Readings: メイ (Onyomi), な(く), な(る), な(らす) (Kunyomi)
Meaning: To cry (of animals), to sing (of birds), to ring, to sound
The kanji 鳴 (mei, naku, naru, narasu) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 口 (kuchi – mouth) on the left with 鳥 (tori – bird) on the right. This combination visually represents a bird making a sound from its mouth, thus conveying the meaning of “to cry,” “to sing,” or “to sound.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 鳴 (めい、な.く、な.る、な.らす) consists of 14 strokes. It begins with the 口 (kuchi) radical on the left, followed by the 鳥 (tori) radical. The strokes for 口 are drawn first: vertical, horizontal-hook, horizontal. Then, for 鳥, the horizontal top stroke is drawn, followed by the vertical stroke. The four dots inside 鳥 are drawn next (left-top, right-top, left-bottom, right-bottom), then the two horizontal strokes forming the body, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke that closes the bird radical.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 鳥 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- メイ (Mei)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- な(く) (na(ku))
- な(る) (na(ru))
- な(らす) (na(rasu))
Common Words Using 鳴
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 悲鳴 | ひめい | scream, shriek |
| 共鳴 | きょうめい | resonance, sympathy |
| 鳴動 | めいどう | tremor, rumbling (of the earth) |
| 自鳴琴 | じめいきん | music box |
| 鳴管 | めいかん | syrinx (bird’s vocal organ) |
| 鳴笛 | めいてき | sounding a whistle/horn |
| 鳴音 | めいおん | resonant sound, ringing tone (technical) |
| 鳴禽 | めいきん | songbird (ornithology term) |
| 鳴金 | めいきん | bell metal, resonant metal |
| 鳴釜 | めいふ | a type of kettle with a sounding effect (tea ceremony) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鳴く | なく | to cry (of animals), to sing (of birds), to chirp, to bark, to moo, etc. |
| 鳴る | なる | to sound, to ring, to chime (of inanimate objects) |
| 鳴らす | ならす | to ring, to sound, to play (an instrument, by causing it to sound) |
| 鳴き声 | なきごえ | a cry (of an animal), a chirp, a roar |
| 鳴り物 | なりもの | musical instrument, sounding object |
| 地鳴り | じなり | rumbling of the earth |
| 耳鳴り | みみなり | tinnitus, ringing in the ears |
| 鳴り止む | なりやむ | to stop ringing/sounding |
| 鳴り響く | なりひびく | to resound, to echo |
| 鳴り出す | なりだす | to start ringing/sounding |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 鳥が鳴いています。
Kana: とりがないています。
Romaji: Tori ga naite imasu.
English: The bird is singing/chirping.
Japanese: 電話が鳴った。
Kana: でんわがなった。
Romaji: Denwa ga natta.
English: The phone rang.
Japanese: ベルを鳴らしてください。
Kana: ベルをならしてください。
Romaji: Beru o narasu te kudasai.
English: Please ring the bell.
Japanese: 猫が「ニャー」と鳴いた。
Kana: ねこが「ニャー」とないた。
Romaji: Neko ga “nyā” to naita.
English: The cat meowed “meow”.
Japanese: サイレンが大きく鳴り響いた。
Kana: サイレンがおおきくなりひびいた。
Romaji: Sairen ga ookiku narihibiita.
English: The siren resounded loudly.
Japanese: 赤ちゃんが悲鳴を上げた。
Kana: あかちゃんがひめいをあげた。
Romaji: Akachan ga himei o ageta.
English: The baby let out a scream.
Japanese: お腹が鳴っています。
Kana: おなかがなっています。
Romaji: Onaka ga natte imasu.
English: My stomach is growling.
Japanese: 目覚まし時計が鳴る前に起きた。
Kana: めざましどけいがなるまえにおきた。
Romaji: Mezamashidokei ga naru mae ni okita.
English: I woke up before the alarm clock rang.
Japanese: 子供たちが銅鑼を鳴らして遊んだ。
Kana: こどもたちがどらをならしてあそんだ。
Romaji: Kodomotachi ga dora o narashite asonda.
English: The children played by striking the gong.
Japanese: 遠くで雷が鳴っている。
Kana: とおくでかみなりがなっている。
Romaji: Tooku de kaminari ga natte iru.
English: Thunder is rumbling in the distance.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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