Kanshudo Component Builder
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By default the Component Builder shows the most common Joyo kanji components (ie, components which are themselves Joyo kanji, or which are used in at least 3 other Joyo kanji). Select an alternative set of components below.



For details of all components and their English names, see the Component collections.
Kanshudo Component Builder Help
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For detailed instructions, see the Component builder how to guide.
To find any kanji, first try to identify the components it is made up of. Once you have identified any component, search for it in any of three ways:
  1. Draw it in the drawing area
  2. Type the name in the text area
  3. Look for it in the list
Example: look up 漢
  • Notice that 漢 is made of several components: 氵 艹 口 夫
  • Draw any of these components (one at a time) in the drawing area, and select it when you see it
  • Alternatively, look for a component in the list. 氵 艹 口 each have three strokes; 夫 has four strokes
  • If you know the meanings of the components, type any of them in the text area: water (氵), grass (艹), mouth (口) or husband (夫)
  • Keep adding components until you can see your kanji in the list of matches that appears near the top.
Kanshudo Component Builder Drawing Help
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The Kanshudo Component Builder can recognize any of the 416 components listed in the chart below the drawing area. Tips:
  • Draw a component in the center of the area, as large as you can
  • Try to draw the component as it appears in the kanji you're looking up
  • Don't worry about stroke order or number of strokes
  • Don't draw more than one component at a time
Not finding your component?
If you believe you've drawn your component correctly but the system is not recognizing it, please:
Let us know!
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Components

Grammar detail: excuses, apologies, and attracting attention

excuses, apologies, and attracting attention
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Japanese has various ways to apologize, to excuse oneself, and to attract attention. Here are a few of the more common expressions and the situations in which they might be used.
To say 'Excuse me ...' as a prelude to asking a question, the simplest expression is すみません, which can be joined with a reason / question using が:
DETAILS
すみませんが、
としょかん
図書館
はどこですか。
Excuse me, but where is the library?
A somewhat politer expression which can be used interchangeably is
しつれい
失礼
です（が）- literally 'I'm being rude (but)' ...
DETAILS
しつれい
失礼
ですが、この
せき
席
は
あ
空
いていますか。
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
To apologize, either for an actual mistake or error, or as a polite refusal, the most common expression is
もうしわけ
申し訳
ありません（が）:
DETAILS
もう
申
し
わけ
訳
ありませんが、
こんや
今夜
はおとめできません。
I'm sorry I can't put you up tonight.
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Kanji used in this grammar

失
シツ   うしなう to lose   
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3
礼
ライ   レイ    thanks, salutation   
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3
申
シン   もうす to say   
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3
訳
ヤク   translate; reason   わけ reason, explanation   
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5
図
ト   ズ   はかる to map, plan   
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2
書
ショ   かく to write   
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1
館
カン    building   やかた castle, mansion   
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2
席
セキ    seat   
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3
空
クウ   から empty   あく to be empty   あける to empty, vacate   そら sky   
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2
今
コン   キン   いま now   
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1
夜
ヤ   よる    よ night   
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2
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