Home › Mind maps › AI Mind Map Makers & Tools › Kanji Mind Map App: Radicals and Readings

Turn your kanji notes into an editable mind map

DeckOwl reads your PDF, notes, or photos of a kanji list and builds a mind map grouped by radical, on'yomi, kun'yomi, and meaning. Edit it and explore branch by branch.

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Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

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Why a kanji mind map helps more than a flat list

A kanji mind map app earns its keep when the branches follow how kanji are actually built: a radical on one side, then the characters that share it, then their readings. Paste your lesson notes or upload the textbook PDF, and DeckOwl groups the characters for you. You can then rename branches, move characters around, and expand the parts you keep missing.

Group kanji by shared radical so related characters sit together
Show on'yomi and kun'yomi as sub-points under each character
Expand only the branches you are weak on during each session
Edit the map after review to fix groupings and add mnemonics

Example kanji radical mind map branches

Water radical 氵 (さんずい)Appears in 海 (umi, sea) · 泳 (oyogu, swim) · 池 (ike, pond)

Person radical 人 (ninben)Appears in 休 (yasumu, rest) · 体 (karada, body) · 作 (tsukuru, make)

Tree radical 木 (ki)Appears in 林 (hayashi, grove) · 森 (mori, forest) · 相 (sō, aspect)

On'yomi readingsChinese-derived sound · mostly used in compound words · written in katakana

Kun'yomi readingsNative Japanese reading · often used alone · paired with okurigana hiragana endings

Generate the full set

Radical-based branches

Characters that share a radical are grouped together, so you can see the pattern instead of memorizing each kanji in isolation.

Readings beside meanings

Each character can show its on'yomi, kun'yomi, and meaning as sub-points, so readings stay connected to the kanji they belong to.

Editable and explorable

Rename branches, move characters between groups, and expand the parts you keep missing. The map stays yours to reshape as you study.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or a photo of a kanji list. Photos are read with text recognition.

Review the generated map

DeckOwl builds a mind map with radical groups and reading branches. Check the groupings against your lesson.

Edit and explore

Adjust branches, add your own mnemonics, and work through the map one branch at a time while you review.

Many learners stall because readings do not follow meaning. Mapping each character to its on'yomi and kun'yomi in one place makes patterns visible, such as 氵 appearing in words related to water and flow. Keep the map open while you review, and add a note wherever a reading breaks the pattern.

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Frequently asked questions

How should I group kanji in a mind map?

Group by shared radical first, then by JLPT level or lesson so each branch matches what you are studying. Keep readings as sub-points so you see on'yomi and kun'yomi together.

Should I memorize kanji readings or meanings first?

Learn the meaning and the most common reading together, since many characters are easier to recall with a sense of what they represent. Use the map to check which readings appear in which compounds.

Can I export my kanji mind map?

The free plan lets you study in the browser. PDF and DOCX exports are part of the Plus plan, which costs $99.90/year or $9.99/month.

Do I need a credit card to start?

No. You can start on the free plan without a credit card, which includes 3 generations per month. Students with a school email get 40% off Plus.

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