鳴

JLPT N3

Cry, sound

Readings

On’yomi: メイ (mei)

Kun’yomi: な(く) ,
な(る) ,
な(らす) (na(ku),
na(ru),
na(rasu))

• な(く) – to cry (animals), to sing (birds), to sound (Romaji: na(ku)) • な(る) – to ring, to sound (objects like bells) (Romaji: na(ru)) • な(らす) – to make something sound, to ring (actively) (Romaji: na(rasu))

Structure

Radical: Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Composition: Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Detailed Explanation

Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Mnemonic

Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Etymology

Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Visual Tip

Purchase the course for full access of this content.

Vocabulary

鳴る

なる

ring

鳴らす

ならす

make sound

悲鳴

ひめい

scream

雷鳴

らいめい

thunder

鳴動

めいどう

rumbling

Example Sentences

ベルが鳴ります。

べるがなります。

The bell rings.

音を鳴らします。

おとをならします。

I make a sound.

悲鳴です。

ひめいです。

It is a scream.

雷鳴です。

らいめいです。

It is thunder.

鳴動します。

めいどうします。

It rumbles.

Cultural Note

🎐 The kanji 鳴 is often used in onomatopoeic expressions describing sounds in nature — for example, 「虫が鳴く」(insects chirp) or 「鐘が鳴る」(bells ring). In Japanese literature, such sounds evoke seasonal imagery and emotion, connecting humans with nature’s rhythm.