Vocabulary Practice
Test your knowledge of kanji readings in context with these JLPT-style questions. Identify the correct kun’yomi reading of the underlined kanji.
Question 1
リーさんの 「前」に いる ひとが たなかさんです。
- a) よこ
- b) まえ
- c) となり
- d) うしろ
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) まえ
Explanation: 前 in this context means “in front of” and is read as まえ. The sentence means “The person in front of Lee-san is Tanaka-san.”
Why others are incorrect:
- よこ: This means “beside/next to” (横)
- となり: This means “next to/neighboring” (隣)
- うしろ: This means “behind” (後ろ)
Question 2
はやしさんも 「飲」んで ください。
- a) なら
- b) えら
- c) の
- d) やす
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) の
Explanation: 飲 means “to drink” and is read as のむ. The stem reading is の. The te-form is のんで.
Why others are incorrect:
- なら: This is the stem of 並ぶ (to line up)
- えら: This is the stem of 選ぶ (to choose)
- やす: This is the stem of 休む (to rest)
Question 3
まいあさ 「八」じに がっこうに いきます。
- a) ろく
- b) しち
- c) はち
- d) きゅう
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) はち
Explanation: 八 means “eight” and is read as はち. The sentence means “I go to school at 8 o’clock every morning.”
Why others are incorrect:
- ろく: This means “six” (六)
- しち: This means “seven” (七)
- きゅう: This means “nine” (九)
Question 4
きのう、「新」しい くつを かいました。
- a) ふる
- b) あたら
- c) おお
- d) ちい
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) あたら
Explanation: 新しい means “new” and the kanji 新 is read as あたら (before the い-adjective ending しい).
Why others are incorrect:
- ふる: This is the reading for 古 (old), the opposite
- おお: This is the reading for 大 (big)
- ちい: This is the reading for 小 (small)
Question 5
ここから 「駅」まで どのくらい かかりますか。
- a) えき
- b) うち
- c) みせ
- d) がっこう
Show Answer
Correct Answer: a) えき
Explanation: 駅 means “station” and is read as えき. The sentence means “How long does it take from here to the station?”
Why others are incorrect:
- うち: This means “home” (家)
- みせ: This means “store” (店)
- がっこう: This means “school” (学校)
Question 6
としょかんで 「本」を よみます。
- a) かみ
- b) ほん
- c) ノート
- d) しんぶん
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) ほん
Explanation: 本 means “book” and is read as ほん. The sentence means “I read books at the library.”
Why others are incorrect:
- かみ: This means “paper” (紙)
- ノート: This means “notebook” (katakana)
- しんぶん: This means “newspaper” (新聞)
Question 7
きょうは 「雨」が ふって います。
- a) ゆき
- b) あめ
- c) かぜ
- d) くも
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) あめ
Explanation: 雨 means “rain” and is read as あめ. The sentence means “It is raining today.”
Why others are incorrect:
- ゆき: This means “snow” (雪)
- かぜ: This means “wind” (風)
- くも: This means “cloud” (雲)
Question 8
あの 「高」い たてものは なんですか。
- a) ひく
- b) ちい
- c) おお
- d) たか
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) たか
Explanation: 高い means “high/tall” and the kanji 高 is read as たか (before the い-adjective ending い).
Why others are incorrect:
- ひく: This is the reading for 低 (low), the opposite
- ちい: This is the reading for 小 (small)
- おお: This is the reading for 大 (big)
Question 9
ちちは まいにち 「車」で かいしゃに いきます。
- a) でんしゃ
- b) くるま
- c) バス
- d) タクシー
Show Answer
Correct Answer: b) くるま
Explanation: 車 means “car” and is read as くるま. The sentence means “My father goes to work by car every day.”
Why others are incorrect:
- でんしゃ: This means “train” (電車)
- バス: This means “bus” (katakana)
- タクシー: This means “taxi” (katakana)
Question 10
わたしは 「花」が すきです。
- a) き
- b) くさ
- c) はな
- d) は
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) はな
Explanation: 花 means “flower” and is read as はな. The sentence means “I like flowers.”
Why others are incorrect:
- き: This means “tree” (木)
- くさ: This means “grass” (草)
- は: This means “leaf” (葉)
Practice Tips
- Learn both on’yomi (音読み) and kun’yomi (訓読み) readings
- Pay attention to context - readings change in compound words
- Practice writing kanji to reinforce memory
- Study kanji radicals to understand component meanings