Recognize 無 in words such as 無い and 無料; connect each complete word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 無い (ない) and 無料 (むりょう). 無 has 12 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
無いないnot exist; there is no
無料むりょうfree of charge
無事ぶじsafe; without incident

Examples

  • 今日きょうは時間じかんが無ないです。I have no time today.
  • かばんの中なかに鍵かぎが無ないです。The key is not in the bag.
  • この地図ちずは無料むりょうです。This map is free.
  • 入場にゅうじょうは無料むりょうですか。Is admission free?
  • 家族かぞくはみんな無事ぶじです。Everyone in my family is safe.
  • 旅行りょこうから無事ぶじに帰かえりました。I returned safely from the trip.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

無い (ない) means not exist; there is no; 無料 (むりょう) means free of charge. Learn the reading with the whole word. In ordinary writing ない is usually in kana. 無 is read む in 無料, but ぶ in 無事. Compare the indicated parts of 無 and 舞: 灬 and 舛.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 無い in hiragana.

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    ない

    無い is read ない and means not exist; there is no. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  2. Write the reading of 無料 in hiragana.

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    むりょう

    無料 is read むりょう and means free of charge. Remember the reading of the whole word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿事（ぶじ）.

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    無

    無 completes 無事, read ぶじ; the completed word means safe; without incident.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 無 from memory, and read 無い and 無料 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.