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Kotomora

解

unravel, notes, key, explanation, understanding, untie, undo, solve, answer, cancel, absolve, explain, minute

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • カイ
  • ゲ

Kun'yomi

  • と.く
  • と.かす
  • と.ける
  • ほど.く
  • ほぐ.す
  • わか.る
  • さと.る

Nanori

  • さとる
  • とけ

Meaning

解 centers on taking something tangled or closed and opening it up: untying a knot, solving a problem, explaining an idea, or canceling a restriction. The sense of 'minute' (detailed) extends from breaking something down into its parts.

Most common words using 解

24 of 491
  • 理解りかい
    N3

    understanding; comprehension; appreciation

  • 解決かいけつ
    N3

    settlement; solution; resolution

  • 解説かいせつ
    N2

    explanation; commentary; exposition; elucidation

  • 解放かいほう
    N2

    release; unleashing; liberation; emancipation; setting free

  • 解散かいさん
    N3

    breaking up (a meeting, gathering, etc.); dispersal (e.g. of a crowd)

  • 解消かいしょう
    N3

    cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)

  • 解除かいじょ
    N1

    termination (of a contract); cancellation; rescinding; rescission

  • 正解せいかい
    N2

    correct answer; right solution; correct interpretation

  • 了解りょうかい
    N1

    comprehension; consent; understanding; agreement

  • 解釈かいしゃく
    N3

    interpretation; explanation; reading; construction

  • 誤解ごかい
    N3

    misunderstanding

  • 解析かいせき

    analysis; analytical study

  • 分解ぶんかい
    N2

    disassembly; dismantling; disaggregating; taking apart; breaking up; analysis; parsing

  • 見解けんかい
    N3

    opinion; point of view

  • 解体かいたい
    N1

    demolition; taking down; dismantling; disassembly; taking apart

  • 解雇かいこ
    N1

    dismissal (of an employee); discharge; firing; layoff

  • 解くとく
    N3

    to untie; to unfasten; to unwrap; to undo; to unbind; to unpack

  • 解くほどく
    N3

    to undo; to untie; to unfasten; to unlace; to unravel; to loosen; to unpack

  • 解禁かいきん

    lifting a ban; raising an embargo; opening a season (hunting, fishing, etc.)

  • 解明かいめい

    elucidation; explication; explaining; unravelling; clarification; understanding

  • 解けるとける
    N3

    to be solved; to be worked out

  • 解けるほどける
    N1

    to come loose; to come untied; to come undone; to unravel

  • 和解わかい
    N1

    reconciliation; amicable settlement; accommodation; compromise; mediation; rapprochement

  • 解約かいやく
    N1

    cancellation of a contract

Explore all words using 解 →

Study

Etymology

解 combines 角 (horn), 刀 (knife), and 牛 (cow), suggesting cutting apart an animal with a knife, starting from the horn. This gives the core idea of separating or untying.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a knife 刀 cutting the horn 角 off a cow 牛 to separate it from the animal. This act of cutting apart leads to untying, solving, and explaining.

Reading mnemonic

For カイ, imagine a sharp knife cutting through a tangled knot with a satisfying 'kai!' sound: kai -> カイ, and the knot unravels.