The third alphabet, kanji, was imported over the centuries from China. The pictograms are typically (much) more complex than kana (remember, "kana" refers collectively to hiragana and katakana) and, furthermore, have different readings and meanings depending on how they're combined with other kanji. They represent ideas or words rather than syllables, although of course hiragana or katakana could be used to spell out the pronunciation.
Kanji have two sorts of readings, i.e. ways of being pronounced: "on" readings and "kun" readings.
The "on" readings are based loosely on the original Chinese pronunciation of the kanji, and are typically used when a kanji is part of a compound, i.e. written with at least one other kanji to form a word.
The "kun" reading is used when kanji are used on their own, either as complete nouns in their own right or as adjective and verb stems.
On-readings are typically used when a kanji forms part of a compound word (usually a noun); kun-readings are normally used for single kanji, either as words in their own right, or as the stems of adjectives or verbs. Adjectives and verbs typically consist of a kanji followed by a hiragana suffix.
Take Note: There are exceptions to this rule. Most kanji have at least one on-reading and one kun-reading each, but plenty have no kun-reading and a few have no on-reading. Some use kun-readings, not on-readings, to make compounds. You just have to learn them case by case.
| Kanji | Romaji: | English: |
 | Ichi | One |
 | Ni | two |
 | San | Three |
 | Shi | four |
 | Go | five |
 | Roku | six |
 | Nana | Seven |
 | Hachi | eight |
 | Kyu | nine |
 | Ju | ten |
 | Ka | low, inferior, come down, go down, retire |
 | Jou | high, highest, top, best, superior |
 | Chu | center, middle, middle of three |
 | Hito/Jin | man, person, people |
 | Yasu | rest, sleep, retire |
 | Sen | future, priority |
 | Iru | go, come in, set in |
 | En | circle |
 | Sui | born from, appearing from, going out, sending out |
 | Chikara | strength |
 | Sen | thousand, many |
 | Kuchi | mouth, speech, words, lips |
 | Migi | right, right hand |
 | Mei | distinguished, wise |
 | Seki | evening |
 | Dai | big, great, elder, huge, grand, very |
 | Ten | sky, air, heavens, god |
 | Onna | woman, female, girl |
 | Ko | child, offspring, seed |
 | Ji | character, letter, word |
 | Gaku | learning, scholar, scholarship, science |
 | Shou | small, tiny, little |
 | San | mountain |
 | Sen | river, stream, brook |
 | Sa | left |
 | Nen | year |
 | Shu | arm, hand |
 | Bun | literature, civil affairs, art, writing, text, composition |
 | Nichi | day |
 | Haya | fast, quick |
 | Boku | tree |
 | Getsu | month |
 | Mura | village |
 | Hayashi | forest |
 | Kou | school |
 | Mori | woods, grove |
 | Sei | right, justice, correct |
 | Ke | mind, spirit, soul |
 | Sui/Mizu* | water, ice water |
 | Ka | fire |
 | Inu | dog |
 | O/Kimi | king, rule |
 | Tama | gem, jewel, jade |
 | Sei | life, birth, existance |
 | Ta | ricefield, paddy |
 | Chou | town, block, street |
 | Dan | man, male |
 | Haku | white |
 | Hyaku | hundred, many |
 | Me | eye |
 | Ishi | stone, pebble |
 | Su | empty |
 | Ryu | stand |
 | Chiku | bamboo |
 | Shi | string, thread |
 | Ji | ear |
 | Hana | flower |
 | Kusa | grass |
 | Mushi | bug, insect |
 | Miru | see, look at |
 | Bai | shell, shellfish |
 | Seki | red |
 | Soku | foot, leg |
 | Sha | vehicle |
 | Kane | money |
 | Ame | rain |
 | Sei | green |
 | On | sound, noise |
