Japanese Kanji Readings

Japanese Kanji Readings Introduction The same kanji can be read differently depending on whether it is alone, combined, or depending on the proceeding kanjis. Important: When a kanji character is by itself we use Kun-Yomi (Japanese) but when it is part of a word we use On-Yomi (Chinese). We have put the Chinese meaning first (in Katakana), with the Japanese reading underneath (in Hiragana) e.g. 人 is nin / jin (Chinese) then hito (Japanese) underneath. With numbers, the counting system is underneath. KANJI READING On-yomi / Kun-yomi イチ ichi ひとつ hitotsu ニ ni ふたつ futatsu サン san みっつ mittsu シ shi よん yon よっつ yottsu ゴ go いつつ itsutsu MEANING one, first two, second three, third four, fourth REASONING FOR MEANING EXAMPLES 一番 ichi ban – number one, the best 世界一 sekai ichi - the best in the world 第二 dai ni – the second 三つ mittsu – third 四つ yottsu - fourth 一 二 三 四 五 five, fifth 五つ itsutsu - fifth 六 七 八 九 十 百 千 万 父 母 ロク roku むっつ muttsu シチ shichi なな nana ななつ nanatsu ハチ hachi やっつ yattsu ク ku キュウ kyuu ここのつ kokonotsu ジュウ jyuu とお too ヒャク hyaku もも momo セン sen ち chi マン man バン ban よろず yorozu フ fu ホ ho トウ tou ちち chichi ボ bo モ mo six, sixth seven, seventh 六つ muttsu - sixth 七つ nanatsu - seventh eight, eighth nine, ninth 八つ yattsu - eighth 九つ kokonotsu - nineth ten hundred thousand ten thousand 十 too - tenth father お父さん otousan – a father 父の日 chichi no hi – Father‟s day mother お母さんokāsan – a mother 母の日 haha no hi – Mother‟s day カア kaa はは haha 保母 ho bo – kindergarden teacher, or a nurse friend woman, female looks like a woman / ironing board rice field + power = must be strong to work in rice field (a man). 友達 tomodachi – friend(s) 友情 yuujou - friendship 彼女 kanojo – her, or girlfriend 女の子 onna no ko – a girl 女優 joyuu – an actress 男女 danjo – men and women 男らしい otokorashii – manly, like a man 三人 san nin – three people 七人 shichi jin – seven people 女の人 onna no hito - woman 子猫 ko neko – kitten (child cat) 女子学生 jo shi gakusei... female student 子供 kodomo – child, children お菓子 okashi - cake ある日 aru hi – one day 毎日 mai nichi – every day みっか mikka – 3rd day 明日 ashita - tomorrow 今月 kon getsu – this month 月 tsuki – the moon 一月 ichi gatsu – January (first month) 友 女 男 人 子 日 月 ユウ yuu とも tomo ジョ jo ジョ/ ニョ(zyo / nyo) おんな onna ダン dan ナン nan おとこ otoko ジン jin ニン nin ひと hito シ shi ス su こ ko ニチ nichi ジツ jitsu ひ hi び bi か ka ガツ gatsu ゲツ getsu つき tsuki man, men, male person, people child, children, the young looks like a child. the sun, day the moon, month 火 水 木 金 土 本 カ ka ひ hi fire, light looks like flames. スイ sui みず mizu モク moku ボク boku き ki こ ko キン kin コン kon かね (o-)kane かな kana ド do ト to つち tsuchi ホン hon もと moto water looks like a river converging (water). a tree. tree, wood gold, money digging under a hill for gold. 火事 kaji – a fire 花火 hana bi – fireworks 火花 hi bana – sparks 火山 ka zan – fire mountain 火曜日 ka youbi - Tuesday 大水 oo mizu – flood (big water) 水着 mizu gi – swimsuit 水田 suiden – rice field 木上り ki nobori – tree climbing 松の木 matsu no ki – pine tree 木曜日 moku youbi – Thursday 木村さん kimura-san – Mr. Kimura 賞金 shoukin – prize money 金曜日 kin youbi – Friday 金田 kaneda-san – Mr. Kaneda 土曜日 do youbi – Saturday 粘土 nen do – clay 土地 to chi – ground area, soil 土木 doboku – civil engineering 日本 nihon – Japan 本 hon – a book earth, ground, soil a grounded mast. book, origin, root, counter for long slender objects tree with a root. 休 語 年 午 前 後 時 キュウ kyuu やす(む) yasu(mu) rest, vacation a man resting by a tree. ゴ go かた(り) kata(ri) かた(る) kata(ru) ネン nen とし toshi ゴ go うま uma word, speech, language, narration, to tell, to speak year 夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation 昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break お休みなさい oyasuminasai – “Good night” 日本語 nihongo – Japanese 物語 mono gatari – a story, tale, legend 一年 ichi nen – one year 二年前 ni nen mae – two years ago 去年 kyo nen – last year 午前 gozen – morning 午後 gogo – afternoon 午後二時 gogo ni ji – 2 o‟clock in the afternoon 名前 namae – name 前書き mae gaki – preface (before the writing) 最後 sai go – the last, the end, the conclusion 後ろ ushiro – behind 時間 jikan – time 時々toki doki – sometimes 何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is it? noon ゼン zen まえ mae ゴ go コウ kou のち nochi うしろ ushiro ジ ji とき toki before, in front of, previous behind, after time 間 毎 先 今 何 上 カン kan ケン ken あいだ aida ま ma まい mai ばい bai ごとに gotoni セン sen さき saki interval, between, space, room, time each, every the sun is between the gates. 居間 ima – living room 時間 jikan – time 昼間 hiru ma - daytime 毎日 mai nichi – every day 毎朝 mai asa – every morning 毎週 mai shuu – every week 先生 sen sei – teacher (previous life) 先日 sen jitsu – the other day お先に どうぞ o-sakini douzo – please go first 今月 kon getsu – this month 今晩は konbanwa – good evening 今度 kon do – next time 何人 ですか nan nin desu ka – how many people? 何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is it? 上手 jouzu – good at 上る noboru – to go up 上げる ageru – to rise つくえの 上 tsukue no ue – on the table 年上 toshi ue – older, old (years) previous, ahead コン kon キン kin いま ima カ ka なん nan なに nani ジョウ jou カミ kami うえ ue うわ uwa のぼ(る) nobo(ru) あ(がる) a(garu) now, the present what, how many top, above, on the stem is above the ground. あ(げる) a(geru) 下 左 右 東 西 南 カ ka ゲ ge した shita しも shimo もと moto くだ(る) kuda(ru) さ(がる) sa(garu) さ(げる) sa(geru) サ sa ひだり hidari bottom, beneath, down the stem is below the ground. くつ 下 kutsu shita – socks [lit. shoes under] 下る kudaru – to go down 下車 する gesha suru – to get off 下さい kudasai – please (give, do) left looks like an „H‟ on its side – „H‟idari means left second symbol looks like katakana „ro‟. „right‟ also starts with „r‟. the sun is behind the tree rising in the East. ウu ユウ yuu みぎ migi トウ tou ツウ tsuu ひがし higashi セイ sei サイ sai にし nishi ナン nan みなみ minami right 左手 hidari te – left hand 左足 hidari ashi – left leg 机の左 tsukue no hidari – to the left of the desk 右目 migi me – right eye 右ページ migi pëji – right page (of book) 中東 chuutou – the Middle East 東京 toukyou - Tokyo 西口 nishi guchi – west entrance 西ドイツ nishi Doitsu – West Germany 大西洋 tai sei you – the Atlantic 南米 nan bei – South America 南極 nan kyoku – the South Pole east west south 北 外 名 高 小 中 大 ホク hoku ボク boku きた kita ガイ gai ゲ ge そと soto ほか hoka メイ mei な na コウ kou たか(い) taka(i) ショウ shou ちい(さい) chii(sai) north outside, foreign name, fame, famous high, tall, costly small, little looks like a tall building 北アメリカ kita amerika – North America 南北戦争 nan boku sen sou – US civil war (North South) 外国人 gaikoku jin – foreigner 外人 gaijin - foreigner 外国語 gaikoku go – foreign language 外で遊ぶ soto de asobu – to play outside 有名な yuumei(na) – famous 名前 namae – name 平仮名 hiragana - hiragana 最高 sai kou – the highest, the best 高校生 koukou sei – high school student 高いビル takai biru – tall building 小学校shou gakkou – elementary school 小さい家chiisai ie – a small house 小説 shou setsu – a novel, a story (fiction) 一日中 ichi nichi juu – all day long 家の中 ie no naka – inside the house 勉強中 benkyou chuu – in the middle of studying 大学 dai gaku – university, college (big school) 大きい心 ookii kokoro – big heart 大会 tai kai – big convention or rally チュウ chuu なか naka inside, middle, centre, within a line goes through the middle of this kanji タイ tai / ダイ dai おお(きい) oo(kii) big, large, great 大きな家 ooki na ie – Big house 半 分 ハン han なかば nakaba half a sword cutting horizontal sticks in half. 半月 han tsuki – half a month 半月 han getsu – half moon 半島 han tou – peninsula (half island) 半分 hanbun – half 部分 bubun – a part 気分 kibun – feeling, mood 気分がよいです kibun ga yoi desu – I am feeling good 分かりました wakarimashita – I understand 科学 ka gaku – science 中学校 chuu gakkou – middle school 数学 suu gaku - math 学校 gakkou – school 高校 koukou – senior high school 校内 kou nai – within the school grounds 学生 gaku sei – a student 一生 isshou – all life, a lifetime 人生 jin sei – (human) life 先生 sen sei – teacher, master, doctor 電気 denki – electricity 電池 denchi – battery 電車 densha – train (electric car) ブン bun / フン fun / プン pun わ(ける) wa(keru) わ(かる) wa(karu) units, minutes, a part, to divide, to understand 学 校 生 電 ガク gaku / カク kaku まな(ぶ) mana(bu) コウ kou learning, science, to learn school セイ sei ショウ shou い(きる) i(kiru) う(まれる) u(mareru) デン den / テン ten いなずま inazuma birth, life, to give birth, to live electric, electricity 電話 denwa - telephone 気 車 国 円 山 川 白 キ ki ケ ke いき iki シャ sha くるま kuruma spirit, intention, mind, power, energy car, vehicle 空気 kuu ki – air, atmosphere 元気 genki – healthy, full of spirit 人気 nin ki - popularity 自転車 jitensha – bicycle 自動車 jidousha - car 救急車 kyuukyuusha – ambulance 電車 densha - train 韓国 kan koku – Korea 外国 gai koku – foreign country 中国 chuu goku - China 千円 sen en – 1000 yen 円高 en daka – a high yen rate 円を書く en o kaku – to draw a circle 火山 ka zan – a volcano (fire mountain) 富士山 Fujisan – Mt. Fuji ごみの山 gomi no yama – a mountain of garbage 山下さん yamashita-san – Mr. Yamashita 川田さん kawada-san – Mr. Kawada 白鳥 hakuchou – Swan (white bird) 白い shiroi – white 白蟻 shiro ari – termite (white ant) コク koku くに kuni エン en まる(い) maru(i) サン san / ザン zan やま yama country, a nation yen, a circle mountain セン sen かわ kawa ハク haku しろ(い) shiro(i) river, stream white 天 テン ten あま ama あめ ame heaven, the sky 雤 書 見 行 ウu あめ ame あま ama ショ sho か(く) ka(ku) rain book, document ケン ken み(る) mi(ru) み(える) mi(eru) コウ kou ギョウ gyou い(く) i(ku) / ゆ(く) yu(ku) to see, to show 天井 tenjou – ceiling 天気 tenki – weather 天国 ten goku – heaven, paradise 天才 ten sai – genius 明日の ことを 言えば 天井で ね ずみが 笑う asu no koto o ieba tenjou de nezumi ga warau – If you talk about tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs (proverb) 雤水 ama mizu – rain water 大雤 oo ame – heavy rain 小雤 ko same – light rain 書く kaku – to write 青く書く aoku kaku – to write in blue 図書館 toshoukan – library 聖書 seisho – bible (holy book) 辞書 jisho - dictionary 見る miru – to see 花見 hana mi – flower viewing 見える mieru – to be able to see, visible 意見 iken - opinion to go 行きましょう ikimashou – let‟s go 銀行 ginkou – bank 旅行 ryokou – a trip, travel 出 シュツ shutsu だ(す) da(su), で(る) de(ru) to go out, leave 出口 de guchi – exit 思い出す omoi dasu – to remember, to recollect 出来る dekiru – be able to do 出かける dekakeru – goes, comes out 中入り naka iri – intermission (of a play) 入り口 iri guchi – entrance 手に入れる te ni ireru – to obtain, to get one‟s hands on 入 話 聞 食 読 ニュウ nyuu はい(る) hai(ru) い(る) i(ru) / い(れる) i(reru) ワ wa はなし hanashi はな(す) hana(su) enter, to go in, to insert 入院 nyuuin - hospitalisation a talk, topic, a story 英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation (class) 昔話 mukashi banashi – an old tale, legend 手話 shu wa – sign language (hand talk) 新聞 shinbun – newspaper 聞いてください kiite kudasai – please listen 食べ物 tabemono – food 食べる taberu – to eat 食べたい tabetai – I want to eat 食事 shokuji – a meal 読みやすい yomi yasui – easy to read 読書 dokusho – reading (read ブン bun モン mon き(く) ki(ku) き(こえる) ki(koeru) ジキ jiki ショク shoku く(う) ku(u) た(べる) ta(beru) ドク doku よ(む) yo(mu) to hear, listen, ask the ear is between the gate and you use your ear to listen. eating, a meal, food to read book/document) 読んでください yonde kudasai – please read 来 田 門 口 私 力 ライ rai く(る) ku(ru) / きた(る) kita(ru) デン den た ta / だ da to come rice field looks like a rice field, in four parts. モン mon コウ kou くち kuchi / ぐち guchi シ shi わたし watashi / わたくし watakushi リョク ryoku リキ riki ちから chikara a gate a mouth, an exit, an entrance private looks like a gate. looks like a mouth. 未来 mi rai – the future (not yet come) 来週 rai shuu – next week 来月 rai getsu – next month 出来る dekiru – to be able to do 田中さん tanaka-san – Mr. Tanaka 山田さん yamada-san – Mr. Yamada 水田 suiden – rice field 田舎 inaka – countryside, rural area, hometown 門 mon – a gate 専門 senmon – speciality 人口 jinkou – population 出口 de guchi – exit 入り口 iri guchi – entrance 私立大学 shiritsu daigaku – private university 仮面ライダーは 私です ka men raidawa watashi desu – I am the Masked Rider. 水力 sui ryoku – water power 火力 ka ryoku – fire power 力学 riki gaku – dynamics 協力 kyouryoku - cooperation power 夢の力 yume no chikara – The power of dreams. 何 体 なに nani / なん nan タイ tai からだ karada what ? body, object a man‟s origin is his body. 何人 nan nin – how many people? 何ですか nan desu ka – what is it? 体力 tai ryoku – physical strength 体育 tai iku – physical education (P.E.) 体 karada – a body 肉体疲労 niku tai hi rou – be exhausted (body) 体育館 tai iku kan – a gym 後で体育館の 後ろで会いましょう ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou – Later, let‟s meet behind the gym. 頭の体操 atama no tai sou – exercising the mind 魚は好きです sakana wa suki desu – I like fish 好物 koubutsu – one‟s favourite food 林業 ringyou – forestry 林 hayashi – a wood 小林さん kobayashi-san – Mr. Kobayashi 森田さん morita-san – Mr. Morita 森林 shinrin – Woods and forests 畑 hatake – a cultivated field 田畑 ta hata – fields of rice and crops 花畑 hana batake – a flower garden 好 林 森 畑 コウ kou す(き) su(ki) リン rin はやし hayashi シン shin もり mori はたけ hatake はた hata love, like, favourite a mother loves a child. wood, grove two trees make a wood forest, jungle cultivated field three trees make a forest fire + rice field = burnt (cultivated) field. 岩 目 耳 手 ガン gan いわ iwa モク moku め me rock a stone by a mountain is a rock. looks like an eye (vertically). eye, item ジ ji みみ mimi シュ shu て te ear hand could be an ear (use your imagination). looks like a hand 岩田さん iwata-san – Mr. Iwata 岩石 ganseki – rocks and stones 火山岩 ka zan gan – volcanic rock 目上 me ue – one‟s superiors 目下 me shita – one‟s inferiors 目 me – an eye 目次 moku ji – table of contents 目的 moku teki – a purpose はつ 耳です hatsu mimi desu – “That‟s the first time I‟ve heard of that” 歌手 ka shu – a singer 上手な jouzu-na – skillful, good at 下手な heta-na – unskilled, not good at 手紙 tegami – letter 切手 kitte – stamp 助手 joshu – an assistant (lit. help hand) 足りる tariru – to be enough 足す tasu – to add 二足 ni soku – two pairs 不足 fu soku – a shortage 竹田さん Takeda-san – Mr. Takeda 竹の子 take no ko – a bamboo shoot 米国 bei koku – America 北米 hoku bei – North America 南米 nan bei – South America 中米 chuu bei – Central America 足 竹 米 ソク soku あし ashi た(りる) ta(riru) チク chiku たけ take マイ mai ベイ bei ごめ gome leg, pair, suffice bamboo rice, America looks like a man with a very long leg. two bamboo sticks. 貝 石 花 茶 肉 文 かい kai セキ seki いし ishi カ ka はな hana チャ cha サ sa shellfish stone looks like a crustacean (big shell, little legs). a stone (square) is in the picture. 貝殻 kaigara – a shell 真珠貝 shinjugai – pearl oyster 石川さん Ishikawa-san – Mr. Ishikawa 石や seki-ya – petroleum 化石 ka seki – a fossil 花 hana - a flower 花火 hanabi - fireworks 花びん kabin - a vase 茶 cha - tea 日本茶 Nihon cha - green tea 紅茶 koucha - black tea 喫茶店 kissaten - a coffee shop flower tea 茶色 chairo – brown (tea colour) ニク niku flesh, meat hangars at an abattoir for meat. 鳥肉 tori niku - Chicken 牛肉 gyuu niku – Beef 魚肉 gyo niku – fish meat 肉体 niku tai – Body 文 bun - a sentence ブン bun モン mon ふみ fumi pattern, letter, sentence, literature a man crossing his legs reading a book (containing a sentence) 文学 bun gaku – literature 文字 moji – letter or character 文化 bunka - culture 文部科学省 mon bu ka gaku shou Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology この文章の 構造が どうなっている か 分かりますか kono bun shou no 字 物 ジ ji letter, character letters are associated with learning, and this looks like gaku. ブツ butsu モツ motsu もの mono a thing, matter, object (non-human) 牛 馬 鳥 ギュウ gyuu うし ushi バ ba うま uma チョウ chou とり tori cattle, cow, bull, ox horse a bull with one horn. a galloping horse. kou zou ga dou natte iru ka wakarimasu ka – Do you understand the structure of this sentence? 字 ji - a letter or character 文字 mo ji / mon ji - a letter 漢字 kanji - kanji 数字 suuji - a number 買い物 kaimono – shopping 品物 shinamono - goods 生物 sei butsu – a living creature 荷物 ni motsu – baggage 物語 mono gatari – a story, tale, legend 飲み物 nomimono – a drink 好物 kou butsu – favourite 動物 dou butsu – animal 果物の 中で 何が 一番好きですか kudamono no naka de nani ga ichiban suki desu ka – Among all fruit which do you like best? 子牛 ko ushi – a calf (child cattle) 牛乳 gyuu nyuu – cow‟s milk 馬車 ba sha – a carriage 馬力 ba riki – horsepower 馬肉 ba niku – horse meat 焼き鳥 yaki tori – roast chicken 白鳥 haku chou – a swan bird the kanji for white 白 (shiro(i)) is included making this a white bird. 野鳥 ya chou – wild bird 南から鳥が飛んできました minami kara tori ga tonde kimashita – The birds came from the south. 一石 二鳥 isseki nichou – two birds with one stone 魚 羊 猿 猫 犬 豚 象 ギョ go さかな sakana ひつじ hitsuji さる saru ねこ neko ケイ kei いぬ inu ぶた buta ぞう zou fish a fish is caught by a hook 魚や sakana-ya – fish shop 焼き魚 ya ki zakana – grilled fish 金魚 kingyo – goldfish sheep monkey cat the rice field looks like a mat. The cat sat on the mat! 猫の子 neko no ko – kitten 子犬を飼った ko inu o katta – I got a puppy (katta used to mean „raise‟). dog pig elephant two big (square) ears and a curved trunk make an elephant. -i Adjectives Kanji + i KANJI READING On-yomi / Kun-yomi コ ko ふる(い) furu(i) MEANINGS old REASONING FOR MEANING churches are old. EXAMPLES 古い furui – old 古くない furukunai – not old 古かった furukatta – was old 古くなかった furukunakatta – was not old 古くなります furuku narimasu – becomes old (adverb) 古くて安い furukute yasui – old and cheap (combining adjectives) 古い本 furui hon – an old book 古本 furu hon – a used book 中古車 chuu ko sha – a second hand car 古い 長い チョウ chou なが(い) naga(i) long, eldest, chief 長い nagai – long 長男 chou nan – the eldest son 学長 gaku chou – a (university / school) president 校長先生 kou chou sensei – principal, 短い 高い 安い 低い 暗い 多い 重い タン tan みじか(い) mijika(i) コウ kou たか(い) taka(i) アン an やす(い) yasu(i) テイ tei ひく(い) hiku(i) アン an くら(い) kura(i) タta おお(い) ooi() ジュウ juu チョウ chou おも(い) omoi えe かさ(なる) kasa(naru) かさ(ねる) kasa(neru) short (distance) tall / Expensive looks like a tall building. a woman inside a building is cheap? cheap, safe low (height) dark, gloomy, depressing many, much heavy headmaster (leader of teachers) 社長 sha chou – Company president 長い道 nagai michi – a long road 短い mijikai – short 短時間 tan jikan – a short time 短大 tan dai – a junior college 高校 kou kou – a high school 高速 kou soku – high speed 高橋 Takahashi – Japanese surname 安売り (yasu u) ri – a bargain sale 安心 する an shin suru – to be relieved 安全な anzen na - safe 低温 tei on – low temperature 低下 する tei ka suru – to fall down, to go down 暗い kurai – dark 暗室 an shitsu – a dark room 多尐 ta shou – more or less 多数 ta suu – a large number 重い omoi – heavy 重くない omokunai – not heavy 重かった omokatta – was heavy 重くなかった omokunakatta – was not heavy 貴重 ki chou – precious, valuable 重点 juu ten – important point 軽い 近い かる(い) karu(i) キン kin ちか(い) chika(i) light, easy near, early 近郊 kinkou – suburbs, outskirts 近所 kinjo - neighbourhood (near place) 近状 kinjou – recent condition 最近 saikin – recently, latest, newest 最近天気が悪い saikin tenki ga warui – Lately the weather has been bad. 最近、台風が 多いです saikin, taifuu ga ooi desu – Lately, there have been many typhoons. 遠い 悪い 早い とお(い) too(i) アク aku わる(い) waru(i) far bad, evil looks like an anchor on top of the Kanji for heart. When you do something bad it should weigh on your heart (feel bad). looks like a stick man and a stick man is fast. 最悪 sai aku – worst case, the worst 悪魔 akuma – devil, demon 罪悪 zai aku – crime, sin 最近天気が悪い saikin tenki ga warui – lately the weather has been terrible. 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up early 早速 sassoku – immediately, at once 早咲き haya saki – early blooming この浅い湾で、潮が 早く差す kono asai wan de, shio ga hayaku sasu – In this fast, early ソウ sou はや(い) haya(i) はや(まる) haya(maru) はや(める) haya(meru) 明るい メイ mei ミョウ myou あか(るい) aka(rui) あ(ける) a(keru) bright, lively, cheerful sun + moon = bright shallow bay, the tide comes up quickly. 早める hayameru – to hasten, bring forward (not accelerate – 速める) 明るい aka(rui) – bright, cheerful 明らか(な) akiraka(na) - obvious 明ける a(keru) to break (to dawn) 説明 setsumei – explanation 明治時代 mei ji ji dai – Meji era 文明 bun mei – civilization 明細 mei sai – particulars, details, specifics -shii Kanji + shii 新しい シン shin あたら(しい) atara(shii) new 新しい atarashii – new 新しくない atarashikunai – not new 新しかった atarashikatta – was new 新しくなかった atarashikunakatta – was not new 新しく買います atarashiku kaimasu – newly buy (adverb) 新しくて高い atarashikute takai – new and expensive (combining adjectives) 新しくなかった車 atarashikunakatta kuruma – it was not a new car 新聞 shinbun – newspaper 新年 shin nen – a new year 楽しみます tanoshimimasu – to enjoy 音楽 ongaku – music 快楽 kairaku - pleasure 快楽主義 kairaku shu gi - Hedonism 快楽しか 求めない人も居る kairaku shika motomenai hito mo iru – there are people who seek only pleasure. 楽しい ガク gaku ラク raku たの(しい) tano(shii) たの(しむ) tano(shimu) enjoyment looks like a microphone on a stage that someone has enjoyed singing in to. 正しい セイ sei ショウ shou ただ(しい) tada(shii) ただ(す) tadasu まさ masa correct, right, justice if you stop 止 to think about it you will get it right 正義 seigi – justice, righteousness 正月 shou gatsu – new year 改正 kai sei – revision; amendment 正解 sei kai – correct (answer) 公正 kou sei – fairness, impartiality 更正 kou sei – correction, revision 正座 sei za – sit (or squat) straight 正しかった です か tadashikatta desu ka – Was that correct? 美しい 忙しい 素晴ら しい うつく(しい) utsuku(shii) いそが(しい) isoga(shii) すばら(しい) subara(shii) beautiful busy wonderful, superb 毎日 忙しい です mai nichi isogashii desu – Every day I am busy -na Adjectives Kanji + na 静かな 穏やか な 真っ暗 な 微かな 妙な 簡単な しずか(な) shizukana おだやか(な) odayaka(na) quiet calm 静かな 公園 です ね shizukana kouen desu ne – It is a quiet park isn‟t it? あの 人は 穏やか です ano hito wa odayaka desu – That person is calm まっくら(な) makkura(na) 真っ暗な makkura(na) – pitch black 真っ黒 makkuro(na) – jet black ビ bi かすか(な) kasuka(na) みょうな myou(na) faint, vague, microscopic strange 微光写真 bikou shashin – low-light photography 妙に myouni – strangely... 試験は 簡単でした shiken wa kantan deshita – The test was easy (simple) かんたんな kantan(na) simplistic More Adjectives Kanji + others 尐ない 尐し ショウ shou すく(ない) sukunai すこ(し) sukoshi few, little Kanji for small (chiisai) 尐し sukoshi – a little, a few is in this kanji character 尐年 shou nen – a boy (few, little). 尐女 shou jo – a girl JLPT Level 3 Kanji 心 回 青 赤 しん shin こころ kokoro カイkai / エ e まわ(る) mawa(ru) まわ(す) mawa(su) セイ sei ショウ shou あお(い) ao(i) セキ seki シャク shaku あか(い) aka(i) heart, mind, (relating to) emotion turn the long line is the heart and the short lines are the blooooooood. any way you turn it, it is still a square in a square. 安心 an shin – relief, peace of mind 遠回り too mawari – detour blue red the Kanji for earth is above, and underneath is the red fiery lava rising up 秋 開 シュウ shuu あき aki autumn, fall (season) in the fall leaves have the colour of fire. カイ kai あ(ける) a(keru) to open through an open door we can see a Shinto gate in the distance. 青空 ao zora – blue skies 青森県 aomori ken – Aomori Prefecture (northern Japan) 青色 ao iro – blue colour 赤道 seki dou – equator 赤字 aka ji – deficit, go in the red, red letters 赤ちゃん aka chan – baby, infant 今月は赤字です kon getsu wa akaji desu – this month we are in the red 秋ぶんの ひ shuu bun no hi – autumn equinox holiday (September) 秋ば しょ aki ba sho – autumn sumo tournament ドアを開けて ください doa o akete kudasai – please open the door 全開 zen kai – full throttle, all the way 開港 kai kou – open port, treaty port 再開 sai kai – re-opening, resumption 朝 チョウ chou あさ asa morning, dawn a car driving the moon away (morning) 味 集 兄 姉 歩 ミ mi あじ aji あじ(わう) aji(wau) シュウ shuu あつ(まる) atsu(maru) ケイ kei キョウ kyou あに ani シ shi あね ane ホ ho フ fu ある(く) aru(ku) taste, experience open your mouth to taste a tree top to collect, to gather my aerial is on top of the tree (gathering signals) the top part looks like an eye. big brother is watching you! my older sister 市(ichi) works at the market older brother 朝日新聞 Asahi shinbun – Asashi newspaper 朝刊 Chou kan – Morning edition (of a newspaper) 朝ごはん asa gohan – breakfast 毎朝 会社に 自転車で 行きます mai asa kaisha ni jitensha de ikimasu – Every morning I go to the office by bicycle 趣味 shumi - hobby 意味 imi – meaning 味見 aji mi – taste testing 隠し味 kakushi aji – hidden taste 編集 hen shuu – editing (newspaper, book) 採集 sai shuu – collecting, gathering 兄弟 kyou dai – brothers older sister to walk, to step 姉妹 shi mai - sisters 姉妹都市 shi mai to shi – sister cities the top part is to stop 止 一歩一歩 ippo ippo – step by step, little (tomeru) and the bottom by little is little 尐(し), so when 散歩 sanpo - walking you walk a little you have あゆ(む) ayu(mu) to stop a little also. 有 医 意 ユウ yuu あ(る) ar(u) to have, to exist (inanimate object) you have a month 月 (getsu) to do something イi to heal, to cure a person lying in bed with a bandage being healed. your mind and heart (bottom) are standing to attention (top part looks like legs standing). イi mind, heart, attention 一歩一歩日本語を勉強してください ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite kudasai – please study Japanese little by little. 固有 ko yuu – characteristic, inborn 有効 yuu kou – effective, valid 有罪 yuu zai – guilt, guiliness 有名(な) yuumei(na) – famous 医者 isha – doctor 歯科医 shikai – dentist 医師 ishi – doctor, surgeon 注意 chuui – attention, caution 意見 iken – opinion, view 意味 imi – meaning 意識 ishiki – consciousness, awareness 用意 youi – preparation 厚意 koui – kindness (better to use 好意 – same spelling different Kanji) 殺意 satsui – intent to kill 危ないから、注意してください abunai kara, chuui shite kudasai – since it is dangerous, please be careful. 山田さんの 意見に 全く賛成だ Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da – I am in complete agreement with Mr. Yamada. 以 イi more, with, through, on account of 以上 ijou – more than or at least 以下 ika – less than or at most 以外 igai – except, outside of 以降 ikou – on and after, hereafter, thereafter 月曜日以外、毎日勉強します getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou shimasu – except for Monday, I study everyday. the top part is a roof, while the bottom is a pig. You keep pigs at home. 家 カ ka ケ ke いえ ie うち uchi house 家族 ka zoku - Family 借家 shaku ya – rental, rented house 恐妻家 kyou sai ka – a henpecked husband 家財 ka zai – houshold effects (goods) 古い家に住んでいます furui ie ni sunde imasu – I live in an old house. 借家を探しています shakuya o sagashite imasu – I am looking for a place to rent. ほとんどの作家は批評に敏感である hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de aru – Most writers are sensitive to criticism. 急 キュウ kyuu いそ(ぐ) iso(gu) to hurry fish are always in a hurry because their hearts 心 (kokoro) beat too fast. 急行 kyuukou – Express Train 急(な) kyuu(na) - sudden 妹 色 マイ mai いもうとimouto ショク shoku シキ shiki いろ iro younger sister colour little girls (younger sister) like to play outside, hence the tree. fishing hooks are colourful to attract fish. 姉妹 shimai – sisters 姉妹都市 shimai to shi – sister cities 青色 ao iro – blue colour 灰色 hai iro – grey colour 黄緑色 kimadori iro – yellow-green (peagreen) 黄色 ki iro – yellow 茶色 chairo – brown (tea colour) 音 員 院 動 オン on イン in おと oto ね ne イン in イン in ドウ dou うご(く) ugo(ku) sound if you stand on the sun you will make a lot of sound. member, official institution, academy to move an official is just a shell with a mouth. 音読み on yomi – the „Chinese‟ reading of a Kanji (by sound) 音階 on kai – Musical scale 雑音 zatsu on – noise, jamming, interference, grating 委員 i in – committee member 職員 shoku in – staff 参議院 san gi in – House of Councilors 病院 byouin – hospital car plus power = moving. 移動 i dou – move, transfer 動物 dou butsu – animal 動物園 dou butsu en – zoo 活動 katsu dou – action, activity 私には政治活動に従事する暇はない – watashi ni wa seijikatsudou ni juujisuru hima wa nai – I don‟t have time to get involved in political activity. 歌 写 映 海 カ ka うた uta うた(う) uta(u) シャ sha うつす utsu(su) エイ ei うつ(す) utsu(su) うつ(る) utsu(ru) カイ kai うみ umi a song, to sing a person on the right singing into karaoke boxes on the left. someone is moving the camera to take a photo of the number „5‟. Final Fantasy – person is casting Reflect in front of them. 短歌 tan ka – Tanka poem (a 31 syllable Japanese poem) 写真 shashin – photograph, picture 今度映画を見に行きませんか kondo eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka – next time, why don‟t we (go and see) a movie? 今度映画を見ましょう kondo eiga o mimashou – next time, let‟s see a movie. 北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern Japanese island) 海外 kai gai - overseas, abroad 黄海 kou kai – the Yellow Sea 公海 kou kai – the high seas, international waters 航海 kou kai – voyage, ocean navigation 紅海 kou kai – the Red Sea 読売新聞 yomi uri shinbun – Yomiuri Newspaper 運河 un ga – canal 運命 un mei – fate, destiny 安全運転 an zen unten – safe driving 幸運 kou un – good fortune, good luck 重いので、運べない omoi node, to copy, to take (a photo) to be reflected, to project onto a screen sea, ocean the three marks on the left mean „water‟ and the other symbol means „every‟. Every water comes from the ocean. 売 運 バイ bai う(る) u(ru) う(り) u(ri) ウン un はに(ぶ) hani(bu) sale, to sell looks like a man standing behind a counter in his shop, selling. a man carrying a car home that he has won (because he is lucky). carry, luck hakobenai – since it is heavy, I can‟t lift it. 英 エイ ei ヨウ you はなぶさ hanabusa England, English, grand the top part of the Kanji is grass (tea) which the English drink a lot of. 終 シュウ shuu シュ shu お(わる) o(waru) お(える) o(eru) end, finish Winter is the ending thread of the year. 起 キ ki コ ko get up, wake up running at 2 in the morning makes you wake 英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation 石英 seki ei – quartz (grand stone) 英訳 ei yaku – English translation 英雄的 ei yuu teki – heroic 四年生は まだ英語が 分からない yon nen sei wa mada eigo ga wakaranai – 4th graders don‟t understand English yet. 彼は英語教師としての 資格がある kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru – He is qualified as an English teacher. 最終 sai shuu – last, final 終電 shuu den – last train (for the night) 終了 shuu ryou – end, termination この番組が 終わったら、寝ましょう kono bangumi ga owattara, nemashou – after this (TV) program ends, let‟s go to sleep. トランスフォーマーズを 見終わった ら、会社に 持って来ます toransufoma-zu o mi owattara, kaisha ni motte kimasu – When I have finished watching Transformers I will bring [it] to the office 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up early お(きる) o(kuru) お(こす) o(kosu) お(こる) o(koru) オク oku や ya roof, house, shop 屋 送 ソウ sou ス su おく(る) oku(ru) send 教 キョウ kyou おし(える) oshi(eru) おそ(わる) oso(waru) teach, education, faith 一念発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved to do something 朝の六時に 起きました asa no roku ji ni okimashita – I woke up at 6 this morning. a roof starts from the 本屋 hon-ya – book shop ground up 部屋 heya – room (in a house) 靴屋 kutsu-ya – shoe shop 屋根 ya ne – roof Mr. Yen is running away 衛星放送 ei sei hou sou – satellite (people sending money) broadcasting 生放送 nama hou sou – live broadcast (radio, TV) 送金 sou kin – sending (transferring) money 再放送 sai hou sou – rebroadcasting 送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping (charges) included child gets smacked by the 教会 kyou kai – church adult (teaching) キリスト教 kirisuto kyou – Christianity 宗教 shuu kyou – religion 教育 kyou iku – education 教科書 kyou ka sho – textbook 教材 kyou zai – teaching materials (aids) 教師 kyou shi – teacher, instructor 新しい住所を 教えてください atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai – Please up 弟 同 主 テイ tei おとうと otouto ドウ dou おな(じ) ona(ji) シュ shu ス su ぬし nushi おも omo younger brother a lot of younger brothers have a bow and arrows when everyone agrees they have one 一 mouth 口 the Lord is above a king 王 (ou) same, agree, equal tell (teach) me your new address. 彼は 英語教師としての 資格がある kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru – He is qualified as an English teacher. 兄弟 kyou dai - brothers 師弟 shi tei – master and pupil; teacher and student 混同 kon dou – confusion, mixing 賛同 san dou – approval, endorsement 民主主義 min shu shu gi – democracy 快楽主義 kai raku shu gi – Hedonism 主人公 shu jin kou – master, hero, heroine 印象主義 in shou shu gi – impressionism (art) 主人 shujin – husband, the owner 七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven wonders of the world Lord, master, the principal matter 思 親 シ shi おも(う) omo(u) think シン shin おや oya した(しい) shita(shii) parent, relative, familiar a lot of thinking can be done in one‟s heart 心 (kokoro) in a rice field 田 (den) being close to someone (relative, familiar) requires looking closely at them (miru 見る). 父親 chichi oya – father 親指 oya yubi – thumb アメリカから両親が来ます amerika kara ryou shin ga kimasu – My parents are 夏 画 カ ka なつ natsu ガ ga かく kaku えがく egaku Summer picture in Summer you get hundreds 百 of friends 友 looks like a picture of a rice field hung up on the wall. coming from America. 立っているもの、親でも使え tatte iru mono, oya demo tsukae – “Whoever is standing, even if a parent, can be used (to get things)” (a traditional saying). 彼は両親に よって塾へ 行くことを 強制された kare wa ryou shin ni yotte juku e iku koto o kyou sei sareta – His parents forced him to go to a cram school. 夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation 界 帰 代 カイ kai さかい sakai キ ki かえ(る) kae(ru) かえ(す) kae(su) ダイ dai タイ tai か(える) ka(eru) world return, arrive at generation, price, 絵画 kai ga – picture, painting 計画 kei kaku – plan 画賛 ga san – legend (text) on a picture 今度映画を 見に 行きませんか kondo eiga o mini ikimasen ka – Next time, why don‟t we (go and see) a movie? feed the world using a 界 sakai - world rice field 田 (den) 世界 se kai – the world 世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world looks like a man 帰国 ki koku – return to one‟s own returning to his home country (entering the front door). 国へ帰ります kuni e kaerimasu – I am returning to my own country. a dog with a broken leg is 時代 ji dai - era, the times, generation behind the times and the 古代 ko dai - ancient times price to fix it is 明治時代 mei ji ji dai - Meji era か(わる) ka(waru) しろ shiro よ yo expensive. age, exchange, substitute wind, air, style an insect 虫 (mushi) is hiding under a tent because it is windy. 風 フウ fuu かぜ kaze 時代錯誤 ji dai saku go - anachronism, being behind the times 交代 kou tai - take turns, relieve (a person) 電話代 denwadai – telephone charge 最近、台風が 多いです sai kin, taifuu ga ooi desu – lately, there have been many typhoons. 風 kaze – a cold, wind 風をじみです kaze o jimi desu – I have a cold. 貸 カ ka か(す) ka(su) lend 方 紙 通 ホウ kou かた kata person, way, direction paper go through, avenue, traffic kanji for “buy” 買 (kau) is paired with “generation” 代 (dai) to show money going from one person to another (lending). looks like a person running in a direction. 貸す kasu – to lend 方言 hou gen – dialect 夕方 yuugata - evening 方向 hou kou – direction, bearing, course 平方根 hei hou kon – square root (math) 折り紙 origami – origami (paper folding) 手紙 tegami – letter (lit. hand-paper) 交通 kou tsuu – traffic; transportation この道路は 交通が尐ない kono dou ro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai – Traffic is light on this road. シ shi かみ kami ツウ tsuu とお(る) too(ru) とお(す) too(su) paper is made of threads 糸(ito) of wood かよ(う) kayo(u) 借 漢 館 元 考 着 シャク shaku か(りる) ka(riru) カン kan カン kan やかた yakata borrow, rent China palace, building a person (left radical) borrows things during the day 日 (ni) China is across the ocean, so the three marks on the left mean „water‟. a government 官 (kan) building has a place to eat 食べる (taberu) 借家 shaku-ya – rented, rented house ゲン gen ガン gan もと moto コウ kou かんが(える) kanga(eru) チャク chaku き(る) ki(ru) き(せる) ki(seru) つ(く) tsu(ku) つ(ける) tsu(keru) beginning, origin it has two legs going back to the beginning someone is striking the ground 土 (do) by thinking. at the top is the character for sheep 羊 and you wear clothes made from wool. thought, think, consider wear (clothes), arrive 図書館 toshokan – library 体育館 tai iku kan – a gym 後で体育館の 後ろで会いましょう ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou – Later, let‟s meet behind the gym. 元気 genki – healthy, strong, fine お元気ですか o-genki desu ka – How are you? 参考 san kou - reference, consultation 着る kiru – wear 着く tsuku – to arrive 水着 mizu gi – swim suit, bathing suit 上着 uwagi – jacket, coat 到着 touchaku – arrival 究 去 京 強 キュウ kyuu きわ(める) kiwa(meru) キョ kyo コ ko さ(る) sa(ru) キョウ kyou ケイ kei みやこ miyako research, study researching six and nine. 彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大した kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai shita – He expanded the focus of his research. past, gone, to leave capital it is a boat with the sail going past looks like a tall building, like you might see in a capital city. 去年 kyo nen – last year 過去 kako – past 東京 toukyou - Tokyo 京都 kyouto – Kyoto キョウ kyou ゴウ gou つよ(い) tsuyo(i) つよ(まる) tsuyo(maru) つよ(める) tsuyo(meru) し(いる) shi(iru) ギョウ gyou ゴウ gou わざ waza セツ sei サイ sai き(る) ki(ru) き(れる) ki(reru) strong 東京は いくつ目の 駅ですか toukyou wa ikutsu me no eki desu ka – How many stations until Tokyo? a bow on the left, and 勉強 benkyou – study (looks like) a man‟s face 強制 kyousei – coercion on the right. a strong man 一歩一歩日本語を 勉強してください can use a bow. ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite kudasai – Please study Japanese little by little. a big fancy Mr.Yen, and business gets you lots of money. seven 七 swords 刀 cut better than one 鉱業 kou gyou – mining (industry) 残業 zan gyou – overtime 卒業 sotsugyou – graduation 大切 taisetsu – important 親切 shinsetsu – kind, helpful 電池が 切れました denchi ga kiremashita – The battery is dead. 業 切 business, vocation cut, cut off 銀 工 黒 計 ギン gin しろがね shirogane コウ kou ク ku コク koku くろ(い) kuro(i) ケイ kei はか(る) haka(ru) はか(らう) haka(rau) silver construction, craft black plan, measure metal on the left, right symbol looks kind of like a silver spoon looks like an I beam for construction the sun 日 is burning the ground 土 black planning and measuring takes talk 銀行 ginkou – bank 細工 saiku – work, craftmanship 工場 koujou – factory, plant 白黒 shiro kuro - white and black 目覚まし時計 me zamashi do kei – alarm clock 計画 keikaku – plan 計算 keisan – computation, calculation 気圧計 kiatsukei – barometer 時計 tokei – clock 研究 kenkyuu – study, research 再建 sai ken – reconstruction, rebuilding 建設 ken setsu – construction そのビルは 未だ 建設中です sono biru wa imada kensetsu chuu desu – That building is still under construction. 研 建 験す ケン ken と(ぐ) to(gu) ケン ken た(つ) ta(tsu) た(てる) ta(teru) study of, sharpen build sharpen your study of rocks 石 (ishi) there is a number „3‟ on the left, and on the right is part of „book‟. You need three books to build a house looks like a person standing by a desk (on the left) with a high board because he is taking a test ケン ken ため(す) tame(su) testing, test, examine, effect 試験 shiken – test 試験管 shikenkan – test tube 試験まで 後 一週間 shiken made ato ishuukan – There is one week before the test. それは まだ 実験段階に あります sore wa mada jikkendankai ni arimasu – It is still in the experimental stage. 広 試 答 事 コウ kou ひろ(い) hiro(i) ひろ(がる) hiro(garu) ひろ(げる) hiro(geru) ひろ(まる) hiro(maru) ひろ(める) hiro(meru) シ shi ため(す) tame(su) こころ(みる) kokoro(miru) トウ tou こた(え) kota(e) こた(える) kota(eru) ジ ji ズ zu こと koto wide, broad, spacious there is a lot of space around this kanji 広告 kou koku – advertisement この道は 広いです kono michi wa hiroi desu – This road is wide. 知識を 広める chishiki o hiromeru – To widen one‟s knowledge. 試験 shiken – test, examine test, try, examine answer, solution saying words 言 (iu) during a ceremony 式 (shiki) makes an experiment “Who designed your TShirt?” and I answered “Two pidgeons on a rooftop”!!! 忚答 する outou suru – to respond thing, matter, business, fact 故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin 事故 jiko – accident, trouble 自分の 才能を 生かせるような仕事 を したい jibun no sainou o ikaseru you na shigoto o shitai – I want to do work that will make the most of my abilities. 五日 たてば 仕事が 完了するだろ う itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou – We should complete this job in five days. 転 作 テン ten ころ(ぶ) koro(bu) ころ(がす) koro(gasu) ころ(がる) koro(garu) ころ(げる) koro(geru) サク saku サ sa つく(る) tsuku(ru) revolve, turn around you need space 広い 自転車 jitensha – bicycle (hiroi) to turn your car 車 安全 運転 an zen unten – safe driving (kuruma) around 転換 tenkan – convert make, prepare, produce the mark to the left イ represents a person, so someone who is making something 工作 kou saku – handcraft, manoeuvring 耕作 kou saku - cultivate, till, plow 作品 sakuhin – creation, opus ほとんどの作家は批評に敏感である hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de aru – Most writers are sensitive to criticism. 立ち入り禁止 tachi iri kin shi - do not enter 喫煙の 習慣を 止めることが でき たらいいね kitsuen no shuukan o yamerukoto ga dekitara ii ne – It‟d be nice if I could kick my smoking habit. 止 シ shi と(まる) to(maru) と(める) to(meru) やめる ya(meru) ジ ji シ shi みずか(ら) mizuka(ra) stop looks like a road block which makes you stop 自 self, oneself it is the kanji „me‟目 (eye) but with an eyebrow which means „Me‟ 自分 jibun – oneself, myself 自白 jihaku – confession (self + white = “I come clean”) 自転車 jitensha – bicycle 自動車 jidousha - car 自首 jishu – surrender, give oneself up 自己紹介 ji ko shou kai – selfintroduction 仕 死 始 使 シ shi つか(える) tsuka(eru) serve, official, attend die, death work (serve) until you die (grave). 自殺 jisatsu – suicide 自賛 jisan – self-praise 自然 shizen – natural 五日 たてば 仕事が 完了するだろ う itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou – We should complete this job in five days. 枯死 koshi – withering, dying 死罪 shizai – capital punishment, capital offence 始めまして hajimemashite – a greeting (when meeting for the first time) シ shi し(ぬ) shi(nu) シ shi はじ(まる) haji(maru) はじ(める) haji(meru) シ shi つか(う) tsuka(u) it could be two souls dead under the land (the line along the top). the woman 女 (onna) on stage 台 began to perform looks like an old man looking at a stick of bamboo and wondering how to use it. beginning, begin, start use 大使館 taishikan - embassy 使って も いい です か tsukatte mo ii desu ka – may I use (this)? 彼は 高価な 材料を ふんだんに 使って 家を建てた kare wa kouka na zairyou o fundan ni tsukatte uchi o tateta – He was lavish in the use of expensive materials in building his house. 土地 tochi – ground, soil, area 地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway 地域 chiiki – local, area, zone, district 耕地 kouchi – cultivated land 砂地 sunaji – sandy place, sandy terrain 地 チ chi ジ ji ground, soil (in the context of the Earth, Holy place etc) contains the kanji for ground/soil 地理 chiri - geography 持 ジ ji も(つ) mo(tsu) も(てる) mo(teru) hold, have 質 室 品 者 習 シツ shitsu シチ shichi シツ shitsu むろ muro ヒン hin しな shina quality, matter, substance room, chamber goods, article, elegance, dignity someone, person 維持 iji - maintenance 持参 jisan – bringing or taking with one 支持 shiji – support 二千円札を 持っています か ni sen en satsu o motte imasu ka – Do you have a 2000 yen bill? DVD を 持っています DVD o motte imasu – I have a DVD. two axes chopping into 質問 shitsu mon – question the shell to see what the 材質 zai shitsu – material properties, quality is. lumber quality the top part of a room is a 更衣室 kou i shitsu – dressing room roof 個室 koshitsu – private room a man in front of a temple holding something. three mouths 口 look like three boxes (goods) 物品 buppin – goods 上品 jouhin – elegant 食料品 shokuryouhin – groceries 作品 sakuhin – creation, opus 医者 isha – doctor, physician 妻帯者 sai tai sha – a married man シャ sha もの mono シュウ shuu なら(う) nara(u) learn, practice this kanji represents a person‟s life. There is the sun (birth) and the ground (looks like a grave). it is a face of someone looking troubled because it is hard to practice 練習 renshuu - practice 慣習 kanshuu – usual custom 習慣 shuukan – custom, habit, manners Japanese. 住 ジュウ juu す(まう) su(mau) す(む) su(mu) live, reside, dwell you are the lord 主 of the house you live in 春 場 シュン shun はる haru ジョウ jyou チュウ chuu ば ba spring (season) place, location three 三 people 人 out in the sun 日 in springtime. the earth 土 is a place under the sun 日 社会の 慣習は 国に よって異なる shakai no kanshuu wa kuni ni yotte kotonaru – Customs differ depending on the country. その習慣は 日本独特の もの だ sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no mono da – That custom is unique to Japan. 住所 jusho – address 三年間 日本に 住みました san nen kan nihon ni sumimashita – I lived in Japan for three years. 古い家に 住んでいます furui ie ni sunde imasu – I live in an old house. 新しい住所を 教えてください atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai – Please tell me your new address. 春雤 haru same – Spring Rain 駐車場 chuu sha jou – parking lot / garage 市場 ichi ba - market 場合 ba ai – a case, situation ここはいい場所ですね koko wa ii basho desu ne – Isn‟t this a nice place? いつも 駐車場が 混んでいます itsumo chuushajou ga konde imasu – (This) parking lot is always full. 知 チ chi し(る) shi(ru) to know, wisedom the kanji on the left means arrow 矢 (ya) and the right kanji is a mouth 口 (guchi). wisedom is like an arrow from one‟s mouth. 真 図 世 夕 シン shin ま ma true, reality 知識 chishiki – knowledge, learning 温故知新 on ko chishin – exploring the old (past), one comes to understand the new (present) 告知 koku chi – notify, announce 彼に だけ知らせないの は 不公平 だ kare ni dake shirasenai no wa fukouhei da – It isn‟t fair to leave only him in the dark. 真実 shin jitsu – truth, reality 写真 shashin – photograph, picture 真っ赤 makka – really red 真っ白 masshiro – really white 真ん中 mannaka – right in the middle 図書館 toshokan - library 地図 chizu - map 合図 aizu – sign, signal 地図を 見せてください chizu o misete kudasai – Please show me the map 世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world 世紀 sei ki - century 浮世絵 uki yoe – Ukiyoe (woodblock print) 夕方 yuugata - evening 夕焼け yuuyake – sunset ズ zu ト to はか(る) haka(ru) map, drawing, plan X marks the spot on this treasure map セイ sei セ se よ yo セキ seki ゆう yuu generation, world, society looks like katakana se セ because it (katakana) derives from kanji. It is the previous generation. evening 走 族 ソウ sou はし(る) hashi(ru) run looks like a man running ゾク zoku family, tribe 注 台 待 題 チュウ chuu そそ(ぐ) soso(gu) pour, flow into, concentrate on the left is person 方 (kata) and on the right arrow 矢 (ya), so this represents a person hunting food for his tribe (family). the Lord 主 is concentrating on the water (kanji on the left). 本田さんは マラソンを はしりまし た honda-san wa marason o hashirimashita – Mr.Honda ran a marathon. 家族 kazoku – family 民族 minzoku – tribe タイ tai ダイ dai タイ tai ま(つ) ma(tsu) ダイ dai stand, stage, pedestal wait, depend on topic, subject looks like someone on a stage shouting into a microphone (side-on view) person + time = wait a person with a shellfish on his leg is a subject of study 注目 chuu moku – attention, notice 注意 chuui – careful (concentrate) 危ないから、注意してください abunai kara, chuui shite kudasai – Since it is dangerous, please be careful. 最近、台風が多いです sai kin, taifuu ga ooi desu – Lately, there have been many typhoons. ちょっと 待って ください chotto matte kudasai – please wait a moment 飲み放題 nomi hou dai – all you can drink 宿題 shuku dai – homework 問題 mondai – problem, issue, question この問題は 難しい kono mondai wa muzukashii – This problem is difficult. 度 ド do タク taku たび tabi degree, time, times occurred 旅 リョ ryo たび tabi travel, trip the top right hand horizontal line is an arm passing a ticket to a person 方 (kata) for their trip. the sun 日 is in the middle at noon think of a small town with a T shaped road leading to a rice field 今度 kondo – next time, soon 硬度 koudo – hardness 支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation 今度映画を 見ましょう kondo eiga o mimashou – Next time let‟s see a movie. 制度を 改めた seido o aratameta – They changed the system. 旅行 ryokou – trip, travel 次の 旅行は どこに 行きたい で す か tsugi no ryokou wa doko ni ikitai desu ka – Where do you want to go for the next trip? 旅館 ryokan - Japanese-style inn 昼 町 チュウ chuu ひる hiru チョウ chou まち machi noon, daytime town, village 昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break 車で町に行きましょう kuruma de machi ni ikimashou – Let‟s go to town by car. この町は 見るところが 多いです kono machi wa miru tokoro ga ooi desu – This town has a lot to see. 質問 shitsu mon – question この問題は 難しいです kono mondai wa muzukashii desu – This problem is difficult. 質問があります shitsumon ga arimasu – I have a question. 問 モン mon と(い) to(i) と(う) to(u) question, ask, problem you go to the gate 門 and speak with your mouth 口 if you have a problem or need to ask a question. 冬 堂 特 トウ tou ふゆ fuyu ドウ dou winter hall think of a cloud dropping two snowflakes in winter here we see the ground, a roof, and in the middle a mouth (the hallway) the left symbol looks like a cow. A special cow was dontated to the temple. 冬眠 tou min – hibernation 食堂 shokudou – dining hall 任天堂 nintendou – Nintendo. 任 responsibility/duty, 天 heaven 特技 toku gi – special skills 特急 tokkyuu – special express train その習慣は 日本独特の もの だ sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no mono da – That custom is unique to Japan. 野球 yakyuu - baseball 長野 nagano – Nagano Prefecture 野菜 yasai - vegetables 荒野 kou ya – wilderness, the wilds 一年発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved to do something トク toku special 野 発 ヤ ya の no plains, field on the other side of a village 里 (sato) there is a field (wilderness) it looks like a rocket departing to the stars ハツ hatsu / パツ patsu depart, start from, to happen 出発 shuppatsu – leave, departure 告発 koku hatsu – prosecution, accusation 再発 sai hatsu – relapse, recurrence 発音 hatsuon - pronounciation 発散 hassan – exhalation, emanation, diffusion, radiation, evaporation 発売 hatsu bai – released for sale 飯 ハン han めし meshi meal, cooked rice the left part is to eat 食べ る (taberu), and you can 朝ご飯 asa gohan - breakfast 昼ご飯 hiru gohan – lunch 病 不 服 別 料 ビョウ byou ヘイ hei やまい yamai や(む) ya(mu) フ fu ill, sick see an F in there too (people in famine need a meal) could be an ill person on a hospital bed (top down view) it‟s bad when your back is down and falling apart 晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner 黄熱病 ou netsu byou – yellow fever 病院 byouin – hospital 病気になる byouki ni naru – to become sick 七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven wonders 不安 fu an – uneasiness, anxiety 不幸 fu kou – unhappiness, misfortune 不在 fu zai - absence negative, bad, non- フク fuku clothing, obey obey me and wear the moon as clothing the bottom part is the kanji for sword 刀 so this kanji separates it from others the part to the left is rice 米 (bei) which is an essential material to pay for. 洋服 you fuku – Western-style clothes 特別 toku betsu - special 別々に betsu betsu ni – separately 別荘 bessou – a second house 区別 ku betsu - to make a distinction 差別 sa betsu – discrimination 給料 kyuu ryou – pay, salary 香辛料 kou shin ryou – spices, seasoning 香料 kou ryou – spices, perfumes 送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping (charges) included 材料 zai ryou – material, matter, factor, element ベツ betsu わか(れる) waka(reru) separate, another, specially リョウ ryou fee, materials 資料 shi ryou – materials, data 理 リ ri truth, logic, reason in ancient times the king 王(ou) of the village 里 (sato) would be the person with the logic and reason. 地理 chiri - geography 論理 ron ri - logic 理論 ri ron - theory 理解 ri kai – understanding, comprehend 料理 ryouri - cooking 管理 kan ri – control, management 彼に 財産管理を 任せた kare ni zaisankanri o makaseta – I left the management of my property up to him. 洋 曜 ヨウ you the west, westernstyle, ocean ever play Worms? water + sheep = aquasheep (a western idea from across the ocean) 大西洋 tai sei you – Atlantic Ocean 洋服 you fuku – Western-style clothes 水曜日 sui youbi – Wednesday 何曜日ですか nan youbi desu ka – What day (of the week) is it? 今日は 土曜日です kyou wa doyoubi desu – Today is Saturday 月曜日以外、毎日 勉強します getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou shimasu – Except for Monday, I study everyday. ヨウ you weekday 夜 用 勉 空 会 ヤ ya よ yo よる yoru ヨウ you もち(いる) mochi(iru) evening, night 今夜 kon ya – this evening 昨夜 saku ya – last night in the service business everybody wants the moon on a stick (moon 月 with a line through it) it takes power 力 (chikara) to exert oneself 用意 you i – prepare, preparations 引用 in you – quotation, citation 雇用 ko you – hire, employment 採用 sai you – adoption, acceptance, employment, appointment 勉強 benkyou – study use, service, business べん ben クウ kuu そら sora す(く)su(ku) あ(く) a(ku) カイ kai あ(う) a(u) exertion sky, weather, empty meeting, conference, gathering The number six 六 (roku) 空く suku – to become empty, hungry is in the sky 空く aku – to become empty (not used for hungry) 空 kara – empty 空手 karate – empty hand People gather inside a hut 会社 kaisha – office for a meeting 会議 kaigi – meeting 会話 kaiwa – conversation 教会 kyoukai – Church 会う au – to meet JLPT Level 2 Kanji 愛 圧 アイ ai いと(しい) ito(shi) love アツ atsu pressure 案 委 胃 囲 アン an proposal, idea イi commit, entrust with イi stomach イi かこ(う) kako(u) かこ(む) kako(mu) surround, enclose tomo(dachi) 友 is at the 愛知県 aichi ken – Aichi prefecture bottom and you love your 愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunch box friends. packed with love by ones wife 愛妻 aisai – someone‟s beloved wife looks like a jack that you 気圧 ki atsu – atmospheric pressure raise a car with, in order 圧巻 akkan – highlight, masterpiece to test the pressure of タイヤの 空気圧を 調べて もらえ tires ます か - taiya no kuukiatsu o shirabete moraemasu ka – Could you check the tire pressure? it was a good idea to put 案内 する annai suru – to show around the woman on the tree 君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ て いるの か kimi no an o jikkou ni utsuseru to omotte iru no ka – Do you think you can put your idea into practice? a woman is trustworthy 委員 iin – committee member about her family tree その問題は 委員会に かけられてい る sono mondai wa iinkai ni kakerate iru – The question is before the committee fill your stomach after 仕事が 胃にこたえて きた よ the harvest moon shigoto ga i ni kotaete kita yo – My job is giving me a stomach-ache you enclose a well 井 雰囲気 funiki – an atmosphere (of a with a wall place) 日本では、あなたは美に よって 囲 位 衣 移 異 依 偉 イi くらい kurai rank, position, about, approximately イi ころも koromo clothes, garments イi うつ(す) utsu(su) うつ(る) utsu(ru) transfer, infect, move イi こと koto イi エe イi えら(い) era(i) different まれて いる nihon de wa, anata wa bi ni yotte kakomarete iru – In Japan you are surrounded by beauty 一位 ichi i – first place その 歌手は マドンナと 同じ 位 有名だ sono kashu wa Madonna to onaji kurai yuumei da – That singer is as famous as Madonna. you can see the letters F I 更衣室 kou i shitsu – changing room T in this kanji, and to get その 金が 全て 衣服に 使われた fit you need gym clothes sono kane ga subete ifuku ni tsukawareta – All the money was spent on clothes. with two タ s this kanji is 移動 i dou – move, transfer (something) on the move 君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ て いるの か kimi no an o jikkou ni utsuseru to omotte iru no ka – Do you think you can put your idea into practice? 異常 ijou – abnormal, unusual 差異 sai – difference, disparity the left radical is „person‟ 依存 izon – dependence (state of and the right is „clothes‟ depending on) 衣 – a person depends on clothes for survival a great person has a 偉人 ijin – a great person person to his left depend on great, high ranking 違 域 育 印 イi ちが(う) chiga(u) ちが(える) chiga(eru) イキ iki different, wrong, differ region, boundary イク iki そだ(つ) soda(tsu) そだ(てる) soda(teru) bring up, educate, grow イン in しるし shirushi sign, mark 因 羽 イン in よ(る) yo(ru) cause ウu はね hane wing, feather the difference between 違反 ihan – violation, offence wrong 違う and great 偉 い is slight but important. this kanji is land 土 with 地域 chi iki – local, area, zone, district lines around it dividing it up into regions 教育 kyou iku – education 体育館 tai iku kan – a gym 後で 体育館の 後ろで 会いましょ う ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou – Later let‟s meet behind the gym this kanji is a picture of 刻印 koku in – carved seal, stamp the Fonz saying “hEy” – 印刷 in satsu – printing his sign or mark 印象 in shou - impression 第一 印象が 大事である daiichi inshou ga daiji de aru – First impressions are important この 印は 何を あらわして いま す か kono shirushi wa nani o arawashite imasu ka – What does this sign signify? if you put something big 火事の 原因は だいたい 分かって 大 (ookii) in your mouth いる kaji no genin wa daitai wakette iru – 口 (guchi) it will cause There is not much doubt about the cause you to choke of the fire looks like two wings 二羽 ni wa – two birds (wa is the counter for birds) 宇 雲 ウu ウン un くも kumo universe, house cloud 泳 栄 エイ ei およ(ぐ) oyo(gu) エイ ei さか(える) saka(eru) は(え) ha(e) は(える) ha(eru) swim flourish, glory 営 エイ ei いとな(む) itona(mu) manage, looks like an alien from somewhere in the universe the top symbol is rain 黒い 雲が でて きた よ kuroi which comes from clouds kumo ga dete kita yo – Dark clouds are gathering 月が 雲の 間 から でた tsuki ga kumo no aida kara deta – The moon came out from behind the clouds two waters (left radical 川で 泳ぎましょう kawa de and 水) make up this oyogimashou – Let‟s swim in the river kanji so there is a lot of water to swim in a tree with a crown must 栄光 eikou – glory be truly flourishing 栄枯盛衰 eiko seisui – prosperity and decline, rise and fall 発言を 求められた ことを 光栄に 思います hatsugen o moto merareta koto o kouei ni omoimasu - am honoured that you should ask me to speak ご栄転 おめでとう ございます goeiten omedetou gozaimasu – I am so happy about your promotion the hat denotes authority 自営 jiei – self-employed and the big mouth means この 事務所の 通常営業 時間は 庭には、二羽、鶏が います niwa ni wa, niwa, niwatori ni imasu – There are two chickens in the garden 宇宙人 uchuu jin - alien barracks it is your manager 永 エイ ei なが(い) naga(i) eternity, forever this looks like water 水 with more water being poured onto it, so it continues forever 鋭 液 易 越 園 エイ ei するど(い) surudo(i) エキ eki エキ eki イi やさ(しい) yasa(shii) エツ eji こえる ko(eru) こす ko(su) エン en その sono sharp (wit, object, but not as in fashion) liquid easy metal 金 (kin) is sharp the water radical can be seen looks similar to horse 馬 (uma) and horse riding is easy 九時 から 五時 まで です kono jimusho no tsuujoueigyou jikan wa kuji kara goji made desu – The usual business hours in this office are from nine to five 永遠 eien – forever, eternity 永久歯 ei kyuu shi – permanent teeth あなたは 永久に 日本を 去るの では ない でしょう ね anata wa eikyuu ni nihon o saru no de wa nai deshou ne – You are not leaving Japan for good are you? あたま が 鋭い atama ga surudoi – clever, quick-witted go over, cross, exceed, move to garden the right radical looks like a man walking briskly away from a telegraph pole, crossing over the road a garden is enclosed with earth 土 (do) inside 当時 よい 職を 得る ことは 決 して 容易では なかった touji yoi shoku o eru koto wa kesshite youi de wa nakatta – In those days it was far from easy to come by a good job 引越し hikkoshi – to move to (another house) 公園 kouen – park 動物園 doubutsu en – zoo 塩 演 延 煙 エン en しお shio エン en salt salt comes from the earth 土 (do) and this looks like a pestle and mortar act, perform (a play) エン en の(びる) no(biru) の(べる) no(beru) の(ばす) no(basu) エン en けむり kemuri けむ(る) kemu(ru) postpone, extend, total the radical for stop 止め る (tomeru) is running ahead, extending the race 園芸 en gei – gardening この 公園には たくさんの 鳥が います kono kouen ni wa takusan no tori ga imasu – There are many birds in this park 公園に たいへん 多くの 人が い る kouen ni taihen ooku no hito ga iru – There are a great many people in the park 公園は どちらの 方向に あります か kouen wa dochira no houkou ni arimasu ka – Which direction is the park in? もう ちょっと 塩味を きかせてみ たら mou chotto shioaji o kikasete mitara – How about adding a little more salt? 講演 kou en – lecture 演じる enjiru – to act or perform 開演は 午後 七時 で ある kaien wa gogo shichiji de aru – The curtain goes up at 7pm 延長 enchou - extension smoke 喫煙の 習慣を 止める ことが 出 来たら いい ね kitsuen no shuukan o yameru koto ga dekitara ii ne – It‟d be けむ(い) kemu(i) nice if I could kick my smoking habit dirty, to soil this looks like a blindfolded man‟s face with his mouth open about to put something dirty in it 汚染物 osenbutsu - contamination 汚 王 央 オo きたな(い) kitana(i) よご(す) yogo(su) よご(れる) yogo(reru) けが(す) kega(su) けが(れる) kega(reru) オウ ou オウ ou king centre 王国 oukoku - kingdom その 公園は 市の 中央に 位置し て いる sono kouen wa shi no chuuou ni ichi shite iru – The park lies in the middle of the city 公園の 中央に 池が ある kouen no chuuou ni ike ga aru – There is a pond in the middle of the park 横領罪 ou ryou zai – usurpation, embezzlement 公園を 横切って 歩いた kouen o yokogitte aruita – I walked across the park 一日中 ベッドに 横たわって いた ら うんざりした ichinichijuu beddo ni yokotawatte itara unzari shita – I got tired of lying in bed all day 横 オウ ou よこ yoko side, width, beside 忚 欧 押 奥 億 オウ ou response when somebody‟s heart is bleeding you need an urgent response navigating the seas using a map and a telescope to find Europe the left kanji radical is like a hand 手 (te) pushing down オウ ou オウ ou お(す) o(su) お(さえる) o(saeru) オウ ou おくoku オク oku Europe 呼忚 koou – agreement, act in concert 新しい 仕事に 適忚 出来ます か atarashii shigoto ni tekiou dekimasu ka – Can you adapt yourself to the new job? 欧米 oubei – Europe and America はしごを 押さえて いて ください hashigo o osaete ite kudasai – Please hold the ladder 奥さん okusan – (someone‟s) wife push, hold inner part, depths, heart of, interior hundred million a hundred million of something is likely to get a person‟s (left) attention (right) 意 (i) 温 オン on あたた(かい) atata(kai) あたた(める) atata(meru) あたた(まる) atata(maru) warm (temperature) this kanji has warm things in it like sparks (left) the sun (top) and blood (bottom) 地球は およそ 五十億年 前に 生 まれた chikyuu wa oyoso gojuu okunen mae ni umareta – The earth came into existence about five thousand million years ago 日本の 人口は 約 一億 二千万 人 です nihon no jinkou wa yaku ichioku nisenman nin desu – The population of Japan is about 120 million 一時間 ジョギング したら 体が 温かく なった ichiji kan jogingu shitara karada ga atatakaku natta – I got warm from jogging for an hour スープ が 温まる まで 待ちなさ い su-pu ga atatamaru made machinasai – Wait until the soup warms 科 カ ka subject of study 化 カ ka ば(ける) ba(keru) ば(かす) ba(kasu) change 荷 果 カ ka に ni load カ ka は(たす) ha(tasu) fruit, end the top is plant and the bottom is “what”, and at customs they always ask what plants are in your luggage (load) there‟s big fruit in this tree, which may end up 教科書 kyoukasho – textbook 歯科医 shikai – dentist その 店では 教科書を 売って い る sono mise de wa kyoukasho o utte iru – They sell textbooks at the bookstore これは よい 教科書 だ kore wa yoi kyoukasho da – This is a good textbook どの 教科 が 不得意 です か dono kyouka ga futokui desu ka – What subject are you poor at? 文化 bunka – culture 機械化 kikaika – mechanization 硬化 kouka – hardening, stiffening 悪化したの です か akka shita no desu ka – Was it getting worse 生け花は 日本の 文化 です ikebana wa nihon no bunka desu – Flower arrangement is a part of Japanese culture 荷物 nimotsu – baggage, luggage 手荷物 は いくつ 有ります か te nimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka – How many pieces of hand (carry-on) luggage do you have? 果物 kudamono – fruit 効果 kouka – effect, result は(て) ha(te) は(てる) ha(teru) on the floor add this kanji looks like katakana カ(ka) with a box added to it 結果 kekka - result 加 カ ka くわ(える) kuwa(eru) くわ(わる) kuwa(waru) 課 可 過 カ ka section, lesson カ ka possible, approve カ ka す(ぎる) su(giru) す(ごす) su(gosu) あやま(つ) ayama(tsu) あやま(ち) ayama(chi) excess, exceed 参加 san ka – participate, join マイクは 昨日 練習に 参加 しな かった maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka shinakatta – Mike didn‟t join the practice yesterday 尐し コショウを 加えたら どう だろう sukoshi koshou o kuwaetara dou darou – How about adding a touch of pepper? talking 言う (iu) about 放課後 houkago – after school fruit 果物 (kudamono) in アンは 放課後 よく テニスを し lessons ます An wa houkago yoku tenisu o shimasu – Ann often plays tennis after school 可能性 kanousei – possibility 可愛い kawaii - cute うまくいく可能性は 十分に ある umaku iku kanousei wa juubun ni aru – There is a good chance for success looks like a robot moving 過去 kako – past right, because it has 飲み過ぎる nomisugiru – to drink to exceeded the barrier (on excess the left) 納豆を 食べ 過ぎました nattou o tabe sugimashita – I ate too much nattou それは ひど 過ぎる sore wa hido sugiru – That is way too terrible 河 仮 価 カ ka かわ kawa カ ka かり kari カ ka river what water? a river! (left radical is water, right radical is what) temporary value, price the right part looks like a scale which you weigh goods on to work out their value 運河 unga – canal 氷河は ゆっくり 動いて hyouga wa yukkuri ugoite iru 仮面 kamen – mask, disguise いる 格 カク kaku コウ kou norm, status it is not the norm for a man on a box to be higher than a tree 価値 かち - value, worth 価格 かかく - price, value 大統領は 彼の 仕事を公正に 評価 していない daitouryou wa kare no shigoto o kousei ni hyouka shiteinai – The President hasn‟t evaluated his work fairly この 車の 価格は とても 高い kono kuruma no kakaku wa totemo takai – The price of this car is very high 価格 kakaku – price, value 合格 する to pass an exam 資格 qualifications, requirements 彼は 英語教師 としての 資格が ある kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru – He is qualified as an English teacher 解 カイ kai ゲ ge と(く) toku explain, clarify the left part means “angle” or horn so angles help explain mathematics and horns help explain 解説 する kaisetsu suru – to clarify, explain, comment 読解 dokkai – reading comprehension と(かす) tokasu と(ける) tokeru cows (bottom right) 靴 菓 絵 カ ka くつ kutsu shoes カ ka confectionary カイ kai エe picture the left part means leather and the right means change, so think of leather being changed into shoes the top is plant and the bottom is fruit so think of a plant bearing fruit for a cake (confectionary) the left part is “thread” 糸(ito) and the right is “meet” 会 (kai) – when threads meet they make an embroidered picture two people going up an escalator with their luggage (hand rail on the left) to the next floor 理解 rikai – understanding, comprehension 正解 seikai – correct (answer) 誤解 gokai – misunderstanding, misconception 二つの問題が 未解決の ままで あ った futatsu no mondai ga mikaiketsu no mama de atta – Two problems remained unsolved 靴磨き kutsumigaki – shoe polish 靴屋 kutsuya – shoe store 靴下 kutsu shita - socks お菓子 o-kashi – cakes, sweets 茶菓 cha ka – tea and sweets 絵本 e hon - picture (children‟s) book 絵画 kaiga – picture, painting 絵師 e shi – painter, artist その 絵画を 見たら おもしろかっ た sono kaiga o mitara omoshirokatta – I found the picture interesting 階段 kai dan – stairs 段階 dan kai – stage 階 カイ kai floor, rank, step 改 カイ kai あらた(める) arata(meru) あらた(まる) arata(maru) カイ kai reform left side is self and right is striking. zen monks would strike each other with bamboo rods to reach enlightenment, thus “I reform myself by striking” 改革 kaikaku – reformation 改正 kaisei – revision, amendment 制度を 改めた seido o aratameta – they changed the system 械 device, machine 快 灰 皆 カイ kai こころよ(い) kokoro(i) カイ kai はい hai カイ kai みな mina みんな minna pleasant ash when you “open up” (right) your “heart” (left) you feel pleasant fire 火 (ka) under some wood creates ash two people and all their luggage going to meet everybody 機械 kikai – machine, device その 機械は 一日中 作動 してい ます sono kikai wa ichinichijuu sadou shite imasu – The machine operates all day long これを 右に 回せば 機械は 動き ます kore o migi ni mawaseba kikai wa ugokimasu – If you turn this to the right and the machine will start 快楽 kairaku - pleasure 快速電車 kaisoku densha – express train 灰色 hai iro – grey (ash colour) 灰皿 hai zara – ash tray (plate) 降灰 koukai – a fall of volcanic ash 皆様 minasama – everyone (polite) all 介 害 カイ kai ガイ gai meditate harm meditation takes us higher a man jumping over a mouth 口 (guchi) to escape harm 自己紹介 jikoshoukai – self-introduction 紹介 shoukai - introduce 災害 saigai – disaster 障害 shougai – obstacle, disaster 公害 kougai – pollution 殺害 satsugai – murder たばこは 健康に 害が ある tabako wa kankou ni gai ga aru – smoking is dangerous to health この 島では たいていの 蛇は 無 害で ある kono shima de wa taitei no hebi wa mugai de aru – That island has many harmless snakes 三角 sankaku – triangle 角柱 kaku chuu – prism 互角 go kaku – equality, good match そこの 角です よ soko no kado desu yo – It‟s at the corner 各駅 kaku eki – every station 各種 kaku shu – every kind, all sorts 各冊 kaku satsu – every book この電車は 中野より 先は 各駅に 停車 する kono densha wa Nakano yori saki wa kakueki ni teisha suru – This train stops at every station from Nakano on 角 各 カク kaku カドド kado つの tsuno angle, horn it looks like a horned fish 魚 (sakana) カク kaku おのおの onoono each each friend 友(tomo) gets a chance to speak 口 (guchi) 覚 カク kaku おぼ(える) obo(eru) remember, perceive, wake up you need to look 見る (miru) in school 学 (gaku) to remember and perceive things 確 固 カク kaku たし(か) tashi(ka) たし(かめる) tashi(kameru) コ ko かた(まる) kata(maru) かた(い) kata(i) certain この子は 物覚えが 早い kono ko wa mono oboe ga hayai – The child is learning quickly ジムは 目覚めると 自分が部屋に一 人なのに 気が ついた jimu wa mezameru to jibun ga heya ni hitori na no ni ki ga tsuita – Jim awoke and found himself alone in the room かちまけの 確立は 五分五分 です kachimake no kakuritsu wa gobu gobu desu – The chances of winning or losing are 50 / 50 固まり katamari – Katamari (PS2 game) 固体 kotai – solid, solid matter 固定 kotei – fixed, permanent 固有 koyuu – characteristic, inborn 頑固 ganko – stubborn 断固 danko – conclusive この テーブルは がたつく。しっか り 固定 させて くれ kono te-buru wa gatatsuku. shikkari kotei sasete kure – This table is shaky. Please make it firm 個人 ko jin – indvidual (person) 個数 kosuu – number of articles 個室 koshitsu – private room 個々 koko – individual, separate 今日は りんごが 安い ので 二個 solid, firm, harden, solidify, lump, mass, sticky as solid as a Christian tombstone 個 コ ko individual, general counter, item a person is counting solid 固まる (katamaru) objects 故 コ ko ゆえ yue old, former, deceased, incident, affair, intentional, reason, cause the cause of the incident was the deceased 雇 呼 コ ko やと(う) yato(u) employ, hire コ ko よ(ぶ) yo(bu) call, cry out a mouth (guchi) 口 is shouting (crying out) and scaring away the right radical 買いましょう kyou wa ringo ga yasui node, ni ko kaimashou – Today because apples are cheap let‟s buy two しゅるい 三個 ずつ ください shurui sanko zutsu kudasai – Of each sort please give me three 故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin 故人 kojin – the deceased 事故 jiko – accident, trouble 故郷 kokyou – hometown その事故に 対して 責任が あるの は 君だ sono jiko ni taishite sekinin ga aru no wa kimi da – It is you that are responsible for the accident 「何故行かないの」「行きたくない から さ」 [naze ikanai no][ikitakunai kara sa] – Why aren‟t you going? Because I don‟t want to 日雇い hi yato(i) – day labourer 解雇 kaiko – discharge, dismiss 雇用 koyou – employ, hire, employment 船を 雇う fune o yatou – charter (hire) a boat 呼吸 kokyuu – breathe, respiration 呼忚 koou – agreement 呼ぶ yobu – call out to 枯 誤 互 交 コ ko か(らす) ka(rasu) か(れる) ka(reru) ゴ go あやま(る) ayama(ru) wither, dry up, deplete, exhaust mistake when a tree 木 (ki) gets old 古い (furui) it withers and dries up a student at a desk with his arm raised is speaking 言う (iu) and making a mistake this kanji has rotational symmetry so either way round it is equal the lines cross like at an intersection where cars exchange 井戸が 枯れて しまった ido ga karete shimatta – The well has dried up 誤解 gokai – misunderstanding 誤字 goji – misprint, wrong character 錯誤 sakugo – mistake 誤差 gosa - error 互角 gokaku – equality, good match 交互 kougo - mutually お互いさまです o-tagai sama desu – That makes two of us 交渉 koushou – negotiation, bargaining 交換 koukan – exchange, interchange 交差点 kousaten – intersection 交際 kousai – association, friendship 交代 koutai – take turns こちら 側からは だれが 交渉に 当たります か kochira gawa kara wa dare ga koushou ni atarimasu ka – Who‟s going to negotiate for us? この道路は 交通が 尐ない kono douro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai – Traffic is light on this road 黄色 ki iro – yellow 硫黄 iou – sulphur この花は 黄色だが ほかの花は み な青い kono hana wa kiiro da ga hoka no ゴ go たが(い) taga(i) equality コウ kou カ(ウ) ka(u) まじ(える) maji(eru) まじ(る) maji(ru) ま(ざる) ma(zaru) ま(ぜる) ma(zeru) exchange, cross, traffic, take turns, mix, shuffle 黄 コウ kou き ki こ ko おう ou yellow hana wa mina aoi – This flower is yellow but all the others are blue 公 コウ kou おおやけ ooyake public, state, government 幸 向 コウ kou さち sachi しあわ(せ) shiawa(se) コウ kou む(く) mu(ku) む(ける) mu(keru) む(かう) mu(kau) む(こう) mu(kou) happy, good fortune turn toward, direction, orientation, opposide side 公園 kouen – park 公害 kougai – pollution 公認 kounin – official authorisation, licence 主人公 shujinkou – master, hero, heroine 町の 公会堂は 人で いっぱい だ machi no koukaidou wa hito de ippai da – The town hall was full of people looks like a yen ￥ which 幸運 kouun – good luck brings good fortune and 幸福 koufuku – happiness happiness 薄幸 hakkou – unhappiness 不幸 fukou – misfortune similar to onaji 同 (same) 向上 koujou – advancement, progress this kanji is moving in 方向 houkou – direction, course the same direction 志向 shikou – intention, aim 趣向 shukou – idea, plan 船は 明日マニラに 向けて出発する fune wa ashita Manira ni mukete shuppatsu suru – The ship will set sail for Manila tomorrow 公園は どちらの方向に あります か kouen wa dochira no houkou ni arimasu ka – Which direction is the park in? 港 コウ kou みなと minato port 航 コウ kou navigate the left radical is “ship” and the right radical looks like a sailor navigating the high seas 侯 コウ kou そうろう sourou season, seasonal weather 康 コウ kou calm, healthy 空港 kuukou - airport 港湾 kouwan – harbours (ports and bays) 漁港 gyokou – fishing port あなたが いつ空港に着く か 教え て 下さい anata ga itsu kuukou ni tsuku ka oshiete kudasai – Let me know when you will arrive at the airport 神戸は 港で 有名で ある Koube wa minato de yuumei de aru – Kobe is famous for its port 航空便 koukuubin – air mail 航海 koukai – voyage, ocean navigation 航路 kouro – route (sea, air) 航空券 koukuuken – plane ticket その船は 出港した sono fune wa shukkou shita – The ship set sail 気候 kikou – climate, weather, season 兆候 choukou – symptom, sign, omen 天候 tenkou – weather 時候 jikou – season, time of the year 今年の冬は 気候が おだやか だ kotoshi no fuyu wa kikou ga odayaka da – We have a mild winter this year 健康 kenkou - health たばこは 健康に害が ある tabako wa kenkou ni ga aru – Smoking is dangerous to health 効 コウ kou きく kiku effect what will the effect be when the father 父 (chichi) uses his power 力 (chikara) 厚 コウ kou あつ(い) atsu(i) kind, thick be kind to thick children 子 (ko) under the sun 日 (hi) 鉱 コウ kou ore, mine the right radical looks a little like wind 風 (kaze), so a golden wind 金風 海辺の 空気は きれいで 健康的だ umibe no kuuki wa kirei de kenkouteki da – The air by the sea is pure and healthy 効果 kouka – result, effect 効率 kouritsu – efficiency 有効 yuu kou – effective, valid 無効 mu kou – invalidty, ineffectiveness その効果が らわれるには 時間が かかります sono kouka ga rawareru ni wa jikan ga kakarimasu – It will be some time before those effects make themselves felt 厚意 koui – kindness, favour 温厚 onkou – gentle, courteous 厚生 kousei – public welfare, public health 濃厚 noukou – thick, dense, heavy 氷は 二インチの 厚さ だ koori wa ni inichi no atsusa da – The ice is two inches thick ご好意に 対し 厚く お礼を 申し 上げます gokoui ni taishi atsuku orei o moushi agemasu – I am deeply grateful for your kindness 鉱物 koubutsu – mineral 金鉱 kinkou – gold ore, gold mine 採鉱 saikou - mining whistles through the mine 構 コウ kou かま(える) kama(eru) かま(う) kama(u) construct, mind a tree 木 (ki) is a source of construction material for a house with many floors 講 耕 コウ kou lecture someone is giving a lecture about a house with many floors (言う iu = speech) a three-pronged tree standing next to a well in a farmer‟s cultivated field コウ kou cultivate 構成 kousei – composition, formation 構造 kouzou – structure, construction 構想 kousou – plan, conception この 文章の 構造がどうなって い る か 分かります か kono bunshou no kou zou ga dou natte iru ka wakarimasu ka – Do you understand the structure of this sentence? 講義 kougi – lecture 購読 koudoku – subscription 講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker 休講 kyuukou – cancelled lecture 耕作 kousaku – cultivate, plow 耕地 kouchi - arable land, farmland 農場主は 一日中畑を 耕した noujoushu wa ichinichijuu hatake o tagayashita – The farmer plowed his field all day 深紅 shinku – crimson 紅白 kouhaku – red and white 紅潮 kou chou – blush, redden 紅玉 kougyoku – ruby 紅茶 koucha – black tea 紅 コウ kou べに beni くれない kurenai crimson use thread 糸 (ito) to lift a bar for construction 工 (ku) or your face will go crimson 降 更 荒 硬 肯 香 コウ kou お(りる) o(riru) お(ろす) o(rosu) ふ(る) fu(ru) コウ kou さら sara ふ(ける) fu(keru) ふ(かす) fu(kasu) コウ kou あら(い) ara(i) あ(れる) a(reru) あ(らす) a(rasu) コウ kou かた(い) kata(i) コウ kou descend, fall, get off (a bus) someone is trying to scale the wall (on the left) but his ladder has broken and he is falling when you use something 使う (tskau) you must renew it renew wild, desolate hard you can use a stone 石 (ishi) because it is hard the council gave consent for a bus stop 止める (tomeru) on the moon 月 (tsuki) on a sunny day in the forest you need deodrant (fragrance) assent, consent 降りる oriru – get off (a bus) 降伏 koufuku – surrender, submission 下降 kakou – descent, fall, drop 雤が 降っています ame ga futteimasu – It is raining 更正 kousei – correction, revision, rectification 更新 koushin – renew, renovate 更衣室 kouishitsu – changing room 変更 henkou – change, modification 荒廃 kouhai – desolation, waste, ruin 荒野 kouya – wilderness, the wilds, wasteland 荒天 kouten – stormy weather 硬貨 kouka – coin, metallic money 硬化 kouka – hardening, stiffening 硬度 koudo – hardness 肯定 koutei - affirmation 首肯 shukou – assent, consent コウ kou キョウ kyou か ka かお(り) kao(ri) かお(る) kao(ru) fragrance 香辛料 kou shinryou – spices, seasoning 香水 kousui – perfume 芳香 houkou – fragrance, aroma 香川県 kagawa ken – Kagawa prefecture 郊 号 コウ kou ゴウ gou suburbs number, signal, sign you can see the number 5 in this kanji 郊外 kougai – suburbs, outskirts 郊野 kouya – suburban fields 暗号 angou – code 号令 gourei – order, command 信号 shingou – traffic signal (light) 番号 bangou - number 電話番号 denwa bangou – telephone number 谷 コク koku たに tani valley this is a hut in a valley and rocks are falling onto it 告 コク koku つ(げる) tsu(geru) notify a man is jumping over a desk rushing to give you the piece of paper that notifies you not to forget this kanji 刻 コク koku き(ざむ) kiza(mu) carve, engrave 峡谷 kyou koku – gorge, valley, canyon その谷で金が 見つかったと いう うわさが ある sono tani de kin ga mitsukatta to iu uwasa ga aru – It is rumoured that gold has been found in that valley 告白 koku haku – confession, acknowledgement 広告 koukoku – advertisement 告知 kokuchi – notify, announce 忠告 chuukoku – advice, warning 新聞広告を 見て来ました shinbun koukoku o mite kimashita – I have come in response to your ad in the paper 刻印 kokuin – carved seal, stamp 時刻 jikoku – time, hour 深刻 shinkoku - serious 定刻 teikoku – regular (appointed) time 革 拡 骨 カク kaku かわ kawa leather, reform カク kaku コウ kou ひろ(がる) hiro(garu) ひろ(げる) hiro(geru) コツ kotsu ほね hone enlarge this looks like a fancy staff that they may use in government ceremonies when reforming acts and laws by felling trees 木 (ki) we can enlarge the space 広い (hiroi) 改革 kaikaku – reformation 変革 henkaku – change, reform bone this kanji looks like a skeleton and you can see his bones 拡大 kakudai – enlargement, expansion 彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大 した kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai shita – He expanded the focus of his research 骨髄 kotsuzui – (bone) marrow, main point 骨肉 kotsu niku – flesh and blood 骨格 kokkaku – frame, physique, skeleton 筋骨 kinkotsu – muscle and bones, physique 鉄骨 tekkotsu – steel frame 送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping (charges) included いつも駐車場が 込んでいます itsumo chuushajou ga kondeimasu – The parking lot is always crowded 根気 konki – perserverance, patience, energy 根拠 konkyo – grounds, basis, authority 根本 konpon – nasis, foundation, origin 球根 kyuukon – bulb 込 根 こ(む) ko(mu) into, be crowded when many people enter 入る (hairu) a place gets crowded コン kon ね ne root (math), root (chemistry), perserverance 大根 daikon – Japanese radish 較 カク kaku コウ kou くら(べる) kura(beru) compare 混 コン kon ま(じる) ma(jiru) ま(ざる) ma(zaru) ま(ぜる) ma(zeru) mix 困 コン kon こま(る) koma(ru) be in trouble try to compare a car (left) 比較 hikaku – comparison with a father (right) 私は 大学院で 比較文学を 勉強し た watashi wa daigakuin de hikakubungaku o benkyou shita – I studied Comparative Literature in graduate school 混雑 konzatsu – confusion, disorder, congestion 混戦 konsen – brawl, confused fight 混乱 konran – disorder, chaos 混合 kongou – mixing, mixture 油と 水を混ぜる 事は出来ない abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai – You cannot mix oil and water 国家主義と 愛国心とを 混同しては ならない kokkashugi to aikokushin to o kondou shite wa naranai – Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism 困難 konnan – difficulty, trouble, hardship 困惑 konwaku – embarrassment, confusion 困窮 konkyuu – destitution, poverty 貧困 hinkon – poverty, lack, shortage 困っている komatteiru – be in trouble 婚 差 コン kon marry a woman at what looks like an altar waiting to marry サ sa さ(す) sa(su) difference, remainder (math), rise (of water) what is left 左 (hidari) behind is the difference or remainder 査 砂 座 才 サ sa look into, investigate, inspect the bottom radical looks like an eye 目 (me) and it is inspecting a tree 木 (ki) sand is made up of many little 尐し (sukoshi) stones 石 (ishi) two people 人 (hito) are sitting on the earth 土 (do) under a tent. looks like a child dropping her baton サ sa すな suna sand ザ za すわ(る) suwa(ru) サイ sai seat, sit 婚約 konyaku - engagement 結婚 kekkon – marriage 婚姻 konin – marriage 離婚 rikon – divorce 再婚 saikon – second marriage 交差点 kousaten – intersection 差額 sagaku – balance, difference 差別 sabetsu – discrimination 大差 taisa – big difference この浅い湾で 潮が 早く差す kono asai wan de shio ga hayaku sasu – In this shallow bay the tide comes up quickly 査察 sasatsu – inspection, investigation 査定 satei – assessment, audit 検査 kensa – inspection, examination 調査 chousa – investigation, examination, survey 砂糖 satou – sugar 砂漠 sabaku – desert 砂丘 sakyuu – sand dune 砂場 sunaba - sandbox 座席 zaseki – seat 正座 seiza – sit straight 座標 zahyou – coordinates 天才 tensai – genius 才能 sainou – talent, ability talent, age suffix during a talent contest 細 サイ sai ほそ(い) hoso(i) こま(か) koma(ka) こま(かい) koma(kai) slender, minute thread 糸(ito) in a field 田 (den) is a tiny, minute, slender object 祭 サイ sai まつ(る) matsu(ru) まつ(り) matsu(ri) festival 最 サイ sai most the sun is the most tall of all the radicals in this kanji 何才 nan sai – how old (of a person) 自分の才能を 生かせる ような 仕 事を したい jibun no sainou o ikaseru you na shigoto o shitai – I want to do work that makes use of my talents 細菌 saikin – bacteria, germ 細工 saiku – work, craftmanship 細部 saibu – details 細君 saikun – wife 明細 meisai - particulars, details 肉を 食べる前に 細かく 切るべき です niku o taberu mae ni komakaku kirubeki desu – You should cut up your meat before you eat it 祭日 sai jitsu – national holiday, festival day 近くに お祭りを やって いる 町 が あります か chikaku ni omatsuri o yatte iru machi ga arimasu ka – Near here are there any towns with festivals? 体育祭は どう でした か taiikusai wa dou deshita ka – How did you do on sports day? 最高 saikou – the hightest, supreme 最終 saishuu – last, final 最悪 saiaku – worst case, the worst 最後 saigo – the last, the end 再 サイ sai サ sa ふたた(び) futata(bi) another time, again 額 ガク gaku ひたい hitai amount, forehead this kanji shows 100 百 (hyaku) which can be a large amount 活 割 カツ katsu い(かす) i(kasu) カツ katsu わ(る) wa(ru) わ(り) wari わ(れる) wa(reru) さ(く) sa(ku) active, life divide a man skiing on water has an active lifestyle this kanji contains part of „separate‟ 別 (betsu) to divide up this character 最低 saitei – lowest, minimum 経験は 最良の 教師で ある keiken wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru – Experience is the best teacher 再来週 saraishuu – week after next 再開 saikai – reopening, resumption 再三 saisan – again and again, repeatedly 再婚 saikon – remarriage すぐに 再発行 出来ます か sugu ni saihakkou dekimasu ka – Can you reissue them right away? 差額 sagaku – balance, difference, margin 半額 hangaku – half-price あなたの 計画は 多額の 金を 必 要と します anata no keikaku wa tagaku no kane o hitsuyou to shimasu – Your plan requires a large amount of money 生活 seikatsu – life, lifestyle 活動 katsu dou – action, activity 割引 waribiki – discount, reduction 一割 ichiwari – 10 percent 時間割 jikanwari – timetable 我が 家の 家計は 収入の 割りに 支出が 多すぎる wa ga ya no kakei wa shuunyuu no wari ni shishutsu ga oosugiru – Our family spends too much for the income we have 感 カン kan sense, feel you use your heart 心 (kokoro) for feeling 管 関 カン kan くだ kuda カン kan せき seki pipe, control concern, barrier looks like two controlling eyes looking at the kanji for government 官 (kan) Mr Yen is is concerned that you havn‟t paid so he‟s put up a barrier 敏感 binkan – sensitivity 直感 chokkan – intuition 彼は 直感で 彼女が 嘘を ついて いると わかった kare wa chokkan de kanojo ga uso o tsuiteiru to wakatta – His intuition told him she was lying 血管 kekkan – blood vessel 管理 kanri – control, management 試験管 shikenkan – test tube 関西 Kansai – Kansai (area including Osaka and Kyoto) 関節 kansetsu – joints (knee, elbow etc.) 関連 kanren – relation, connection 給料は 労働者の 年齢との 関連で 異なってくる kyuuryou wa roudousha no nenrei tono kanren de kotonattekuru – Wages change in relation to the worker‟s age 観光 kankou - sightseeing 観察 kansatsu – observation, survey 彼は 経済 観念の ない男だ kare wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da – He is a man with no financial sense 観 カン kan view the kanji to see 見る (miru) is in this character, which is like view 完 カン kan complete 官 妻 カン kan government サイ sai つま tsuma wife 際 サイ sai きわ kiwa verge, occasion 慣 カン kan な(れる) na(reru) な(らす) na(rasu) habit 完了 kanryou – completion 完璧 kanpeki – perfect 五日 たてば 仕事が 完了 する だろう itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou – The work should be complete in five days looks like a filing cabinet 器官 kikan - organ that they use in 警察官 keisatsukan - policemen government offices 警官 keikan - policeman a woman 女 (onna) 愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunchbox makes a complicated wife packed with love by ones wife 妻子 saishi – ones wife and children 妻帯者 saitaisha – a married man 恐妻家 kyousaika – a hen-pecked husband a festival 祭り(matsuri) 交際 kousai – association, friendship by the verge is a big 際限 saigen – limits, ends, bounds occasion 実際 jissai – true, actual, real 水際 mizu giwa – beach, waterside 際どい kiwadoi – risky 彼が そう言うの を 実際に 聞き ました kare ga sou iu no o jissai ni kikimashita – I actually heard him say that this kanji looks like a 慣習 kanshuu – normal custom hobbit but it‟s actually a 習慣 shuukan – custom, habit, manners habit その習慣は 日本 独特の もの だ sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no looks a little like sell 売 る (uru) which is completing a transaction 刊 カン kan publish, carve these radicals look like carving tools used to make and publish old newspaper 採 済 サイ sai とる to(ru) pick, gather picking fruit from a tree 木 (ki), or gathering rice 米 (bei) サイ sai ザイ zai す(む) su(mu) す(ます) su(masu) settle, relieve 歳 材 サイ sai セイ sei year, age suffix ザイ zai timber, material two trees, one is partially felled for building mono da 海部氏は 人前で 演説する ことに 慣れて いる kaifushi wa hitomae de enzetsu suru koto ni narete iru – Mr Kaifu is used to making speeches in public 週刊誌 shuukanshi – weekly publication 朝刊 choukan – morning edition of a newspaper これは 日刊新聞 です kore wa nikkan shinbun desu – This is a daily newspaper 採掘 saikutsu – mining 採集 saishuu – collecting, gathering 採点 saiten – marking, grading, rating 伐採 bassai – cut down, fell a tree 返済 hensai – repay, reimburse 救済 kyuusai – relieve, help, save 経済 keizai – economy, economics 彼は 経済 観念の ない 男だ kare wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da – He is a man with no financial sense 歳月 saigetsu – time 歳末 saimatsu – year end 歳入 sainyuu – revenue, annual income 何歳 nan sai – what age (of a person) 材木 zaimoku – logs, timber 石材 sekizai – building stone material 在 ザイ zai あ(る) a(ru) exist, stay 財 罪 ザイ zai サイ sai ザイ zai つみ tsumi wealth crime you can see a part of buy 買う (kau) in this kanji, implying wealth the gap in the middle is the hall and on the sides are cells, which people are put into when they commit a crime 人材 jinzai – (person) of talent, capable person 素材 sozai – material, subject matter この 材料は だれに とっても 役 に 立つと 思う kono zairyou wa dare ni tottemo yaku ni tatsu to omou – I think this material is of benefit to everyone 在庫 zaiko – stock, stockpile 在学 zaigaku – being in school 在米 邦人 zaibei houjin – Japanese living in the US 不在 fuzai – absence 現在の 首相は その式に 出席 し て はいなかった genzai no shushou wa sono shiki ni shusseki shite wainakatta – The present Prime Minister was not present at the ceremony 財源 zaigen – revenue / financial resource 財産 zaisan – property, fortune, wealth 財布 saifu - wallet 軽犯罪 keihanzai – light offence (legal) 罪悪 zaiaku – crime, sin, vice 罪人 zainin – criminal, sinner 無罪 muzai – not guilty, innocent 有罪 yuuzai – guilt 謝罪 shazai - apology 咲 さ(く) sa(ku) bloom this could be a flower in bloom outside a cave 昨 サク saku yesterday, last part of make 作る (tsukuru) + day 日(nichi) = I made something yesterday 殺 サツ satsu サイ sai セツ setsu ころ(す) koro(su) kill the X by the tree 木 (ki) is where the man was killed 刷 サツ satsu す(る) su(ru) print like publish 刊 (kan) this kanji has tools for printing, symbolised by the big „P‟ きれいな 花が 咲いて います kireina hana ga saite imasu – Beautiful flowers are in bloom 桜の 花が 咲く sakura no hana ga saku – the cherry trees are blooming 話しに 花が 咲いた hanashi ni hana ga saita – the conversation became animated 昨日 saku jitsu – yesterday 昨日 kinou – yesterday 昨年 sakunen – last year 昨夜 sakuya – last night マイクは 昨日練習に 参加 しなか った Maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka shinakatta – Mike didn‟t join the practice yesterday 殺意 satsui – intent to kill 殺害 satsugai – murder, killing 殺人 satsujin – murder 殺人犯 satsujinhan - murderer 殺菌 sakkin – seterilisation 自殺 jisatsu – suicide 刷新 sasshin - reform, renovation, revision 印刷 insatsu – printing 縮刷 shuku satsu – printing in reduced size 札 サツ satsu ふだ fuda tag 冊 雑 サツ satsu サク saku card, volume, book ザツ zatsu ゾウ zou rough, mixed trees 木 (ki) chopped up with power 力 (riki) are rough and mixed in size 皿 さら sara plate looks like a drainer for plates on a sideboard この本は 来年 印刷 される でし ょう kono hon wa rainen insatsu sareru deshou – This book will probably be printed next year 千円札 senen satsu – 1000 yen note 札束 satsutaba – bundle of banknotes 改札 kaisatsu – examining (checking) tickets 二千円札を 持っています か nisen en satsu o motte imasu ka – Do you have a 2000 yen note? 冊子 sasshi – booklet, pamphlet 別冊 bessatsu – separate volume, extra issue 各冊 kaku satsu – each book (volume, copy) 混雑 kon zatsu – confusion, disorder, congestion 雑音 zatsuon – noise, jamming, interference 雑誌 zasshi – magazine 雑学 zatsu gaku – wide knowledge 複雑 fuku zatsu - complicated 灰皿 hai zara – ash tray 最初の皿 saisho no sara – first course, starter その 男の子は たちまち 皿を か 算 サン san calculate to work out the answer to a question 質問 (shitsumon) you need to calculate 散 サン san ち(る) chi(ru) ち(らす) chi(rasu) ち(らかす) chi(rakasu) ち(らかる) chi(rakaeru) scatter 参 サン san まい(る) mai(ru) participate, go to pray らっぽに した sono otoko no ko wa tachimachi sara o karappo ni shita – The boy had the dish empty in a moment 誤算 gosan – miscalculation, misjudgement 算出 sanshutsu – computation, calculation 暗算 anzan – mental arithmetic 予算 yosan – estimate, budget ５足す１０の 足し算は やさしい 5 たす 10 no tashizan wa yasashii – It is easy to add 5 to 10 散歩 sanpo – walking, a stroll 解散 kaisan – breakup, dispersion 分散 bunsan – dispersion, divergence, variance 天気が よかった ので 散歩が 出 来ました tenki ga yokatta node sanpo ga dekimashita – Because it was good weather I was able to go for a walk 集会は 九時に 散会 した shuukai wa kuji ni sankai shita – The meetin broke up at 9 o‟clock 参加 sanka – participate 参考 sankou – reference, consultation 参拝 sanpai – worship, visit a temple 古参 kosan – senior, old-timer, veteran 新参 shinzan – newcomer 賛 サン san approve, praise looks like two people in the background are cheering and praising the radical at the front 残 ザン zan のこ(る) noko(ru) のこ(す) noko(su) remain, ruthless the タ is holding a big hammer and is chasing the right-hand radical because it is cruel and ruthless 糸 シ shi いと ito thread, string this could be a ball of yarn (thread) 私の 意見 では 勝つ こと より 参加 する ことに 意義が ある watashi no iken dewa katsu koto yori sanka suru koto ni igi ga aru – In my opinion participation is more important than winning 賛成 sansei – approval, agreement, support 賛美 sanbi – praise, admiration 賛同 sandou – approval, endorsement 自賛 jisan – self-praise 画賛 gasan – legend (text) on a chart 山田さんの意見に 全く 賛成だ Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da – I am in complete agreement with Mr Yamada 残金 zankin – balance, surplus 残酷 zankoku – cruel, ruthless 残高 zandaka – balance, remainder 残念 zannen – regret, disappointment 残業 zangyou – overtime 上司に 残業 させられた ん だよ joushi ni zangyou saserareta n da yo – My boss made me work overtime 一糸 isshi – a thread, a stitch 毛糸 keito – wollen yarn 綿糸 menshi – cotton yarn 糸口 itoguchi – beginning, first step, clue 歯 指 シ shi は ha tooth シ shi ゆび yubi finger, point 史 シ shi history 歯科医 shikai – dentist 乳歯 nyuushi – baby teeth 永久歯 eikyuu shi – permanent teeth 歯磨き ha migaki – toothpaste, brushing one‟s teeth a baby on a stool is 指示 shiji – indication, pointing out pointing out something to 指導 shidou – guidance, instruction his mummy 指定 shitei – appointment, authorization 指定する shitei suru – to specify 指摘 shiteki – pointing out 指紋 shimon – fingerprint 親指 oya yubi – thumb 足の指 ashi no yubi – toe 指圧 shiatsu - accupressure a wizened old man with 史学 shigaku – history (field of study) whiskers is talking about 史料 shiryou – historical materials history (records) 歴史 rekishi – history 日本史 nihon shi – Japanese history 中国の 歴史は 日本の 歴史 より 古い です chuugoku no rekishi wa nihon no rekishi yori furui desu – The history of China is older than that of Japan looks like a tooth that has plaque on it, with the rot at the top 司 支 資 シ shi つかさど(る) tsukasado(ru) officiate シ shi ささ(える) sasa(eru) branch, support シ shi resources 簡 カン kan simple 干 カン kan ほ(す) ho(su) dry 司会 shikai – presiding, officiating 司令 shirei - command 司令官 shireikan – commander 上司 jyoushi – superior officer 寿司 sushi – raw fish and rice under the gound there are 支持 shiji – support, backing supporting roots 支店 shiten – branch (office, store) 支給 shikyuu – provision, supply, payment 支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation part of buy 買う(kau) is 資格 shikaku – qualificatinos, here, because you have to requirements buy resources 資源 shigen – resources 資金 shikin – funds, capital 資産 shisan – property, fortune 資本 shihon – funds, capital it is simple for two 簡単 kantan – simple pidgeons to get past a 簡単でした kantan dehita – it was easy gate 門 (mon) 簡潔 kanketsu – simplicity この本棚は 組み立てが 簡単だ kono hondana wa kumitate ga kantan da – This bookshelf is easy to assemble looks like a spike you 干渉 kanshou – interference, intervention drive deep into the 欄干 rankan – handrail, bannister ground to find water when it is dry 巻 看 甘 カン kan ま(く) ma(ku) ま(き) ma(ki) カン kan み(る) mi(ru) カン kan あま(い) ama(i) あま(える) ama(eru) あま(やかす) ama(yakasu) カン kan あせ ase カン kan か(える) ka(eru) か(わる) ka(waru) roll up, volume the backwards „S‟ shape at the bottom is a strip being rolled up watch, care for sweet 汗 換 sweat exchange 乾 カン kan か(わく) ka(waku) か(わかす) ka(wakasu) dry 巻き maki – Maki sushi (rolled) 巻頭 kantou – opening page of a book 鉢巻 hachi maki - headband looks like a big hand 手 看護婦 kangofu – nurse (te) caring for a baby in a 看板 kanban - signboard cot looks like a big tongue 甘受 kanju – submission to, putting up tasting sweet things with 甘露 kanro – nectar 君は その結果を 甘受 すべき だ kimi wa sono kekka o kanju subeki da – You should abide by the consequences the stick man needs a 汗顔 kangan – ashamed shower (water, left 汗腺 kansen – sweat gland radical) because he is sweaty the top of fish 魚 (sakan) 交換 koukan – exchange, interchange can be seen and four 四 換気 kanki – ventilation (yon) is below, so 換算 kansan – conversion, evaluate perhaps four fish are 転換 tenkan – convert being exchanged for a 彼は 何で も お金に 換算 して tree しまう kare wa nan de mo okane ni kansan shite shimau – He thinks of everything in terms of money a car 車 (kuruma) has 乾杯 kanpai – cheers (toast) „Z‟ero petrol left so it is 乾燥 kansou – dry, arid dry 肌が 乾燥 して います hada ga kansou shite imasu – my skin is dry 丸 環 枝 師 カン gan まる maru まる(い) maru(i) まる(める) maru(meru) カン kan わ wa シ shi えだ eda round 弾丸 dangan – bullet 日の丸 hinomaru – The Japanese Flag ring branch tree 木 (ki) + branch 支 (shi(sha – company branch)) = tree branch シ shi master looks like government 官 (kan) and market 市 (ichi), and the government is the master of the economy (market) 環境 kankyou – environment, circumstances 環状線 kanjyousen – loop line 枝葉末節 shiyoumassetsu – branches and leaves, unimportant details 枝川 eda gawa – branch of a river 枝豆 edamame – green soy beans 楊枝 youji - toothpick 講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker 師匠 shishou – master, teacher 医師 ishi – doctor 教師 kyoushi – teacher, instructor 技師 gishi – engineer 絵師 eshi – painter 経験は 最良の 教師で ある keiken wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru – Experience is the best teacher JLPT Level 1 Kanji 亜 哀 挨 垢 握 憧 扱 或 威 為 アa アイ ai あわ(れ) awa(re) アイ ai コウ kou あか aka アク aku にぎ(る) nigi(ru) ショウ shou あこが(れ) akoga(re) あつか(う) atsuka(u) ワク waku ある aru イi イi ため tame sub-, Asia helpless, sorrow, misery greeting, salutation dirt, filth grasp, seize, mould, sushi yearning, longing, aspiration handle, deal with, treat certain, some soil 土 (do) + „F‟ilth are dirty 亜細亜 ajia - Asia アジア – Asia (usual spelling) 垢を落とす aka o otosu – Wash off the dirt 挨拶 aisatsu – greetings 挨拶状 aisatsu jyou – greeting card 握手 akushu - handshake 憧れる akogareru – long for, admire あつかい atsukai – treatment, service 或いは aruiha – or, possibly 或る日 aru hi – one day... (start of a story) 威嚇 ikaku – menace, threat 威厳 igen - dignity looks like a tank which gives you a huge advantage and benefit 為さる nasaru – to do (honouriffic) なす nasu – to do take good, advantage, benefit, in order to, because of 尉 遺 碗 惑 維 慰 ジョウ jyou いi イi ユイ yui のこ(す) noko(su) ワン wan jailer, military rank leave, bequeath, reserve bowl 大尉 taii - captain 中尉 chuui – lieutenant, first lieutenant 尐尉 shoui – second lieutenant looks like a person sitting 遺言 yuigon - will, testament in a seat reserving it for someone shares a radical with sand 砂 (suna) and bowls can be made from sand this kanji beguiles you into thinking about emotions 心 (shin) use a thread 糸 (ito) to make a net for support a military officer has feelings 心 (shin) so he needs comfort 茶碗 chawan – rice bowl, teacup ワク waku まど(う) mado(u) イi イi なぐさ(める) nagusa(meru) なぐさ(む) nagusa(mu) beguile (trickery), bewilder support, fasten, rope, fibre comfort, consolation, amusement 困惑 konwaku - embarassment, confusion 惑星 waku sei – planets 誘惑 yuu waku - temptation 維新 ishin – restoration 維持 iji - upkeep 慰安 ian – consolation, comfort 慰謝 isha – consolation, solace 慰問 imon – visit, to give comfort (to those in hospital) 慰労金 iroukin – bonus, reward 老人ホームを 慰問する roujin ho-mu o imon suru – Visit an old people‟s home 緯度 ido - latitude 緯 侍 イi horizontal ジ ji さむらい samurai samurai the thread 糸 (ito) looks vertical but wrong 違う (chigau) – it is horizontal a samurai is a person (left 七人の 侍を 見ました か shichi radical) who is special 特 nin no samurai o mimashita ka – Did you (toku) see 7 Samurai? Miscellaneous Kanji 当 トウ tou あ(たる) a(taru) this, hit, right, appropriate, himself hit yourself to learn this kanji – it is everywhere 本当 hontou – really 本当ですか hontou desu ka – really? 当駅 toueki – this railway station 当時 touji – old times, those days 当面 toumen (no) – present, immediate 当人 tounin – the person in question 当世風 tousei(fuu) – up to date, current, (in fashion) 当用 touyou – daily use 当座 touza – the time being 当然 touzen – natural, rightful Verbs Kanji 浴 揚 ヨク yoku あ(びる) a(biru) あ(びせる) a(biseru) bathe, pour water radical on the left and it looks like the hut is bathing (water is pouring onto it) ヨウ you あ(げる) a(geru) hoist, fry, land 浴びる abiru – bathe, pour 浴びせる abiseru – to throw シャワーを浴びる shawaa o abiru – to take a shower 日光浴 nikkouyoku – to sunbathe 揚げる ageru – to fry 旗を揚げる hata o ageru – hoist a flag 凧を揚げる tako o ageru – fly a kite 乗客たちは 船から陸に 揚がった joukyaku tachi wa fune kara riku ni agatta – The passengers landed from a ship 洗う arau – to wash 洗濯 sentaku – washing 食事の前に 手を洗いなさい shokuji no mae ni te o arai nasai – Wash (clean) your hands before a meal 遊ぶ asobu – to play 遊園地 yuuenchi – a recreation ground 子供たちが 砂場で 遊んで います kodomotachi ga sunaba de asonde imasu – Children are playing in the sandpit 選ぶ erabu – to choose 選挙 senkyo – election 好きな数を一つ 選んで ください sukina kazu o hitotsu erande kudasai – 洗 遊 選 セン sen あら(う) a(rau) wash ユウ yuu あそ(ぶ) aso(bu) play セン sen えら(ぶ) era(bu) choose, elect Please select one of your favourite numbers 増 頑張 る 履 払 ゾウ zou ふ(える) fu(eru) ま(す) ma(su) がんば(る) ganba(ru) increase hold out, do one‟s best 増える fueru - to proliferate, increase 川の水かさが増してきた kawa no mizu kasa ga masite kita – The river is rising 頑張る ganbaru – to try one‟s best 頑張れ！ganbare! – Come on / Keep going! 履く haku - to put on (shoes or socks) 契約を履行する keiyaku o rikou suru – to execute a contract 払う harau – to pay for, to dust 彼女は机の上の埃を払った kanojo wa tsukue no ue no hokori o haratta – She dusted the desktop お金の無い人のために、別の支払い 方法が あります okane no nai hito no tame ni, betsu no siharai houhou ga arimasu – There is an alternate payment method 拾う hirou – find, pick up, flag down (a taxi) 道で財布を 拾った miti de saifu o hirotta – I found a wallet on the road 居る iru – to exist (animate objects) 居住者 kyojuusha – resident り ri は(く) ha(ku) フツ futsu はら(う) hara(u) put on (for feet), fulfilment dust, pay 拾 居 シュウ shuu ひろ(う) hiro(u) pick up, flag down, ten きょ kyo い(る) i(ru) exist, live, house 痛 言 ツウ tsuu いた(い) itai いた(める) ita(meru) ゲン gen ゴン gon こと koto い(う) i(u) painful, hurt say, tell, meaning, language, statement 被 限 噛 勝 ヒ hi かぶ(る) kabu(ru) こうむ(る) koumuru ゲン gen かぎ(る) kagi(ru) か(む) ka(mu) ショウ shou か(つ) ka(tsu) suffer, put on (for head) limit, restrict bite, chew win, surpass 何にかが この部屋に 居るのを 感 じる – I feel something being in this room. 誰か、そこに 居るのですか？dareka, sokoni iru no desu ka – Is there anybody in there? 痛める itameru – to afflict, hurt 足が痛い ashi ga itai – I have sore feet 足を 痛めた ashi o itameta – I injured my foot 言う iu – to say, tell 人の言葉お 理解する 能力が ある ゴリラ – a gorilla that has the ability to understand human language 遺言が あれば 聞こう yuigon ga areba kikou – If you have your last words, I‟ll listen 被る kaburu – put on (headwear) 被る koumuru – to suffer 限る kagiru – to be limited to 噛む kamu – to bite, chew 勝つ katsu – to win, defeat an opponent 勝る masaru – to be superior to ま(さる) masa(ru) 変 鍛 呉 曲 負 ヘン hen か(わる) ka(waru) change, be different (from normal state) タン tan きた(える) kita(eru) く(れる) kureru キョク kyoku ま(がる) ma(garu) / ま(げる) ma(geru) train, forge (other) give music, curve, turn 変わる kawaru – to change 変更 henkou – change, modification 変革 henkaku – change, reform 変な hen(na) – odd, clumsy 鍛える kitaeru – train, strengthen (oneself) 呉れる kureru – give, do a favour for 曲がる magaru – turn (around a corner) 曲げる mageru – twist そこで、道が 右へ曲がっている – soko de, miti ga migi e magatte iru – There the road curves to the right 負かす makasu – to defeat, beat (make an opponent lose) 負ける makeru – to lose 負う ou – to take, to assume この件に ついては、私が責任を 負 います kono ken ni tsuite wa watashi ga sekinin o oimasu – I‟ll take responsibility for this matter 召し上がる meshiagaru – eat (polite) フ fu ま(かす) ma(kasu) ま(ける) ma(keru) お(う) o(u) negative (maths/physics), lose, carry (an object), take (responsibility) 召し め(し)あ(がる) me(shi)a(garu) eat (polite espression) 上が る 磨 観 診 貰 マ ma みが(く) miga(ku) brush, polish, grind, improve, refine カン kan み(る) mi(ru) watch, see シン shin み(る) mi(ru) もら(う) mora(u) examine get, be given, receive, take (a wife), adopt (a child), win, pick up (disease) 磨く migaku – brush (teeth), polish (a skill) 技を磨く waza o migaku – to improve one‟s skills 観る miru - to watch 観賞 kanshou – enjoy seeing (beautiful charm of a thing) 芝居を見る sibai o miru – to see a play 診る miru – to examine 貰う morau – to receive 父から辞書を 貰った chichi kara jisho o moratta – I was given a dictionary from my father かれは あの器量 よしを 嫁に 貰 った kare wa ano kiryou yoshi o yome ni moratta – He married that good-looking woman 迎える mukaeru – to meet, greet (from the airport) 迎春 geishun – Happy New Year 迎 ゲイ gei むか(える) muka(eru) meet, greet 直 眠 寝 チョク choku ジキ jiki ただちに tada(chini) なお(す) nao(su) なお(る) nao(ru) ミン min ねむ(る) nemu(ru) straight in a moment, soon fix, repair sleep, sleepy 飛行場で 彼を 迎えた hikoujou de kare o mukaeta – I went to meet him at the airport 直す naosu – to fix, repair 空港へ 直接 行く kuukou e chokusetsu iku – I went to meet him at the airport 眠る nemuru – to sleep 睡眠 sleep, slumber 九時に 眠った ku ji ni numutta – I went to sleep at nine 寝る neru – to sleep, to go to bed, to lie down 就寝時間 shuushinn jikan – time for bed あなたは いつも何時に 寝ます か anata wa itsumo nan ji ni nemasu ka – What time do you usually go to bed? 飲む nomu – to drink 飲料水 inryousui – drinking water 乗る noru – to get on (a bus) 乗せる noseru – to pick up 落ちる ochiru – to drop 落とす otosu – to lose シン shin ね(る) ne(ru) lie down, go to bed, have sex 飲 乗 落 イン in 飲(む) no(mu) ジョウ jou の(る) no(ru) の(せる) no(seru) ラク raku お(ちる) o(chiru) お(とす) o(tosu) drink, swallow, take (medicine) 遅 折 探 閉 信 進 数 助 戦 チ chi おく(れる) oku(reru) セツ setsu お(れる) o(reru) お(る) o(ru) おり ori タン tan さが(す) saga(su) さ(ぐる) sa(guru) ヘイ hei し(める) shi(meru) と(じる) to(jiru) しん(じる) shin(jiru) シン shin すす(む) susu(mu) スウ suu かぞ(える) kazo(eru) かず kazu ジョ jo たす(ける) tasu(keru) セン sen いくさ ikusa たたか(う) tatakau inhale 遅れる okureru – to be late for, to lag behind 折る oru – to break 折れる oreru – to break 探す sagasu – to look for 探る saguru – to feel for 閉める shimeru – to close 信じる shinjiru – to believe 進む susumu – to advance, progress 数 suu – to smoke, inhale 数える kazoeru – to count 助けて ください tasukete kudasai – please help 戦え！tatakae! – fight! 立 訪 頼 飛 届 泊 疲 リツ ritsu リュウ ryuu た(てる) ta(teru) た(つ) ta(tsu) ホウ hou たず(ねる) tazu(neru) おとず(れる) otozu(reru) ライ rai たの(む) tano(mu) たの(もしい) tano(moshii) たよ(る) tayo(ru) ヒ hi と(ぶ) to(bu) と(ばす) to(basu) とど(ける) todo(keru) とど(く) todo(ku) ハク haku と(まる) to(maru) と(める) to(meru) ヒ hi つか(れ) tsuka(re) つか(れる) tsuka(reru) 立つ tatsu – to stand 訪ねる tazuneru – to visit 訪れる otozureru – to visit 頼む tanomu – request 頼る tayoru – to depend on 飛ぶ tobu – to fly 飛ばす tobasu – to send, to fly 届ける todokeru – to deliver 届く todoku – reach, be received if you‟re staying overnight you can have a drink (looks like a tall cup) 泊まる tomaru – to stay overnight 泊める tomeru – to take in, to accommodate 疲れる tsukareru – to tire 勤 続 酔っ 払 喜 寄 笑 キン kin ゴン gon つと(める) tsuto(meru) つと(まる) tsuto(maru) ゾク zoku つづ(く) tsudu(ku) つづ(ける) tsudu(keru) よっぱら(う) yoppara(u) 勤める tsutomeru – to work for, to hold a post 勤まる tsutomaru – to be equal, to be fit 続ける tsudukeru - to continue 酔っ払う yopparau – to be drunk キ ki よろこ(ぶ) yoroko(bu) キ ki よ(る) yo(ru) よ(せる) yo(seru) ショウ shou わら(う) wara(u) え(む) e(mu) happy, delighted 喜ぶ yorokobu – to be happy, delighted 寄る yoru – to stop by, drop in 寄せる yoseru – to bring close together laughter 忘 渡 ボウ bou わす(れる) wasu(reru) ト to わた(す) wata(su) forget 笑う warau – to laugh 明日の ことを 言えば 天井で ね ずみが 笑う asu no koto o ieba tenjou de nezumi ga warau – If you talk about tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs (proverb) すっかり 忘れました sukkari wasuremashita – I completely forgot 渡す watasu – hand over 渡る wataru – to cross, to get across わた(る) wata(ru) 晩 週 バン ban evening, night 今晩は konbanwa – good evening 今晩 konban – this evening 晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner シュウ shuu week 週末 shuumatsu – weekend 先々週 sensenshuu – two weeks ago 先週 senshuu - last week 今週 konshuu – this week 来週 raishuu – next week 来来週 rairaishuu – two weeks‟ time 油田 yuden – oil field 石油 sekiyu – petroleum 油と 水を混ぜる 事は出来ない abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai – You cannot mix oil and water お宅 otaku – your home お宅 otaku – a „geek‟ 帰宅 する kitaku suru – to go home 客 kyaku – customer 乗客 jyou kyaku - passenger 雪 yuki – snow 雪国 yuki guni – a snowy country 油 宅 客 雪 ユ yu あぶら abura oil タク taku home キャク kyaku ゆき yuki guest, customer snow 度 速 道 晴 寺 夫 彼 若 ド do degree, frequency ソク soku はや(い) haya(i) ドウ dou みち michi fast, speedy street 一度 ichido – once もう一度 おねがいします mou ichi do onegaishimasu – once more please (“please repeat”) 今度 kondo – next time 速度 sokudo – speed 速達 soku tatsu – express delivery 北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern Japanese island) 長い道 nagai michi – a long road 赤道 seki dou – equator 車道 shadou - roadway セイ sei は(れ) ha(re) は(れる）ha(reru) ジ ji てら tera フ fu おっと otto かれ kare かの kano わか(い) waka(i) fine, clear up 素晴らしい subarashii - wonderful 晴れる hareru – to clear up 晴天 seiten – fine weather temple husband he 寺 tera – temple 夫 otto – one‟s husband 夫婦 fuufu – a married couple 彼 kare – he 彼女 kanojo – she 彼ら karera - they 若さ wakasa – youthfulness 若者 wakamono – a young man young 働 部 駅 社 鉄 所 番 市 都 ドウ dou はたら(く) hatara(ku) ブ bu エキ eki シャ sha ジャ ja テツ tetsu ショ sho ジョ jyo ところ tokoro バン ban work don‟t confuse with 動く (ugoku – move) – notice the i on the left meaning person 働く hataraku – to work 労働 roudou - labour 部分 bubun – a part, section 全部 zenbu - all 駅長 eki chou – stationmaster 駅員 ekiin – station employee 会社 kaisha – a company 社会 shakai – a society 社長 shachou – company president 鉄槌 tettsui – iron fist (karate move) 地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway 所 tokoro – place 台所 daidokoro – kitchen 事務所 jimusho – an office 一番 ichiban – number one 電話番号 denwabangou – telephone number 交番 kouban – police box 市 shi – city 市場 ichiba / 市場 shi jou – a market 市長 shi chou – a mayor 市民 shimin - citizen 都会 tokai – urban area 都市 toshi – big city department, section, club station shrine, company, assembling iron place, that which number, order シ shi いち ichi city, market ト to capital, big city 東京 tokyou - Tokyo 府 県 島 留 宿 政 治 経 フ fu ケン ken トウ tou しま shima リュウ ryu と(まる) to(maru) と(める) to(meru) シュク shuku administrative, prefecture (also) prefecture island stay, detain 大阪府 oosaka fu – Osaka prefecture 政府 seifu - government 県 ken – a prefecture 島 shima – island 島国 shima guni – an island nation 書留 kaki tome – a registered letter 留学 ryuugaku – to study abroad 宿題 shukudai – homework 宿泊する shukuhaku suru – to stay 宿舎 shuku sha – a dormitory 政治 seiji – politics 行政 gyousei – administration 政府 seifu – a government 治す naosu – to cure, fix 政治家 seijika – a politician lodging, dwelling セイ sei administration ジ ji おさ(まる) osa(maru) おさ(める) osa(meru) なおる nao(ru) なおす nao(su) ケイ kei govern control, pass through 経済 keizai – economy 経営する keiei suru – to manage 経由 keiyu – via, by way of 歴 貨 レキ reki career カ ka goods, money 歴史 rekishi – history 学歴 gakureki – one‟s educational background 硬貨 kouka – coin 雑貨 zakka – sundries, misc. goods この 千円札を百円 硬貨 十個に 替えてください kono sen en satsu o hyaku en kouka jyukko ni kaete kudasai – Please change (break) this 1000 yen bill into ten 100 yen coins 五分ばかり この道を行けば、右手に その百貨店が あります gofun bakari kono michi o ikeba, migite ni sono hyakkaten ga arimasu – If you go down the street for about five minutes, and you will see the Department store to the right Writing Kanji: The order and direction of strokes is as follows. Left to right Top to bottom Always write downward Reading Japanese: When reading Japanese it is either left to right (if in a horizontal line) or vertical top to bottom, right to left. Hello World W o r l d H e l l o ダニエル Daniel グレンフィールド オックスフォード Masashi Glenfield Oxford http://massyoggy.spaces.live.com/ Daniel http://www.dglenfield.co.uk