Japanese Kanji Study

By Daniel Glenfield and Masashi Ogino http://www.dglenfield.co.uk http://massyoggy.spaces.live.com/ Revision 1.0 Introduction The same kanji can be read differently depending on whether it is alone, combined, or depending on the proceeding kanji. Important: As a general rule, when a kanji character is by itself we use Kun-Yomi (Japanese) but when it is with other kanji we use On-Yomi (Chinese). We have put the Chinese meaning first (in Katakana), with the Japanese reading underneath (in Hiragana) e.g. is nin / jin (Chinese) then hito (Japanese) underneath. With numbers, the counting system is underneath.

KANJI

READING On-yomi / Kun-yomi ichi hitotsu ni futatsu san mittsu shi yon yottsu

MEANING one, first two, second three, third four, fourth

REMINDER HINT

EXAMPLES ichi ban number one, the best sekai ichi - the best in the world dai ni the second mittsu third yottsu - fourth

go itsutsu roku muttsu shichi nana nanatsu hachi yattsu ku kyuu kokonotsu jyuu too hyaku momo sen chi man ban yorozu fu ho tou chichi

five, fifth six, sixth seven, seventh

itsutsu - fifth muttsu - sixth nanatsu - seventh

eight, eighth nine, ninth

yattsu - eighth kokonotsu - nineth

ten hundred thousand ten thousand

too - tenth

father

otousan a father chichi no hi Fathers day

bo mo kaa haha yuu tomo jo / (zyo / nyo) onna dan nan otoko jin nin hito shi su ko nichi jitsu hi bi ka gatsu getsu

mother

friend woman, female looks like a woman / ironing board rice field + power = must be strong to work in a rice field (a man).

okaasan a mother haha no hi Mothers day ho bo kindergarden teacher, or a nurse tomodachi friend(s) yuujou - friendship kanojo her, or girlfriend onna no ko a girl joyuu an actress danjo men and women otokorashii manly, like a man san nin three people shichi jin seven people onna no hito - woman ko neko kitten (child cat) jo shi gakusei... female student kodomo child, children okashi - cake aru hi one day mai nichi every day mikka 3rd day (of the month) ashita tomorrow kon getsu this month tsuki the moon

man, men, male

person, people

child, children, the young

looks like a child.

the sun, day

the moon, month

 tsuki

ichi gatsu January (first month) fire, light looks like flames. kaji a fire hana bi fireworks hi bana sparks ka zan fire mountain ka youbi - Tuesday oo mizu flood (big water) mizu gi swimsuit suiden rice field ki nobori tree climbing matsu no ki pine tree moku youbi Thursday kimura-san Mr. Kimura shoukin prize money kin youbi Friday kaneda-san Mr. Kaneda do youbi Saturday nen do clay to chi ground area, soil doboku civil engineering nihon Japan hon a book

ka hi

sui mizu moku boku ki ko kin kon (o-)kane kana do to tsuchi hon moto

water

looks like a river converging (water). a tree.

tree, wood

gold, money

digging under a hill for gold.

earth, ground, soil

a grounded mast.

book, origin, root,

tree with a root.

counter for long slender objects

kyuu () yasu(mu)

rest, vacation

a man resting by a tree.

go () kata(ri) () kata(ru) nen toshi go uma

word, speech, language, narration, to tell, to speak year

natsu yasumi Summer vacation hiru yasumi lunch break oyasuminasai Good night nihongo Japanese mono gatari a story, tale, legend ichi nen one year ni nen mae two years ago kyo nen last year gozen morning gogo afternoon gogo ni ji 2 oclock in the afternoon namae name mae gaki preface (before the writing) sai go the last, the end, the conclusion ushiro behind jikan time toki doki sometimes nan ji desu ka what time is

noon

zen mae go kou nochi ushiro ji toki

before, in front of, previous behind, after

time

it?

kan ken aida ma mai bai gotoni sen saki

interval, between, space, room, time each, every

the sun is between the gates.

ima living room jikan time hiru ma - daytime

mai nichi every day mai asa every morning mai shuu every week sen sei teacher (previous life) sen jitsu the other day o-sakini douzo please go first kon getsu this month konbanwa good evening kon do next time nan nin desu ka how many people? nan ji desu ka what time is it? jouzu good at noboru to go up ageru to rise tsukue no ue on the table

previous, ahead

kon kin ima ka nan nani jou kami ue uwa

now, the present

what, how many

top, above, on

the stem is above the ground.

() nobo(ru) () a(garu) () a(geru) ka ge shita shimo moto () kuda(ru) () sa(garu) () sa(geru) sa hidari

toshi ue older, old (years)

bottom, beneath, down

the stem is below the ground.

kutsu shita socks [lit. shoes under] kudaru to go down gesha suru to get off kudasai please (give, do)

left

looks like an H on its side Hidari means left second symbol looks like katakana ro. right also starts with r. the sun is behind the tree rising in the East.

u yuu migi tou tsuu higashi sei sai nishi

right

hidari te left hand hidari ashi left leg tsukue no hidari to the left of the desk migi me right eye migi pe-ji right page (of book) chuutou the Middle East toukyou - Tokyo nishi guchi west entrance nishi Doitsu West Germany tai sei you the Atlantic

east

west

nan minami hoku boku kita gai ge soto hoka mei na kou () taka(i) shou () chii(sai)

south north

nan bei South America nan kyoku the South Pole kita amerika North America nan boku sen sou US civil war (North South) gaikoku jin foreigner gaijin - foreigner gaikoku go foreign language soto de asobu to play outside yuumei(na) famous namae name hiragana hiragana sai kou the highest, the best koukou sei high school student takai biru tall building shou gakkou elementary school chiisai ie a small house shou setsu a novel, a story (fiction) ichi nichi juu all day long ie no naka inside the house benkyou chuu in the middle of studying

outside, foreign

name, fame, famous

high, tall, costly small, little

looks like a tall building

chuu naka

inside, middle, centre, within

a line goes through the middle of this kanji

tai / dai () oo(kii)

big, large, great

han nakaba

half

a sword cutting horizontal sticks in half.

dai gaku university, college (big school) ookii kokoro big heart tai kai big convention or rally ooki na ie Big house han tsuki half a month han getsu half moon han tou peninsula (half island) hanbun half bubun a part kibun feeling, mood kibun ga yoi desu I am feeling good wakarimashita I understand ka gaku science chuu gakkou middle school suu gaku - math gakkou school koukou senior high school kou nai within the school grounds gaku sei a student isshou all life, a lifetime jin sei (human) life sen sei teacher, master, doctor

bun / fun / pun () wa(keru) () wa(karu)

units, minutes, a part, to divide, to understand

gaku / kaku () mana(bu) kou

learning, science, to learn school

sei shou () i(kiru) () u(mareru)

birth, life, to give birth, to live

den / ten inazuma

electric, electricity

ki ke iki sha kuruma

spirit, intention, mind, power, energy car, vehicle

denki electricity denchi battery densha train (electric car) denwa - telephone kuu ki air, atmosphere genki healthy, full of spirit nin ki - popularity jitensha bicycle

jidousha - car
kyuukyuusha ambulance densha - train kan koku Korea gai koku foreign country chuu goku - China sen en 1000 yen en daka a high yen rate en o kaku to draw a circle ka zan a volcano (fire mountain) Fujisan Mt. Fuji gomi no yama a mountain of garbage yamashita-san Mr. Yamashita kawada-san Mr. Kawada

koku kuni en () maru(i) san / zan yama

country, a nation

yen, a circle

mountain

sen kawa

river, stream

haku () shiro(i) ten ama ame

white

heaven, the sky

u ame ama sho () ka(ku)

rain

book, document

ken () mi(ru) () mi(eru) kou gyou

to see, to show

hakuchou Swan (white bird) shiroi white shiro ari termite (white ant) tenjou ceiling tenki weather ten goku heaven, paradise ten sai genius asu no koto o ieba tenjou de nezumi ga warau If you talk about tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs (proverb) ama mizu rain water oo ame heavy rain ko same light rain kaku to write aoku kaku to write in blue toshoukan library seisho bible (holy book) jisho - dictionary miru to see hana mi flower viewing mieru to be able to see, visible

iken - opinion
to go ikimashou lets go ginkou bank

() i(ku) / () yu(ku)

ryokou a trip, travel to go out, leave de guchi exit omoi dasu to remember, to recollect dekiru be able to do dekakeru goes, comes out naka iri intermission (of a play) iri guchi entrance te ni ireru to obtain, to get ones hands on

shutsu () da(su), () de(ru)

nyuu () hai(ru) () i(ru) / () i(reru) wa hanashi () hana(su)

enter, to go in, to insert

nyuuin - hospitalisation
a talk, topic, a story ei kai wa English conversation (class) mukashi banashi an old tale, legend shu wa sign language (hand talk) shinbun newspaper kiite kudasai please listen tabemono food taberu to eat tabetai I want to eat shokuji a meal

bun mon () ki(ku) () ki(koeru) jiki shoku () ku(u) () ta(beru)

to hear, listen, ask

the ear is between the gate and you use your ear to listen.

eating, a meal, food

doku () yo(mu)

to read

yomi yasui easy to read dokusho reading (read book/document) yonde kudasai please read mi rai the future (not yet come) rai shuu next week rai getsu next month dekiru to be able to do tanaka-san Mr. Tanaka yamada-san Mr. Yamada suiden rice field inaka countryside, rural area, hometown mon a gate senmon speciality jinkou population de guchi exit iri guchi entrance shiritsu daigaku private university ka men raidawa watashi desu I am the Masked Rider. sui ryoku water power ka ryoku fire power

rai () ku(ru) / () kita(ru) den ta / da

to come

rice field

looks like a rice field, in four parts.

mon kou kuchi / guchi shi watashi / watakushi ryoku riki

a gate a mouth, an exit, an entrance private

looks like a gate. looks like a mouth.

power

 chikara

nani / nan tai karada

what ? body, object a mans origin is his body.

riki gaku dynamics kyouryoku - cooperation yume no chikara The power of dreams. nan nin how many people? nan desu ka what is it? tai ryoku physical strength tai iku physical education (P.E.) karada a body niku tai hi rou be exhausted (body) tai iku kan a gym ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou Later, lets meet behind the gym. atama no tai sou exercising the mind sakana wa suki desu I like fish koubutsu ones favourite food ringyou forestry hayashi a wood kobayashi-san Mr. Kobayashi morita-san Mr. Morita shinrin Woods and forests

kou () su(ki) rin hayashi shin mori

love, like, favourite

a mother loves a child.

wood, grove

two trees make a wood

forest, jungle

three trees make a forest

hatake hata gan iwa moku me

cultivated field

fire + rice field = burnt (cultivated) field. a stone by a mountain is a rock. looks like an eye (vertically).

rock

eye, item

ji mimi shu te

ear hand

could be an ear (use your imagination). looks like a hand

hatake a cultivated field ta hata fields of rice and crops hana batake a flower garden iwata-san Mr. Iwata ganseki rocks and stones ka zan gan volcanic rock me ue ones superiors me shita ones inferiors me an eye moku ji table of contents moku teki a purpose hatsu mimi desu Thats the first time Ive heard of that ka shu a singer jouzu-na skillful, good at heta-na unskilled, not good at tegami letter kitte stamp joshu an assistant (lit. help hand) tariru to be enough tasu to add ni soku two pairs fu soku a shortage Takeda-san Mr. Takeda take no ko a bamboo shoot

soku ashi () ta(riru) chiku take

leg, pair, suffice bamboo

looks like a man with a very long leg.

two bamboo sticks.

mai bei gome kai seki ishi ka hana cha sa

rice, America shellfish stone looks like a crustacean (big shell, little legs). a stone (square) is in the picture.

bei koku America hoku bei North America nan bei South America chuu bei Central America kaigara a shell shinjugai pearl oyster Ishikawa-san Mr. Ishikawa seki-ya petroleum ka seki a fossil hana - a flower hanabi - fireworks kabin - a vase cha - tea Nihon cha - green tea koucha - black tea kissaten - a coffee shop

flower

tea

chairo brown (tea colour)

niku flesh, meat hangars at an abattoir for meat. tori niku - Chicken gyuu niku Beef gyo niku fish meat niku tai Body bun - a sentence

bun mon fumi

pattern, letter, sentence, literature

a man crossing his legs reading a book (containing a sentence)

bun gaku literature

moji letter or character bunka - culture

ji

letter, character

letters are associated with learning, and this looks like gaku.

butsu motsu mono

a thing, matter, object (non-human)

gyuu ushi

cattle, cow, bull, ox

a bull with one horn.

mon bu ka gaku shou Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology kono bun shou no kou zou ga dou natte iru ka wakarimasu ka Do you understand the structure of this sentence? ji - a letter or character mo ji / mon ji - a letter kanji - kanji suuji - a number kaimono shopping shinamono - goods sei butsu a living creature ni motsu baggage mono gatari a story, tale, legend nomimono a drink kou butsu favourite dou butsu animal kudamono no naka de nani ga ichiban suki desu ka Among all fruit which do you like best? ko ushi a calf (child cattle) gyuu nyuu cows milk

ba uma chou tori

horse

a galloping horse.

bird

the kanji for white (shiro(i)) is included making this a white bird.

ba sha a carriage ba riki horsepower ba niku horse meat yaki tori roast chicken haku chou a swan ya chou wild bird minami kara tori ga tonde kimashita The birds came from the south.

isseki nichou two birds with one stone

go sakana hitsuji saru neko kei inu buta

fish

a fish is caught by a hook

sakana-ya fish shop ya ki zakana grilled fish kingyo goldfish

sheep monkey cat the rice field looks like a mat. The cat sat on the mat! neko no ko kitten ko inu o katta I got a puppy (katta used to mean raise).

dog pig

zou

elephant

two big (square) ears and a curved trunk make an elephant.

-i Adjectives
Kanji + i KANJI READING On-yomi / Kun-yomi ko () furu(i) MEANINGS old REASONING FOR MEANING churches are old. EXAMPLES furui old furukunai not old furukatta was old furukunakatta was not old furuku narimasu becomes old (adverb) furukute yasui old and cheap (combining adjectives) furui hon an old book furu hon a used book chuu ko sha a second hand car

chou () naga(i)

long, eldest, chief

nagai long chou nan the eldest son gaku chou a (university / school) president kou chou sensei principal,

tan () mijika(i) kou () taka(i) an () yasu(i) tei () hiku(i) an () kura(i) ta () ooi() juu chou () omoi e () kasa(naru) () 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) sha chou Company president nagai michi a long road mijikai short tan jikan a short time tan dai a junior college kou kou a high school kou soku high speed Takahashi Japanese surname (yasu u) ri a bargain sale an shin suru to be relieved anzen na - safe tei on low temperature tei ka suru to fall down, to go down kurai dark an shitsu a dark room ta shou more or less ta suu a large number omoi heavy omokunai not heavy omokatta was heavy omokunakatta was not heavy ki chou precious, valuable

 juu ten important point

() karu(i) kin () chika(i)

light, easy near, early kinkou suburbs, outskirts kinjo - neighbourhood (near place) kinjou recent condition saikin recently, latest, newest saikin tenki ga warui Lately the weather has been bad. saikin, taifuu ga ooi desu Lately, there have been many typhoons.

() too(i) aku () 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. sai aku worst case, the worst akuma devil, demon zai aku crime, sin saikin tenki ga warui lately the weather has been terrible. haya oki early riser, getting up early sassoku immediately, at once haya saki early blooming kono asai wan de, shio ga hayaku sasu In this

fast, early sou () haya(i) () haya(maru) () haya(meru)

mei myou () aka(rui) () a(keru)

bright, lively, cheerful

sun + moon = bright

shallow bay, the tide comes up quickly. hayameru to hasten, bring forward (not accelerate ) aka(rui) bright, cheerful () akiraka(na) - obvious a(keru) to break (to dawn) setsumei explanation mei ji ji dai Meji era bun mei civilization mei sai particulars, details, specifics

-shii
Kanji + shii

shin () atara(shii)

new

atarashii new atarashikunai not new atarashikatta was new atarashikunakatta was not new atarashiku kaimasu newly buy (adverb) atarashikute takai new and expensive (combining adjectives) atarashikunakatta kuruma it was not a new car shinbun newspaper shin nen a new year tanoshimimasu to enjoy ongaku music kairaku - pleasure kairaku shu gi - Hedonism kairaku shika motomenai hito mo iru there are people who seek only pleasure.

gaku raku () tano(shii) () tano(shimu)

enjoyment

looks like a microphone on a stage that someone has enjoyed singing in to.

sei shou () tada(shii) () tadasu masa

correct, right, justice

if you stop to think about it you will get it right

seigi justice, righteousness shou gatsu new year kai sei revision; amendment sei kai correct (answer) kou sei fairness, impartiality kou sei correction, revision sei za sit (or squat) straight tadashikatta desu ka Was that correct?

() utsuku(shii) () isoga(shii) () subara(shii)

beautiful busy wonderful, superb mai nichi isogashii desu Every day I am busy

-na Adjectives
Kanji + na

() shizukana () odayaka(na)

quiet calm

shizukana kouen desu ne It is a quiet park isnt it? ano hito wa odayaka desu That person is calm

() makkura(na)

makkura(na) pitch black makkuro(na) jet black

bi () kasuka(na) myou(na)

faint, vague, microscopic strange

bikou shashin low-light photography myouni strangely... shiken wa kantan deshita The test was easy (simple) heion de shizukana kouen desu A peaceful and quiet park bakana shitsumon a stupid question

kantan(na) simplistic peaceful

stupid

a stupid person could not tell the difference between a horse

(uma) and a deer (shika)

important

jyuuyouna shorui an important document

More Adjectives Kanji + others

shou () sukunai () sukoshi

few, little

Kanji for small (chiisai) sukoshi a little, a few is in this kanji character shou nen a boy (few, little). shou jo a girl

JLPT Level 3 Kanji

shin kokoro kai / e () mawa(ru) () mawa(su) sei shou () ao(i) seki shaku () 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.

an shin relief, peace of mind too mawari detour

blue

red

the Kanji for earth is above, and underneath is the red fiery lava rising up

shuu aki

autumn, fall (season)

in the fall leaves have the colour of fire.

kai () a(keru)

to open

through an open door we can see a Shinto gate in the distance.

ao zora blue skies aomori ken Aomori Prefecture (northern Japan) ao iro blue colour seki dou equator aka ji deficit, go in the red, red letters aka chan baby, infant kon getsu wa akaji desu this month we are in the red shuu bun no hi autumn equinox holiday (September) aki ba sho autumn sumo tournament doa o akete kudasai please open the door zen kai full throttle, all the way kai kou open port, treaty port

 sai kai re-opening, resumption

chou asa

morning, dawn

a car driving the moon away (morning)

mi aji () aji(wau) shuu () atsu(maru) kei kyou ani shi ane ho fu () 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 (ichi) works at the market

older brother

Asahi shinbun Asashi newspaper Chou kan Morning edition (of a newspaper) asa gohan breakfast mai asa kaisha ni jitensha de ikimasu Every morning I go to the office by bicycle shumi - hobby imi meaning aji mi taste testing kakushi aji hidden taste hen shuu editing (newspaper, book) sai shuu collecting, gathering kyou dai brothers

older sister to walk, to step

shi mai - sisters shi mai to shi sister cities

ippo ippo step by step, little the top part is to stop (tomeru) and the bottom by little is little (), so when sanpo - walking you walk a little you have

() ayu(mu)

to stop a little also.

yuu () ar(u)

to have, to exist (inanimate object)

you have a month (getsu) to do something

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).

mind, heart, attention

ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite kudasai please study Japanese little by little. ko yuu characteristic, inborn yuu kou effective, valid yuu zai guilt, guiliness () yuumei(na) famous isha doctor shikai dentist ishi doctor, surgeon chuui attention, caution iken opinion, view imi meaning ishiki consciousness, awareness youi preparation koui kindness (better to use same spelling different Kanji) satsui intent to kill abunai kara, chuui shite kudasai since it is dangerous, please be careful. Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da I am in complete agreement with Mr. Yamada.

more, with, through, on account of

ijou more than or at least ika less than or at most igai except, outside of ikou on and after, hereafter, thereafter 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.

ka ke ie uchi

house

ka zoku - Family
shaku ya rental, rented house kyou sai ka a henpecked husband ka zai houshold effects (goods) furui ie ni sunde imasu I live in an old house. shakuya o sagashite imasu I am looking for a place to rent. hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de aru Most writers are sensitive to criticism.

kyuu () iso(gu)

to hurry

fish are always in a hurry because their hearts (kokoro) beat too fast.

kyuukou Express Train

() kyuu(na) - sudden

mai imouto shoku shiki iro

younger sister

colour

little girls (younger sister) like to play outside, hence the tree. fishing hooks are colourful to attract fish.

shimai sisters shimai to shi sister cities ao iro blue colour hai iro grey colour kimadori iro yellow-green (peagreen) ki iro yellow

chairo brown (tea colour)

on in oto ne in in dou () 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.

on yomi the Chinese reading of a Kanji (by sound) on kai Musical scale zatsu on noise, jamming, interference, grating i in committee member shoku in staff san gi in House of Councilors byouin hospital

car plus power = moving.

i dou move, transfer dou butsu animal dou butsu en zoo katsu dou action, activity watashi ni wa seijikatsudou ni juujisuru hima wa nai I dont have time to get involved in political activity.

ka uta () uta(u) sha utsu(su) ei () utsu(su) () utsu(ru) kai 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.

tan ka Tanka poem (a 31 syllable Japanese poem) shashin photograph, picture kondo eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka next time, why dont we (go and see) a movie? kondo eiga o mimashou next time, lets see a movie. hokkaidou Hokkaido (northern Japanese island) kai gai - overseas, abroad kou kai the Yellow Sea kou kai the high seas, international waters kou kai voyage, ocean navigation kou kai the Red Sea yomi uri shinbun Yomiuri Newspaper un ga canal un mei fate, destiny an zen unten safe driving kou un good fortune, good luck 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.

bai () u(ru) () u(ri) un () 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 cant lift it.

ei you hanabusa

England, English, grand

the top part of the Kanji is grass (tea) which the English drink a lot of.

shuu shu () o(waru) () o(eru)

end, finish

Winter is the ending thread of the year.

ki ko

get up, wake up

running at 2 in the morning makes you wake

ei kai wa English conversation seki ei quartz (grand stone) ei yaku English translation ei yuu teki heroic yon nen sei wa mada eigo ga wakaranai 4th graders dont understand English yet. kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru He is qualified as an English teacher. sai shuu last, final shuu den last train (for the night) shuu ryou end, termination kono bangumi ga owattara, nemashou after this (TV) program ends, lets go to sleep. toransufoma-zu o mi owattara, kaisha ni motte kimasu When I have finished watching Transformers I will bring [it] to the office haya oki early riser, getting up early

() o(kuru) () o(kosu) () o(koru) oku ya roof, house, shop

sou su () oku(ru)

send

kyou () oshi(eru) () oso(waru)

teach, education, faith

ichi nen hokki to be resolved to do something asa no roku ji ni okimashita I woke up at 6 this morning. a roof starts from the hon-ya book shop ground up heya room (in a house) kutsu-ya shoe shop ya ne roof Mr. Yen is running away ei sei hou sou satellite (people sending money) broadcasting nama hou sou live broadcast (radio, TV) sou kin sending (transferring) money sai hou sou rebroadcasting sou ryou komi shipping (charges) included child gets smacked by the kyou kai church adult (teaching) kirisuto kyou Christianity shuu kyou religion kyou iku education kyou ka sho textbook kyou zai teaching materials (aids) kyou shi teacher, instructor atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai Please up

tei otouto dou () ona(ji) shu su nushi omo

younger brother

a lot of younger brothers have a bow and arrows when everyone agrees they have one mouth the Lord is above a king (ou)

same, agree, equal

tell (teach) me your new address. kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru He is qualified as an English teacher. kyou dai - brothers shi tei master and pupil; teacher and student kon dou confusion, mixing san dou approval, endorsement min shu shu gi democracy kai raku shu gi Hedonism shu jin kou master, hero, heroine in shou shu gi impressionism (art) shujin husband, the owner nana fu shi gi the seven wonders of the world

Lord, master, the principal matter

shi () omo(u)

think

shin oya () shita(shii)

parent, relative, familiar

a lot of thinking can be done in ones heart (kokoro) in a rice field (den) being close to someone (relative, familiar) requires looking closely at them (miru ).

chichi oya father oya yubi thumb amerika kara ryou shin ga kimasu My parents are

ka natsu ga kaku egaku

Summer picture

in Summer you get hundreds of friends looks like a picture of a rice field hung up on the wall.

coming from America. tatte iru mono, oya demo tsukae Whoever is standing, even if a parent, can be used (to get things) (a traditional saying). kare wa ryou shin ni yotte juku e iku koto o kyou sei sareta His parents forced him to go to a cram school. natsu yasumi Summer vacation

kai sakai ki () kae(ru) () kae(su) dai tai () ka(eru)

world

return, arrive at

generation, price,

kai ga picture, painting kei kaku plan ga san legend (text) on a picture kondo eiga o mini ikimasen ka Next time, why dont we (go and see) a movie? feed the world using a sakai - world rice field (den) se kai the world se kai ichi the best in the world looks like a man ki koku return to ones own returning to his home country (entering the front door). kuni e kaerimasu I am returning to my own country. a dog with a broken leg is ji dai - era, the times, generation behind the times and the ko dai - ancient times price to fix it is mei ji ji dai - Meji era

() ka(waru) shiro yo

expensive. age, exchange, substitute wind, air, style an insect (mushi) is hiding under a tent because it is windy.

fuu kaze

ji dai saku go - anachronism, being behind the times kou tai - take turns, relieve (a person) denwadai telephone charge sai kin, taifuu ga ooi desu lately, there have been many typhoons. kaze a cold, wind kaze o jimi desu I have a cold.

ka () ka(su)

lend

kou kata

person, way, direction paper go through, avenue, traffic

kanji for buy (kau) is paired with generation (dai) to show money going from one person to another (lending). looks like a person running in a direction.

kasu to lend

hou gen dialect yuugata - evening hou kou direction, bearing, course hei hou kon square root (math) origami origami (paper folding) tegami letter (lit. hand-paper) kou tsuu traffic; transportation kono dou ro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai Traffic is light on this road.

shi kami tsuu () too(ru) () too(su)

paper is made of threads (ito) of wood

() kayo(u)

shaku () ka(riru) kan kan yakata

borrow, rent

China

palace, building

a person (left radical) borrows things during the day (ni) China is across the ocean, so the three marks on the left mean water. a government (kan) building has a place to eat (taberu)

shaku-ya rented, rented house

gen gan moto kou () kanga(eru) chaku () ki(ru) () ki(seru) () tsu(ku) () tsu(keru)

beginning, origin

it has two legs going back to the beginning someone is striking the ground (do) by thinking. at the top is the character for sheep and you wear clothes made from wool.

thought, think, consider wear (clothes), arrive

toshokan library tai iku kan a gym ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou Later, lets meet behind the gym. genki healthy, strong, fine o-genki desu ka How are you? san kou - reference, consultation

kiru wear tsuku to arrive

mizu gi swim suit, bathing suit uwagi jacket, coat touchaku arrival

kyuu () kiwa(meru) kyo ko () sa(ru) kyou kei miyako

research, study

researching six and nine.

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.

kyo nen last year

kako past

toukyou - Tokyo kyouto Kyoto

kyou gou () tsuyo(i) () tsuyo(maru) () tsuyo(meru) () shi(iru) gyou gou waza sei sai () ki(ru) () ki(reru)

strong

toukyou wa ikutsu me no eki desu ka How many stations until Tokyo? a bow on the left, and benkyou study (looks like) a mans face kyousei coercion on the right. a strong man 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 swords cut better than one kou gyou mining (industry) zan gyou overtime sotsugyou graduation taisetsu important shinsetsu kind, helpful denchi ga kiremashita The battery is dead.

business, vocation

cut, cut off

gin shirogane kou ku koku () kuro(i) kei () haka(ru) () 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 is burning the ground black planning and measuring takes talk

ginkou bank saiku work, craftmanship koujou factory, plant shiro kuro - white and black me zamashi do kei alarm clock keikaku plan keisan computation, calculation kiatsukei barometer tokei clock kenkyuu study, research sai ken reconstruction, rebuilding ken setsu construction sono biru wa imada kensetsu chuu desu That building is still under construction.

ken () to(gu) ken () ta(tsu) () ta(teru)

study of, sharpen build

sharpen your study of rocks (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

ken () tame(su)

testing, test, examine, effect

shiken test
shikenkan test tube shiken made ato ishuukan There is one week before the test.

sore wa mada jikkendankai ni arimasu It is still in the experimental stage.

kou () hiro(i) () hiro(garu) () hiro(geru) () hiro(maru) () hiro(meru) shi () tame(su) () kokoro(miru) tou () kota(e) () kota(eru) ji zu koto

wide, broad, spacious

there is a lot of space around this kanji

kou koku advertisement kono michi wa hiroi desu This road is wide. chishiki o hiromeru To widen ones knowledge. shiken test, examine

test, try, examine

answer, solution

saying words (iu) during a ceremony (shiki) makes an experiment Who designed your TShirt? and I answered Two pidgeons on a rooftop!!!

outou suru to respond

thing, matter, business, fact

koji tradition, historical fact, origin jiko accident, trouble jibun no sainou o ikaseru you na shigoto o shitai I want to do work that will make the most of my abilities. itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou We should complete this job in five days.

ten () koro(bu) () koro(gasu) () koro(garu) () koro(geru) saku sa () tsuku(ru)

revolve, turn around

you need space jitensha bicycle (hiroi) to turn your car an zen unten safe driving (kuruma) around tenkan convert

make, prepare, produce

the mark to the left represents a person, so someone who is making something

kou saku handcraft, manoeuvring kou saku - cultivate, till, plow sakuhin creation, opus hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de aru Most writers are sensitive to criticism. tachi iri kin shi - do not enter kitsuen no shuukan o yamerukoto ga dekitara ii ne Itd be nice if I could kick my smoking habit.

shi () to(maru) () to(meru) ya(meru) ji shi () mizuka(ra)

stop

looks like a road block which makes you stop

self, oneself

it is the kanji me (eye) but with an eyebrow which means Me

jibun oneself, myself

jihaku confession (self + white = I come clean) jitensha bicycle jidousha - car jishu surrender, give oneself up ji ko shou kai selfintroduction

shi () tsuka(eru)

serve, official, attend die, death

work (serve) until you die (grave).

jisatsu suicide jisan self-praise shizen natural itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou We should complete this job in five days. koshi withering, dying shizai capital punishment, capital offence hajimemashite a greeting (when meeting for the first time)

shi () shi(nu) shi () haji(maru) () haji(meru) shi () tsuka(u)

it could be two souls dead under the land (the line along the top). the woman (onna) on stage began to perform looks like an old man looking at a stick of bamboo and wondering how to use it.

beginning, begin, start use

taishikan - embassy
tsukatte mo ii desu ka may I use (this)? 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. tochi ground, soil, area chikatetsu - subway chiiki local, area, zone, district kouchi cultivated land sunaji sandy place, sandy terrain

chi ji

ground, soil (in the context of the Earth, Holy place etc)

contains the kanji for ground/soil

 chiri - geography

ji () mo(tsu) () mo(teru)

hold, have

shitsu shichi shitsu muro hin shina

quality, matter, substance room, chamber goods, article, elegance, dignity someone, person

iji - maintenance jisan bringing or taking with one shiji support ni sen en satsu o motte imasu ka Do you have a 2000 yen bill? DVD DVD o motte imasu I have a DVD. two axes chopping into shitsu mon question the shell to see what the zai shitsu material properties, quality is. lumber quality the top part of a room is a kou i shitsu dressing room roof koshitsu private room a man in front of a temple holding something. three mouths look like three boxes (goods) buppin goods jouhin elegant shokuryouhin groceries sakuhin creation, opus isha doctor, physician sai tai sha a married man

sha mono

shuu () nara(u)

learn, practice

this kanji represents a persons 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

renshuu - practice kanshuu usual custom shuukan custom, habit, manners

Japanese.

juu () su(mau) () su(mu)

live, reside, dwell

you are the lord of the house you live in

shun haru jyou chuu ba

spring (season) place, location

three people out in the sun in springtime. the earth is a place under the sun

shakai no kanshuu wa kuni ni yotte kotonaru Customs differ depending on the country. sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no mono da That custom is unique to Japan. jusho address san nen kan nihon ni sumimashita I lived in Japan for three years. furui ie ni sunde imasu I live in an old house. atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai Please tell me your new address. haru same Spring Rain chuu sha jou parking lot / garage ichi ba - market ba ai a case, situation koko wa ii basho desu ne Isnt this a nice place? itsumo chuushajou ga konde imasu (This) parking lot is always full.

chi () shi(ru)

to know, wisedom

the kanji on the left means arrow (ya) and the right kanji is a mouth (guchi). wisedom is like an arrow from ones mouth.

shin ma

true, reality

chishiki knowledge, learning on ko chishin exploring the old (past), one comes to understand the new (present) koku chi notify, announce kare ni dake shirasenai no wa fukouhei da It isnt fair to leave only him in the dark. shin jitsu truth, reality

shashin photograph, picture

makka really red masshiro really white mannaka right in the middle toshokan - library chizu - map aizu sign, signal chizu o misete kudasai Please show me the map se kai ichi the best in the world sei ki - century uki yoe Ukiyoe (woodblock print) yuugata - evening yuuyake sunset

zu to () haka(ru)

map, drawing, plan

X marks the spot on this treasure map

sei se yo seki yuu

generation, world, society

looks like katakana se because it (katakana) derives from kanji. It is the previous generation.

evening

sou () hashi(ru)

run

looks like a man running

zoku

family, tribe

chuu () soso(gu)

pour, flow into, concentrate

on the left is person (kata) and on the right arrow (ya), so this represents a person hunting food for his tribe (family). the Lord is concentrating on the water (kanji on the left).

honda-san wa marason o hashirimashita Mr.Honda ran a marathon. kazoku family minzoku tribe

tai dai tai () ma(tsu) 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

chuu moku attention, notice chuui careful (concentrate) abunai kara, chuui shite kudasai Since it is dangerous, please be careful. sai kin, taifuu ga ooi desu Lately, there have been many typhoons. chotto matte kudasai please wait a moment nomi hou dai all you can drink shuku dai homework mondai problem, issue, question kono mondai wa muzukashii This problem is difficult.

do taku tabi

degree, time, times occurred

ryo tabi

travel, trip

the top right hand horizontal line is an arm passing a ticket to a person (kata) for their trip. the sun is in the middle at noon think of a small town with a T shaped road leading to a rice field

kondo next time, soon koudo hardness shitaku arrangement, preparation kondo eiga o mimashou Next time lets see a movie. seido o aratameta They changed the system. ryokou trip, travel tsugi no ryokou wa doko ni ikitai desu ka Where do you want to go for the next trip?

ryokan - Japanese-style inn

chuu hiru chou machi

noon, daytime town, village

hiru yasumi lunch break kuruma de machi ni ikimashou Lets go to town by car. kono machi wa miru tokoro ga ooi desu This town has a lot to see. shitsu mon question kono mondai wa muzukashii desu This problem is difficult. shitsumon ga arimasu I have a question.

mon () to(i) () to(u)

question, ask, problem

you go to the gate and speak with your mouth if you have a problem or need to ask a question.

tou fuyu 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.

tou min hibernation shokudou dining hall nintendou Nintendo. responsibility/duty, heaven toku gi special skills tokkyuu special express train sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no mono da That custom is unique to Japan. yakyuu - baseball nagano Nagano Prefecture yasai - vegetables kou ya wilderness, the wilds ichi nen hokki to be resolved to do something

toku

special

ya no

plains, field

on the other side of a village (sato) there is a field (wilderness) it looks like a rocket departing to the stars

hatsu / patsu

depart, start from, to happen

shuppatsu leave, departure

koku hatsu prosecution, accusation sai hatsu relapse, recurrence hatsuon - pronounciation hassan exhalation, emanation, diffusion, radiation, evaporation

hatsu bai released for sale

han meshi

meal, cooked rice

the left part is to eat (taberu), and you can

asa gohan - breakfast hiru gohan lunch

byou hei yamai () ya(mu) 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) its bad when your back is down and falling apart

ban gohan dinner ou netsu byou yellow fever byouin hospital byouki ni naru to become sick nana fu shi gi the seven wonders fu an uneasiness, anxiety fu kou unhappiness, misfortune fu zai - absence

negative, bad, non-

fuku

clothing, obey

obey me and wear the moon as clothing the bottom part is the kanji for sword so this kanji separates it from others the part to the left is rice (bei) which is an essential material to pay for.

you fuku Western-style clothes

toku betsu - special betsu betsu ni separately bessou a second house ku betsu - to make a distinction sa betsu discrimination kyuu ryou pay, salary kou shin ryou spices, seasoning kou ryou spices, perfumes sou ryou komi shipping (charges) included zai ryou material, matter, factor, element

betsu () waka(reru)

separate, another, specially

ryou

fee, materials

 shi ryou materials, data

ri

truth, logic, reason

in ancient times the king (ou) of the village (sato) would be the person with the logic and reason.

chiri - geography
ron ri - logic ri ron - theory ri kai understanding, comprehend

ryouri - cooking
kan ri control, management riyuu o shirimasen I do not know the reason kare ni zaisankanri o makaseta I left the management of my property up to him

you

the west, westernstyle, ocean

ever play Worms? water + sheep = aquasheep (a western idea from across the ocean)

tai sei you Atlantic Ocean

you fuku Western-style clothes

sui youbi Wednesday nan youbi desu ka What day (of the week) is it? kyou wa doyoubi desu Today is Saturday getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou shimasu Except for Monday, I study

you

weekday

everyday.

ya yo yoru you () mochi(iru)

evening, night

kon ya this evening saku ya last night in the service business everybody wants the moon on a stick (moon with a line through it) it takes power (chikara) to exert oneself you i prepare, preparations in you quotation, citation ko you hire, employment sai you adoption, acceptance, employment, appointment benkyou study

use, service, business

ben kuu sora ()su(ku) () a(ku) kai () a(u)

exertion sky, weather, empty

meeting, conference, gathering

The number six (roku) suku to become empty, hungry is in the sky aku to become empty (not used for hungry) kara empty karate Karate (empty hand) People gather inside a hut kaisha office for a meeting kaigi meeting

kaiwa conversation
kyoukai Church au to meet

JLPT Level 2 Kanji

ai () ito(shi)

love

atsu

pressure

an

proposal, idea

commit, entrust with

stomach

i () kako(u) () kako(mu)

surround, enclose

tomo(dachi) is at the aichi ken Aichi prefecture bottom and you love your ai sai bentou lunch box friends. packed with love by ones wife aisai someones beloved wife looks like a jack that you ki atsu atmospheric pressure raise a car with, in order akkan highlight, masterpiece to test the pressure of tires - taiya no kuukiatsu o shirabete moraemasu ka Could you check the tire pressure? it was a good idea to put annai suru to show around the woman on the tree 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 iin committee member about her family tree sono mondai wa iinkai ni kakerate iru The question is before the committee fill your stomach after the harvest moon shigoto ga i ni kotaete kita yo My job is giving me a stomach-ache you enclose a well funiki an atmosphere (of a with a wall place)

i kurai

rank, position, about, approximately

i koromo

clothes, garments

i () utsu(su) () utsu(ru)

transfer, infect, move

i koto i e i () era(i)

different

nihon de wa, anata wa bi ni yotte kakomarete iru In Japan you are surrounded by beauty ichi i first place sono kashu wa Madonna to onaji kurai yuumei da That singer is as famous as Madonna. you can see the letters F I kou i shitsu changing room T in this kanji, and to get fit you need gym clothes sono kane ga subete ifuku ni tsukawareta All the money was spent on clothes. with two s this kanji is i dou move, transfer (something) on the move kimi no an o jikkou ni utsuseru to omotte iru no ka Do you think you can put your idea into practice? ijou abnormal, unusual sai difference, disparity the left radical is person izon dependence (state of and the right is clothes depending on) a person depends on clothes for survival a great person has a ijin a great person person to his left

depend on

great, high ranking

i () chiga(u) () chiga(eru) iki

different, wrong, differ region, boundary

iki () soda(tsu) () soda(teru)

bring up, educate, grow

in shirushi

sign, mark

in () yo(ru)

cause

u hane

wing, feather

the difference between ihan violation, offence wrong and great is slight but important. this kanji is land with chi iki local, area, zone, district lines around it dividing it up into regions kyou iku education tai iku kan a gym ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou Later lets meet behind the gym this kanji is a picture of koku in carved seal, stamp the Fonz saying hEy in satsu printing his sign or mark in shou - impression daiichi inshou ga daiji de aru First impressions are important kono shirushi wa nani o arawashite imasu ka What does this sign signify? if you put something big (ookii) in your mouth kaji no genin wa daitai wakette iru (guchi) it will cause There is not much doubt about the cause of the fire you to choke looks like two wings ni wa two birds (wa is the counter for birds)

u un kumo

universe, house cloud

ei () oyo(gu) ei () saka(eru) () ha(e) () ha(eru)

swim

flourish, glory

ei () itona(mu)

manage,

looks like an alien from somewhere in the universe the top symbol is rain kuroi which comes from clouds kumo ga dete kita yo Dark clouds are gathering tsuki ga kumo no aida kara deta The moon came out from behind the clouds two waters (left radical kawa de and ) make up this oyogimashou Lets swim in the river kanji so there is a lot of water to swim in a tree with a crown must eikou glory be truly flourishing eiko seisui prosperity and decline, rise and fall hatsugen o moto merareta koto o kouei ni omoimasu - am honoured that you should ask me to speak goeiten omedetou gozaimasu I am so happy about your promotion the hat denotes authority jiei self-employed and the big mouth means

niwa ni wa, niwa, niwatori ni imasu There are two chickens in the garden uchuu jin - alien

barracks

it is your manager

ei () naga(i)

eternity, forever

this looks like water with more water being poured onto it, so it continues forever

ei () surudo(i) eki eki i () yasa(shii) eji ko(eru) ko(su) en sono

sharp (wit, object, but metal (kin) is sharp not as in fashion) liquid easy the water radical can be seen looks similar to horse (uma) and horse riding is easy

kono jimusho no tsuujoueigyou jikan wa kuji kara goji made desu The usual business hours in this office are from nine to five eien forever, eternity ei kyuu shi permanent teeth anata wa eikyuu ni nihon o saru no de wa nai deshou ne You are not leaving Japan for good are you? 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 (do) inside

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 hikkoshi to move to (another house)

kouen park
doubutsu en zoo

en shio en

salt

salt comes from the earth (do) and this looks like a pestle and mortar

act, perform (a play)

en () no(biru) () no(beru) () no(basu) en kemuri () kemu(ru)

postpone, extend, total

the radical for stop (tomeru) is running ahead, extending the race

en gei gardening kono kouen ni wa takusan no tori ga imasu There are many birds in this park kouen ni taihen ooku no hito ga iru There are a great many people in the park kouen wa dochira no houkou ni arimasu ka Which direction is the park in? mou chotto shioaji o kikasete mitara How about adding a little more salt? kou en lecture enjiru to act or perform kaien wa gogo shichiji de aru The curtain goes up at 7pm enchou - extension

smoke

kitsuen no shuukan o yameru koto ga dekitara ii ne Itd be

() kemu(i)

nice if I could kick my smoking habit dirty, to soil this looks like a blindfolded mans face with his mouth open about to put something dirty in it osenbutsu - contamination

o () kitana(i) () yogo(su) () yogo(reru) () kega(su) () kega(reru) ou ou

king centre

oukoku - kingdom sono kouen wa shi no chuuou ni ichi shite iru The park lies in the middle of the city kouen no chuuou ni ike ga aru There is a pond in the middle of the park ou ryou zai usurpation, embezzlement kouen o yokogitte aruita I walked across the park ichinichijuu beddo ni yokotawatte itara unzari shita I got tired of lying in bed all day

ou yoko

side, width, beside

ou

response

when somebodys 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 (te) pushing down

ou ou () o(su) () o(saeru) ou oku oku

Europe

koou agreement, act in concert atarashii shigoto ni tekiou dekimasu ka Can you adapt yourself to the new job? oubei Europe and America hashigo o osaete ite kudasai Please hold the ladder okusan (someones) wife

push, hold

inner part, depths, heart of, interior hundred million a hundred million of something is likely to get a persons (left) attention (right) (i)

on () atata(kai) () atata(meru) () atata(maru)

warm (temperature)

this kanji has warm things in it like sparks (left) the sun (top) and blood (bottom)

chikyuu wa oyoso gojuu okunen mae ni umareta The earth came into existence about five thousand million years ago nihon no jinkou wa yaku ichioku nisenman nin desu The population of Japan is about 120 million ichiji kan jogingu shitara karada ga atatakaku natta I got warm from jogging for an hour su-pu ga atatamaru made machinasai

Wait until the soup warms

ka

subject of study

ka () ba(keru) () ba(kasu)

change

ka ni

load

ka () 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) theres big fruit in this tree, which may end up

kyoukasho textbook shikai dentist sono mise de wa kyoukasho o utte iru They sell textbooks at the bookstore kore wa yoi kyoukasho da This is a good textbook dono kyouka ga futokui desu ka What subject are you poor at? bunka culture kikaika mechanization kouka hardening, stiffening akka shita no desu ka Was it getting worse ikebana wa nihon no bunka desu Flower arrangement is a part of Japanese culture nimotsu baggage, luggage te nimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka How many pieces of hand (carry-on) luggage do you have? kudamono fruit kouka effect, result

() ha(te) () ha(teru)

on the floor add this kanji looks like katakana (ka) with a box added to it

kekka - result

ka () kuwa(eru) () kuwa(waru)

ka

section, lesson

ka

possible, approve

ka () su(giru) () su(gosu) () ayama(tsu) () ayama(chi)

excess, exceed

san ka participate, join maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka shinakatta Mike didnt join the practice yesterday sukoshi koshou o kuwaetara dou darou How about adding a touch of pepper? talking (iu) about houkago after school fruit (kudamono) in lessons An wa houkago yoku tenisu o shimasu Ann often plays tennis after school kanousei possibility kawaii - cute umaku iku kanousei wa juubun ni aru There is a good chance for success looks like a robot moving kako past right, because it has nomisugiru to drink to exceeded the barrier (on excess the left) nattou o tabe sugimashita I ate too much nattou sore wa hido

sugiru That is way too terrible

ka kawa ka kari 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

unga canal hyouga wa yukkuri ugoite iru kamen mask, disguise - value, worth - price, value daitouryou wa kare no shigoto o kousei ni hyouka shiteinai The President hasnt evaluated his work fairly kono kuruma no kakaku wa totemo takai The price of this car is very high kakaku price, value to pass an exam qualifications, requirements kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku ga aru He is qualified as an English teacher

kaku kou

norm, status

it is not the norm for a man on a box to be higher than a tree

kai ge () toku

explain, clarify

the left part means angle or horn so angles help explain mathematics and horns help explain

kaisetsu suru to clarify, explain, comment

dokkai reading comprehension

() tokasu () tokeru

cows (bottom right)

ka kutsu

shoes

ka

confectionary

kai 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 (ito) and the right is meet (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

rikai understanding, comprehension seikai correct (answer) gokai misunderstanding, misconception futatsu no mondai ga mikaiketsu no mama de atta Two problems remained unsolved kutsumigaki shoe polish kutsuya shoe store kutsu shita - socks o-kashi cakes, sweets cha ka tea and sweets e hon - picture (childrens) book kaiga picture, painting e shi painter, artist sono kaiga o mitara omoshirokatta I found the picture interesting kai dan stairs dan kai stage

kai

floor, rank,

step

kai () arata(meru) () arata(maru) 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

kaikaku reformation kaisei revision, amendment seido o aratameta they changed the system

device, machine

kai () kokoro(i) kai hai kai mina minna

pleasant

ash

when you open up (right) your heart (left) you feel pleasant fire (ka) under some wood creates ash two people and all their luggage going to meet everybody

kikai machine, device sono kikai wa ichinichijuu sadou shite imasu The machine operates all day long kore o migi ni mawaseba kikai wa ugokimasu If you turn this to the right and the machine will start kairaku - pleasure kaisoku densha express train hai iro grey (ash colour) hai zara ash tray (plate) koukai a fall of volcanic ash minasama everyone (polite)

all

kai gai

meditate harm

meditation takes us higher a man jumping over a mouth (guchi) to escape harm

jikoshoukai self-introduction shoukai - introduce

kaku kado tsuno

angle, horn

kaku onoono

each

saigai disaster shougai obstacle, disaster kougai pollution satsugai murder tabako wa kankou ni gai ga aru smoking is dangerous to health kono shima de wa taitei no hebi wa mugai de aru That island has many harmless snakes it looks like a horned fish sankaku triangle (sakana) kaku chuu prism go kaku equality, good match soko no kado desu yo Its at the corner each friend (tomo) kaku eki every station gets a chance to speak kaku shu every kind, all sorts (guchi) kaku satsu every book kono densha wa Nakano yori saki wa kakueki ni teisha suru This train stops at every station from Nakano on

kaku () obo(eru)

remember, perceive, wake up

you need to look (miru) in school (gaku) to remember and perceive things

kaku () tashi(ka) () tashi(kameru) ko () kata(maru) () kata(i)

certain

kono ko wa mono oboe ga hayai The child is learning quickly jimu wa mezameru to jibun ga heya ni hitori na no ni ki ga tsuita Jim awoke and found himself alone in the room kachimake no kakuritsu wa gobu gobu desu The chances of winning or losing are 50 / 50 katamari Katamari (PS2 game) kotai solid, solid matter kotei fixed, permanent koyuu characteristic, inborn ganko stubborn danko conclusive kono te-buru wa gatatsuku. shikkari kotei sasete kure This table is shaky. Please make it firm ko jin indvidual (person) kosuu number of articles koshitsu private room koko individual, separate

solid, firm, harden, solidify, lump, mass, sticky

as solid as a Christian tombstone

ko

individual, general counter, item

a person is counting solid (katamaru) objects

ko yue

old, former, deceased, incident, affair, intentional, reason, cause

the cause of the incident was the deceased

ko () yato(u)

employ, hire

ko () yo(bu)

call, cry out

a mouth (guchi) is shouting (crying out) and scaring away the right radical

kyou wa ringo ga yasui node, ni ko kaimashou Today because apples are cheap lets buy two shurui sanko zutsu kudasai Of each sort please give me three koji tradition, historical fact, origin kojin the deceased jiko accident, trouble kokyou hometown sono jiko ni taishite sekinin ga aru no wa kimi da It is you that are responsible for the accident [naze ikanai no][ikitakunai kara sa] Why arent you going? Because I dont want to hi yato(i) day labourer kaiko discharge, dismiss koyou employ, hire, employment fune o yatou charter (hire) a boat kokyuu breathe, respiration koou agreement yobu call out to

ko () ka(rasu) () ka(reru) go () ayama(ru)

wither, dry up, deplete, exhaust mistake

when a tree (ki) gets old (furui) it withers and dries up a student at a desk with his arm raised is speaking (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

ido ga karete shimatta The well has dried up gokai misunderstanding goji misprint, wrong character sakugo mistake gosa - error gokaku equality, good match kougo - mutually o-tagai sama desu That makes two of us koushou negotiation, bargaining koukan exchange, interchange kousaten intersection kousai association, friendship koutai take turns kochira gawa kara wa dare ga koushou ni atarimasu ka Whos going to negotiate for us? kono douro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai Traffic is light on this road ki iro yellow iou sulphur kono hana wa kiiro da ga hoka no

go () taga(i)

equality

kou () ka(u) () maji(eru) () maji(ru) () ma(zaru) () ma(zeru)

exchange, cross, traffic, take turns, mix, shuffle

kou ki ko ou

yellow

hana wa mina aoi This flower is yellow but all the others are blue

kou ooyake

public, state, government

kou sachi () shiawa(se) kou () mu(ku) () mu(keru) () mu(kau) () mu(kou)

happy, good fortune turn toward, direction, orientation, opposide side

kouen park kougai pollution kounin official authorisation, licence shujinkou master, hero, heroine machi no koukaidou wa hito de ippai da The town hall was full of people looks like a yen which kouun good luck brings good fortune and koufuku happiness happiness hakkou unhappiness fukou misfortune similar to onaji (same) koujou advancement, progress this kanji is moving in houkou direction, course the same direction shikou intention, aim shukou idea, plan fune wa ashita Manira ni mukete shuppatsu suru The ship will set sail for Manila tomorrow kouen wa dochira no houkou ni arimasu ka Which direction is the park in?

kou minato

port

kou

navigate

the left radical is ship and the right radical looks like a sailor navigating the high seas

kou sourou

season, seasonal weather

kou

calm, healthy

kuukou - airport kouwan harbours (ports and bays) gyokou fishing port anata ga itsu kuukou ni tsuku ka oshiete kudasai Let me know when you will arrive at the airport Koube wa minato de yuumei de aru Kobe is famous for its port koukuubin air mail koukai voyage, ocean navigation kouro route (sea, air) koukuuken plane ticket sono fune wa shukkou shita The ship set sail kikou climate, weather, season choukou symptom, sign, omen tenkou weather jikou season, time of the year kotoshi no fuyu wa kikou ga odayaka da We have a mild winter this year kenkou - health tabako wa kenkou ni ga aru Smoking is dangerous to health

kou kiku

effect

what will the effect be when the father (chichi) uses his power (chikara)

kou () atsu(i)

kind, thick

be kind to thick children (ko) under the sun (hi)

kou

ore, mine

the right radical looks a little like wind (kaze), so a golden wind

umibe no kuuki wa kirei de kenkouteki da The air by the sea is pure and healthy kouka result, effect kouritsu efficiency yuu kou effective, valid mu kou invalidty, ineffectiveness sono kouka ga rawareru ni wa jikan ga kakarimasu It will be some time before those effects make themselves felt koui kindness, favour onkou gentle, courteous kousei public welfare, public health noukou thick, dense, heavy koori wa ni inichi no atsusa da The ice is two inches thick gokoui ni taishi atsuku orei o moushi agemasu I am deeply grateful for your kindness koubutsu mineral kinkou gold ore, gold mine saikou - mining

whistles through the mine

kou () kama(eru) () kama(u)

construct, mind

a tree (ki) is a source of construction material for a house with many floors

kou

lecture

someone is giving a lecture about a house with many floors ( iu = speech) a three-pronged tree standing next to a well in a farmers cultivated field

kou

cultivate

kousei composition, formation kouzou structure, construction kousou plan, conception kono bunshou no kou zou ga dou natte iru ka wakarimasu ka Do you understand the structure of this sentence? kougi lecture koudoku subscription koushi lecturer, speaker kyuukou cancelled lecture kousaku cultivate, plow kouchi - arable land, farmland noujoushu wa ichinichijuu hatake o tagayashita The farmer plowed his field all day shinku crimson kouhaku red and white kou chou blush, redden kougyoku ruby koucha black tea

kou beni kurenai

crimson

use thread (ito) to lift a bar for construction (ku) or your face will go crimson

kou () o(riru) () o(rosu) () fu(ru) kou sara () fu(keru) () fu(kasu) kou () ara(i) () a(reru) () a(rasu) kou () kata(i) 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 (tskau) you must renew it

renew

wild, desolate

hard

you can use a stone (ishi) because it is hard the council gave consent for a bus stop (tomeru) on the moon (tsuki) on a sunny day in the forest you need deodrant (fragrance)

assent, consent

oriru get off (a bus) koufuku surrender, submission kakou descent, fall, drop ame ga futteimasu It is raining kousei correction, revision, rectification koushin renew, renovate kouishitsu changing room henkou change, modification kouhai desolation, waste, ruin kouya wilderness, the wilds, wasteland kouten stormy weather kouka coin, metallic money kouka hardening, stiffening koudo hardness koutei - affirmation shukou assent, consent

kou kyou ka () kao(ri) () kao(ru)

fragrance

kou shinryou spices, seasoning kousui perfume houkou fragrance, aroma kagawa ken Kagawa prefecture

kou gou

suburbs number, signal, sign you can see the number 5 in this kanji

kougai suburbs, outskirts kouya suburban fields angou code gourei order, command shingou traffic signal (light) bangou - number

denwa bangou telephone number

koku tani

valley

this is a hut in a valley and rocks are falling onto it

koku () 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

koku () kiza(mu)

carve, engrave

kyou koku gorge, valley, canyon sono tani de kin ga mitsukatta to iu uwasa ga aru It is rumoured that gold has been found in that valley koku haku confession, acknowledgement koukoku advertisement kokuchi notify, announce chuukoku advice, warning shinbun koukoku o mite kimashita I have come in response to your ad in the paper kokuin carved seal, stamp jikoku time, hour shinkoku - serious teikoku regular (appointed) time

kaku kawa

leather, reform

kaku kou () hiro(garu) () hiro(geru) kotsu hone

enlarge

this looks like a fancy staff that they may use in government ceremonies when reforming acts and laws by felling trees (ki) we can enlarge the space (hiroi)

kaikaku reformation henkaku change, reform

bone

this kanji looks like a skeleton and you can see his bones

kakudai enlargement, expansion kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai shita He expanded the focus of his research kotsuzui (bone) marrow, main point kotsu niku flesh and blood kokkaku frame, physique, skeleton kinkotsu muscle and bones, physique tekkotsu steel frame sou ryou komi shipping (charges) included itsumo chuushajou ga kondeimasu The parking lot is always crowded konki perserverance, patience, energy konkyo grounds, basis, authority konpon nasis, foundation, origin kyuukon bulb

() ko(mu)

into, be crowded

when many people enter (hairu) a place gets crowded

kon ne

root (math), root (chemistry), perserverance

 daikon Japanese radish

kaku kou () kura(beru)

compare

kon () ma(jiru) () ma(zaru) () ma(zeru)

mix

kon () koma(ru)

be in trouble

try to compare a car (left) hikaku comparison with a father (right) watashi wa daigakuin de hikakubungaku o benkyou shita I studied Comparative Literature in graduate school konzatsu confusion, disorder, congestion konsen brawl, confused fight konran disorder, chaos kongou mixing, mixture abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai You cannot mix oil and water kokkashugi to aikokushin to o kondou shite wa naranai Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism konnan difficulty, trouble, hardship konwaku embarrassment, confusion konkyuu destitution, poverty hinkon poverty, lack, shortage komatteiru be in trouble

kon

marry

a woman at what looks like an altar waiting to marry

sa () sa(su)

difference, remainder (math), rise (of water)

what is left (hidari) behind is the difference or remainder

sa

look into, investigate, inspect

the bottom radical looks like an eye (me) and it is inspecting a tree (ki) sand is made up of many little (sukoshi) stones (ishi) two people (hito) are sitting on the earth (do) under a tent. looks like a child dropping her baton

sa suna

sand

za () suwa(ru) sai

seat, sit

konyaku - engagement kekkon marriage konin marriage rikon divorce saikon second marriage kousaten intersection sagaku balance, difference sabetsu discrimination taisa big difference kono asai wan de shio ga hayaku sasu In this shallow bay the tide comes up quickly sasatsu inspection, investigation satei assessment, audit kensa inspection, examination chousa investigation, examination, survey satou sugar sabaku desert sakyuu sand dune sunaba - sandbox zaseki seat

seiza sit straight

zahyou coordinates tensai genius sainou talent, ability

talent,

age suffix

during a talent contest

sai () hoso(i) () koma(ka) () koma(kai)

slender, minute

thread (ito) in a field (den) is a tiny, minute, slender object

sai () matsu(ru) () matsu(ri)

festival

sai

most

the sun is the most tall of all the radicals in this kanji

nan sai how old (of a person) jibun no sainou o ikaseru you na shigoto o shitai I want to do work that makes use of my talents saikin bacteria, germ saiku work, craftmanship saibu details saikun wife meisai - particulars, details niku o taberu mae ni komakaku kirubeki desu You should cut up your meat before you eat it sai jitsu national holiday, festival day chikaku ni omatsuri o yatte iru machi ga arimasu ka Near here are there any towns with festivals? taiikusai wa dou deshita ka How did you do on sports day? saikou the hightest, supreme saishuu last, final saiaku worst case, the worst saigo the last, the end

sai sa () futata(bi)

another time, again

gaku hitai

amount, forehead

this kanji shows 100 (hyaku) which can be a large amount

katsu () i(kasu) katsu () wa(ru) () wari () wa(reru) () sa(ku)

active, life divide

a man skiing on water has an active lifestyle this kanji contains part of separate (betsu) to divide up this character

saitei lowest, minimum keiken wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru Experience is the best teacher saraishuu week after next saikai reopening, resumption saisan again and again, repeatedly saikon remarriage sugu ni saihakkou dekimasu ka Can you reissue them right away? sagaku balance, difference, margin hangaku half-price anata no keikaku wa tagaku no kane o hitsuyou to shimasu Your plan requires a large amount of money seikatsu life, lifestyle katsu dou action, activity waribiki discount, reduction ichiwari 10 percent jikanwari timetable wa ga ya no kakei wa shuunyuu no wari ni shishutsu ga oosugiru Our family spends too much

for the income we have

kan

sense, feel

you use your heart (kokoro) for feeling

kan kuda kan seki

pipe, control concern, barrier

looks like two controlling eyes looking at the kanji for government (kan) Mr Yen is is concerned that you havnt paid so hes put up a barrier

binkan sensitivity chokkan intuition kare wa chokkan de kanojo ga uso o tsuiteiru to wakatta His intuition told him she was lying kekkan blood vessel kanri control, management shikenkan test tube Kansai Kansai (area including Osaka and Kyoto) kansetsu joints (knee, elbow etc.) kanren relation, connection kyuuryou wa roudousha no nenrei tono kanren de kotonattekuru Wages change in relation to the workers age kankou - sightseeing kansatsu observation, survey kare wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da He is a man with no financial sense

kan

view

the kanji to see (miru) is in this character, which is like view

kan

complete

kan

government

sai tsuma

wife

sai kiwa

verge, occasion

kan () na(reru) () na(rasu)

habit

kanryou completion kanpeki perfect itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru darou The work should be complete in five days looks like a filing cabinet kikan - organ that they use in keisatsukan - policemen government offices keikan - policeman a woman (onna) ai sai bentou lunchbox makes a complicated wife packed with love by ones wife saishi ones wife and children saitaisha a married man kyousaika a hen-pecked husband a festival (matsuri) kousai association, friendship by the verge is a big saigen limits, ends, bounds occasion jissai true, actual, real mizu giwa beach, waterside kiwadoi risky kare ga sou iu no o jissai ni kikimashita I actually heard him say that this kanji looks like a kanshuu normal custom hobbit but its actually a shuukan custom, habit, manners habit sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no

looks a little like sell (uru) which is completing a transaction

kan

publish, carve

these radicals look like carving tools used to make and publish old newspaper

sai to(ru)

pick, gather

picking fruit from a tree (ki), or gathering rice (bei)

sai zai () su(mu) () su(masu)

settle, relieve

sai sei

year, age suffix

zai

timber, material

two trees, one is partially felled for building

mono da kaifushi wa hitomae de enzetsu suru koto ni narete iru Mr Kaifu is used to making speeches in public shuukanshi weekly publication choukan morning edition of a newspaper kore wa nikkan shinbun desu This is a daily newspaper saikutsu mining saishuu collecting, gathering saiten marking, grading, rating bassai cut down, fell a tree hensai repay, reimburse kyuusai relieve, help, save keizai economy, economics kare wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da He is a man with no financial sense saigetsu time saimatsu year end sainyuu revenue, annual income nan sai what age (of a person) zaimoku logs, timber sekizai building stone

material

zai () a(ru)

exist, stay

zai sai zai tsumi

wealth

crime

you can see a part of buy (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

jinzai (person) of talent, capable person sozai material, subject matter kono zairyou wa dare ni tottemo yaku ni tatsu to omou I think this material is of benefit to everyone zaiko stock, stockpile zaigaku being in school zaibei houjin Japanese living in the US fuzai absence genzai no shushou wa sono shiki ni shusseki shite wainakatta The present Prime Minister was not present at the ceremony zaigen revenue / financial resource zaisan property, fortune, wealth saifu - wallet keihanzai light offence (legal) zaiaku crime, sin, vice zainin criminal, sinner muzai not guilty, innocent yuuzai guilt shazai - apology

() sa(ku)

bloom

this could be a flower in bloom outside a cave

saku

yesterday, last

part of make (tsukuru) + day (nichi) = I made something yesterday

satsu sai setsu () koro(su)

kill

the X by the tree (ki) is where the man was killed

satsu () su(ru)

print

like publish (kan) this kanji has tools for printing, symbolised by the big P

kireina hana ga saite imasu Beautiful flowers are in bloom sakura no hana ga saku the cherry trees are blooming hanashi ni hana ga saita the conversation became animated saku jitsu yesterday kinou yesterday sakunen last year sakuya last night Maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka shinakatta Mike didnt join the practice yesterday satsui intent to kill satsugai murder, killing satsujin murder satsujinhan - murderer sakkin seterilisation jisatsu suicide sasshin - reform, renovation, revision insatsu printing shuku satsu printing in reduced size

satsu fuda

tag

satsu saku

card, volume, book

zatsu zou

rough, mixed

trees (ki) chopped up with power (riki) are rough and mixed in size

sara

plate

looks like a drainer for plates on a sideboard

kono hon wa rainen insatsu sareru deshou This book will probably be printed next year senen satsu 1000 yen note satsutaba bundle of banknotes kaisatsu examining (checking) tickets nisen en satsu o motte imasu ka Do you have a 2000 yen note? sasshi booklet, pamphlet bessatsu separate volume, extra issue kaku satsu each book (volume, copy) kon zatsu confusion, disorder, congestion zatsuon noise, jamming, interference zasshi magazine zatsu gaku wide knowledge fuku zatsu - complicated hai zara ash tray saisho no sara first course, starter

san

calculate

to work out the answer to a question (shitsumon) you need to calculate

san () chi(ru) () chi(rasu) () chi(rakasu) () chi(rakaeru)

scatter

san () mai(ru)

participate, go to pray

sono otoko no ko wa tachimachi sara o karappo ni shita The boy had the dish empty in a moment gosan miscalculation, misjudgement sanshutsu computation, calculation anzan mental arithmetic yosan estimate, budget 5 10 no tashizan wa yasashii It is easy to add 5 to 10 sanpo walking, a stroll kaisan breakup, dispersion bunsan dispersion, divergence, variance tenki ga yokatta node sanpo ga dekimashita Because it was good weather I was able to go for a walk shuukai wa kuji ni sankai shita The meetin broke up at 9 oclock sanka participate sankou reference, consultation sanpai worship, visit a temple kosan senior, old-timer, veteran shinzan newcomer

san

approve, praise

looks like two people in the background are cheering and praising the radical at the front

zan () noko(ru) () noko(su)

remain, ruthless

the is holding a big hammer and is chasing the right-hand radical because it is cruel and ruthless

shi ito

thread, string

this could be a ball of yarn (thread)

watashi no iken dewa katsu koto yori sanka suru koto ni igi ga aru In my opinion participation is more important than winning sansei approval, agreement, support sanbi praise, admiration sandou approval, endorsement jisan self-praise gasan legend (text) on a chart Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da I am in complete agreement with Mr Yamada zankin balance, surplus zankoku cruel, ruthless zandaka balance, remainder zannen regret, disappointment zangyou overtime joushi ni zangyou saserareta n da yo My boss made me work overtime isshi a thread, a stitch keito wollen yarn menshi cotton yarn

 itoguchi beginning, first step, clue

shi ha

tooth

shi yubi

finger, point

shi

history

shikai dentist nyuushi baby teeth eikyuu shi permanent teeth ha migaki toothpaste, brushing ones teeth a baby on a stool is shiji indication, pointing out pointing out something to shidou guidance, instruction his mummy shitei appointment, authorization shitei suru to specify shiteki pointing out shimon fingerprint oya yubi thumb ashi no yubi toe shiatsu - accupressure a wizened old man with shigaku history (field of study) whiskers is talking about shiryou historical materials history (records) rekishi history nihon shi Japanese history 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

shi () tsukasado(ru)

officiate

shi () sasa(eru)

branch, support

shi

resources

kan

simple

kan () ho(su)

dry

shikai presiding, officiating shirei - command shireikan commander jyoushi superior officer sushi raw fish and rice under the gound there are shiji support, backing supporting roots shiten branch (office, store) shikyuu provision, supply, payment shitaku arrangement, preparation part of buy (kau) is shikaku qualificatinos, here, because you have to requirements buy resources shigen resources shikin funds, capital shisan property, fortune shihon funds, capital it is simple for two kantan simple pidgeons to get past a kantan dehita it was easy gate (mon) kanketsu simplicity kono hondana wa kumitate ga kantan da This bookshelf is easy to assemble looks like a spike you kanshou interference, intervention drive deep into the rankan handrail, bannister ground to find water when it is dry

kan () ma(ku) () ma(ki) kan () mi(ru) kan () ama(i) () ama(eru) () ama(yakasu) kan ase kan () ka(eru) () ka(waru)

roll up, volume

the backwards S shape at the bottom is a strip being rolled up

watch, care for

sweet

sweat

exchange

kan () ka(waku) () ka(wakasu)

dry

maki Maki sushi (rolled) kantou opening page of a book hachi maki - headband looks like a big hand kangofu nurse (te) caring for a baby in a kanban - signboard cot looks like a big tongue kanju submission to, putting up tasting sweet things with kanro nectar kimi wa sono kekka o kanju subeki da You should abide by the consequences the stick man needs a kangan ashamed shower (water, left kansen sweat gland radical) because he is sweaty the top of fish (sakan) koukan exchange, interchange can be seen and four kanki ventilation (yon) is below, so kansan conversion, evaluate perhaps four fish are tenkan convert being exchanged for a tree kare wa nan de mo okane ni kansan shite shimau He thinks of everything in terms of money a car (kuruma) has kanpai cheers (toast) Zero petrol left so it is kansou dry, arid dry hada ga

kansou shite imasu my skin is dry

gan maru () maru(i) () maru(meru) kan wa shi eda

round

dangan bullet hinomaru The Japanese Flag

ring

branch

tree (ki) + branch (shi(sha company branch)) = tree branch

shi

master

looks like government (kan) and market (ichi), and the government is the master of the economy (market)

kankyou environment, circumstances kanjyousen loop line shiyoumassetsu branches and leaves, unimportant details eda gawa branch of a river edamame green soy beans youji - toothpick koushi lecturer, speaker shishou master, teacher ishi doctor kyoushi teacher, instructor gishi engineer eshi painter keiken wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru Experience is the best teacher

JLPT Level 1 Kanji

a ai () awa(re) ai kou aka aku () nigi(ru) shou () akoga(re) () atsuka(u) waku aru i i tame

sub-, Asia helpless, sorrow, misery greeting, salutation dirt, filth grasp, seize, mould, sushi yearning, longing, aspiration handle, deal with, treat certain, some soil (do) + Filth are dirty

ajia - Asia Asia (usual spelling) aka o otosu Wash off the dirt aisatsu greetings aisatsu jyou greeting card

akushu - handshake akogareru long for, admire atsukai treatment, service aruiha or, possibly aru hi one day... (start of a story) ikaku menace, threat igen - dignity looks like a tank which gives you a huge advantage and benefit nasaru to do (honouriffic) nasu to do

take good, advantage, benefit, in order to, because of

jyou i i yui () noko(su) wan

jailer, military rank

leave, bequeath, reserve bowl

taii - captain chuui lieutenant, first lieutenant shoui second lieutenant looks like a person sitting yuigon - will, testament in a seat reserving it for someone shares a radical with sand (suna) and bowls can be made from sand this kanji beguiles you into thinking about emotions (shin) use a thread (ito) to make a net for support a military officer has feelings (shin) so he needs comfort chawan rice bowl, teacup

waku () mado(u) i i () nagusa(meru) () nagusa(mu)

beguile (trickery), bewilder support, fasten, rope, fibre comfort, consolation, amusement

konwaku - embarassment, confusion waku sei planets yuu waku - temptation ishin restoration iji - upkeep ian consolation, comfort isha consolation, solace imon visit, to give comfort (to those in hospital) iroukin bonus, reward roujin ho-mu o imon suru Visit an old peoples home ido - latitude

horizontal

ji samurai

samurai

the thread (ito) looks vertical but wrong (chigau) it is horizontal a samurai is a person (left shichi radical) who is special nin no samurai o mimashita ka Did you

(toku)

see 7 Samurai?

Miscellaneous Kanji

tou () a(taru)

this, hit, right, appropriate, himself

hit yourself to learn this kanji it is everywhere

hontou really hontou desu ka really? toueki this railway station touji old times, those days toumen (no) present, immediate tounin the person in question tousei(fuu) up to date, current, (in fashion) touyou daily use touza the time being touzen natural, rightful

Verbs Kanji

yoku () a(biru) () a(biseru)

bathe, pour

water radical on the left and it looks like the hut is bathing (water is pouring onto it)

you () a(geru)

hoist, fry, land

abiru bathe, pour abiseru to throw shawa- o abiru to take a shower nikkouyoku to sunbathe ageru to fry hata o ageru hoist a flag tako o ageru fly a kite joukyaku tachi wa fune kara riku ni agatta The passengers landed from a ship arau to wash sentaku washing shokuji no mae ni te o arai nasai Wash (clean) your hands before a meal asobu to play yuuenchi a recreation ground kodomotachi ga sunaba de asonde imasu Children are playing in the sandpit erabu to choose senkyo election sukina kazu o hitotsu erande kudasai

sen () a(rau)

wash

yuu () aso(bu)

play

sen () era(bu)

choose, elect

Please select one of your favourite numbers

zou () fu(eru) () ma(su) () ganba(ru)

increase

hold out, do ones best

fueru - to proliferate, increase kawa no mizu kasa ga masite kita The river is rising ganbaru to try ones best ganbare! Come on / Keep going! haku - to put on (shoes or socks) keiyaku o rikou suru to execute a contract harau to pay for, to dust kanojo wa tsukue no ue no hokori o haratta She dusted the desktop okane no nai hito no tame ni, betsu no siharai houhou ga arimasu There is an alternate payment method hirou find, pick up, flag down (a taxi) miti de saifu o hirotta I found a wallet on the road iru to exist (animate objects) kyojuusha resident

ri () ha(ku) futsu () hara(u)

put on (for feet), fulfilment dust, pay

shuu () hiro(u)

pick up, flag down, ten

kyo () i(ru)

exist, live, house

tsuu () itai () ita(meru) gen gon koto () i(u)

painful, hurt

say, tell, meaning, language, statement

hi () kabu(ru) () koumuru gen () kagi(ru) () ka(mu) shou () ka(tsu)

suffer, put on (for head) limit, restrict bite, chew win, surpass

I feel something being in this room. dareka, sokoni iru no desu ka Is there anybody in there? itameru to afflict, hurt ashi ga itai I have sore feet ashi o itameta I injured my foot iu to say, tell a gorilla that has the ability to understand human language yuigon ga areba kikou If you have your last words, Ill listen kaburu put on (headwear) koumuru to suffer kagiru to be limited to kamu to bite, chew katsu to win, defeat an opponent masaru to be superior to

() masa(ru)

kachimashita ka Did you win? change, be different (from normal state) kawaru to change henkou change, modification henkaku change, reform hen(na) odd, clumsy kitaeru train, strengthen (oneself) kureru give, do a favour for watashi no imouto ga kare ni hon o kureta My sister gave him a book. magaru turn (around a corner) mageru twist soko de, miti ga migi e magatte iru There the road curves to the right makasu to defeat, beat (make an opponent lose) makeru to lose ou to take, to assume kono ken ni tsuite wa watashi ga sekinin o oimasu Ill take responsibility for this matter

hen () ka(waru)

tan () kita(eru) () kureru

train, forge give (indicates a closeness to a person as opposed to which states cold fact) music, curve, turn

kyoku () ma(garu) / () ma(geru)

fu () ma(kasu) () ma(keru) () o(u)

negative (maths/physics), lose, carry (an object), take (responsibility)

()() me(shi)a(garu)

eat (polite espression)

meshiagaru eat (polite)

ma () miga(ku)

brush, polish, grind, improve, refine watch, see

kan () mi(ru)

shin () mi(ru) () mora(u)

examine get, be given, receive, take (a wife), adopt (a child), win, pick up (disease)

migaku brush (teeth), polish (a skill) waza o migaku to improve ones skills miru - to watch kanshou enjoy seeing (beautiful charm of a thing) sibai o miru to see a play miru to examine morau to receive chichi kara jisho o moratta I was given a dictionary from my father kare wa ano kiryou yoshi o yome ni moratta He married that good-looking woman mukaeru to meet, greet (from the airport)

gei () muka(eru)

meet, greet

 geishun Happy New Year hikoujou de kare o mukaeta I went to meet him at the airport naosu to fix, repair kuukou e chokusetsu iku I went to meet him at the airport nemuru to sleep sleep, slumber ku ji ni numutta I went to sleep at nine neru to sleep, to go to bed, to lie down shuushinn jikan time for bed anata wa itsumo nan ji ni nemasu ka What time do you usually go to bed? nomu to drink inryousui drinking water noru to get on (a bus) noseru to pick up, to give a lift joushaken a (railway) ticket ita no ue ni noru to step

choku jiki tada(chini) () nao(su) () nao(ru) min () nemu(ru)

straight in a moment, soon fix, repair sleep, sleepy

shin () ne(ru)

lie down, go to bed, have sex

in () no(mu) jou () no(ru) () no(seru)

drink, swallow, take (medicine) step onto, get on, ride, be carried, pick up, give a lift to,

take in, deceive

raku () o(chiru) () o(tosu)

fall, clashed, collapse, drop, lose, set (moon or sun), come off, fade, fail (exam), slow down, go down, decline, pass out (lose consciousness), make ones opponent faint, remove, capture

onto a board (e.g. wooden board) kane no oto ga kaze no notte kikoete kita The sound of a bell was carried on to me on the wind kanojo no kangen ni manma to noserareta I was completely taken in by her honeyed words ochiru to fall otosu to drop, to lose rakurai lightning (strike on the ground) kabe no penki o otosu to remove paint from the wall shiro o otosu to capture a castle hikouki ga ochita The airplane crashed jishin de yane ga ochita The root collapsed by an earthquake kanojo no seiseki ga ochita Her marks went down saifu o otoshita I lost my wallet karera wa mottomo juuyou na shiai o

otoshita They lost the most important game

chi () oku(reru)

be late, be delayed, be slow (clock)

setsu () o(reru) () o(ru) ori

break, fold, folded, bend, turn, give in, yield to

tan () saga(su) () sa(guru)

search, look for, investigate

chien a delay okureru to be late for, to lag behind The clock is three minutes slow oru to break oreru to break kossetsu fracture eda o oru to break a branch kami o oru to fold a sheet of paper hiza o oru to bend the knee nan bon ka no hashira ga jishin de oreta Some pillars were broken by an earthquake. sono kado o migi ni oreru to toshokan ga aru If you turn right at that corner, you will find a post office. sagasu to look for saguru to feel for jiko no genin o saguru to investigate the cause of an accident

hei () shi(meru) () to(jiru)

shut, close

shin () shin(jiru)

believe, trust

shin () susu(mu)

advance, progress, go on (to college), travel (sound/light),

shimeru to close heimon suru to close a gate (where subject is building etc. not a person) mise o shimeru to close a shop mado o shimeru to close a window hon o tojiru to close a book me o tojiru to close ones eyes kono daigaku wa, yoru 9 ji ni wa heimon shimasu This colleges gate is closed at 9 oclock every night shinjiru to believe nani ka shinkou wa arimasu Do you have any faith? watashi wa anata no iu koto o shinjiru I believe what you say susumu to advance, progress shinka evolution * hikari wa byousoku 299792458 me-toru de massugu

gain, be ready to, be willing to

susumu Light travels in straight lines at 299792458 metres per second kare no shigoto wa junchou ni susunde iru His work has been progressed successfully tokei ga san pun susunde iru The clock is three minutes fast kare wa susunde sono yakuwari o katte deta He volunteered to play the role * ni oku, kyuu sen kyuu hyaku nana juu kyuu man, ni sen yon hyaku go juu hachi http://dglenfield.co.uk -> Japanese Basics suugaku - mathematics kazoeru to count kyuujo suru to save, rescue tasukete kudasai please help sensou war sensou o suru make war

suu () kazo(eru) kazu jo () tasu(keru) sen () tatakau

count, number, figure save, rescue, help

war, make war, fight, do battle,

contend

ritsu ryuu () ta(teru) () ta(tsu)

stand up, put up, raise, set up, establish, make (sound), make (plan), respect, stand, be (exist), take action, rise up, be reasonable, leave for, start from

tatakae! fight! seisei doudou to tatakaou Lets play fair tatsu to stand douzou o tateru put up a bronze statue oto o tateru make a noise hokori o tateru rise a cloud of dust keikaku o tateru make a plan mokuhyou o tateru set up a goal shinkiroku o tateru establish a new record kare wa itsumo tomodachi o tateteita He always paid respect to his friends kanojo wa asu rondon o tatte, toukyou e mukau She is leaving London for Tokyo tomorrow. kanojo wa gikai ni rikkouho suru darou She will stand for Parliament nara no daibutsu wa nan hyaku go juu ni nen ni konryuu sareta The Great

Buddha at Nara was erected in 752.

hou () tazu(neru) () otozu(reru)

visit (time) come

rai () tano(mu) () tano(moshii) () tayo(ru)

request, ask, reliance, depend

hi () to(bu) () to(basu)

fly

deliver, send, () todo(keru) () todo(ku) arrive, reach, report, notify

tazuneru to call on otozureru to visit (a place) houmon to pay a visit houbei to visit the USA tsui ni natsu ga otozureta - Summer has come at last tanomu request tayoru to depend on irai a request irai suru to request He is a reliable person watashi kara kare ni tanonde mimashou Ill try to ask him tobu to fly tobasu to send, to fly hikouki an airplane hikousen an airship todokeru to deliver (from a person) e.g. a mail sent from a person todoku reach, be received, deliver (object) e.g. a mail which was sent todoita shorui a sent document

haku paku () to(maru) () to(meru) hi () tsuka(re) () tsuka(reru) kin () tsuto(meru) () tsuto(maru)

lodge, stay

if youre staying overnight you can have a drink (looks like a tall cup)

fatigue, exhaustion, be tired work (working for something e.g. a company) do not confuse with the verb for just working hatara(ku)

zoku () tsudu(ku) () tsudu(keru)

continue, last occurrence, lead to follow

kanojo wa juusho no henkou o shiyakusho ni todoketa He notified the city office of her change of address tomaru to stay overnight tomeru to take in, to accommodate san haku suru to stay for three nights tsukareru to tire hirou fatigue, exhaustion tsukare fatigue, exhaustion tsuukin teate a communication allowance tsutomeru to work for, to hold a post tsutomaru to be equal, to be fit kare wa byouin ni tsutomte iru He is working for a hospital tsudukeru - to continue, to go on souzoku to inherit sono kanshuu wa nihyaku nen kan tsuduita iru The custom continued for two hundred years

get (be) drunk () yoppara(u)

konotokoro hikouki jiko ga tsuduku There have been a series of airplane accidents recently kono michi wa okkusufo-do ni tsuduite iru This road leads to Oxford shutsugeki suru zo! (mina watashi no ato ni) tsuduke! Lets take the offensive! All after me! yopparau to be drunk

ki () yoroko(bu) ki () yo(ru) () yo(seru)

happy, delighted come near to, let come near, gather, call on, call at, be attracted to, fall in love, put ones trust in, send

yorokobu to be happy, delighted yoru to stop by, drop in yoseru to bring close together kifu a contribution, a donation kanojo wa soba e yotte kita She came up to me waki e yotte kudasai Please step aside san nin yoreba monju no chie Two heads are better than one (Proverb)

shou () wara(u) () e(mu)

laugh, smile

bou () wasu(reru)

forget

to () wata(su) () wata(ru)

hand over, transfer, move (across the sea), ferry, cross, be imported (be introduced), pass

warau to laugh asu no koto o ieba tenjou de nezumi ga warau If you talk about tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs (proverb) wasureru to forget wasuremono a thing left behind bounenkai a year-end party sukkari wasuremashita I completely forgot watasu hand over wataru to cross, to get across toei suru to visit the United Kngdom tobei suru to visit the United States wataridori a migratory bird kanojo wa kaichou no za o musuko ni watashita She transferred her son to the post of president kare wa kobune de kankoukyaku o mukou gishi e watashita He ferried tourists across the river

 sono bunka wa chuugoku kara nihon e watatte kita The culture was introduced into Japan from China

ban

evening, night

konbanwa good evening konban this evening ban gohan dinner

shuu

week

shuumatsu weekend
sensenshuu two weeks ago senshuu - last week konshuu this week raishuu next week rairaishuu two weeks time yuden oil field sekiyu petroleum abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai You cannot mix oil and water otaku your home otaku a geek kitaku suru to go home kyaku customer jyou kyaku - passenger yuki snow yuki guni a snowy country

yu abura

oil

taku

home

kyaku yuki

guest, customer snow

do

degree, frequency

soku () haya(i) dou michi

fast, speedy street

ichido once mou ichi do onegaishimasu once more please (please repeat) kondo next time sokudo speed soku tatsu express delivery hokkaidou Hokkaido (northern Japanese island) nagai michi a long road seki dou equator shadou - roadway

sei () ha(re) (ha(reru) ji tera fu otto kare kano () waka(i)

fine, clear up

subarashii - wonderful
hareru to clear up seiten fine weather

temple husband he

tera temple otto ones husband fuufu a married couple kare he kanojo she karera - they wakasa youthfulness wakamono a young man

young

dou () hatara(ku)

work (just working, dont confuse with not working for ...) (ugoku move) notice the i on the left meaning person and this is different to (work for a hospital etc.) department, section, club station shrine, company, assembling iron place, that which

hataraku to work roudou labour kare wa hataraite iru He is working

bu eki sha ja tetsu sho jyo tokoro ban

bubun a part, section zenbu - all eki chou stationmaster ekiin station employee kaisha a company shakai a society shachou company president tettsui iron fist (karate move) chikatetsu - subway tokoro place daidokoro kitchen jimusho an office ichiban number one denwabangou telephone number kouban police box shi city ichiba / shi jou a market shi chou a mayor

number, order

shi ichi

city, market

 shimin - citizen

to

capital, big city

fu ken tou shima ryu () to(maru) () to(meru) shuku

administrative, prefecture (also) prefecture island stay, detain

tokai urban area toshi big city tokyou - Tokyo oosaka fu Osaka prefecture seifu - government ken a prefecture shima island shima guni an island nation kaki tome a registered letter ryuugaku to study abroad shukudai homework shukuhaku suru to stay shuku sha a dormitory seiji politics gyousei administration seifu a government naosu to cure, fix seijika a politician

lodging, dwelling

sei

administration

ji () osa(maru) () osa(meru) nao(ru) nao(su)

govern

kei

control, pass through

reki

career

ka

goods, money

keizai economy keiei suru to manage keiyu via, by way of rekishi history gakureki ones educational background kouka coin zakka sundries, misc. goods kono sen en satsu o hyaku en kouka jyukko ni kaete kudasai Please change (break) this 1000 yen bill into ten 100 yen coins 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

Daniel Glenfield http://www.dglenfield.co.uk Masashi Ogino http://massyoggy.spaces.live.com/