Okurigana is the kana written after kanji as part of a word. Look at the whole word, not just its kanji.
The idea
In 読む, む is okurigana; in 読みます it becomes みます in the polite form. The ending also changes in 読みました and 読みません. In 寒い, い changes to くない in the negative. 開く and 開ける share 開 but have different endings and meanings.
| Dictionary form | Polite form |
|---|---|
| 読む | 読みます |
| 開く | 開きます |
| 開ける | 開けます |
| 寒い | 寒くないです |
Examples
- 私は本を読みます。I read a book.
- 昨日、本を読みました。I read a book yesterday.
- 今日は本を読みません。I will not read a book today.
- 窓が開きます。The window opens.
- 私は窓を開けます。I open the window.
- 今日は寒くないです。It is not cold today.
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Watch out
Do not confuse okurigana with furigana, the small reading written above kanji. Nor is every kana after a kanji an ending: particles such as を are separate words. Learn each spelling with its word.
Try it yourself
本を読＿。（みます／けます）
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みます
みます completes 読みます, the polite form of 読む.
窓を開＿。（きます／けます）
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けます
けます makes 開けます: someone opens the window; 開きます means it opens.
今日は寒＿です。（くない／きない）
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くない
くない makes 寒くないです, the polite negative of 寒い.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
本を読＿。（みます／けます）
窓を開＿。（きます／けます）
今日は寒＿です。（くない／きない）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Find the kana after 読, 開 and 寒 in the examples. Compare the positive and negative forms, then say who opens the window in the two 開 sentences.