chyuen→
fortunate
kkit
snub-face*
kau↗
pond*
ya↗
ahead
sen→
chief
tchyu↗
together
kkiûng→
each other
siâng→
crossed out*
fou→
younger brother
dei↗
giant
gio↗
everyone
ghram→
unfinished spear*
yio→
sell
mre↘
half
ppuan↘
enlightenment*
ngu→
phrase
giu→
leafy tree
yep
bottom*
ttri→
east
ttung→
crashing dagger-axe*
tchyok
territory*
ghuok
revelation
kkau↘
yellow
ghuâng→
twist
kkiou→
music
ngrau↘
set
deng↘
reaching arms*
gip
Han*
long-tailed monkey
ngiu→
obscure
ghuen→
climb
ttong→
spear
miou→
flame
yem→
concurrently
kkem→
vitrine*
ttek
gutter*
kkou→
haughty
kkieu→
fang
ngra→
vermillion
tchyu→
flat
pien→
palisade*
you→
inspection
kkram→
lowly
ppi→
shrimp*
kkra↗
chrysanthemum*
kkiuk
cash*
biei↘
chicken-farmer*
ghei→
mane*
liep
chin*
ngâk
gust*
leu→
Used in 4+ characters:
tree
muk
table
kki↗
stallion*
ngu↗
shawl*
mvut
mortar
giou↗
member
yiun→
stone
jyek
take
tsiu↗
I
nga↗
sapling*
mvî↘
grotto*
dung→
become
jyeng→
also
yek
lad
ngien↘
administer
yuin↗
change
khrua↘
woods
lim→
duke
kkung→
meet
ghuai↘
calamity
ieu→
righteous
ngi↘
spitting mouth*
tou↘
huddle*
luin→
responsible*
njim→
this
jyi↗
underground*
ra↘
relax
an→
circuit
tchyou→
ape*
yuan→
office
kkuan→
fruit
kkua↗
delicious
tchyi↗
fish
ngio→
evening
mien↗
display
drieng→
scorpion*
mvan↘
window*
tsung→
storehouse
tsâng→
hard
kku↘
hornless dragon
li→
liable
tchrak
participate
shim→
autumn
tsiou→
long time
kkiou↗
uncle
syuk
horned pig
zui↘
hill
kkâng→
robust
tchiâng↘
address
üan→
hide*
ion↗
Wu
ngu→
revered
ttsuon→
emperor
ttei↘
stationing
ttruin→
cliffside forest*
lek
flea
ttsau↗
general
buan→
firm
kan→
ghruai→
juvenile
dung→
salad*
gin→
Shu
jyûk
melon
kkrua→
Buddha*
fut
neck
kkâng→
railing
lan→
barbarian
ghu→
longevity
jyou↗
reverse*
ngiak
space*
yu→
slack*
yuan→
colleague*
pitfall
kam↗
extract
buat
fumigation
khiun→
decameron
zuin→
Used in 3+ characters:
fortune teller*
ppuk
see
kken↘
gentleman
ji↗
gate
muon→
middle
ttriung→
shell
kkrap
air
kiî↘
clan
tchyi→
long-haired person*
driâng→
know
ttri→
monkey*
syin→
watchdog*
suit
reside
kki→
idea
i↘
lifting hands*
bird
tteu↗
substitute*
doi↘
acrid
sin→
timber*
dzoi→
broom
tchyou↗
level
bien→
eminent
ttrâk
be there
you↗
set out
fat
warp and weft*
giî→
step
kkrai→
breeze*
vam→
festival
ttsiei↘
morning
ttrieu→
young
njia→
introduce
kkrai↘
flow*
dispute
tchrang→
loss
syit
path
lu↘
riverside*
yuen↗
break
dei→
winter
ttûng→
concern
nem↘
demand
giou→
upward-looking*
ngâng→
hemp
mra→
court
deng→
center
iâng→
build
kkian↘
suckling babe*
phu→
exceeding
jyim↗
complying
dziûng→
chieftain
dziou→
contents
yûng→
outstanding
you→
dumbfounded
question
ngi→
sweet
kkam→
observance
vûng↗
cause
in→
edge*
ttuan→
wild boar
gio→
government body
fu↗
sink*
you→
tip
muat
sect
ttsûng→
chapter
tchyâng→
hem*
tuan↘
male*
loot*
gather
tsoi↗
bonnet*
tchyin↗
home
drak
companion
bong→
phonetic "ya"
ya→
toad*
min↗
brain
so-and-so
mou↗
granary
lim↗
cooperation
ghep
prosperous
chyâng→
snake pole*
ta→
require
siu→
boast
krua→
tomb*
vî→
yield over
ui→
shield
jyuin↗
exposure
ngap
spy
yek
pledge
kei↘
pottery
dau→
grass forage
chiu→
whetstone
liei↘
solemn
siuk
hostess*
magic spell*
dzan→
hut
lu→
fiber*
siem→
Used in 2+ characters:
cross*
jyip
mouth
kou↗
heart
sim→
big
dai↘
words
ngian→
knot*
eu→
mountain
shran→
rice
mei↗
knock
puk
bamboo
ttriuk
snake*
yi↗
bow
kkiung→
husband
vu→
wheat*
loi→
think
si→
decide
kkruai↘
gold
kkim→
heaven
ten→
throwing hand*
jyu→
household
kkra→
leaf*
syei↘
leg
ttsiu↘
west
sei→
eternity
yuang↗
plate
miang↗
rooster*
you↗
roof
uk
son
lâng→
depart
kio↗
burn*
njien→
lord
kkiun→
bright
miang→
empty
kung→
right-hand
you↗
wind
fung→
foot-long*
chyek
thicket
buk
horn
luk
field
ngüan→
night
ya↘
friend
you↗
entire
dzüen→
bad luck
khiûng→
walk
bu↘
continent*
liuk
shield*
yei↘
people
min→
happy
ghrang↗
drum
kku↗
rite
syok
rise
syong→
third Heavenly Stem
ppiang↗
venerate
kkiang↘
vein*
pre↘
scenery
kkiang↗
ogre
kküî↗
fright*
kkiûng↗
slave
nu→
link
lien→
receive
jyou↗
benefit
li↘
visitor
krak
clothes*
nien↗
aware
kkrau↘
accordance
ttsok
control
tchyei↘
spring
dzüen→
blade edge
njin↘
conforming
ttsiok
wife
tsei→
military
mvu↗
patch
deer
luk
answer
ttap
countryside
khiâng→
whole
ghuan→
ride
jyong→
sake
yui→
crane*
ghûk
mirror*
kkiang↘
chase
ttrui→
minuteness
mvî→
supply
chyung→
abode
various
tchyio→
seedling
mieu→
excellence
siou↘
virtuous
jyen↗
harm
ghai↘
already
kkiî↘
province
tchyou→
beheading
tchram↗
bystander*
bâng→
disperse
san↗
span
kkong↘
variation
chi→
star
seng→
fortress*
thorn
tsi↘
encounter
vûng→
honey*
mit
void
khio→
accede
dziou↘
belt
ttai↘
easy
yi↘
follow path*
deplete
dzin↗
beat
kek
fly rapidly
ttrüei↘
strict
ngiam→
declare
süen→
chaste
ttrieng→
lacquer tree
tsit
rule
kkui→
splendid
khuan↘
prolong
yen→
bless
ghuei↘
dust*
yi↗
podium*
ttan↗
overpowering
ghau→
scorch
ttsieu→
phonetic "sa"
shra→
genus
tchyûk
ox*
triou↗
signature
jyio↘
dread
üî↘
ignorance
mung→
stockpile
drio→
fell
vat
armor*
kiî↗
Sui dynasty
zui→
full*
muan→
guest
ppin→
gossip*
tsip
infant
ieng→
whisper
niep
lagoon*
tsiâk
chain*
ttrüet
groan
ei↘
moo
miou→
overcome
kok
first of the month
shrâk
curve
ruan→
eyelashes*
dziep
dazzling
ghuâng↗
prattle
tchyem→
knead*
net
hiding crocodile*
dziem→
Used in 1+ characters:
little feet*
pprat
enclosure
yuî→
hair
siem→
dusk
ziek
king
yuâng→
well
ttsieng↗
garrison*
mou↘
footsteps*
ghâng→
jewel
ngiûk
enter
njip
what
gha→
time
jyi→
jar
fou↗
left-hand
ttsa↗
criss-cross*
tsit
robe
iî→
horse
mra↗
father
fu↗
dancer*
mvu→
turn
kiûk
degree
du↘
elephant
ziâng↗
older brother
khüang→
wholesale
sia↘
move
dung↗
vassal
jyin→
pass through
tung→
raising hands*
yio↗
feeling
kkam↗
way
dau↗
name
mieng→
ingredient
giu↘
with
yi↗
consider
kau↗
many
tta→
new
sin→
country
kkuok
thick
tai↘
wares
pim↗
dancing legs*
chyuen↗
place
chyio↗
black
khok
knoll
kiou→
chart
ppieu↗
turf*
tchyi→
need
ieu→
Luo
lâk
most
ttsuai↘
filial piety
khrau↘
active
kkuat
period
küeng→
separate
biet
north
ppok
around
ghuoi→
love
oi↘
count
shiu↗
sit
dzua↗
soldier
ppiang→
likeness
njio→
resolve
ghre↗
lineage
ghei↘
backbone
lio↗
help
jio↘
stretched bow*
ghuong→
goatee*
nji→
owl*
ghu→
illuminate
tchyeu→
hairs
mau→
night watch
kkrang→
wave
ppua→
cloth
ppu↘
world
kkrai↘
teacher
shi→
moral*
chipped blade*
noi↗
will
tchyi↘
different
yi↘
entrust
lai↘
abrupt
iem↗
lodging
siou↘
springtime
chyuin→
return
tei↘
grade
duan↘
glad
khi↗
protect
syou↗
abide
njin↗
south
nam→
Hun
khiûng→
cloud
yiun→
apart
li→
release
fâng↗
phonetic "na"
na→
bend
kkiut
pierce
kkuan→
beg
kiot
melancholy
iou→
concubine
tsiep
miscellaneous
dzap
examine
chrat
hall
den↘
duty
mvu↘
years old
süei↘
farming
nûng→
offspring
nji→
tail
mvî↗
ten feet*
driâng↗
weak
njiâk
captive tiger*
yi→
responsible
njim→
go back
kiâk
node
ttset
shadow
im→
dare
kkam↗
practice
zip
deliver
ttri↘
withdraw
tuoi↘
summer
ghra↗
streak
deu→
squadron
duoi↘
prefecture
ghuen→
brave
yûng↗
dim
khuon→
pavilion
deng→
hot water
syâng→
boot
dap
come out with
drio→
splendor
ghrua→
flourish
iang→
bewilder
mei→
amount
liâng→
emperor
ghuâng→
domain
lieng↗
chiku lute
driuk
listen
teng→
raise
yio→
alert
min↗
gain
iek
nun
ni→
shore
pu↗
ash
khuoi→
hope
khiî→
risk
mau↘
exchange
tei↘
guard against
kkrai↘
prohibit
kkim→
Shun
syuin↘
suddenly
khuot
descendant
kkuon→
follow through
zui↘
stay overnight
buâk
contain
gham→
deliberation
lio↘
lieutenant
üî↘
Tang dynasty
dâng→
tired of
iem↗
suitable
ngi→
tot
iou↘
grandchild
suon→
stink
chyou↘
soft
njiou→
prison
ngiûk
villa
tchiâng→
employ
ghu↗
ease
kâng→
fresh
sien→
sign
ttriong→
tow
yei↘
how, what
nai↘
goose
ngran↘
tiger
khu↗
rabbit
tu↘
slit
kung↗
token
tchrat
Mengzi
mrang↘
livestock
triou↘
by all means
siu→
lonely
kku→
season
kkui↘
rapid
dzit
fan
syen→
decline
chui→
thunder
luoi→
play music
ttsou↘
crow
u→
skewer
kkruan↘
increasingly
yu↗
empress
ghou↗
humiliate
njiûk
cheap
liem→
district
kkuâk
Chu
chio↗
ordinary
yûng→
superintendent
ttsoi↗
Lu
lu↗
intercalary
comet
zui↘
divide
sek
murky
meng→
a swallow
en→
Qin dynasty
dzin→
oppression
ngiâk
fowl
gim→
zero
len→
envelope
gham→
rhinoceros
sei→
senile*
gi→
pheasant
dri↗
report
ppim↗
drought
ghan↗
obstruct
ttrit