音 means “sound, tone”

おと · oto

Also: noise

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おと, ね

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

オン, イン, -ノン

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 1 · 9 strokes

The story

Something standing (立) over a mouth or opening (日): 音 is vibration made audible. In Japanese aesthetics, even silence has a sound: the 音 of a bamboo deer-scarer (鹿威し) breaking stillness in a temple garden is considered the perfect sound.

Used in 音楽 (ongaku, music), 音声 (onsei, voice/audio), and 本音 (honne, true feelings)

Words with 音

• 音楽 (おんがく, ongaku): music

More from Music & Arts

• 曲 melody
• 唱 chant
• 演 perform
• 芸 art
• 美 beauty
• 歌 song
• 楽 music
• 踊 dance
• 奏 play (music)
• 劇 drama
• 画 painting
• 彫 carve

Learn 音 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.