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. 人 is nin / jin
(Chinese) then hito (Japanese) underneath.
With numbers, the counting system is underneath.
KANJI READING
On-yomi / Kun-yomi
MEANING REMINDER HINT EXAMPLES
一 イチ ichi
ひとつ hitotsu
one, first 一番 ichi ban – number one, the best
世界一 sekai ichi - the best in the world
二 ニ ni
ふたつ futatsu
two, second 第二 dai ni – the second
三 サン san
みっつ mittsu
three, third 三つ mittsu – third
四 シ shi
よん yon
よっつ yottsu
four, fourth 四つ yottsu - fourth
五 ゴ go
いつつ itsutsu
five, fifth 五つ itsutsu - fifth
六 ロク roku
むっつ muttsu
six, sixth 六つ muttsu - sixth
七 シチ shichi
なな nana
ななつ nanatsu
seven, seventh 七つ nanatsu - seventh
八 ハチ hachi
やっつ yattsu
eight, eighth 八つ yattsu - eighth
九 ク ku
キュウ kyuu
ここのつ kokonotsu
nine, ninth 九つ kokonotsu - nineth
十 ジュウ jyuu
とお too
ten 十 too - tenth
百 ヒャク hyaku
もも momo
hundred
千 セン sen
ち chi
thousand
万 マン man
バン ban
よろず yorozu
ten thousand
父 フ fu
ホ ho
トウ tou
ちち chichi
father お父さん otousan – a father
父の日 chichi no hi – Father’s day
母 ボ bo
モ mo
カア kaa
はは haha
mother お母さん okaasan – a mother
母の日 haha no hi – Mother’s day
保母 ho bo – kindergarden teacher, or a
nurse
友 ユウ yuu
とも tomo
friend 友達 tomodachi – friend(s)
友情 yuujou - friendship
女 ジョ jo
ジョ/ ニョ(zyo / nyo)
おんな onna
woman, female looks like a woman /
ironing board 彼女 kanojo – her, or girlfriend
女の子 onna no ko – a girl
女優 joyuu – an actress
男 ダン dan
ナン nan
おとこ otoko
man, men, male rice field + power =
must be strong to work
in a rice field (a man).
男女 danjo – men and women
男らしい otokorashii – manly, like a man
人 ジン jin
ニン nin
ひと hito
person, people 三人 san nin – three people
七人 shichi jin – seven people
女の人 onna no hito - woman
子 シ shi
ス su
こ ko
child, children, the
young
looks like a child. 子猫 ko neko – kitten (child cat)
女子学生 jo shi gakusei... female student
子供 kodomo – child, children
お菓子 okashi - cake
日 ニチ nichi
ジツ jitsu
ひ hi
び bi
か ka
the sun, day ある日 aru hi – one day
毎日 mai nichi – every day
三日 mikka – 3rd
day (of the month)
明日 ashita – tomorrow
月 ガツ gatsu
ゲツ getsu
the moon, month 今月 kon getsu – this month
月 tsuki – the moon
つき tsuki 一月 ichi gatsu – January (first month)
火 カ ka
ひ hi
fire, light looks like flames. 火事 kaji – a fire
花火 hana bi – fireworks
火花 hi bana – sparks
火山 ka zan – fire mountain
火曜日 ka youbi - Tuesday
水 スイ sui
みず mizu
water looks like a river
converging (water). 大水 oo mizu – flood (big water)
水着 mizu gi – swimsuit
水田 suiden – rice field
木 モク moku
ボク boku
き ki
こ ko
tree, wood a tree. 木上り ki nobori – tree climbing
松の木 matsu no ki – pine tree
木曜日 moku youbi – Thursday
木村さん kimura-san – Mr. Kimura
金 キン kin
コン kon
かね (o-)kane
かな kana
gold, money digging under a hill for
gold. 賞金 shoukin – prize money
金曜日 kin youbi – Friday
金田 kaneda-san – Mr. Kaneda
土 ド do
ト to
つち tsuchi
earth, ground, soil a grounded mast. 土曜日 do youbi – Saturday
粘土 nen do – clay
土地 to chi – ground area, soil
土木 doboku – civil engineering
本 ホン hon
もと moto
book,
origin, root,
tree with a root. 日本 nihon – Japan
本 hon – a book
counter for long
slender objects
休 キュウ kyuu
やす(む) yasu(mu)
rest, vacation a man resting by a tree. 夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation
昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break
お休みなさい oyasuminasai – “Good
night”
語 ゴ go
かた(り) kata(ri)
かた(る) kata(ru)
word, speech,
language, narration,
to tell, to speak
日本語 nihongo – Japanese
物語 mono gatari – a story, tale, legend
年 ネン nen
とし toshi
year 一年 ichi nen – one year
二年前 ni nen mae – two years ago
去年 kyo nen – last year
午 ゴ go
うま uma
noon 午前 gozen – morning
午後 gogo – afternoon
午後二時 gogo ni ji – 2 o’clock in the
afternoon
前 ゼン zen
まえ mae
before, in front of,
previous
名前 namae – name
前書き mae gaki – preface (before the
writing)
後 ゴ go
コウ kou
のち nochi
うしろ ushiro
behind, after 最後 sai go – the last, the end, the
conclusion
後ろ ushiro – behind
時 ジ ji
とき toki
time 時間 jikan – time
時々 toki doki – sometimes
何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is
it?
間 カン kan
ケン ken
あいだ aida
ま ma
interval, between,
space,
room,
time
the sun is between the
gates. 居間 ima – living room
時間 jikan – time
昼間 hiru ma - daytime
毎 まい mai
ばい bai
ごとに gotoni
each, every 毎日 mai nichi – every day
毎朝 mai asa – every morning
毎週 mai shuu – every week
先 セン sen
さき saki
previous, ahead 先生 sen sei – teacher (previous life)
先日 sen jitsu – the other day
お先に どうぞ o-sakini douzo – please
go first
今 コン kon
キン kin
いま ima
now, the present 今月 kon getsu – this month
今晩は konbanwa – good evening
今度 kon do – next time
何 カ ka
なん nan
なに nani
what, how many 何人 ですか nan nin desu ka – how
many people?
何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is
it?
上 ジョウ jou
カミ kami
うえ ue
うわ uwa
top, above, on the stem is above the
ground. 上手 jouzu – good at
上る noboru – to go up
上げる ageru – to rise
つくえの 上 tsukue no ue – on the table
のぼ(る) nobo(ru)
あ(がる) a(garu)
あ(げる) a(geru)
年上 toshi ue – older, old (years)
下 カ ka
ゲ ge
した shita
しも shimo
もと moto
くだ(る) kuda(ru)
さ(がる) sa(garu)
さ(げる) sa(geru)
bottom, beneath,
down
the stem is below the
ground. くつ 下 kutsu shita – socks [lit. shoes
under]
下る kudaru – to go down
下車 する gesha suru – to get off
下さい kudasai – please (give, do)
左 サ sa
ひだり hidari
left looks like an ‘H’ on its
side – ‘H’idari means
left
左手 hidari te – left hand
左足 hidari ashi – left leg
机の左 tsukue no hidari – to the left of the
desk
右 ウ u
ユウ yuu
みぎ migi
right second symbol looks
like katakana ‘ro’.
‘right’ also starts with
‘r’.
右目 migi me – right eye
右ページ migi pe-ji – right page (of
book)
東 トウ tou
ツウ tsuu
ひがし higashi
east the sun is behind the
tree rising in the East. 中東 chuutou – the Middle East
東京 toukyou - Tokyo
西 セイ sei
サイ sai
にし nishi
west 西口 nishi guchi – west entrance
西ドイツ nishi Doitsu – West Germany
大西洋 tai sei you – the Atlantic
南 ナン nan
みなみ minami
south 南米 nan bei – South America
南極 nan kyoku – the South Pole
北 ホク hoku
ボク boku
きた kita
north 北アメリカ kita amerika – North
America
南北戦争 nan boku sen sou – US civil
war (North South)
外 ガイ gai
ゲ ge
そと soto
ほか hoka
outside, foreign 外国人 gaikoku jin – foreigner
外人 gaijin - foreigner
外国語 gaikoku go – foreign language
外で遊ぶ soto de asobu – to play outside
名 メイ mei
な na
name, fame, famous 有名な yuumei(na) – famous
名前 namae – name
平仮名 hiragana – hiragana
高 コウ kou
たか(い) taka(i)
high, tall,
costly
looks like a tall
building 最高 sai kou – the highest, the best
高校生 koukou sei – high school student
高いビル takai biru – tall building
小 ショウ shou
ちい(さい) chii(sai)
small, little 小学校 shou gakkou – elementary school
小さい家 chiisai ie – a small house
小説 shou setsu – a novel, a story (fiction)
中 チュウ chuu
なか naka
inside, middle,
centre, within
a line goes through the
middle of this kanji 一日中 ichi nichi juu – all day long
家の中 ie no naka – inside the house
勉強中 benkyou chuu – in the middle of
studying
大 タイ tai / ダイ dai
おお(きい) oo(kii)
big, large, great 大学 dai gaku – university, college (big
school)
大きい心 ookii kokoro – big heart
大会 tai kai – big convention or rally
大きな家 ooki na ie – Big house
半 ハン han
なかば nakaba
half a sword cutting
horizontal sticks in
half.
半月 han tsuki – half a month
半月 han getsu – half moon
半島 han tou – peninsula (half island)
分 ブン bun / フン fun /
プン pun
わ(ける) wa(keru)
わ(かる) wa(karu)
units, minutes, a part,
to divide,
to understand
半分 hanbun – half
部分 bubun – a part
気分 kibun – feeling, mood
気分がよいです kibun ga yoi desu – I
am feeling good
分かりました wakarimashita – I
understand
学 ガク gaku / カク kaku
まな(ぶ) mana(bu)
learning, science, to
learn
科学 ka gaku – science
中学校 chuu gakkou – middle school
数学 suu gaku - math
校 コウ kou school 学校 gakkou – school
高校 koukou – senior high school
校内 kou nai – within the school grounds
生 セイ sei
ショウ shou
い(きる) i(kiru)
う(まれる) u(mareru)
birth, life, to give
birth, to live
学生 gaku sei – a student
一生 isshou – all life, a lifetime
人生 jin sei – (human) life
先生 sen sei – teacher, master, doctor
電 デン den / テン ten
いなずま inazuma
electric, electricity 電気 denki – electricity
電池 denchi – battery
電車 densha – train (electric car)
電話 denwa - telephone
気 キ ki
ケ ke
いき iki
spirit, intention,
mind,
power, energy
空気 kuu ki – air, atmosphere
元気 genki – healthy, full of spirit
人気 nin ki - popularity
車 シャ sha
くるま kuruma
car, vehicle 自転車 jitensha – bicycle
自動車 jidousha - car
救急車 kyuukyuusha – ambulance
電車 densha - train
国 コク koku
くに kuni
country, a nation 韓国 kan koku – Korea
外国 gai koku – foreign country
中国 chuu goku - China
円 エン en
まる(い) maru(i)
yen, a circle 千円 sen en – 1000 yen
円高 en daka – a high yen rate
円を書く en o kaku – to draw a circle
山 サン san / ザン zan
やま yama
mountain 火山 ka zan – a volcano (fire mountain)
富士山 Fujisan – Mt. Fuji
ごみの山 gomi no yama – a mountain of
garbage
山下さん yamashita-san – Mr. Yamashita
川 セン sen
かわ kawa
river, stream 川田さん kawada-san – Mr. Kawada
白 ハク haku
しろ(い) shiro(i)
white 白鳥 hakuchou – Swan (white bird)
白い shiroi – white
白蟻 shiro ari – termite (white ant)
天 テン ten
あま ama
あめ ame
heaven, the sky 天井 tenjou – ceiling
天気 tenki – weather
天国 ten goku – heaven, paradise
天才 ten sai – genius
明日の ことを 言えば 天井で ね
ずみが 笑う asu no koto o ieba tenjou
de nezumi ga warau – If you talk about
tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs
(proverb)
雨 ウ u
あめ ame
あま ama
rain 雨水 ama mizu – rain water
大雨 oo ame – heavy rain
小雨 ko same – light rain
書 ショ sho
か(く) ka(ku)
book, document 書く kaku – to write
青く書く aoku kaku – to write in blue
図書館 toshoukan – library
聖書 seisho – bible (holy book)
辞書 jisho - dictionary
見 ケン ken
み(る) mi(ru)
み(える) mi(eru)
to see, to show 見る miru – to see
花見 hana mi – flower viewing
見える mieru – to be able to see, visible
意見 iken - opinion
行 コウ kou
ギョウ gyou
to go 行きましょう ikimashou – let’s go
銀行 ginkou – bank
い(く) i(ku) /
ゆ(く) yu(ku)
旅行 ryokou – a trip, travel
出 シュツ shutsu
だ(す) da(su), で(る)
de(ru)
to go out, leave 出口 de guchi – exit
思い出す omoi dasu – to remember, to
recollect
出来る dekiru – be able to do
出かける dekakeru – goes, comes out
入 ニュウ nyuu
はい(る) hai(ru)
い(る) i(ru) /
い(れる) i(reru)
enter, to go in, to
insert
中入り naka iri – intermission (of a play)
入り口 iri guchi – entrance
手に入れる te ni ireru – to obtain, to get
one’s hands on
入院 nyuuin - hospitalisation
話 ワ wa
はなし hanashi
はな(す) hana(su)
a talk, topic, a story 英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation
(class)
昔話 mukashi banashi – an old tale,
legend
手話 shu wa – sign language (hand talk)
聞 ブン bun
モン mon
き(く) ki(ku)
き(こえる) ki(koeru)
to hear, listen, ask the ear is between the
gate and you use your
ear to listen.
新聞 shinbun – newspaper
聞いてください kiite kudasai – please
listen
食 ジキ jiki
ショク shoku
く(う) ku(u)
た(べる) ta(beru)
eating, a meal, food 食べ物 tabemono – food
食べる taberu – to eat
食べたい tabetai – I want to eat
食事 shokuji – a meal
読 ドク doku
よ(む) yo(mu)
to read 読みやすい yomi yasui – easy to read
読書 dokusho – reading (read
book/document)
読んでください yonde kudasai – please
read
来 ライ rai
く(る) ku(ru) /
きた(る) kita(ru)
to come 未来 mi rai – the future (not yet come)
来週 rai shuu – next week
来月 rai getsu – next month
出来る dekiru – to be able to do
田 デン den
た ta / だ da
rice field looks like a rice field,
in four parts. 田中さん tanaka-san – Mr. Tanaka
山田さん yamada-san – Mr. Yamada
水田 suiden – rice field
田舎 inaka – countryside, rural area,
hometown
門 モン mon a gate looks like a gate. 門 mon – a gate
専門 senmon – speciality
口 コウ kou
くち kuchi /
ぐち guchi
a mouth,
an exit, an entrance
looks like a mouth. 人口 jinkou – population
出口 de guchi – exit
入り口 iri guchi – entrance
私 シ shi
わたし watashi /
わたくし watakushi
private 私立大学 shiritsu daigaku – private
university
仮面ライダーは 私です ka men raida-
wa watashi desu – I am the Masked Rider.
力 リョク ryoku
リキ riki
power 水力 sui ryoku – water power
火力 ka ryoku – fire power
ちから chikara 力学 riki gaku – dynamics
協力 kyouryoku - cooperation
夢の力 yume no chikara – The power of
dreams.
何 なに nani /
なん nan
what ? 何人 nan nin – how many people?
何ですか nan desu ka – what is it?
体 タイ tai
からだ karada
body,
object
a man’s origin is his
body. 体力 tai ryoku – physical strength
体育 tai iku – physical education (P.E.)
体 karada – a body
肉体疲労 niku tai hi rou – be exhausted
(body)
体育館 tai iku kan – a gym
後で体育館の 後ろで会いましょう
ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou –
Later, let’s meet behind the gym.
頭の体操 atama no tai sou – exercising
the mind
好 コウ kou
す(き) su(ki)
love, like, favourite a mother loves a child. 魚は好きです sakana wa suki desu – I
like fish
好物 koubutsu – one’s favourite food
林 リン rin
はやし hayashi
wood, grove two trees make a wood 林業 ringyou – forestry
林 hayashi – a wood
小林さん kobayashi-san – Mr. Kobayashi
森 シン shin
もり mori
forest, jungle three trees make a
forest 森田さん morita-san – Mr. Morita
森林 shinrin – Woods and forests
畑 はたけ hatake
はた hata
cultivated field fire + rice field = burnt
(cultivated) field. 畑 hatake – a cultivated field
田畑 ta hata – fields of rice and crops
花畑 hana batake – a flower garden
岩 ガン gan
いわ iwa
rock a stone by a mountain
is a rock. 岩田さん iwata-san – Mr. Iwata
岩石 ganseki – rocks and stones
火山岩 ka zan gan – volcanic rock
目 モク moku
め me
eye,
item
looks like an eye
(vertically). 目上 me ue – one’s superiors
目下 me shita – one’s inferiors
目 me – an eye
目次 moku ji – table of contents
目的 moku teki – a purpose
耳 ジ ji
みみ mimi
ear could be an ear (use
your imagination). はつ 耳です hatsu mimi desu – “That’s
the first time I’ve heard of that”
手 シュ shu
て te
hand looks like a hand 歌手 ka shu – a singer
上手な jouzu-na – skillful, good at
下手な heta-na – unskilled, not good at
手紙 tegami – letter
切手 kitte – stamp
助手 joshu – an assistant (lit. help hand)
足 ソク soku
あし ashi
た(りる) ta(riru)
leg, pair,
suffice
looks like a man with a
very long leg. 足りる tariru – to be enough
足す tasu – to add
二足 ni soku – two pairs
不足 fu soku – a shortage
竹 チク chiku
たけ take
bamboo two bamboo sticks. 竹田さん Takeda-san – Mr. Takeda
竹の子 take no ko – a bamboo shoot
米 マイ mai
ベイ bei
ごめ gome
rice,
America
米国 bei koku – America
北米 hoku bei – North America
南米 nan bei – South America
中米 chuu bei – Central America
貝 かい kai shellfish looks like a crustacean
(big shell, little legs). 貝殻 kaigara – a shell
真珠貝 shinjugai – pearl oyster
石 セキ seki
いし ishi
stone a stone (square) is in
the picture. 石川さん Ishikawa-san – Mr. Ishikawa
石や seki-ya – petroleum
化石 ka seki – a fossil
花 カ ka
はな hana
flower 花 hana - a flower
花火 hanabi - fireworks
花びん kabin - a vase
茶 チャ cha
サ sa
tea 茶 cha - tea
日本茶 Nihon cha - green tea
紅茶 koucha - black tea
喫茶店 kissaten - a coffee shop
茶色 chairo – brown (tea colour)
肉 ニク niku flesh, meat hangars at an abattoir
for meat. 鳥肉 tori niku - Chicken
牛肉 gyuu niku – Beef
魚肉 gyo niku – fish meat
肉体 niku tai – Body
文 ブン bun
モン mon
ふみ fumi
pattern,
letter, sentence,
literature
a man crossing his legs
reading a book
(containing a sentence)
文 bun - a sentence
文学 bun gaku – literature
文字 moji – letter or character
文化 bunka - culture
文部科学省 mon bu ka gaku shou -
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science, and Technology
この文章の 構造が どうなっている
か 分かりますか kono bun shou no
kou zou ga dou natte iru ka wakarimasu
ka – Do you understand the structure of
this sentence?
字 ジ ji letter, character letters are associated
with learning, and this
looks like gaku.
字 ji - a letter or character
文字 mo ji / mon ji - a letter
漢字 kanji - kanji
数字 suuji - a number
物 ブツ butsu
モツ motsu
もの mono
a thing, matter, object
(non-human)
買い物 kaimono – shopping
品物 shinamono - goods
生物 sei butsu – a living creature
荷物 ni motsu – baggage
物語 mono gatari – a story, tale, legend
飲み物 nomimono – a drink
好物 kou butsu – favourite
動物 dou butsu – animal
果物の 中で 何が 一番好きですか
kudamono no naka de nani ga ichiban suki
desu ka – Among all fruit which do you
like best?
牛 ギュウ gyuu
うし ushi
cattle, cow, bull, ox a bull with one horn. 子牛 ko ushi – a calf (child cattle)
牛乳 gyuu nyuu – cow’s milk
馬 バ ba
うま uma
horse a galloping horse. 馬車 ba sha – a carriage
馬力 ba riki – horsepower
馬肉 ba niku – horse meat
鳥 チョウ chou
とり tori
bird the kanji for white 白
(shiro(i)) is included
making this a white
bird.
焼き鳥 yaki tori – roast chicken
白鳥 haku chou – a swan
野鳥 ya chou – wild bird
南から鳥が飛んできました minami
kara tori ga tonde kimashita – The birds
came from the south.
一石 二鳥 isseki nichou – two
birds with one stone
魚 ギョ go
さかな sakana
fish a fish is caught by a
hook 魚や sakana-ya – fish shop
焼き魚 ya ki zakana – grilled fish
金魚 kingyo – goldfish
羊 ひつじ hitsuji sheep
猿 さる saru monkey
猫 ねこ neko cat
the rice field looks like
a mat. The cat sat on
the mat!
猫の子 neko no ko – kitten
犬 ケイ kei
いぬ inu
dog 子犬を飼った ko inu o katta – I got a
puppy (katta used to mean ‘raise’).
豚 ぶた buta pig
-i Adjectives
Kanji + i
KANJI READING
On-yomi / Kun-yomi
MEANINGS REASONING FOR
MEANING
EXAMPLES
古い コ ko
ふる(い) furu(i)
old churches are old. 古い furui – old
古くない furukunai – not old
古かった furukatta – was old
古くなかった furukunakatta – was not
old
古くなります furuku narimasu –
becomes old (adverb)
古くて安い furukute yasui – old and
cheap (combining adjectives)
古い本 furui hon – an old book
古本 furu hon – a used book
中古車 chuu ko sha – a second hand car
長い チョウ chou
なが(い) naga(i)
long,
eldest, chief
長い nagai – long
長男 chou nan – the eldest son
学長 gaku chou – a (university / school)
president
校長先生 kou chou sensei – principal,
headmaster (leader of teachers)
社長 sha chou – Company president
長い道 nagai michi – a long road
短い タン tan
みじか(い) mijika(i)
short (distance) 短い mijikai – short
短時間 tan jikan – a short time
短大 tan dai – a junior college
高い コウ kou
たか(い) taka(i)
tall / Expensive looks like a tall
building. 高校 kou kou – a high school
高速 kou soku – high speed
高橋 Takahashi – Japanese surname
安い アン an
やす(い) yasu(i)
cheap, safe a woman inside a
building is cheap? 安売り (yasu u) ri – a bargain sale
安心 する an shin suru – to be relieved
安全な anzen na - safe
低い テイ tei
ひく(い) hiku(i)
low (height) 低温 tei on – low temperature
低下 する tei ka suru – to fall down, to
go down
暗い アン an
くら(い) kura(i)
dark, gloomy,
depressing
暗い kurai – dark
暗室 an shitsu – a dark room
多い タta
おお(い) ooi()
many, much 多少 ta shou – more or less
多数 ta suu – a large number
重い ジュウ juu
チョウ chou
おも(い) omoi
え e
かさ(なる) kasa(naru)
かさ(ねる) kasa(neru)
heavy 重い omoi – heavy
重くない omokunai – not heavy
重かった omokatta – was heavy
重くなかった omokunakatta – was not
heavy
貴重 ki chou – precious, valuable
重点 juu ten – important point
軽い かる(い) karu(i) light, easy
近い キン kin
ちか(い) chika(i)
near, early 近郊 kinkou – suburbs, outskirts
近所 kinjo - neighbourhood (near place)
近状 kinjou – recent condition
最近 saikin – recently, latest, newest
最近天気が悪い saikin tenki ga warui –
Lately the weather has been bad.
最近、台風が 多いです saikin, taifuu
ga ooi desu – Lately, there have been
many typhoons.
遠い とお(い) too(i) far
悪い アク aku
わる(い) waru(i)
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).
最悪 sai aku – worst case, the worst
悪魔 akuma – devil, demon
罪悪 zai aku – crime, sin
最近天気が悪い saikin tenki ga warui –
lately the weather has been terrible.
早い ソウ sou
はや(い) haya(i)
はや(まる) haya(maru)
はや(める) haya(meru)
fast, early looks like a stick man
and a stick man is fast. 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up
early
早速 sassoku – immediately, at once
早咲き haya saki – early blooming
この浅い湾で、潮が 早く差す kono
asai wan de, shio ga hayaku sasu – In this
shallow bay, the tide comes up quickly.
早める hayameru – to hasten, bring
forward (not accelerate – 速める)
明るい メイ mei
ミョウ myou
あか(るい) aka(rui)
あ(ける) a(keru)
bright, lively,
cheerful
sun + moon = bright 明るい aka(rui) – bright, cheerful
明らか(な) akiraka(na) - obvious
明ける a(keru) to break (to dawn)
説明 setsumei – explanation
明治時代 mei ji ji dai – Meji era
文明 bun mei – civilization
明細 mei sai – particulars, details,
specifics
-shii Kanji + shii
新しい シン shin
あたら(しい)
atara(shii)
new 新しい atarashii – new
新しくない atarashikunai – not new
新しかった atarashikatta – was new
新しくなかった atarashikunakatta – was
not new
新しく買います atarashiku kaimasu –
newly buy (adverb)
新しくて高い atarashikute takai – new
and expensive (combining adjectives)
新しくなかった車 atarashikunakatta
kuruma – it was not a new car
新聞 shinbun – newspaper
新年 shin nen – a new year
楽しい ガク gaku
ラク raku
たの(しい) tano(shii)
たの(しむ)
tano(shimu)
enjoyment looks like a
microphone on a stage
that someone has
enjoyed singing in to.
楽しみます tanoshimimasu – to enjoy
音楽 ongaku – music
快楽 kairaku - pleasure
快楽主義 kairaku shu gi - Hedonism
快楽しか 求めない人も居る kairaku
shika motomenai hito mo iru – there are
people who seek only pleasure.
正しい セイ sei
ショウ shou
ただ(しい) tada(shii)
ただ(す) tadasu
まさ masa
correct, right, justice if you stop 止 to think
about it you will get it
right
正義 seigi – justice, righteousness
正月 shou gatsu – new year
改正 kai sei – revision; amendment
正解 sei kai – correct (answer)
公正 kou sei – fairness, impartiality
更正 kou sei – correction, revision
正座 sei za – sit (or squat) straight
正しかった です か tadashikatta
desu ka – Was that correct?
美しい うつく(しい)
utsuku(shii)
beautiful
忙しい いそが(しい)
isoga(shii)
busy 毎日 忙しい です mai nichi isogashii
desu – Every day I am busy
素晴ら
しい
すばら(しい)
subara(shii)
wonderful, superb
-na Adjectives
Kanji + na
静かな しずか(な) shizukana quiet 静かな 公園 です ね shizukana
kouen desu ne – It is a quiet park isn’t it?
穏やか
な
おだやか(な)
odayaka(na)
calm あの 人は 穏やか です ano hito wa
odayaka desu – That person is calm
真っ暗
な
まっくら(な)
makkura(na)
真っ暗な makkura(na) – pitch black
真っ黒 makkuro(na) – jet black
微かな ビ bi
かすか(な) kasuka(na)
faint, vague,
microscopic
微光写真 bikou shashin – low-light
photography
妙な みょうな myou(na) strange 妙に myouni – strangely...
簡単な かんたんな kantan(na) simplistic 試験は 簡単でした shiken wa kantan
deshita – The test was easy (simple)
平穏な へいおんな peaceful 平穏で 静かな 公園 です heion de
shizukana kouen desu – A peaceful and
quiet park
馬鹿な ばかな stupid a stupid person could
not tell the difference
between a horse 馬
場かな 質問 bakana shitsumon – a
stupid question
More Adjectives
Kanji + others
少ない
少し
ショウ shou
すく(ない) sukunai
すこ(し) sukoshi
few, little Kanji for small (chiisai)
is in this kanji character
(few, little).
少し sukoshi – a little, a few
少年 shou nen – a boy
少女 shou jo – a girl
JLPT Level 3 Kanji
心 しん shin
こころ kokoro
heart, mind,
(relating to) emotion
the long line is the heart
and the short lines are the
blooooooood.
安心 an shin – relief, peace of mind
回 カイkai / エ e
まわ(る) mawa(ru)
まわ(す) mawa(su)
turn any way you turn it, it is
still a square in a square. 遠回り too mawari – detour
青 セイ sei
ショウ shou
あお(い) ao(i)
blue 青空 ao zora – blue skies
青森県 aomori ken – Aomori Prefecture
(northern Japan)
青色 ao iro – blue colour
赤 セキ seki
シャク shaku
あか(い) aka(i)
red the Kanji for earth is
above, and underneath is
the red fiery lava rising
up
赤道 seki dou – equator
赤字 aka ji – deficit, go in the red, red
letters
赤ちゃん aka chan – baby, infant
今月は赤字です kon getsu wa akaji desu
– this month we are in the red
秋 シュウ shuu
あき aki
autumn, fall (season) in the fall leaves have the
colour of fire. 秋ぶんの ひ shuu bun no hi – autumn
equinox holiday (September)
秋ば しょ aki ba sho – autumn sumo
tournament
開 カイ kai
あ(ける) a(keru)
to open through an open door we
can see a Shinto gate in
the distance.
ドアを開けて ください doa o akete
kudasai – please open the door
全開 zen kai – full throttle, all the way
開港 kai kou – open port, treaty port
再開 sai kai – re-opening, resumption
朝 チョウ chou
あさ asa
morning, dawn a car driving the moon
away (morning) 朝日新聞 Asahi shinbun – Asashi
newspaper
朝刊 Chou kan – Morning edition (of a
newspaper)
朝ごはん asa gohan – breakfast
毎朝 会社に 自転車で 行きます
mai asa kaisha ni jitensha de ikimasu –
Every morning I go to the office by
bicycle
味 ミ mi
あじ aji
あじ(わう) aji(wau)
taste, experience open your mouth to taste
a tree top 趣味 shumi - hobby
意味 imi – meaning
味見 aji mi – taste testing
隠し味 kakushi aji – hidden taste
集 シュウ shuu
あつ(まる) atsu(maru)
to collect, to gather my aerial is on top of the
tree (gathering signals) 編集 hen shuu – editing (newspaper,
book)
採集 sai shuu – collecting, gathering
兄 ケイ kei
キョウ kyou
あに ani
older brother the top part looks like an
eye. big brother is
watching you!
兄弟 kyou dai – brothers
姉 シ shi
あね ane
older sister my older sister 市(ichi)
works at the market
姉妹 shi mai - sisters
姉妹都市 shi mai to shi – sister cities
歩 ホ ho
フ fu
ある(く) aru(ku)
to walk, to step the top part is to stop 止
(tomeru) and the bottom
is little 少(し), so when
you walk a little you have
一歩一歩 ippo ippo – step by step, little
by little
散歩 sanpo - walking
あゆ(む) ayu(mu) to stop a little also. 一歩一歩日本語を勉強してください
ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite
kudasai – please study Japanese little by
little.
有 ユウ yuu
あ(る) ar(u)
to have, to exist
(inanimate object) you have a month 月
(getsu) to do something
固有 ko yuu – characteristic, inborn
有効 yuu kou – effective, valid
有罪 yuu zai – guilt, guiliness
有名(な) yuumei(na) – famous
医 イ i to heal, to cure a person lying in bed
with a bandage being
healed.
医者 isha – doctor
歯科医 shikai – dentist
医師 ishi – doctor, surgeon
意 イ i mind, heart,
attention
your mind and heart
(bottom) are standing to
attention (top part looks
like legs standing).
注意 chuui – attention, caution
意見 iken – opinion, view
意味 imi – meaning
意識 ishiki – consciousness, awareness
用意 youi – preparation
厚意 koui – kindness (better to use 好意 –
same spelling different Kanji)
殺意 satsui – intent to kill
危ないから、注意してください abunai
kara, chuui shite kudasai – since it is
dangerous, please be careful.
山田さんの 意見に 全く賛成だ
Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da
– I am in complete agreement with Mr.
Yamada.
以 イ i more, with, through,
on account of
以上 ijou – more than or at least
以下 ika – less than or at most
以外 igai – except, outside of
以降 ikou – on and after, hereafter,
thereafter
月曜日以外、毎日勉強します
getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou
shimasu – except for Monday, I study
everyday.
家 カ ka
ケ ke
いえ ie
うち uchi
house the top part is a roof,
while the bottom is a pig.
You keep pigs at home.
家族 ka zoku - Family 借家 shaku ya – rental, rented house
恐妻家 kyou sai ka – a henpecked
husband
家財 ka zai – houshold effects (goods)
古い家に住んでいます furui ie ni sunde
imasu – I live in an old house.
借家を探しています shakuya o
sagashite imasu – I am looking for a place
to rent.
ほとんどの作家は批評に敏感である
hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de
aru – Most writers are sensitive to
criticism.
急 キュウ kyuu
いそ(ぐ) iso(gu)
to hurry fish are always in a hurry
because their hearts 心
(kokoro) beat too fast.
急行 kyuukou – Express Train
急(な) kyuu(na) - sudden
妹 マイ mai
いもうとimouto
younger sister little girls (younger
sister) like to play
outside, hence the tree.
姉妹 shimai – sisters
姉妹都市 shimai to shi – sister cities
色 ショク shoku
シキ shiki
いろ iro
colour fishing hooks are
colourful to attract fish. 青色 ao iro – blue colour
灰色 hai iro – grey colour
黄緑色 kimadori iro – yellow-green (pea-
green)
黄色 ki iro – yellow
茶色 chairo – brown (tea colour)
音 オン on
イン in
おと oto
ね ne
sound if you stand on the sun
you will make a lot of
sound.
音読み on yomi – the ‘Chinese’ reading
of a Kanji (by sound)
音階 on kai – Musical scale
雑音 zatsu on – noise, jamming,
interference, grating
員 イン in member, official an official is just a shell
with a mouth. 委員 i in – committee member
職員 shoku in – staff
院 イン in institution, academy 参議院 san gi in – House of Councilors
病院 byouin – hospital
動 ドウ dou
うご(く) ugo(ku)
to move car plus power = moving. 移動 i dou – move, transfer
動物 dou butsu – animal
動物園 dou butsu en – zoo
活動 katsu dou – action, activity
私には政治活動に従事する暇はない –
watashi ni wa seijikatsudou ni juujisuru
hima wa nai – I don’t have time to get
involved in political activity.
歌 カ ka
うた uta
うた(う) uta(u)
a song, to sing a person on the right
singing into karaoke
boxes on the left.
短歌 tan ka – Tanka poem (a 31 syllable
Japanese poem)
写 シャ sha
うつす utsu(su)
to copy, to take (a
photo)
someone is moving the
camera to take a photo of
the number ‘5’.
写真 shashin – photograph, picture
映 エイ ei
うつ(す) utsu(su)
うつ(る) utsu(ru)
to be reflected, to
project onto a screen
Final Fantasy – person is
casting Reflect in front of
them.
今度映画を見に行きませんか kondo
eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka – next time, why
don’t we (go and see) a movie?
今度映画を見ましょう kondo eiga o
mimashou – next time, let’s see a movie.
海 カイ kai
うみ umi
sea, ocean the three marks on the
left mean ‘water’ and the
other symbol means
‘every’. Every water
comes from the ocean.
北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern
Japanese island)
海外 kai gai - overseas, abroad
黄海 kou kai – the Yellow Sea
公海 kou kai – the high seas, international
waters
航海 kou kai – voyage, ocean navigation
紅海 kou kai – the Red Sea
売 バイ bai
う(る) u(ru)
う(り) u(ri)
sale, to sell looks like a man standing
behind a counter in his
shop, selling.
読売新聞 yomi uri shinbun – Yomiuri
Newspaper
運 ウン un
はに(ぶ) hani(bu)
carry,
luck
a man carrying a car
home that he has won
(because he is lucky).
運河 un ga – canal
運命 un mei – fate, destiny
安全運転 an zen unten – safe driving
幸運 kou un – good fortune, good luck
重いので、運べない omoi node,
hakobenai – since it is heavy, I can’t lift it.
英 エイ ei
ヨウ you
はなぶさ hanabusa
England, English,
grand
the top part of the Kanji
is grass (tea) which the
English drink a lot of.
英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation
石英 seki ei – quartz (grand stone)
英訳 ei yaku – English translation
英雄的 ei yuu teki – heroic
四年生は まだ英語が 分からない
yon nen sei wa mada eigo ga wakaranai –
4th
graders don’t understand English yet.
彼は英語教師としての 資格がある
kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku
ga aru – He is qualified as an English
teacher.
終 シュウ shuu
シュ shu
お(わる) o(waru)
お(える) o(eru)
end, finish Winter is the ending
thread of the year. 最終 sai shuu – last, final
終電 shuu den – last train (for the night)
終了 shuu ryou – end, termination
この番組が 終わったら、寝ましょう
kono bangumi ga owattara, nemashou –
after this (TV) program ends, let’s go to
sleep.
トランスフォーマーズを 見終わった
ら、会社に 持って来ます toransufo-
ma-zu o mi owattara, kaisha ni motte
kimasu – When I have finished watching
Transformers I will bring [it] to the office
起 キ ki
コ ko
get up, wake up running at 2 in the
morning makes you wake 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up
early
お(きる) o(kuru)
お(こす) o(kosu)
お(こる) o(koru)
up 一念発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved
to do something
朝の六時に 起きました asa no roku ji
ni okimashita – I woke up at 6 this
morning.
屋 オク oku
や ya
roof, house, shop a roof starts from the
ground up 本屋 hon-ya – book shop
部屋 heya – room (in a house)
靴屋 kutsu-ya – shoe shop
屋根 ya ne – roof
送 ソウ sou
ス su
おく(る) oku(ru)
send Mr. Yen is running away
(people sending money) 衛星放送 ei sei hou sou – satellite
broadcasting
生放送 nama hou sou – live broadcast
(radio, TV)
送金 sou kin – sending (transferring)
money
再放送 sai hou sou – rebroadcasting
送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping
(charges) included
教 キョウ kyou
おし(える) oshi(eru)
おそ(わる) oso(waru)
teach, education,
faith
child gets smacked by the
adult (teaching) 教会 kyou kai – church
キリスト教 kirisuto kyou – Christianity
宗教 shuu kyou – religion
教育 kyou iku – education
教科書 kyou ka sho – textbook
教材 kyou zai – teaching materials (aids)
教師 kyou shi – teacher, instructor
新しい住所を 教えてください
atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai – Please
tell (teach) me your new address.
彼は 英語教師としての 資格がある
kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no shikaku
ga aru – He is qualified as an English
teacher.
弟 テイ tei
おとうと otouto
younger brother a lot of younger brothers
have a bow and arrows 兄弟 kyou dai - brothers
師弟 shi tei – master and pupil; teacher
and student
同 ドウ dou
おな(じ) ona(ji)
same, agree, equal when everyone agrees
they have one 一 mouth
口
混同 kon dou – confusion, mixing
賛同 san dou – approval, endorsement
主 シュ shu
ス su
ぬし nushi
おも omo
Lord, master, the
principal matter
the Lord is above a king
王 (ou)
民主主義 min shu shu gi – democracy
快楽主義 kai raku shu gi – Hedonism
主人公 shu jin kou – master, hero,
heroine
印象主義 in shou shu gi – impressionism
(art)
主人 shujin – husband, the owner
思 シ shi
おも(う) omo(u)
think a lot of thinking can be
done in one’s heart 心(kokoro) in a rice field
田 (den)
七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven
wonders of the world
親 シン shin
おや oya
した(しい) shita(shii)
parent, relative,
familiar
being close to someone
(relative, familiar)
requires looking closely
at them (miru 見る).
父親 chichi oya – father
親指 oya yubi – thumb
アメリカから両親が来ます amerika
kara ryou shin ga kimasu – My parents are
coming from America.
立っているもの、親でも使え tatte iru
mono, oya demo tsukae – “Whoever is
standing, even if a parent, can be used (to
get things)” (a traditional saying).
彼は両親に よって塾へ 行くことを
強制された kare wa ryou shin ni yotte
juku e iku koto o kyou sei sareta – His
parents forced him to go to a cram school.
夏 カ ka
なつ natsu
Summer in Summer you get
hundreds 百 of friends 友
夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation
画 ガ ga
かく kaku
えがく egaku
picture looks like a picture of a
rice field hung up on the
wall.
絵画 kai ga – picture, painting
計画 kei kaku – plan
画賛 ga san – legend (text) on a picture
今度映画を 見に 行きませんか
kondo eiga o mini ikimasen ka – Next
time, why don’t we (go and see) a movie?
界 カイ kai
さかい sakai
world feed the world using a
rice field 田 (den)
界 sakai - world
世界 se kai – the world
世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world
帰 キ ki
かえ(る) kae(ru)
かえ(す) kae(su)
return, arrive at looks like a man
returning to his home
(entering the front door).
帰国 ki koku – return to one’s own
country
国へ帰ります kuni e kaerimasu – I am
returning to my own country.
代 ダイ dai
タイ tai
か(える) ka(eru)
generation,
price,
a dog with a broken leg is
behind the times and the
price to fix it is
時代 ji dai - era, the times, generation
古代 ko dai - ancient times
明治時代 mei ji ji dai - Meji era
か(わる) ka(waru)
しろ shiro
よ yo
age,
exchange, substitute
expensive. 時代錯誤 ji dai saku go - anachronism,
being behind the times
交代 kou tai - take turns, relieve (a
person)
電話代 denwadai – telephone charge
風 フウ fuu
かぜ kaze
wind, air,
style
an insect 虫 (mushi) is
hiding under a tent
because it is windy.
最近、台風が 多いです sai kin, taifuu
ga ooi desu – lately, there have been many
typhoons.
風 kaze – a cold, wind
風をじみです kaze o jimi desu – I have a
cold.
貸 カ ka
か(す) ka(su)
lend kanji for “buy” 買 (kau)
is paired with
“generation” 代 (dai) to
show money going from
one person to another
(lending).
貸す kasu – to lend
方 ホウ kou
かた kata
person,
way,
direction
looks like a person
running in a direction. 方言 hou gen – dialect
夕方 yuugata - evening
方向 hou kou – direction, bearing, course
平方根 hei hou kon – square root (math)
紙 シ shi
かみ kami
paper paper is made of threads
糸(ito) of wood
折り紙 origami – origami (paper folding)
手紙 tegami – letter (lit. hand-paper)
通 ツウ tsuu
とお(る) too(ru)
とお(す) too(su)
go through, avenue,
traffic
交通 kou tsuu – traffic; transportation
この道路は 交通が少ない kono dou ro
wa kou tsuu ga sukunai – Traffic is light
on this road.
かよ(う) kayo(u)
借 シャク shaku
か(りる) ka(riru)
borrow, rent a person (left radical)
borrows things during
the day 日 (ni)
借家 shaku-ya – rented, rented house
漢 カン kan China China is across the
ocean, so the three marks
on the left mean ‘water’.
館 カン kan
やかた yakata
palace, building a government 官 (kan)
building has a place to
eat 食べる (taberu)
図書館 toshokan – library
体育館 tai iku kan – a gym
後で体育館の 後ろで会いましょう
ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou –
Later, let’s meet behind the gym.
元 ゲン gen
ガン gan
もと moto
beginning, origin it has two legs going
back to the beginning 元気 genki – healthy, strong, fine
お元気ですか o-genki desu ka – How are
you?
考 コウ kou
かんが(える) kanga(eru)
thought, think,
consider
someone is striking the
ground 土 (do) by
thinking.
参考 san kou - reference, consultation
着 チャク chaku
き(る) ki(ru)
き(せる) ki(seru)
つ(く) tsu(ku)
つ(ける) tsu(keru)
wear (clothes),
arrive
at the top is the character
for sheep 羊 and you
wear clothes made from
wool.
着る kiru – wear
着く tsuku – to arrive
水着 mizu gi – swim suit, bathing suit
上着 uwagi – jacket, coat
到着 touchaku – arrival
究 キュウ kyuu
きわ(める) kiwa(meru)
research, study researching six and nine. 彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大した
kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai
shita – He expanded the focus of his
research.
去 キョ kyo
コ ko
さ(る) sa(ru)
past, gone,
to leave
it is a boat with the sail
going past 去年 kyo nen – last year
過去 kako – past
京 キョウ kyou
ケイ kei
みやこ miyako
capital looks like a tall building,
like you might see in a
capital city.
東京 toukyou - Tokyo
京都 kyouto – Kyoto
東京は いくつ目の 駅ですか
toukyou wa ikutsu me no eki desu ka –
How many stations until Tokyo?
強 キョウ kyou
ゴウ gou
つよ(い) tsuyo(i)
つよ(まる) tsuyo(maru)
つよ(める) tsuyo(meru)
し(いる) shi(iru)
strong a bow on the left, and
(looks like) a man’s face
on the right. a strong man
can use a bow.
勉強 benkyou – study
強制 kyousei – coercion
一歩一歩日本語を 勉強してください
ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite
kudasai – Please study Japanese little by
little.
業 ギョウ gyou
ゴウ gou
わざ waza
business, vocation a big fancy Mr.Yen, and
business gets you lots of
money.
鉱業 kou gyou – mining (industry)
残業 zan gyou – overtime
卒業 sotsugyou – graduation
切 セツ sei
サイ sai
き(る) ki(ru)
き(れる) ki(reru)
cut, cut off seven 七 swords 刀 cut
better than one
大切 taisetsu – important
親切 shinsetsu – kind, helpful
電池が 切れました denchi ga
kiremashita – The battery is dead.
銀 ギン gin
しろがね shirogane
silver metal on the left, right
symbol looks kind of like
a silver spoon
銀行 ginkou – bank
工 コウ kou
ク ku
construction, craft looks like an I beam for
construction 細工 saiku – work, craftmanship
工場 koujou – factory, plant
黒 コク koku
くろ(い) kuro(i)
black the sun 日 is burning the
ground 土 black
白黒 shiro kuro - white and black
計 ケイ kei
はか(る) haka(ru)
はか(らう) haka(rau)
plan, measure planning and measuring
takes talk 目覚まし時計 me zamashi do kei – alarm
clock
計画 keikaku – plan
計算 keisan – computation, calculation
気圧計 kiatsukei – barometer
時計 tokei – clock
研 ケン ken
と(ぐ) to(gu)
study of,
sharpen
sharpen your study of
rocks 石 (ishi)
研究 kenkyuu – study, research
建 ケン ken
た(つ) ta(tsu)
た(てる) ta(teru)
build there is a number ‘3’ on
the left, and on the right
is part of ‘book’. You
need three books to build
a house
再建 sai ken – reconstruction, rebuilding
建設 ken setsu – construction
そのビルは 未だ 建設中です sono
biru wa imada kensetsu chuu desu – That
building is still under construction.
験す ケン ken
ため(す) tame(su)
testing, test, examine,
effect
looks like a person
standing by a desk (on
the left) with a high
board because he is
taking a test
試験 shiken – test
試験管 shikenkan – test tube
試験まで 後 一週間 shiken made ato
ishuukan – There is one week before the
test.
それは まだ 実験段階に あります
sore wa mada jikkendankai ni arimasu – It
is still in the experimental stage.
広 コウ kou
ひろ(い) hiro(i)
ひろ(がる) hiro(garu)
ひろ(げる) hiro(geru)
ひろ(まる) hiro(maru)
ひろ(める) hiro(meru)
wide, broad, spacious there is a lot of space
around this kanji 広告 kou koku – advertisement
この道は 広いです kono michi wa
hiroi desu – This road is wide.
知識を 広める chishiki o hiromeru –
To widen one’s knowledge.
試 シ shi
ため(す) tame(su)
こころ(みる)
kokoro(miru)
test, try, examine saying words 言 (iu)
during a ceremony 式
(shiki) makes an
experiment
試験 shiken – test, examine
答 トウ tou
こた(え) kota(e)
こた(える) kota(eru)
answer, solution “Who designed your T-
Shirt?” and I answered
“Two pidgeons on a
rooftop”!!!
応答 する outou suru – to respond
事 ジ ji
ズ zu
こと koto
thing, matter,
business,
fact
故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin
事故 jiko – accident, trouble
自分の 才能を 生かせるような仕事
を したい jibun no sainou o ikaseru you
na shigoto o shitai – I want to do work
that will make the most of my abilities.
五日 たてば 仕事が 完了するだろ
う itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru
darou – We should complete this job in
five days.
転 テン ten
ころ(ぶ) koro(bu)
ころ(がす) koro(gasu)
ころ(がる) koro(garu)
ころ(げる) koro(geru)
revolve, turn around you need space 広い
(hiroi) to turn your car 車
(kuruma) around
自転車 jitensha – bicycle
安全 運転 an zen unten – safe driving
転換 tenkan – convert
作 サク saku
サ sa
つく(る) tsuku(ru)
make, prepare,
produce the mark to the left イ
represents a person, so
someone who is making
something
工作 kou saku – handcraft, manoeuvring
耕作 kou saku - cultivate, till, plow
作品 sakuhin – creation, opus
ほとんどの作家は批評に敏感である
hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de
aru – Most writers are sensitive to
criticism.
止 シ shi
と(まる) to(maru)
と(める) to(meru)
やめる ya(meru)
stop looks like a road block
which makes you stop 立ち入り禁止 tachi iri kin shi - do not
enter
喫煙の 習慣を 止めることが でき
たらいいね kitsuen no shuukan o
yamerukoto ga dekitara ii ne – It’d be nice
if I could kick my smoking habit.
自 ジ ji
シ shi
みずか(ら) mizuka(ra)
self, oneself it is the kanji ‘me’目(eye) but with an
eyebrow which means
‘Me’
自分 jibun – oneself, myself
自白 jihaku – confession (self + white =
“I come clean”)
自転車 jitensha – bicycle
自動車 jidousha - car
自首 jishu – surrender, give oneself up
自己紹介 ji ko shou kai – self-
introduction
自殺 jisatsu – suicide
自賛 jisan – self-praise
自然 shizen – natural
仕 シ shi
つか(える) tsuka(eru)
serve,
official,
attend
work (serve) until you
die (grave). 五日 たてば 仕事が 完了するだろ
う itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru
darou – We should complete this job in
five days.
死 シ shi
し(ぬ) shi(nu)
die, death it could be two souls
dead under the land (the
line along the top).
枯死 koshi – withering, dying
死罪 shizai – capital punishment, capital
offence
始 シ shi
はじ(まる) haji(maru)
はじ(める) haji(meru)
beginning, begin,
start the woman 女 (onna) on
stage 台 began to
perform
始めまして hajimemashite – a greeting
(when meeting for the first time)
使 シ shi
つか(う) tsuka(u)
use looks like an old man
looking at a stick of
bamboo and wondering
how to use it.
大使館 taishikan - embassy
使って も いい です か tsukatte
mo ii desu ka – may I use (this)?
彼は 高価な 材料を ふんだんに
使って 家を建てた kare wa kouka na
zairyou o fundan ni tsukatte uchi o tateta –
He was lavish in the use of expensive
materials in building his house.
地 チ chi
ジ ji
ground, soil (in the
context of the Earth,
Holy place etc)
contains the kanji for
ground/soil 土地 tochi – ground, soil, area
地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway
地域 chiiki – local, area, zone, district
耕地 kouchi – cultivated land
砂地 sunaji – sandy place, sandy terrain
地理 chiri - geography
持 ジ ji
も(つ) mo(tsu)
も(てる) mo(teru)
hold, have a man in front of a
temple holding
something.
維持 iji - maintenance
持参 jisan – bringing or taking with one
支持 shiji – support
二千円札を 持っています か ni sen
en satsu o motte imasu ka – Do you have
a 2000 yen bill?
DVD を 持っています DVD o motte
imasu – I have a DVD.
質 シツ shitsu
シチ shichi
quality, matter,
substance
two axes chopping into
the shell to see what the
quality is.
質問 shitsu mon – question
材質 zai shitsu – material properties,
lumber quality
室 シツ shitsu
むろ muro
room, chamber the top part of a room is a
roof 更衣室 kou i shitsu – dressing room
個室 koshitsu – private room
品 ヒン hin
しな shina
goods, article,
elegance, dignity
three mouths 口 look like
three boxes (goods)
物品 buppin – goods
上品 jouhin – elegant
食料品 shokuryouhin – groceries
作品 sakuhin – creation, opus
者 シャ sha
もの mono
someone, person this kanji represents a
person’s life. There is the
sun (birth) and the
ground (looks like a
grave).
医者 isha – doctor, physician
妻帯者 sai tai sha – a married man
習 シュウ shuu
なら(う) nara(u)
learn, practice it is a face of someone
looking troubled because
it is hard to practice
練習 renshuu - practice
慣習 kanshuu – usual custom
習慣 shuukan – custom, habit, manners
Japanese. 社会の 慣習は 国に よって異なる
shakai no kanshuu wa kuni ni yotte
kotonaru – Customs differ depending on
the country.
その習慣は 日本独特の もの だ
sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no
mono da – That custom is unique to
Japan.
住 ジュウ juu
す(まう) su(mau)
す(む) su(mu)
live, reside, dwell you are the lord 主 of the
house you live in
住所 jusho – address
三年間 日本に 住みました san nen
kan nihon ni sumimashita – I lived in
Japan for three years.
古い家に 住んでいます furui ie ni
sunde imasu – I live in an old house.
新しい住所を 教えてください
atarashii juusho o oshiete kudasai – Please
tell me your new address.
春 シュン shun
はる haru
spring (season) three 三 people 人 out in
the sun 日 in springtime.
春雨 haru same – Spring Rain
場 ジョウ jyou
チュウ chuu
ば ba
place, location the earth 土 is a place
under the sun 日
駐車場 chuu sha jou – parking lot /
garage
市場 ichi ba - market
場合 ba ai – a case, situation
ここはいい場所ですね koko wa ii basho
desu ne – Isn’t this a nice place?
いつも 駐車場が 混んでいますitsumo chuushajou ga konde imasu –
(This) parking lot is always full.
知 チ chi
し(る) shi(ru)
to know, wisedom the kanji on the left
means arrow 矢 (ya) and
the right kanji is a mouth
口 (guchi). wisedom is
like an arrow from one’s
mouth.
知識 chishiki – knowledge, learning
温故知新 on ko chishin – exploring the
old (past), one comes to understand the
new (present)
告知 koku chi – notify, announce
彼に だけ知らせないの は 不公平
だ kare ni dake shirasenai no wa fukouhei
da – It isn’t fair to leave only him in the
dark.
真 シン shin
ま ma
true, reality 真実 shin jitsu – truth, reality
写真 shashin – photograph, picture
真っ赤 makka – really red
真っ白 masshiro – really white
真ん中 mannaka – right in the middle
図 ズ zu
ト to
はか(る) haka(ru)
map, drawing, plan X marks the spot on this
treasure map 図書館 toshokan - library
地図 chizu - map
合図 aizu – sign, signal
地図を 見せてください chizu o misete
kudasai – Please show me the map
世 セイ sei
セ se
よ yo
generation, world,
society
looks like katakana se
セ because it (katakana)
derives from kanji. It is
the previous generation.
世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world
世紀 sei ki - century
浮世絵 uki yoe – Ukiyoe (woodblock
print)
夕 セキ seki
ゆう yuu
evening 夕方 yuugata - evening
夕焼け yuuyake – sunset
走 ソウ sou
はし(る) hashi(ru)
run looks like a man running 本田さんは マラソンを はしりまし
た honda-san wa marason o
hashirimashita – Mr.Honda ran a
marathon.
族 ゾク zoku family, tribe on the left is person 方
(kata) and on the right
arrow 矢 (ya), so this
represents a person
hunting food for his tribe
(family).
家族 kazoku – family
民族 minzoku – tribe
注 チュウ chuu
そそ(ぐ) soso(gu)
pour, flow into,
concentrate
the Lord 主 is
concentrating on the
water (kanji on the left).
注目 chuu moku – attention, notice
注意 chuui – careful (concentrate)
危ないから、注意してください abunai
kara, chuui shite kudasai – Since it is
dangerous, please be careful.
台 タイ tai
ダイ dai
stand, stage, pedestal looks like someone on a
stage shouting into a
microphone (side-on
view)
最近、台風が多いです sai kin, taifuu ga
ooi desu – Lately, there have been many
typhoons.
待 タイ tai
ま(つ) ma(tsu)
wait, depend on person + time = wait ちょっと 待って ください chotto
matte kudasai – please wait a moment
題 ダイ dai topic, subject a person with a shellfish
on his leg is a subject of
study
飲み放題 nomi hou dai – all you can
drink
宿題 shuku dai – homework
問題 mondai – problem, issue, question
この問題は 難しい kono mondai wa
muzukashii – This problem is difficult.
度 ド do
タク taku
たび tabi
degree,
time,
times occurred
今度 kondo – next time, soon
硬度 koudo – hardness
支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation
今度映画を 見ましょう kondo eiga o
mimashou – Next time let’s see a movie.
制度を 改めた seido o aratameta –
They changed the system.
旅 リョ ryo
たび tabi
travel, trip the top right hand
horizontal line is an arm
passing a ticket to a
person 方 (kata) for their
trip.
旅行 ryokou – trip, travel
次の 旅行は どこに 行きたい で
す か tsugi no ryokou wa doko ni ikitai
desu ka – Where do you want to go for the
next trip?
旅館 ryokan - Japanese-style inn
昼 チュウ chuu
ひる hiru
noon, daytime the sun 日 is in the
middle at noon
昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break
町 チョウ chou
まち machi
town, village think of a small town
with a T shaped road
leading to a rice field
車で町に行きましょう kuruma de
machi ni ikimashou – Let’s go to town by
car.
この町は 見るところが 多いです
kono machi wa miru tokoro ga ooi desu –
This town has a lot to see.
問 モン mon
と(い) to(i)
と(う) to(u)
question, ask,
problem you go to the gate 門 and
speak with your mouth
口 if you have a problem
or need to ask a question.
質問 shitsu mon – question
この問題は 難しいです kono mondai
wa muzukashii desu – This problem is
difficult.
質問があります shitsumon ga arimasu
– I have a question.
冬 トウ tou
ふゆ fuyu
winter think of a cloud dropping
two snowflakes in winter 冬眠 tou min – hibernation
堂 ドウ dou hall here we see the ground, a
roof, and in the middle a
mouth (the hallway)
食堂 shokudou – dining hall
任天堂 nintendou – Nintendo. 任
responsibility/duty, 天 heaven
特 トク toku special the left symbol looks like
a cow. A special cow
was dontated to the
temple.
特技 toku gi – special skills
特急 tokkyuu – special express train
その習慣は 日本独特の もの だ
sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no
mono da – That custom is unique to
Japan.
野 ヤ ya
の no
plains, field on the other side of a
village 里 (sato) there is
a field (wilderness)
野球 yakyuu - baseball
長野 nagano – Nagano Prefecture
野菜 yasai - vegetables
荒野 kou ya – wilderness, the wilds
発 ハツ hatsu / パツ patsu depart, start from,
to happen
it looks like a rocket
departing to the stars 一年発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved
to do something
出発 shuppatsu – leave, departure
告発 koku hatsu – prosecution, accusation
再発 sai hatsu – relapse, recurrence
発音 hatsuon - pronounciation
発散 hassan – exhalation, emanation,
diffusion, radiation, evaporation
発売 hatsu bai – released for sale
飯 ハン han
めし meshi
meal, cooked rice the left part is to eat 食べ
る (taberu), and you can
朝ご飯 asa gohan - breakfast
昼ご飯 hiru gohan – lunch
see an F in there too
(people in famine need a
meal)
晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner
病 ビョウ byou
ヘイ hei
やまい yamai
や(む) ya(mu)
ill, sick could be an ill person on
a hospital bed (top down
view)
黄熱病 ou netsu byou – yellow fever
病院 byouin – hospital
病気になる byouki ni naru – to become
sick
不 フ fu negative, bad, non- it’s bad when your back
is down and falling apart 七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven
wonders
不安 fu an – uneasiness, anxiety
不幸 fu kou – unhappiness, misfortune
不在 fu zai - absence
服 フク fuku clothing,
obey
obey me and wear the
moon as clothing 洋服 you fuku – Western-style
clothes
別 ベツ betsu
わか(れる) waka(reru)
separate, another,
specially
the bottom part is the
kanji for sword 刀 so this
kanji separates it from
others
特別 toku betsu - special
別々に betsu betsu ni – separately
別荘 bessou – a second house
区別 ku betsu - to make a distinction
差別 sa betsu – discrimination
料 リョウ ryou fee,
materials
the part to the left is rice
米 (bei) which is an
essential material to pay
for.
給料 kyuu ryou – pay, salary
香辛料 kou shin ryou – spices, seasoning
香料 kou ryou – spices, perfumes
送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping
(charges) included
材料 zai ryou – material, matter, factor,
element
資料 shi ryou – materials, data
理 リ ri truth, logic, reason in ancient times the king
王(ou) of the village 里
(sato) would be the
person with the logic and
reason.
地理 chiri - geography
論理 ron ri - logic
理論 ri ron - theory
理解 ri kai – understanding, comprehend
料理 ryouri - cooking
管理 kan ri – control, management
理由を 知りません riyuu o shirimasen
– I do not know the reason
彼に 財産管理を 任せた kare ni
zaisankanri o makaseta – I left the
management of my property up to him
洋 ヨウ you the west, western-
style,
ocean
ever play Worms? water
+ sheep = aquasheep (a
western idea from across
the ocean)
大西洋 tai sei you – Atlantic Ocean
洋服 you fuku – Western-style
clothes
曜 ヨウ you weekday 水曜日 sui youbi – Wednesday
何曜日ですか nan youbi desu ka – What
day (of the week) is it?
今日は 土曜日です kyou wa doyoubi
desu – Today is Saturday
月曜日以外、毎日 勉強します
getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou
shimasu – Except for Monday, I study
everyday.
夜 ヤ ya
よ yo
よる yoru
evening, night 今夜 kon ya – this evening
昨夜 saku ya – last night
用 ヨウ you
もち(いる) mochi(iru)
use, service, business in the service business
everybody wants the
moon on a stick (moon
月 with a line through it)
用意 you i – prepare, preparations
引用 in you – quotation, citation
雇用 ko you – hire, employment
採用 sai you – adoption, acceptance,
employment, appointment
勉 べん ben exertion it takes power 力
(chikara) to exert oneself
勉強 benkyou – study
空 クウ kuu
そら sora
す(く)su(ku)
あ(く) a(ku)
sky, weather,
empty
The number six 六 (roku)
is in the sky
空く suku – to become empty, hungry
空く aku – to become empty (not used for
hungry)
空 kara – empty
空手 karate – Karate (empty hand)
会 カイ kai
あ(う) a(u)
meeting, conference,
gathering
People gather inside a hut
for a meeting 会社 kaisha – office
会議 kaigi – meeting
会話 kaiwa – conversation
教会 kyoukai – Church
会う au – to meet
JLPT Level 2 Kanji
愛 アイ ai
いと(しい) ito(shi)
love tomo(dachi) 友 is at the
bottom and you love your
friends.
愛知県 aichi ken – Aichi prefecture
愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunch box
packed with love by ones wife
愛妻 aisai – someone’s beloved wife
圧 アツ atsu
pressure looks like a jack that you
raise a car with, in order
to test the pressure of
tires
気圧 ki atsu – atmospheric pressure
圧巻 akkan – highlight, masterpiece
タイヤの 空気圧を 調べて もらえ
ます か - taiya no kuukiatsu o shirabete
moraemasu ka – Could you check the tire
pressure?
案 アン an proposal, idea it was a good idea to put
the woman on the tree 案内 する annai suru – to show around
君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ
て いるの か kimi no an o jikkou ni
utsuseru to omotte iru no ka – Do you
think you can put your idea into practice?
委 イ i commit, entrust with a woman is trustworthy
about her family tree 委員 iin – committee member
その問題は 委員会に かけられてい
る sono mondai wa iinkai ni kakerate iru
– The question is before the committee
胃 イ i stomach fill your stomach after
the harvest moon 仕事が 胃にこたえて きた よ
shigoto ga i ni kotaete kita yo – My job is
giving me a stomach-ache
囲 イ i
かこ(う) kako(u)
かこ(む) kako(mu)
surround, enclose you enclose a well 井
with a wall
雰囲気 funiki – an atmosphere (of a
place)
日本では、あなたは美に よって 囲
まれて いる nihon de wa, anata wa bi
ni yotte kakomarete iru – In Japan you are
surrounded by beauty
位 イ i
くらい kurai
rank, position, about,
approximately
一位 ichi i – first place
その 歌手は マドンナと 同じ 位
有名だ sono kashu wa Madonna to onaji
kurai yuumei da – That singer is as
famous as Madonna.
衣 イi
ころも koromo
clothes, garments you can see the letters F I
T in this kanji, and to get
fit you need gym clothes
更衣室 kou i shitsu – changing room
その 金が 全て 衣服に 使われた
sono kane ga subete ifuku ni tsukawareta
– All the money was spent on clothes.
移 イ i
うつ(す) utsu(su)
うつ(る) utsu(ru)
transfer, infect, move with two タ s this kanji is
on the move
移動 i dou – move, transfer (something)
君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ
て いるの か kimi no an o jikkou ni
utsuseru to omotte iru no ka – Do you
think you can put your idea into practice?
異 イ i
こと koto
different 異常 ijou – abnormal, unusual
差異 sai – difference, disparity
依 イ i
エ e
depend on the left radical is ‘person’
and the right is ‘clothes’
衣 – a person depends on
clothes for survival
依存 izon – dependence (state of
depending on)
偉 イ i
えら(い) era(i)
great, high ranking a great person has a
person to his left 偉人 ijin – a great person
違 イ i
ちが(う) chiga(u)
ちが(える) chiga(eru)
different, wrong,
differ
the difference between
wrong 違う and great 偉
い is slight but important.
違反 ihan – violation, offence
域 イキ iki region, boundary this kanji is land 土 with
lines around it dividing it
up into regions
地域 chi iki – local, area, zone, district
育 イク iki
そだ(つ) soda(tsu)
そだ(てる) soda(teru)
bring up, educate,
grow
教育 kyou iku – education
体育館 tai iku kan – a gym
後で 体育館の 後ろで 会いましょ
う ato de taiikukan no ushiro de aimashou
– Later let’s meet behind the gym
印 イン in
しるし shirushi
sign, mark this kanji is a picture of
the Fonz saying “hEy” –
his sign or mark
刻印 koku in – carved seal, stamp
印刷 in satsu – printing
印象 in shou - impression
第一 印象が 大事である daiichi
inshou ga daiji de aru – First impressions
are important
この 印は 何を あらわして いま
す か kono shirushi wa nani o
arawashite imasu ka – What does this sign
signify?
因 イン in
よ(る) yo(ru)
cause if you put something big
大 (ookii) in your mouth
口 (guchi) it will cause
you to choke
火事の 原因は だいたい 分かって
いる kaji no genin wa daitai wakette iru –
There is not much doubt about the cause
of the fire
羽 ウ u
はね hane
wing, feather looks like two wings 二羽 ni wa – two birds (wa is the counter
for birds)
庭には、二羽、鶏が います niwa ni
wa, niwa, niwatori ni imasu – There are
two chickens in the garden
宇 ウ u universe,
house
looks like an alien from
somewhere in the
universe
宇宙人 uchuu jin - alien
雲 ウン un
くも kumo
cloud the top symbol is rain
which comes from clouds 黒い 雲が でて きた よ kuroi
kumo ga dete kita yo – Dark clouds are
gathering
月が 雲の 間 から でた tsuki ga
kumo no aida kara deta – The moon came
out from behind the clouds
泳 エイ ei
およ(ぐ) oyo(gu)
swim two waters (left radical
and 水) make up this
kanji so there is a lot of
water to swim in
川で 泳ぎましょう kawa de
oyogimashou – Let’s swim in the river
栄 エイ ei
さか(える) saka(eru)
は(え) ha(e)
は(える) ha(eru)
flourish, glory a tree with a crown must
be truly flourishing 栄光 eikou – glory
栄枯盛衰 eiko seisui – prosperity and
decline, rise and fall
発言を 求められた ことを 光栄に
思います hatsugen o moto merareta koto
o kouei ni omoimasu - am honoured that
you should ask me to speak
ご栄転 おめでとう ございます
goeiten omedetou gozaimasu – I am so
happy about your promotion
営 エイ ei
いとな(む) itona(mu)
manage,
the hat denotes authority
and the big mouth means 自営 jiei – self-employed
この 事務所の 通常営業 時間は
barracks it is your manager 九時 から 五時 まで です kono
jimusho no tsuujoueigyou jikan wa kuji
kara goji made desu – The usual business
hours in this office are from nine to five
永 エイ ei
なが(い) naga(i)
eternity, forever this looks like water 水
with more water being
poured onto it, so it
continues forever
永遠 eien – forever, eternity
永久歯 ei kyuu shi – permanent teeth
あなたは 永久に 日本を 去るの
では ない でしょう ね anata wa
eikyuu ni nihon o saru no de wa nai
deshou ne – You are not leaving Japan for
good are you?
鋭 エイ ei
するど(い) surudo(i)
sharp (wit, object, but
not as in fashion) metal 金 (kin) is sharp あたま が 鋭い atama ga surudoi –
clever, quick-witted
液 エキ eki liquid the water radical can be
seen
易 エキ eki
イ i
やさ(しい) yasa(shii)
easy looks similar to horse 馬
(uma) and horse riding is
easy
当時 よい 職を 得る ことは 決
して 容易では なかった touji yoi
shoku o eru koto wa kesshite youi de wa
nakatta – In those days it was far from
easy to come by a good job
越 エツ eji
こえる ko(eru)
こす ko(su)
go over, cross,
exceed, move to
the right radical looks
like a man walking
briskly away from a
telegraph pole, crossing
over the road
引越し hikkoshi – to move to (another
house)
園 エン en
その sono
garden a garden is enclosed with
earth 土 (do) inside 公園 kouen – park
動物園 doubutsu en – zoo
園芸 en gei – gardening
この 公園には たくさんの 鳥が
います kono kouen ni wa takusan no tori
ga imasu – There are many birds in this
park
公園に たいへん 多くの 人が い
る kouen ni taihen ooku no hito ga iru –
There are a great many people in the park
公園は どちらの 方向に あります
か kouen wa dochira no houkou ni
arimasu ka – Which direction is the park
in?
塩 エン en
しお shio
salt salt comes from the earth
土 (do) and this looks
like a pestle and mortar
もう ちょっと 塩味を きかせてみ
たら mou chotto shioaji o kikasete mitara
– How about adding a little more salt?
演 エン en act, perform (a play) 講演 kou en – lecture
演じる enjiru – to act or perform
開演は 午後 七時 で ある kaien
wa gogo shichiji de aru – The curtain goes
up at 7pm
延 エン en
の(びる) no(biru)
の(べる) no(beru)
の(ばす) no(basu)
postpone, extend,
total the radical for stop 止め
る (tomeru) is running
ahead, extending the race
延長 enchou - extension
煙 エン en
けむり kemuri
けむ(る) kemu(ru)
smoke 喫煙の 習慣を 止める ことが 出
来たら いい ね kitsuen no shuukan o
yameru koto ga dekitara ii ne – It’d be
けむ(い) kemu(i) nice if I could kick my smoking habit
汚 オ o
きたな(い) kitana(i)
よご(す) yogo(su)
よご(れる) yogo(reru)
けが(す) kega(su)
けが(れる) kega(reru)
dirty, to soil this looks like a
blindfolded man’s face
with his mouth open
about to put something
dirty in it
汚染物 osenbutsu - contamination
王 オウ ou king 王国 oukoku - kingdom
央 オウ ou centre
その 公園は 市の 中央に 位置し
て いる sono kouen wa shi no chuuou
ni ichi shite iru – The park lies in the
middle of the city
公園の 中央に 池が ある kouen no
chuuou ni ike ga aru – There is a pond in
the middle of the park
横 オウ ou
よこ yoko
side, width, beside 横領罪 ou ryou zai – usurpation,
embezzlement
公園を 横切って 歩いた kouen o
yokogitte aruita – I walked across the park
一日中 ベッドに 横たわって いた
ら うんざりした ichinichijuu beddo ni
yokotawatte itara unzari shita – I got tired
of lying in bed all day
応 オウ ou response when somebody’s heart
is bleeding you need an
urgent response
呼応 koou – agreement, act in concert
新しい 仕事に 適応 出来ます か
atarashii shigoto ni tekiou dekimasu ka –
Can you adapt yourself to the new job?
欧 オウ ou Europe navigating the seas using
a map and a telescope to
find Europe
欧米 oubei – Europe and America
押 オウ ou
お(す) o(su)
お(さえる) o(saeru)
push, hold the left kanji radical is
like a hand 手 (te)
pushing down
はしごを 押さえて いて ください
hashigo o osaete ite kudasai – Please hold
the ladder
奥 オウ ou
おくoku
inner part, depths,
heart of, interior
奥さん okusan – (someone’s) wife
億 オク oku hundred million a hundred million of
something is likely to get
a person’s (left) attention
(right) 意 (i)
地球は およそ 五十億年 前に 生
まれた chikyuu wa oyoso gojuu okunen
mae ni umareta – The earth came into
existence about five thousand million
years ago
日本の 人口は 約 一億 二千万
人 です nihon no jinkou wa yaku
ichioku nisenman nin desu – The
population of Japan is about 120 million
温 オン on
あたた(かい) atata(kai)
あたた(める)
atata(meru)
あたた(まる)
atata(maru)
warm (temperature) this kanji has warm
things in it like sparks
(left) the sun (top) and
blood (bottom)
一時間 ジョギング したら 体が
温かく なった ichiji kan jogingu
shitara karada ga atatakaku natta – I got
warm from jogging for an hour
スープ が 温まる まで 待ちなさ
い su-pu ga atatamaru made machinasai –
Wait until the soup warms
科 カ ka subject of study 教科書 kyoukasho – textbook
歯科医 shikai – dentist
その 店では 教科書を 売って い
る sono mise de wa kyoukasho o utte iru –
They sell textbooks at the bookstore
これは よい 教科書 だ kore wa yoi
kyoukasho da – This is a good textbook
どの 教科 が 不得意 です か
dono kyouka ga futokui desu ka – What
subject are you poor at?
化 カ ka
ば(ける) ba(keru)
ば(かす) ba(kasu)
change 文化 bunka – culture
機械化 kikaika – mechanization
硬化 kouka – hardening, stiffening
悪化したの です か akka shita no
desu ka – Was it getting worse
生け花は 日本の 文化 です
ikebana wa nihon no bunka desu – Flower
arrangement is a part of Japanese culture
荷 カ ka
に ni
load the top is plant and the
bottom is “what”, and at
customs they always ask
what plants are in your
luggage (load)
荷物 nimotsu – baggage, luggage
手荷物 は いくつ 有ります か te
nimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka – How
many pieces of hand (carry-on) luggage
do you have?
果 カ ka
は(たす) ha(tasu)
fruit, end there’s big fruit in this
tree, which may end up 果物 kudamono – fruit
効果 kouka – effect, result
は(て) ha(te)
は(てる) ha(teru)
on the floor 結果 kekka - result
加 カ ka
くわ(える) kuwa(eru)
くわ(わる) kuwa(waru)
add this kanji looks like
katakana カ(ka) with a
box added to it
参加 san ka – participate, join
マイクは 昨日 練習に 参加 しな
かった maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka
shinakatta – Mike didn’t join the practice
yesterday
少し コショウを 加えたら どう
だろう sukoshi koshou o kuwaetara dou
darou – How about adding a touch of
pepper?
課 カ ka section, lesson talking 言う (iu) about
fruit 果物 (kudamono) in
lessons
放課後 houkago – after school
アンは 放課後 よく テニスを し
ます An wa houkago yoku tenisu o
shimasu – Ann often plays tennis after
school
可 カ ka possible, approve 可能性 kanousei – possibility
可愛い kawaii - cute
うまくいく可能性は 十分に ある
umaku iku kanousei wa juubun ni aru –
There is a good chance for success
過 カ ka
す(ぎる) su(giru)
す(ごす) su(gosu)
あやま(つ) ayama(tsu)
あやま(ち) ayama(chi)
excess, exceed looks like a robot moving
right, because it has
exceeded the barrier (on
the left)
過去 kako – past
飲み過ぎる nomisugiru – to drink to
excess
納豆を 食べ 過ぎました nattou o
tabe sugimashita – I ate too much nattou
それは ひど 過ぎる sore wa hido
sugiru – That is way too terrible
河 カ ka
かわ kawa
river what water? a river! (left
radical is water, right
radical is what)
運河 unga – canal
氷河は ゆっくり 動いて いる
hyouga wa yukkuri ugoite iru
仮 カ ka
かり kari
temporary 仮面 kamen – mask, disguise
価 カ ka value, price the right part looks like a
scale which you weigh
goods on to work out
their value
価値 かち - value, worth
価格 かかく - price, value
大統領は 彼の 仕事を公正に 評価
していない daitouryou wa kare no
shigoto o kousei ni hyouka shiteinai – The
President hasn’t evaluated his work fairly
この 車の 価格は とても 高い
kono kuruma no kakaku wa totemo takai –
The price of this car is very high
格 カク kaku
コウ kou
norm, status it is not the norm for a
man on a box to be
higher than a tree
価格 kakaku – price, value
合格 する to pass an exam
資格 qualifications, requirements
彼は 英語教師 としての 資格が
ある kare wa eigo kyoushi toshite no
shikaku ga aru – He is qualified as an
English teacher
解 カイ kai
ゲ ge
と(く) toku
explain, clarify the left part means
“angle” or horn so angles
help explain mathematics
and horns help explain
解説 する kaisetsu suru – to
clarify, explain, comment 読解 dokkai – reading comprehension
と(かす) tokasu
と(ける) tokeru
cows (bottom right) 理解 rikai – understanding,
comprehension
正解 seikai – correct (answer)
誤解 gokai – misunderstanding,
misconception
二つの問題が 未解決の ままで あ
った futatsu no mondai ga mikaiketsu no
mama de atta – Two problems remained
unsolved
靴 カ ka
くつ kutsu
shoes the left part means
leather and the right
means change, so think
of leather being changed
into shoes
靴磨き kutsumigaki – shoe polish
靴屋 kutsuya – shoe store
靴下 kutsu shita - socks
菓 カ ka confectionary the top is plant and the
bottom is fruit so think of
a plant bearing fruit for a
cake (confectionary)
お菓子 o-kashi – cakes, sweets
茶菓 cha ka – tea and sweets
絵 カイ kai
エ e
picture the left part is “thread”
糸(ito) and the right is
“meet” 会 (kai) – when
threads meet they make
an embroidered picture
絵本 e hon - picture (children’s) book
絵画 kaiga – picture, painting
絵師 e shi – painter, artist
その 絵画を 見たら おもしろかっ
た sono kaiga o mitara omoshirokatta – I
found the picture interesting
階 カイ kai floor,
rank,
two people going up an
escalator with their
luggage (hand rail on the
left) to the next floor
階段 kai dan – stairs
段階 dan kai – stage
step
改 カイ kai
あらた(める)
arata(meru)
あらた(まる)
arata(maru)
reform left side is self and right
is striking. zen monks
would strike each other
with bamboo rods to
reach enlightenment, thus
“I reform myself by
striking”
改革 kaikaku – reformation
改正 kaisei – revision, amendment
制度を 改めた seido o aratameta – they
changed the system
械 カイ kai device, machine 機械 kikai – machine, device
その 機械は 一日中 作動 してい
ます sono kikai wa ichinichijuu sadou
shite imasu – The machine operates all
day long
これを 右に 回せば 機械は 動き
ます kore o migi ni mawaseba kikai wa
ugokimasu – If you turn this to the right
and the machine will start
快 カイ kai
こころよ(い) kokoro(i)
pleasant when you “open up”
(right) your “heart” (left)
you feel pleasant
快楽 kairaku - pleasure
快速電車 kaisoku densha – express train
灰 カイ kai
はい hai
ash fire 火 (ka) under some
wood creates ash
灰色 hai iro – grey (ash colour)
灰皿 hai zara – ash tray (plate)
降灰 koukai – a fall of volcanic ash
皆 カイ kai
みな mina
みんな minna
all two people and all their
luggage going to meet
everybody
皆様 minasama – everyone (polite)
介 カイ kai meditate meditation takes us
higher 自己紹介 jikoshoukai – self-introduction
紹介 shoukai - introduce
害 ガイ gai harm a man jumping over a
mouth 口 (guchi) to
escape harm
災害 saigai – disaster
障害 shougai – obstacle, disaster
公害 kougai – pollution
殺害 satsugai – murder
たばこは 健康に 害が ある tabako
wa kankou ni gai ga aru – smoking is
dangerous to health
この 島では たいていの 蛇は 無
害で ある kono shima de wa taitei no
hebi wa mugai de aru – That island has
many harmless snakes
角 カク kaku
カドド kado
つの tsuno
angle,
horn
it looks like a horned fish
魚 (sakana)
三角 sankaku – triangle
角柱 kaku chuu – prism
互角 go kaku – equality, good match
そこの 角です よ soko no kado desu
yo – It’s at the corner
各 カク kaku
おのおの onoono
each each friend 友(tomo)
gets a chance to speak 口(guchi)
各駅 kaku eki – every station
各種 kaku shu – every kind, all sorts
各冊 kaku satsu – every book
この電車は 中野より 先は 各駅に
停車 する kono densha wa Nakano yori
saki wa kakueki ni teisha suru – This train
stops at every station from Nakano on
覚 カク kaku
おぼ(える) obo(eru)
remember, perceive,
wake up
you need to look 見る
(miru) in school 学
(gaku) to remember and
perceive things
この子は 物覚えが 早い kono ko wa
mono oboe ga hayai – The child is
learning quickly
ジムは 目覚めると 自分が部屋に一
人なのに 気が ついた jimu wa
mezameru to jibun ga heya ni hitori na no
ni ki ga tsuita – Jim awoke and found
himself alone in the room
確 カク kaku
たし(か) tashi(ka)
たし(かめる)
tashi(kameru)
certain かちまけの 確立は 五分五分 です
kachimake no kakuritsu wa gobu gobu
desu – The chances of winning or losing
are 50 / 50
固 コ ko
かた(まる) kata(maru)
かた(い) kata(i)
solid, firm, harden,
solidify, lump, mass,
sticky
as solid as a Christian
tombstone 固まり katamari – Katamari (PS2 game)
固体 kotai – solid, solid matter
固定 kotei – fixed, permanent
固有 koyuu – characteristic, inborn
頑固 ganko – stubborn
断固 danko – conclusive
この テーブルは がたつく。しっか
り 固定 させて くれ kono te-buru
wa gatatsuku. shikkari kotei sasete kure –
This table is shaky. Please make it firm
個 コ ko
individual,
general counter,
item
a person is counting solid
固まる (katamaru)
objects
個人 ko jin – indvidual (person)
個数 kosuu – number of articles
個室 koshitsu – private room
個々 koko – individual, separate
今日は りんごが 安い ので 二個
買いましょう kyou wa ringo ga yasui
node, ni ko kaimashou – Today because
apples are cheap let’s buy two
しゅるい 三個 ずつ ください
shurui sanko zutsu kudasai – Of each sort
please give me three
故 コ ko
ゆえ yue
old, former,
deceased,
incident, affair,
intentional,
reason, cause
the cause of the incident
was the deceased 故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin
故人 kojin – the deceased
事故 jiko – accident, trouble
故郷 kokyou – hometown
その事故に 対して 責任が あるの
は 君だ sono jiko ni taishite sekinin ga
aru no wa kimi da – It is you that are
responsible for the accident
「何故行かないの」「行きたくない
から さ」 [naze ikanai no][ikitakunai
kara sa] – Why aren’t you going? Because
I don’t want to
雇 コ ko
やと(う) yato(u)
employ, hire 日雇い hi yato(i) – day labourer
解雇 kaiko – discharge, dismiss
雇用 koyou – employ, hire, employment
船を 雇う fune o yatou – charter (hire)
a boat
呼 コ ko
よ(ぶ) yo(bu)
call, cry out a mouth (guchi) 口 is
shouting (crying out) and
scaring away the right
radical
呼吸 kokyuu – breathe, respiration
呼応 koou – agreement
呼ぶ yobu – call out to
枯 コ ko
か(らす) ka(rasu)
か(れる) ka(reru)
wither, dry up,
deplete, exhaust
when a tree 木 (ki) gets
old 古い (furui) it
withers and dries up
井戸が 枯れて しまった ido ga
karete shimatta – The well has dried up
誤 ゴ go
あやま(る) ayama(ru)
mistake a student at a desk with
his arm raised is speaking
言う (iu) and making a
mistake
誤解 gokai – misunderstanding
誤字 goji – misprint, wrong character
錯誤 sakugo – mistake
誤差 gosa - error
互 ゴ go
たが(い) taga(i)
equality this kanji has rotational
symmetry so either way
round it is equal
互角 gokaku – equality, good match
交互 kougo - mutually
お互いさまです o-tagai sama desu –
That makes two of us
交 コウ kou
カ(ウ) ka(u)
まじ(える) maji(eru)
まじ(る) maji(ru)
ま(ざる) ma(zaru)
ま(ぜる) ma(zeru)
exchange,
cross,
traffic,
take turns,
mix, shuffle
the lines cross like at an
intersection where cars
exchange
交渉 koushou – negotiation, bargaining
交換 koukan – exchange, interchange
交差点 kousaten – intersection
交際 kousai – association, friendship
交代 koutai – take turns
こちら 側からは だれが 交渉に
当たります か kochira gawa kara wa
dare ga koushou ni atarimasu ka – Who’s
going to negotiate for us?
この道路は 交通が 少ない kono
douro wa kou tsuu ga sukunai – Traffic is
light on this road
黄 コウ kou
き ki
こ ko
おう ou
yellow 黄色 ki iro – yellow
硫黄 iou – sulphur
この花は 黄色だが ほかの花は み
な青い kono hana wa kiiro da ga hoka no
hana wa mina aoi – This flower is yellow
but all the others are blue
公 コウ kou
おおやけ ooyake
public, state,
government
公園 kouen – park
公害 kougai – pollution
公認 kounin – official authorisation,
licence
主人公 shujinkou – master, hero, heroine
町の 公会堂は 人で いっぱい だ
machi no koukaidou wa hito de ippai da –
The town hall was full of people
幸 コウ kou
さち sachi
しあわ(せ) shiawa(se)
happy,
good fortune
looks like a yen ¥ which
brings good fortune and
happiness
幸運 kouun – good luck
幸福 koufuku – happiness
薄幸 hakkou – unhappiness
不幸 fukou – misfortune
向 コウ kou
む(く) mu(ku)
む(ける) mu(keru)
む(かう) mu(kau)
む(こう) mu(kou)
turn toward,
direction, orientation,
opposide side
similar to onaji 同 (same)
this kanji is moving in
the same direction
向上 koujou – advancement, progress
方向 houkou – direction, course
志向 shikou – intention, aim
趣向 shukou – idea, plan
船は 明日マニラに 向けて出発する
fune wa ashita Manira ni mukete
shuppatsu suru – The ship will set sail for
Manila tomorrow
公園は どちらの方向に あります
か kouen wa dochira no houkou ni
arimasu ka – Which direction is the park
in?
港 コウ kou
みなと minato
port 空港 kuukou - airport
港湾 kouwan – harbours (ports and bays)
漁港 gyokou – fishing port
あなたが いつ空港に着く か 教え
て 下さい anata ga itsu kuukou ni tsuku
ka oshiete kudasai – Let me know when
you will arrive at the airport
神戸は 港で 有名で ある Koube
wa minato de yuumei de aru – Kobe is
famous for its port
航 コウ kou navigate the left radical is “ship”
and the right radical
looks like a sailor
navigating the high seas
航空便 koukuubin – air mail
航海 koukai – voyage, ocean navigation
航路 kouro – route (sea, air)
航空券 koukuuken – plane ticket
その船は 出港した sono fune wa
shukkou shita – The ship set sail
侯 コウ kou
そうろう sourou
season, seasonal
weather
気候 kikou – climate, weather, season
兆候 choukou – symptom, sign, omen
天候 tenkou – weather
時候 jikou – season, time of the year
今年の冬は 気候が おだやか だ
kotoshi no fuyu wa kikou ga odayaka da –
We have a mild winter this year
康 コウ kou calm, healthy 健康 kenkou - health
たばこは 健康に害が ある tabako
wa kenkou ni ga aru – Smoking is
dangerous to health
海辺の 空気は きれいで 健康的だ
umibe no kuuki wa kirei de kenkouteki da
– The air by the sea is pure and healthy
効 コウ kou
きく kiku
effect what will the effect be
when the father 父
(chichi) uses his power
力 (chikara)
効果 kouka – result, effect
効率 kouritsu – efficiency
有効 yuu kou – effective, valid
無効 mu kou – invalidty, ineffectiveness
その効果が らわれるには 時間が
かかります sono kouka ga rawareru ni
wa jikan ga kakarimasu – It will be some
time before those effects make themselves
felt
厚 コウ kou
あつ(い) atsu(i)
kind,
thick
be kind to thick children
子 (ko) under the sun 日
(hi)
厚意 koui – kindness, favour
温厚 onkou – gentle, courteous
厚生 kousei – public welfare, public
health
濃厚 noukou – thick, dense, heavy
氷は 二インチの 厚さ だ koori wa
ni inichi no atsusa da – The ice is two
inches thick
ご好意に 対し 厚く お礼を 申し
上げます gokoui ni taishi atsuku orei o
moushi agemasu – I am deeply grateful
for your kindness
鉱 コウ kou
ore, mine the right radical looks a
little like wind 風 (kaze),
so a golden wind 金風
鉱物 koubutsu – mineral
金鉱 kinkou – gold ore, gold mine
採鉱 saikou - mining
whistles through the mine
構 コウ kou
かま(える) kama(eru)
かま(う) kama(u)
construct,
mind
a tree 木 (ki) is a source
of construction material
for a house with many
floors
構成 kousei – composition, formation
構造 kouzou – structure, construction
構想 kousou – plan, conception
この 文章の 構造がどうなって い
る か 分かります か kono bunshou
no kou zou ga dou natte iru ka
wakarimasu ka – Do you understand the
structure of this sentence?
講 コウ kou lecture someone is giving a
lecture about a house
with many floors (言う
iu = speech)
講義 kougi – lecture
購読 koudoku – subscription
講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker
休講 kyuukou – cancelled lecture
耕 コウ kou cultivate a three-pronged tree
standing next to a well in
a farmer’s cultivated
field
耕作 kousaku – cultivate, plow
耕地 kouchi - arable land, farmland
農場主は 一日中畑を 耕した
noujoushu wa ichinichijuu hatake o
tagayashita – The farmer plowed his field
all day
紅 コウ kou
べに beni
くれない kurenai
crimson use thread 糸 (ito) to lift
a bar for construction 工
(ku) or your face will go
crimson
深紅 shinku – crimson
紅白 kouhaku – red and white
紅潮 kou chou – blush, redden
紅玉 kougyoku – ruby
紅茶 koucha – black tea
降 コウ kou
お(りる) o(riru)
お(ろす) o(rosu)
ふ(る) fu(ru)
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
降りる oriru – get off (a bus)
降伏 koufuku – surrender, submission
下降 kakou – descent, fall, drop
雨が 降っています ame ga futteimasu
– It is raining
更 コウ kou
さら sara
ふ(ける) fu(keru)
ふ(かす) fu(kasu)
renew when you use something
使う (tskau) you must
renew it
更正 kousei – correction, revision,
rectification
更新 koushin – renew, renovate
更衣室 kouishitsu – changing room
変更 henkou – change, modification
荒 コウ kou
あら(い) ara(i)
あ(れる) a(reru)
あ(らす) a(rasu)
wild, desolate 荒廃 kouhai – desolation, waste, ruin
荒野 kouya – wilderness, the wilds,
wasteland
荒天 kouten – stormy weather
硬 コウ kou
かた(い) kata(i)
hard you can use a stone 石
(ishi) because it is hard
硬貨 kouka – coin, metallic money
硬化 kouka – hardening, stiffening
硬度 koudo – hardness
肯 コウ kou assent,
consent
the council gave consent
for a bus stop 止める
(tomeru) on the moon 月(tsuki)
肯定 koutei - affirmation
首肯 shukou – assent, consent
香 コウ kou
キョウ kyou
か ka
かお(り) kao(ri)
かお(る) kao(ru)
fragrance on a sunny day in the
forest you need deodrant
(fragrance)
香辛料 kou shinryou – spices, seasoning
香水 kousui – perfume
芳香 houkou – fragrance, aroma
香川県 kagawa ken – Kagawa prefecture
郊 コウ kou suburbs 郊外 kougai – suburbs, outskirts
郊野 kouya – suburban fields
号 ゴウ gou number, signal, sign you can see the number 5
in this kanji 暗号 angou – code
号令 gourei – order, command
信号 shingou – traffic signal (light)
番号 bangou - number
電話番号 denwa bangou –
telephone number
谷 コク koku
たに tani
valley this is a hut in a valley
and rocks are falling onto
it
峡谷 kyou koku – gorge, valley, canyon
その谷で金が 見つかったと いう
うわさが ある sono tani de kin ga
mitsukatta to iu uwasa ga aru – It is
rumoured that gold has been found in that
valley
告 コク koku
つ(げる) tsu(geru)
notify a man is jumping over a
desk rushing to give you
the piece of paper that
notifies you not to forget
this kanji
告白 koku haku – confession,
acknowledgement
広告 koukoku – advertisement
告知 kokuchi – notify, announce
忠告 chuukoku – advice, warning
新聞広告を 見て来ました shinbun
koukoku o mite kimashita – I have come
in response to your ad in the paper
刻 コク koku
き(ざむ) kiza(mu)
carve, engrave 刻印 kokuin – carved seal, stamp
時刻 jikoku – time, hour
深刻 shinkoku - serious
定刻 teikoku – regular (appointed) time
革 カク kaku
かわ kawa
leather,
reform
this looks like a fancy
staff that they may use in
government ceremonies
when reforming acts and
laws
改革 kaikaku – reformation
変革 henkaku – change, reform
拡 カク kaku
コウ kou
ひろ(がる) hiro(garu)
ひろ(げる) hiro(geru)
enlarge by felling trees 木 (ki)
we can enlarge the space
広い (hiroi)
拡大 kakudai – enlargement, expansion
彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大 した
kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai
shita – He expanded the focus of his
research
骨 コツ kotsu
ほね hone
bone this kanji looks like a
skeleton and you can see
his bones
骨髄 kotsuzui – (bone) marrow, main
point
骨肉 kotsu niku – flesh and blood
骨格 kokkaku – frame, physique, skeleton
筋骨 kinkotsu – muscle and bones,
physique
鉄骨 tekkotsu – steel frame
込 こ(む) ko(mu) into, be crowded when many people enter
入る (hairu) a place gets
crowded
送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping
(charges) included
いつも駐車場が 込んでいます itsumo
chuushajou ga kondeimasu – The parking
lot is always crowded
根 コン kon
ね ne
root (math), root
(chemistry),
perserverance
根気 konki – perserverance, patience,
energy
根拠 konkyo – grounds, basis, authority
根本 konpon – nasis, foundation, origin
球根 kyuukon – bulb
大根 daikon – Japanese radish
較 カク kaku
コウ kou
くら(べる) kura(beru)
compare try to compare a car (left)
with a father (right) 比較 hikaku – comparison
私は 大学院で 比較文学を 勉強し
た watashi wa daigakuin de
hikakubungaku o benkyou shita – I
studied Comparative Literature in
graduate school
混 コン kon
ま(じる) ma(jiru)
ま(ざる) ma(zaru)
ま(ぜる) ma(zeru)
mix 混雑 konzatsu – confusion, disorder,
congestion
混戦 konsen – brawl, confused fight
混乱 konran – disorder, chaos
混合 kongou – mixing, mixture
油と 水を混ぜる 事は出来ない
abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai –
You cannot mix oil and water
国家主義と 愛国心とを 混同しては
ならない kokkashugi to aikokushin to o
kondou shite wa naranai – Nationalism is
not to be confused with patriotism
困 コン kon
こま(る) koma(ru)
be in trouble 困難 konnan – difficulty, trouble,
hardship
困惑 konwaku – embarrassment,
confusion
困窮 konkyuu – destitution, poverty
貧困 hinkon – poverty, lack, shortage
困っている komatteiru – be in trouble
婚 コン kon marry a woman at what looks
like an altar waiting to
marry
婚約 konyaku - engagement
結婚 kekkon – marriage
婚姻 konin – marriage
離婚 rikon – divorce
再婚 saikon – second marriage
差 サ sa
さ(す) sa(su)
difference, remainder
(math),
rise (of water)
what is left 左 (hidari)
behind is the difference
or remainder
交差点 kousaten – intersection
差額 sagaku – balance, difference
差別 sabetsu – discrimination
大差 taisa – big difference
この浅い湾で 潮が 早く差す kono
asai wan de shio ga hayaku sasu – In this
shallow bay the tide comes up quickly
査 サ sa look into, investigate,
inspect
the bottom radical looks
like an eye 目 (me) and it
is inspecting a tree 木
(ki)
査察 sasatsu – inspection, investigation
査定 satei – assessment, audit
検査 kensa – inspection, examination
調査 chousa – investigation, examination,
survey
砂 サ sa
すな suna
sand sand is made up of many
little 少し (sukoshi)
stones 石 (ishi)
砂糖 satou – sugar
砂漠 sabaku – desert
砂丘 sakyuu – sand dune
砂場 sunaba - sandbox
座 ザ za
すわ(る) suwa(ru)
seat, sit two people 人 (hito) are
sitting on the earth 土
(do) under a tent.
座席 zaseki – seat
正座 seiza – sit straight
座標 zahyou – coordinates
才 サイ sai talent,
looks like a child
dropping her baton 天才 tensai – genius
才能 sainou – talent, ability
age suffix during a talent contest 何才 nan sai – how old (of a person)
自分の才能を 生かせる ような 仕
事を したい jibun no sainou o ikaseru
you na shigoto o shitai – I want to do
work that makes use of my talents
細 サイ sai
ほそ(い) hoso(i)
こま(か) koma(ka)
こま(かい) koma(kai)
slender, minute thread 糸(ito) in a field
田 (den) is a tiny, minute,
slender object
細菌 saikin – bacteria, germ
細工 saiku – work, craftmanship
細部 saibu – details
細君 saikun – wife
明細 meisai - particulars, details
肉を 食べる前に 細かく 切るべき
です niku o taberu mae ni komakaku
kirubeki desu – You should cut up your
meat before you eat it
祭 サイ sai
まつ(る) matsu(ru)
まつ(り) matsu(ri)
festival 祭日 sai jitsu – national holiday, festival
day
近くに お祭りを やって いる 町
が あります か chikaku ni omatsuri o
yatte iru machi ga arimasu ka – Near here
are there any towns with festivals?
体育祭は どう でした か taiikusai
wa dou deshita ka – How did you do on
sports day?
最 サイ sai most the sun is the most tall of
all the radicals in this
kanji
最高 saikou – the hightest, supreme
最終 saishuu – last, final
最悪 saiaku – worst case, the worst
最後 saigo – the last, the end
最低 saitei – lowest, minimum
経験は 最良の 教師で ある keiken
wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru –
Experience is the best teacher
再 サイ sai
サ sa
ふたた(び) futata(bi)
another time, again 再来週 saraishuu – week after next
再開 saikai – reopening, resumption
再三 saisan – again and again, repeatedly
再婚 saikon – remarriage
すぐに 再発行 出来ます か sugu
ni saihakkou dekimasu ka – Can you
reissue them right away?
額 ガク gaku
ひたい hitai
amount,
forehead
this kanji shows 100 百
(hyaku) which can be a
large amount
差額 sagaku – balance, difference, margin
半額 hangaku – half-price
あなたの 計画は 多額の 金を 必
要と します anata no keikaku wa
tagaku no kane o hitsuyou to shimasu –
Your plan requires a large amount of
money
活 カツ katsu
い(かす) i(kasu)
active, life
a man skiing on water
has an active lifestyle 生活 seikatsu – life, lifestyle
活動 katsu dou – action, activity
割 カツ katsu
わ(る) wa(ru)
わ(り) wari
わ(れる) wa(reru)
さ(く) sa(ku)
divide this kanji contains part of
‘separate’ 別 (betsu) to
divide up this character
割引 waribiki – discount, reduction
一割 ichiwari – 10 percent
時間割 jikanwari – timetable
我が 家の 家計は 収入の 割りに
支出が 多すぎる wa ga ya no kakei wa
shuunyuu no wari ni shishutsu ga
oosugiru – Our family spends too much
for the income we have
感 カン kan sense, feel you use your heart 心
(kokoro) for feeling
敏感 binkan – sensitivity
直感 chokkan – intuition
彼は 直感で 彼女が 嘘を ついて
いると わかった kare wa chokkan de
kanojo ga uso o tsuiteiru to wakatta – His
intuition told him she was lying
管 カン kan
くだ kuda
pipe,
control
looks like two
controlling eyes looking
at the kanji for
government 官 (kan)
血管 kekkan – blood vessel
管理 kanri – control, management
試験管 shikenkan – test tube
関 カン kan
せき seki
concern,
barrier
Mr Yen is is concerned
that you havn’t paid so
he’s put up a barrier
関西 Kansai – Kansai (area including
Osaka and Kyoto)
関節 kansetsu – joints (knee, elbow etc.)
関連 kanren – relation, connection
給料は 労働者の 年齢との 関連で
異なってくる kyuuryou wa roudousha
no nenrei tono kanren de kotonattekuru –
Wages change in relation to the worker’s
age
観 カン kan view the kanji to see 見る
(miru) is in this
character, which is like
view
観光 kankou - sightseeing
観察 kansatsu – observation, survey
彼は 経済 観念の ない男だ kare
wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da – He is
a man with no financial sense
完 カン kan complete looks a little like sell 売
る (uru) which is
completing a transaction
完了 kanryou – completion
完璧 kanpeki – perfect
五日 たてば 仕事が 完了 する
だろう itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou
suru darou – The work should be
complete in five days
官 カン kan government looks like a filing cabinet
that they use in
government offices
器官 kikan - organ
警察官 keisatsukan - policemen
警官 keikan - policeman
妻 サイ sai
つま tsuma
wife a woman 女 (onna)
makes a complicated wife
愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunchbox
packed with love by ones wife
妻子 saishi – ones wife and children
妻帯者 saitaisha – a married man
恐妻家 kyousaika – a hen-pecked
husband
際 サイ sai
きわ kiwa
verge,
occasion
a festival 祭り(matsuri)
by the verge is a big
occasion
交際 kousai – association, friendship
際限 saigen – limits, ends, bounds
実際 jissai – true, actual, real
水際 mizu giwa – beach, waterside
際どい kiwadoi – risky
彼が そう言うの を 実際に 聞き
ました kare ga sou iu no o jissai ni
kikimashita – I actually heard him say that
慣 カン kan
な(れる) na(reru)
な(らす) na(rasu)
habit this kanji looks like a
hobbit but it’s actually a
habit
慣習 kanshuu – normal custom
習慣 shuukan – custom, habit, manners
その習慣は 日本 独特の もの だ
sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no
mono da -
海部氏は 人前で 演説する ことに
慣れて いる kaifushi wa hitomae de
enzetsu suru koto ni narete iru – Mr Kaifu
is used to making speeches in public
刊 カン kan publish, carve these radicals look like
carving tools used to
make and publish old
newspaper
週刊誌 shuukanshi – weekly publication
朝刊 choukan – morning edition of a
newspaper
これは 日刊新聞 です kore wa
nikkan shinbun desu – This is a daily
newspaper
採 サイ sai
とる to(ru)
pick, gather picking fruit from a tree
木 (ki), or gathering rice
米 (bei)
採掘 saikutsu – mining
採集 saishuu – collecting, gathering
採点 saiten – marking, grading, rating
伐採 bassai – cut down, fell a tree
済 サイ sai
ザイ zai
す(む) su(mu)
す(ます) su(masu)
settle, relieve 返済 hensai – repay, reimburse
救済 kyuusai – relieve, help, save
経済 keizai – economy, economics
彼は 経済 観念の ない 男だ kare
wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da – He is
a man with no financial sense
歳 サイ sai
セイ sei
year, age suffix 歳月 saigetsu – time
歳末 saimatsu – year end
歳入 sainyuu – revenue, annual income
何歳 nan sai – what age (of a person)
材 ザイ zai timber, material two trees, one is partially
felled for building 材木 zaimoku – logs, timber
石材 sekizai – building stone
material 人材 jinzai – (person) of talent, capable
person
素材 sozai – material, subject matter
この 材料は だれに とっても 役
に 立つと 思う kono zairyou wa dare
ni tottemo yaku ni tatsu to omou – I think
this material is of benefit to everyone
在 ザイ zai
あ(る) a(ru)
exist, stay 在庫 zaiko – stock, stockpile
在学 zaigaku – being in school
在米 邦人 zaibei houjin – Japanese
living in the US
不在 fuzai – absence
現在の 首相は その式に 出席 し
て はいなかった genzai no shushou wa
sono shiki ni shusseki shite wainakatta –
The present Prime Minister was not
present at the ceremony
財 ザイ zai
サイ sai
wealth you can see a part of buy
買う (kau) in this kanji,
implying wealth
財源 zaigen – revenue / financial resource
財産 zaisan – property, fortune, wealth
財布 saifu - wallet
罪 ザイ zai
つみ tsumi
crime the gap in the middle is
the hall and on the sides
are cells, which people
are put into when they
commit a crime
軽犯罪 keihanzai – light offence (legal)
罪悪 zaiaku – crime, sin, vice
罪人 zainin – criminal, sinner
無罪 muzai – not guilty, innocent
有罪 yuuzai – guilt
謝罪 shazai - apology
咲 さ(く) sa(ku) bloom this could be a flower in
bloom outside a cave きれいな 花が 咲いて います
kireina hana ga saite imasu – Beautiful
flowers are in bloom
桜の 花が 咲く sakura no hana ga
saku – the cherry trees are blooming
話しに 花が 咲いた hanashi ni hana
ga saita – the conversation became
animated
昨 サク saku yesterday, last part of make 作る
(tsukuru) + day 日(nichi)
= I made something
yesterday
昨日 saku jitsu – yesterday
昨日 kinou – yesterday
昨年 sakunen – last year
昨夜 sakuya – last night
マイクは 昨日練習に 参加 しなか
った Maiku wa kinou renshuu ni sanka
shinakatta – Mike didn’t join the practice
yesterday
殺 サツ satsu
サイ sai
セツ setsu
ころ(す) koro(su)
kill the X by the tree 木 (ki)
is where the man was
killed
殺意 satsui – intent to kill
殺害 satsugai – murder, killing
殺人 satsujin – murder
殺人犯 satsujinhan - murderer
殺菌 sakkin – seterilisation
自殺 jisatsu – suicide
刷 サツ satsu
す(る) su(ru)
print like publish 刊 (kan) this
kanji has tools for
printing, symbolised by
the big ‘P’
刷新 sasshin - reform, renovation,
revision
印刷 insatsu – printing
縮刷 shuku satsu – printing in reduced
size
この本は 来年 印刷 される でし
ょう kono hon wa rainen insatsu sareru
deshou – This book will probably be
printed next year
札 サツ satsu
ふだ fuda
tag 千円札 senen satsu – 1000 yen note
札束 satsutaba – bundle of banknotes
改札 kaisatsu – examining (checking)
tickets
二千円札を 持っています か nisen
en satsu o motte imasu ka – Do you have
a 2000 yen note?
冊 サツ satsu
サク saku
card, volume, book 冊子 sasshi – booklet, pamphlet
別冊 bessatsu – separate volume, extra
issue
各冊 kaku satsu – each book (volume,
copy)
雑 ザツ zatsu
ゾウ zou
rough, mixed trees 木 (ki) chopped up
with power 力 (riki) are
rough and mixed in size
混雑 kon zatsu – confusion, disorder,
congestion
雑音 zatsuon – noise, jamming,
interference
雑誌 zasshi – magazine
雑学 zatsu gaku – wide knowledge
複雑 fuku zatsu - complicated
皿 さら sara plate looks like a drainer for
plates on a sideboard 灰皿 hai zara – ash tray
最初の皿 saisho no sara – first course,
starter
その 男の子は たちまち 皿を か
らっぽに した sono otoko no ko wa
tachimachi sara o karappo ni shita – The
boy had the dish empty in a moment
算 サン san calculate to work out the answer to
a question 質問
(shitsumon) you need to
calculate
誤算 gosan – miscalculation,
misjudgement
算出 sanshutsu – computation, calculation
暗算 anzan – mental arithmetic
予算 yosan – estimate, budget
5足す10の 足し算は やさしい 5
たす 10 no tashizan wa yasashii – It is
easy to add 5 to 10
散 サン san
ち(る) chi(ru)
ち(らす) chi(rasu)
ち(らかす) chi(rakasu)
ち(らかる) chi(rakaeru)
scatter 散歩 sanpo – walking, a stroll
解散 kaisan – breakup, dispersion
分散 bunsan – dispersion, divergence,
variance
天気が よかった ので 散歩が 出
来ました tenki ga yokatta node sanpo ga
dekimashita – Because it was good
weather I was able to go for a walk
集会は 九時に 散会 した shuukai
wa kuji ni sankai shita – The meetin broke
up at 9 o’clock
参 サン san
まい(る) mai(ru)
participate, go to pray 参加 sanka – participate
参考 sankou – reference, consultation
参拝 sanpai – worship, visit a temple
古参 kosan – senior, old-timer, veteran
新参 shinzan – newcomer
私の 意見 では 勝つ こと より
参加 する ことに 意義が ある
watashi no iken dewa katsu koto yori
sanka suru koto ni igi ga aru – In my
opinion participation is more important
than winning
賛 サン san approve, praise looks like two people in
the background are
cheering and praising the
radical at the front
賛成 sansei – approval, agreement,
support
賛美 sanbi – praise, admiration
賛同 sandou – approval, endorsement
自賛 jisan – self-praise
画賛 gasan – legend (text) on a chart
山田さんの意見に 全く 賛成だ
Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da
– I am in complete agreement with Mr
Yamada
残 ザン zan
のこ(る) noko(ru)
のこ(す) noko(su)
remain, ruthless the タ is holding a big
hammer and is chasing
the right-hand radical
because it is cruel and
ruthless
残金 zankin – balance, surplus
残酷 zankoku – cruel, ruthless
残高 zandaka – balance, remainder
残念 zannen – regret, disappointment
残業 zangyou – overtime
上司に 残業 させられた ん だよ
joushi ni zangyou saserareta n da yo – My
boss made me work overtime
糸 シ shi
いと ito
thread, string this could be a ball of
yarn (thread) 一糸 isshi – a thread, a stitch
毛糸 keito – wollen yarn
綿糸 menshi – cotton yarn
糸口 itoguchi – beginning, first step, clue
歯 シ shi
は ha
tooth looks like a tooth that has
plaque on it, with the rot
at the top
歯科医 shikai – dentist
乳歯 nyuushi – baby teeth
永久歯 eikyuu shi – permanent teeth
歯磨き ha migaki – toothpaste, brushing
one’s teeth
指 シ shi
ゆび yubi
finger, point a baby on a stool is
pointing out something to
his mummy
指示 shiji – indication, pointing out
指導 shidou – guidance, instruction
指定 shitei – appointment, authorization
指定する shitei suru – to specify
指摘 shiteki – pointing out
指紋 shimon – fingerprint
親指 oya yubi – thumb
足の指 ashi no yubi – toe
指圧 shiatsu - accupressure
史 シ shi history a wizened old man with
whiskers is talking about
history
史学 shigaku – history (field of study)
史料 shiryou – historical materials
(records)
歴史 rekishi – history
日本史 nihon shi – Japanese history
中国の 歴史は 日本の 歴史 より
古い です chuugoku no rekishi wa
nihon no rekishi yori furui desu – The
history of China is older than that of Japan
司 シ shi
つかさど(る)
tsukasado(ru)
officiate 司会 shikai – presiding, officiating
司令 shirei - command
司令官 shireikan – commander
上司 jyoushi – superior officer
寿司 sushi – raw fish and rice
支 シ shi
ささ(える) sasa(eru)
branch, support under the gound there are
supporting roots 支持 shiji – support, backing
支店 shiten – branch (office, store)
支給 shikyuu – provision, supply,
payment
支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation
資 シ shi resources part of buy 買う(kau) is
here, because you have to
buy resources
資格 shikaku – qualificatinos,
requirements
資源 shigen – resources
資金 shikin – funds, capital
資産 shisan – property, fortune
資本 shihon – funds, capital
簡 カン kan simple it is simple for two
pidgeons to get past a
gate 門 (mon)
簡単 kantan – simple
簡単でした kantan dehita – it was easy
簡潔 kanketsu – simplicity
この本棚は 組み立てが 簡単だ
kono hondana wa kumitate ga kantan da –
This bookshelf is easy to assemble
干 カン kan
ほ(す) ho(su)
dry looks like a spike you
drive deep into the
ground to find water
when it is dry
干渉 kanshou – interference, intervention
欄干 rankan – handrail, bannister
巻 カン kan
ま(く) ma(ku)
ま(き) ma(ki)
roll up, volume the backwards ‘S’ shape
at the bottom is a strip
being rolled up
巻き maki – Maki sushi (rolled)
巻頭 kantou – opening page of a book
鉢巻 hachi maki - headband
看 カン kan
み(る) mi(ru)
watch, care for looks like a big hand 手
(te) caring for a baby in a
cot
看護婦 kangofu – nurse
看板 kanban - signboard
甘 カン kan
あま(い) ama(i)
あま(える) ama(eru)
あま(やかす)
ama(yakasu)
sweet looks like a big tongue
tasting sweet things 甘受 kanju – submission to, putting up
with
甘露 kanro – nectar
君は その結果を 甘受 すべき だ
kimi wa sono kekka o kanju subeki da –
You should abide by the consequences
汗 カン kan
あせ ase
sweat the stick man needs a
shower (water, left
radical) because he is
sweaty
汗顔 kangan – ashamed
汗腺 kansen – sweat gland
換 カン kan
か(える) ka(eru)
か(わる) ka(waru)
exchange the top of fish 魚 (sakan)
can be seen and four 四
(yon) is below, so
perhaps four fish are
being exchanged for a
tree
交換 koukan – exchange, interchange
換気 kanki – ventilation
換算 kansan – conversion, evaluate
転換 tenkan – convert
彼は 何で も お金に 換算 して
しまう kare wa nan de mo okane ni
kansan shite shimau – He thinks of
everything in terms of money
乾 カン kan
か(わく) ka(waku)
か(わかす) ka(wakasu)
dry a car 車 (kuruma) has
‘Z’ero petrol left so it is
dry
乾杯 kanpai – cheers (toast)
乾燥 kansou – dry, arid
肌が 乾燥 して います hada ga
kansou shite imasu – my skin is dry
丸 カン gan
まる maru
まる(い) maru(i)
まる(める) maru(meru)
round 弾丸 dangan – bullet
日の丸 hinomaru – The Japanese Flag
環 カン kan
わ wa
ring 環境 kankyou – environment,
circumstances
環状線 kanjyousen – loop line
枝 シ shi
えだ eda
branch tree 木 (ki) + branch 支
(shi(sha – company
branch)) = tree branch
枝葉末節 shiyoumassetsu – branches and
leaves, unimportant details
枝川 eda gawa – branch of a river
枝豆 edamame – green soy beans
楊枝 youji - toothpick
師 シ shi master looks like government 官
(kan) and market 市
(ichi), and the
government is the master
of the economy (market)
講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker
師匠 shishou – master, teacher
医師 ishi – doctor
教師 kyoushi – teacher, instructor
技師 gishi – engineer
絵師 eshi – painter
経験は 最良の 教師で ある keiken
wa sairyou no kyoushi de aru –
Experience is the best teacher
JLPT Level 1 Kanji
亜 ア a sub-, Asia 亜細亜 ajia - Asia
アジア – Asia (usual spelling)
哀 アイ ai
あわ(れ) awa(re)
helpless, sorrow,
misery
垢を落とす aka o otosu – Wash off the
dirt
挨 アイ ai greeting, salutation 挨拶 aisatsu – greetings
挨拶状 aisatsu jyou – greeting card
垢 コウ kou
あか aka
dirt, filth soil 土 (do) + ‘F’ilth are
dirty
握 アク aku
にぎ(る) nigi(ru)
grasp, seize, mould,
sushi
握手 akushu - handshake
憧 ショウ shou
あこが(れ) akoga(re)
yearning, longing,
aspiration
憧れる akogareru – long for, admire
扱 あつか(う) atsuka(u) handle, deal with,
treat
あつかい atsukai – treatment, service
或 ワク waku
ある aru
certain, some 或いは aruiha – or, possibly
或る日 aru hi – one day... (start of a
story)
威 イ i
take 威嚇 ikaku – menace, threat
威厳 igen - dignity
為 イ i
ため tame
good, advantage,
benefit,
in order to, because
of
looks like a tank which
gives you a huge
advantage and benefit
為さる nasaru – to do (honouriffic)
なす nasu – to do
尉 ジョウ jyou
い i
jailer, military rank 大尉 taii - captain
中尉 chuui – lieutenant, first lieutenant
少尉 shoui – second lieutenant
遺 イ i
ユイ yui
のこ(す) noko(su)
leave, bequeath,
reserve
looks like a person sitting
in a seat reserving it for
someone
遺言 yuigon - will, testament
碗 ワン wan bowl shares a radical with sand
砂 (suna) and bowls can
be made from sand
茶碗 chawan – rice bowl, teacup
惑 ワク waku
まど(う) mado(u)
beguile (trickery),
bewilder
this kanji beguiles you
into thinking about
emotions 心 (shin)
困惑 konwaku - embarassment, confusion
惑星 waku sei – planets
誘惑 yuu waku - temptation
維 イ i support, fasten,
rope, fibre
use a thread 糸 (ito) to
make a net for support
維新 ishin – restoration
維持 iji - upkeep
慰 イ i
なぐさ(める)
nagusa(meru)
なぐさ(む) nagusa(mu)
comfort, consolation,
amusement
a military officer has
feelings 心 (shin) so he
needs comfort
慰安 ian – consolation, comfort
慰謝 isha – consolation, solace
慰問 imon – visit, to give comfort (to
those in hospital)
慰労金 iroukin – bonus, reward
老人ホームを 慰問する roujin ho-mu
o imon suru – Visit an old people’s home
緯 イ i horizontal the thread 糸 (ito) looks
vertical but wrong 違う
(chigau) – it is horizontal
緯度 ido - latitude
侍 ジ ji
さむらい samurai
samurai a samurai is a person (left
radical) who is special 特七人の 侍を 見ました か shichi
nin no samurai o mimashita ka – Did you
Miscellaneous Kanji
当 トウ tou
あ(たる) a(taru)
this,
hit,
right, appropriate,
himself
hit yourself to learn this
kanji – it is everywhere 本当 hontou – really
本当ですか hontou desu ka – really?
当駅 toueki – this railway station
当時 touji – old times, those days
当面 toumen (no) – present, immediate
当人 tounin – the person in question
当世風 tousei(fuu) – up to date, current,
(in fashion)
当用 touyou – daily use
当座 touza – the time being
当然 touzen – natural, rightful
Verbs Kanji
浴 ヨク yoku
あ(びる) a(biru)
あ(びせる) a(biseru)
bathe, pour water radical on the left
and it looks like the hut is
bathing (water is pouring
onto it)
浴びる abiru – bathe, pour
浴びせる abiseru – to throw
シャワーを浴びる shawa- o abiru – to
take a shower
日光浴 nikkouyoku – to sunbathe
揚 ヨウ you
あ(げる) a(geru)
hoist,
fry,
land
揚げる ageru – to fry
旗を揚げる hata o ageru – hoist a flag
凧を揚げる tako o ageru – fly a kite
乗客たちは 船から陸に 揚がった
joukyaku tachi wa fune kara riku ni agatta
– The passengers landed from a ship
洗 セン sen
あら(う) a(rau)
wash 洗う arau – to wash
洗濯 sentaku – washing
食事の前に 手を洗いなさい shokuji
no mae ni te o arai nasai – Wash (clean)
your hands before a meal
遊 ユウ yuu
あそ(ぶ) aso(bu)
play 遊ぶ asobu – to play
遊園地 yuuenchi – a recreation ground
子供たちが 砂場で 遊んで います
kodomotachi ga sunaba de asonde imasu –
Children are playing in the sandpit
選 セン sen
えら(ぶ) era(bu)
choose, elect 選ぶ erabu – to choose
選挙 senkyo – election
好きな数を一つ 選んで ください
sukina kazu o hitotsu erande kudasai –
Please select one of your favourite
numbers
増 ゾウ zou
ふ(える) fu(eru)
ま(す) ma(su)
increase 増える fueru - to proliferate, increase
川の水かさが増してきた kawa no mizu
kasa ga masite kita – The river is rising
頑張
る
がんば(る) ganba(ru)
hold out, do one’s
best
頑張る ganbaru – to try one’s best
頑張れ!ganbare! – Come on / Keep
going!
履 り ri
は(く) ha(ku)
put on (for feet),
fulfilment
履く haku - to put on (shoes or socks)
契約を履行する keiyaku o rikou suru –
to execute a contract
払 フツ futsu
はら(う) hara(u)
dust,
pay
払う harau – to pay for, to dust
彼女は机の上の埃を払った kanojo wa
tsukue no ue no hokori o haratta – She
dusted the desktop
お金の無い人のために、別の支払い
方法が あります okane no nai hito no
tame ni, betsu no siharai houhou ga
arimasu – There is an alternate payment
method
拾 シュウ shuu
ひろ(う) hiro(u)
pick up, flag down,
ten
拾う hirou – find, pick up, flag down (a
taxi)
道で財布を 拾った miti de saifu o
hirotta – I found a wallet on the road
居 きょ kyo
い(る) i(ru)
exist, live, house 居る iru – to exist (animate objects)
居住者 kyojuusha – resident
何にかが この部屋に 居るのを 感
じる – I feel something being in this
room.
誰か、そこに 居るのですか?dareka,
sokoni iru no desu ka – Is there anybody
in there?
痛 ツウ tsuu
いた(い) itai
いた(める) ita(meru)
painful, hurt 痛める itameru – to afflict, hurt
足が痛い ashi ga itai – I have sore feet
足を 痛めた ashi o itameta – I injured
my foot
言 ゲン gen
ゴン gon
こと koto
い(う) i(u)
say, tell, meaning,
language, statement
言う iu – to say, tell
人の言葉お 理解する 能力が ある
ゴリラ – a gorilla that has the ability to
understand human language
遺言が あれば 聞こう yuigon ga
areba kikou – If you have your last words,
I’ll listen
被 ヒ hi
かぶ(る) kabu(ru)
こうむ(る) koumuru
suffer,
put on (for head)
被る kaburu – put on (headwear)
被る koumuru – to suffer
限 ゲン gen
かぎ(る) kagi(ru)
limit, restrict 限る kagiru – to be limited to
噛 か(む) ka(mu) bite, chew 噛む kamu – to bite, chew
勝 ショウ shou
か(つ) ka(tsu)
win, surpass 勝つ katsu – to win, defeat an opponent
勝る masaru – to be superior to
ま(さる) masa(ru) 勝ちました か kachimashita ka – Did
you win?
変 ヘン hen
か(わる) ka(waru)
change, be different
(from normal state)
変わる kawaru – to change
変更 henkou – change, modification
変革 henkaku – change, reform
変な hen(na) – odd, clumsy
鍛 タン tan
きた(える) kita(eru)
train, forge 鍛える kitaeru – train, strengthen
(oneself)
呉 く(れる) kureru give (indicates a
closeness to a person
as opposed to あげる
which states cold
fact)
呉れる kureru – give, do a favour for
私の妹が 彼に 本を 呉れた
watashi no imouto ga kare ni hon o kureta
– My sister gave him a book.
曲 キョク kyoku
ま(がる) ma(garu) /
ま(げる) ma(geru)
music,
curve, turn
曲がる magaru – turn (around a corner)
曲げる mageru – twist
そこで、道が 右へ曲がっている –
soko de, miti ga migi e magatte iru –
There the road curves to the right
負 フ fu
ま(かす) ma(kasu)
ま(ける) ma(keru)
お(う) o(u)
negative
(maths/physics),
lose,
carry (an object),
take (responsibility)
負かす makasu – to defeat, beat (make an
opponent lose)
負ける makeru – to lose
負う ou – to take, to assume
この件に ついては、私が責任を 負
います kono ken ni tsuite wa watashi ga
sekinin o oimasu – I’ll take responsibility
for this matter
召し
上が
る
め(し)あ(がる)
me(shi)a(garu)
eat (polite espression) 召し上がる meshiagaru – eat (polite)
磨 マ ma
みが(く) miga(ku)
brush, polish, grind,
improve, refine
磨く migaku – brush (teeth), polish (a
skill)
技を磨く waza o migaku – to improve
one’s skills
観 カン kan
み(る) mi(ru)
watch, see 観る miru - to watch
観賞 kanshou – enjoy seeing (beautiful
charm of a thing)
芝居を見る sibai o miru – to see a play
診 シン shin
み(る) mi(ru)
examine 診る miru – to examine
貰 もら(う) mora(u) get, be given, receive,
take (a wife), adopt (a
child),
win,
pick up (disease)
貰う morau – to receive
父から辞書を 貰った chichi kara jisho
o moratta – I was given a dictionary from
my father
かれは あの器量 よしを 嫁に 貰
った kare wa ano kiryou yoshi o yome ni
moratta – He married that good-looking
woman
迎 ゲイ gei
むか(える) muka(eru)
meet, greet 迎える mukaeru – to meet, greet (from
the airport)
迎春 geishun – Happy New Year
飛行場で 彼を 迎えた hikoujou de
kare o mukaeta – I went to meet him at
the airport
直 チョク choku
ジキ jiki
ただちに tada(chini)
なお(す) nao(su)
なお(る) nao(ru)
straight
in a moment, soon
fix, repair
直す naosu – to fix, repair
空港へ 直接 行く kuukou e
chokusetsu iku – I went to meet him at the
airport
眠 ミン min
ねむ(る) nemu(ru)
sleep, sleepy 眠る nemuru – to sleep
睡眠 sleep, slumber
九時に 眠った ku ji ni numutta – I
went to sleep at nine
寝 シン shin
ね(る) ne(ru)
lie down, go to bed,
have sex
寝る neru – to sleep, to go to bed, to lie
down
就寝時間 shuushinn jikan – time for bed
あなたは いつも何時に 寝ます か anata wa itsumo nan ji ni nemasu ka –
What time do you usually go to bed?
飲 イン in
飲(む) no(mu)
drink, swallow,
take (medicine)
飲む nomu – to drink
飲料水 inryousui – drinking water
乗 ジョウ jou
の(る) no(ru)
の(せる) no(seru)
step onto, get on,
ride, be carried,
pick up, give a lift to,
乗る noru – to get on (a bus)
乗せる noseru – to pick up, to give a lift
乗車券 joushaken – a (railway) ticket
板の上に乗る ita no ue ni noru – to step
take in, deceive onto a board (e.g. wooden board)
鐘の音が風に乗って 聞こえて きた
kane no oto ga kaze no notte kikoete kita
– The sound of a bell was carried on to me
on the wind
彼女の甘言に、 まんまと 乗せられ
た kanojo no kangen ni manma to
noserareta – I was completely taken in by
her honeyed words
落 ラク raku
お(ちる) o(chiru)
お(とす) 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
one’s opponent faint,
remove, capture
落ちる ochiru – to fall
落とす otosu – to drop, to lose
落雷 rakurai – lightning (strike on the
ground)
壁のペンキを 落とす kabe no penki o
otosu – to remove paint from the wall
城を落とす shiro o otosu – to capture a
castle
飛行機が 落ちた hikouki ga ochita –
The airplane crashed
地震で屋根が落ちた jishin de yane ga
ochita – The root collapsed by an
earthquake
彼女の成績が 落ちた kanojo no
seiseki ga ochita – Her marks went down
財布を 落とした saifu o otoshita – I
lost my wallet
彼らは 最も 重要な 試合を落とし
た karera wa mottomo juuyou na shiai o
otoshita – They lost the most important
game
遅 チ chi
おく(れる) oku(reru)
be late, be delayed,
be slow (clock)
遅延 chien – a delay
遅れる okureru – to be late for, to lag
behind
時計が 3分 遅れて いる – The
clock is three minutes slow
折 セツ setsu
お(れる) o(reru)
お(る) o(ru)
おり ori
break,
fold, folded, bend,
turn,
give in, yield to
折る oru – to break
折れる oreru – to break
骨折 kossetsu – fracture
枝を 折る eda o oru – to break a branch
紙を折る kami o oru – to fold a sheet of
paper
ひざを折る hiza o oru – to bend the knee
何本かの 柱が 地震で折れた nan
bon ka no hashira ga jishin de oreta –
Some pillars were broken by an
earthquake.
その角を 右に折れると 図書館が
ある sono kado o migi ni oreru to
toshokan ga aru – If you turn right at that
corner, you will find a post office.
探 タン tan
さが(す) saga(su)
さ(ぐる) sa(guru)
search, look for,
investigate
探す sagasu – to look for
探る saguru – to feel for
事故の原因探る jiko no genin o saguru –
to investigate the cause of an accident
閉 ヘイ hei
し(める) shi(meru)
と(じる) to(jiru)
shut, close 閉める shimeru – to close
閉門 heimon suru – to close a gate (where
subject is building etc. not a person)
店を 閉める mise o shimeru – to close
a shop
窓を 閉める mado o shimeru – to close
a window
本を 閉じる hon o tojiru – to close a
book
目を 閉じる me o tojiru – to close
one’s eyes
この大学は、夜9時には 閉門 しま
す kono daigaku wa, yoru 9 ji ni wa
heimon shimasu – This college’s gate is
closed at 9 o’clock every night
信 シン shin
しん(じる) shin(jiru)
believe, trust 信じる shinjiru – to believe
何か 信仰は あります か nani ka
shinkou wa arimasu – Do you have any
faith?
私は あなたの 言う ことを 信じ
る watashi wa anata no iu koto o shinjiru
– I believe what you say
進 シン shin
すす(む) susu(mu)
advance, progress,
go on (to college),
travel (sound/light),
進む susumu – to advance, progress
進化 shinka – evolution
光は 秒速 299792458*
メートルで まっすぐ 進む 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
彼の仕事は 順調に 進んでいる kare
no shigoto wa junchou ni susunde iru –
His work has been progressed
successfully
時計が 三分 進んでいる tokei ga san
pun susunde iru – The clock is three
minutes fast
彼は 進んで その 役割を 買って
出た kare wa susunde sono yakuwari o
katte deta – He volunteered to play the
role
* 二億 九千九百七十九万 二千四
百五十八 ni oku, kyuu sen kyuu hyaku
nana juu kyuu man, ni sen yon hyaku go
juu hachi
http://dglenfield.co.uk -> Japanese Basics
数 スウ suu
かぞ(える) kazo(eru)
かず kazu
count,
number, figure
数学 suugaku - mathematics
数える kazoeru – to count
助 ジョ jo
たす(ける) tasu(keru)
save, rescue, help 救助する kyuujo suru – to save, rescue
助けて ください tasukete kudasai –
please help
戦 セン sen
たたか(う) tatakau
war, make war, fight,
do battle,
戦争 sensou – war
戦争を する sensou o suru – make war
contend 戦え!tatakae! – fight!
生々堂々と 戦おう seisei doudou to
tatakaou – Let’s play fair
立 リツ ritsu
リュウ ryuu
た(てる) ta(teru)
た(つ) 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
立つ tatsu – to stand
銅像を立てる douzou o tateru – put up a
bronze statue
音を立てる oto o tateru – make a noise
埃を立てる hokori o tateru – rise a cloud
of dust
計画を立てる keikaku o tateru – make a
plan
目標を立てる mokuhyou o tateru – set
up a goal
新記録を立てる shinkiroku o tateru –
establish a new record
彼はいつも友達を 立てていた kare
wa itsumo tomodachi o tateteita – He
always paid respect to his friends
彼女は 明日ロンドンを立って、東京
へ向かう kanojo wa asu rondon o tatte,
toukyou e mukau – She is leaving London
for Tokyo tomorrow.
彼女は議会に 立候補する だろう
kanojo wa gikai ni rikkouho suru darou –
She will stand for Parliament
奈良の大仏は 七百五十二年に 建立
された nara no daibutsu wa nan hyaku go
juu ni nen ni konryuu sareta – The Great
Buddha at Nara was erected in 752.
訪 ホウ hou
たず(ねる) tazu(neru)
おとず(れる)
otozu(reru)
visit
(time) come
訪ねる tazuneru – to call on
訪れる otozureru – to visit (a place)
訪問 houmon – to pay a visit
訪米 houbei – to visit the USA
ついに 夏が 訪れた– tsui ni natsu ga
otozureta - Summer has come at last
頼 ライ rai
たの(む) tano(mu)
たの(もしい)
tano(moshii)
たよ(る) tayo(ru)
request, ask,
reliance, depend
頼む tanomu – request
頼る tayoru – to depend on
依頼 irai – a request
依頼 する irai suru – to request
彼は 頼もしい 人だ – He is a reliable
person
私 から 彼に 頼んで 見ましょう
watashi kara kare ni tanonde mimashou –
I’ll try to ask him
飛 ヒ hi
と(ぶ) to(bu)
と(ばす) to(basu)
fly 飛ぶ tobu – to fly
飛ばす tobasu – to send, to fly
飛行機 hikouki – an airplane
飛行船 hikousen – an airship
届
とど(ける) todo(keru)
とど(く) todo(ku)
deliver, send,
arrive, reach,
report, notify
届ける todokeru – to deliver (from a
person) e.g. a mail sent from a person
届く todoku – reach, be received, deliver
(object) e.g. a mail which was sent
届いた 書類 todoita shorui – a sent
document
彼女は 住所の 変更を 市役所に
届けた kanojo wa juusho no henkou o
shiyakusho ni todoketa – He notified the
city office of her change of address
泊 ハク haku
パク paku
と(まる) to(maru)
と(める) to(meru)
lodge, stay if you’re staying
overnight you can have a
drink (looks like a tall
cup)
泊まる tomaru – to stay overnight
泊める tomeru – to take in, to
accommodate
三泊する san haku suru – to stay for three
nights
疲 ヒ hi
つか(れ) tsuka(re)
つか(れる) tsuka(reru)
fatigue, exhaustion,
be tired
疲れる tsukareru – to tire
疲労 hirou – fatigue, exhaustion
疲れ tsukare – fatigue, exhaustion
勤 キン kin
つと(める) tsuto(meru)
つと(まる) tsuto(maru)
work (working “for”
something e.g. a
company)
do not confuse with the
verb for just “working”
働 hatara(ku)
通勤手当 tsuukin teate – a
communication allowance
勤める tsutomeru – to work for, to hold a
post
勤まる tsutomaru – to be equal, to be fit
彼は 病院に 勤めている kare wa
byouin ni tsutomte iru – He is working for
a hospital
続 ゾク zoku
つづ(く) tsudu(ku)
つづ(ける) tsudu(keru)
continue, last
occurrence,
lead to follow
続ける tsudukeru - to continue, to go on
相続 souzoku – to inherit
その慣習は 二百年間 続いたいる
sono kanshuu wa nihyaku nen kan
tsuduita iru – The custom continued for
two hundred years
このところ 飛行機 事故が 続く
konotokoro hikouki jiko ga tsuduku –
There have been a series of airplane
accidents recently
この道は オックスフォードに 続い
て いる kono michi wa okkusufo-do ni
tsuduite iru – This road leads to Oxford
出撃 する ぞ!(皆、私の後に)続
け! shutsugeki suru zo! (mina watashi
no ato ni) tsuduke! – Let’s take the
offensive! All after me!
酔っ
払
よっぱら(う) yoppara(u)
get (be) drunk 酔っ払う yopparau – to be drunk
喜 キ ki
よろこ(ぶ) yoroko(bu)
happy, delighted 喜ぶ yorokobu – to be happy, delighted
寄 キ ki
よ(る) yo(ru)
よ(せる) yo(seru)
come near to, let
come near,
gather, call on, call
at,
be attracted to, fall in
love,
put one’s trust in,
send
寄る yoru – to stop by, drop in
寄せる yoseru – to bring close together
寄付 kifu – a contribution, a donation
彼女は そばへ 寄ってきた kanojo
wa soba e yotte kita – She came up to me
わきへ寄ってください waki e yotte
kudasai – Please step aside
三人寄れば文殊の知恵 san nin yoreba
monju no chie – Two heads are better than
one (Proverb)
笑 ショウ shou
わら(う) wara(u)
え(む) e(mu)
laugh, smile 笑う warau – to laugh
明日の ことを 言えば 天井で ね
ずみが 笑う asu no koto o ieba tenjou
de nezumi ga warau – If you talk about
tomorrow the mouse in the ceiling laughs
(proverb)
忘 ボウ bou
わす(れる) wasu(reru)
forget 忘れる wasureru – to forget
忘れ物 wasuremono – a thing left behind
忘年会 bounenkai – a year-end party
すっかり 忘れました sukkari
wasuremashita – I completely forgot
渡 ト to
わた(す) wata(su)
わた(る) wata(ru)
hand over, transfer,
move (across the
sea), ferry, cross, be
imported (be
introduced),
pass
渡す watasu – hand over
渡る wataru – to cross, to get across
渡英する toei suru – to visit the United
Kngdom
渡米する tobei suru – to visit the United
States
渡り鳥 wataridori – a migratory bird
彼女は 会長の 座を息子に 渡した
kanojo wa kaichou no za o musuko ni
watashita – She transferred her son to the
post of president
彼は 小船で 観光客を 向こう岸へ
渡した kare wa kobune de kankoukyaku
o mukou gishi e watashita – He ferried
tourists across the river
その文化は 中国から 日本へ 渡っ
て きた sono bunka wa chuugoku kara
nihon e watatte kita – The culture was
introduced into Japan from China
晩 バン ban evening, night 今晩は konbanwa – good evening
今晩 konban – this evening
晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner
週 シュウ shuu week 週末 shuumatsu – weekend
先々週 sensenshuu – two weeks ago
先週 senshuu - last week
今週 konshuu – this week
来週 raishuu – next week
来来週 rairaishuu – two weeks’ time
油 ユ yu
あぶら abura
oil 油田 yuden – oil field
石油 sekiyu – petroleum
油と 水を混ぜる 事は出来ない
abura to mizu o mazeru koto wa dekinai –
You cannot mix oil and water
宅 タク taku home お宅 otaku – your home
お宅 otaku – a ‘geek’
帰宅 する kitaku suru – to go home
客 キャク kyaku guest, customer 客 kyaku – customer
乗客 jyou kyaku - passenger
雪 ゆき yuki snow 雪 yuki – snow
雪国 yuki guni – a snowy country
度 ド do degree, frequency 一度 ichido – once
もう一度 おねがいします mou ichi do
onegaishimasu – once more please
(“please repeat”)
今度 kondo – next time
速 ソク soku
はや(い) haya(i)
fast, speedy 速度 sokudo – speed
速達 soku tatsu – express delivery
道 ドウ dou
みち michi
street 北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern
Japanese island)
長い道 nagai michi – a long road
赤道 seki dou – equator
車道 shadou - roadway
晴 セイ sei
は(れ) ha(re)
は(れる)ha(reru)
fine, clear up 素晴らしい subarashii - wonderful
晴れる hareru – to clear up
晴天 seiten – fine weather
寺 ジ ji
てら tera
temple 寺 tera – temple
夫 フ fu
おっと otto
husband 夫 otto – one’s husband
夫婦 fuufu – a married couple
彼 かれ kare
かの kano
he 彼 kare – he
彼女 kanojo – she
彼ら karera - they
若 わか(い) waka(i) young 若さ wakasa – youthfulness
若者 wakamono – a young man
働 ドウ dou
はたら(く) hatara(ku)
work (just “working”,
not “working for ...”) don’t confuse with 動く(ugoku – move) – notice
the i on the left meaning
person – and this is
different to 勤 (work
“for” a hospital etc.)
働く hataraku – to work
労働 roudou – labour
彼は 働いている kare wa hataraite iru
– He is working
部 ブ bu department, section,
club
部分 bubun – a part, section
全部 zenbu - all
駅 エキ eki station 駅長 eki chou – stationmaster
駅員 ekiin – station employee
社 シャ sha
ジャ ja
shrine, company,
assembling
会社 kaisha – a company
社会 shakai – a society
社長 shachou – company president
鉄 テツ tetsu iron 鉄槌 tettsui – iron fist (karate move)
地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway
所 ショ sho
ジョ jyo
ところ tokoro
place, that which 所 tokoro – place
台所 daidokoro – kitchen
事務所 jimusho – an office
番 バン ban number, order 一番 ichiban – number one
電話番号 denwabangou – telephone
number
交番 kouban – police box
市 シ shi
いち ichi
city, market 市 shi – city
市場 ichiba / 市場 shi jou – a market
市長 shi chou – a mayor
市民 shimin - citizen
都 ト to capital, big city 都会 tokai – urban area
都市 toshi – big city
東京 tokyou - Tokyo
府 フ fu administrative,
prefecture
大阪府 oosaka fu – Osaka prefecture
政府 seifu - government
県 ケン ken (also) prefecture 県 ken – a prefecture
島 トウ tou
しま shima
island 島 shima – island
島国 shima guni – an island nation
留 リュウ ryu
と(まる) to(maru)
と(める) to(meru)
stay, detain 書留 kaki tome – a registered letter
留学 ryuugaku – to study abroad
宿 シュク shuku lodging, dwelling 宿題 shukudai – homework
宿泊する shukuhaku suru – to stay
宿舎 shuku sha – a dormitory
政 セイ sei administration 政治 seiji – politics
行政 gyousei – administration
政府 seifu – a government
治 ジ ji
おさ(まる) osa(maru)
おさ(める) osa(meru)
なおる nao(ru)
なおす nao(su)
govern 治す naosu – to cure, fix
政治家 seijika – a politician
経 ケイ kei control, pass through 経済 keizai – economy
経営する keiei suru – to manage
経由 keiyu – via, by way of
歴 レキ reki career 歴史 rekishi – history
学歴 gakureki – one’s educational
background
貨 カ ka goods, money 硬貨 kouka – coin
雑貨 zakka – sundries, misc. goods
この 千円札を百円 硬貨 十個に
替えてください kono sen en satsu o
hyaku en kouka jyukko ni kaete kudasai –
Please change (break) this 1000 yen bill
into ten 100 yen coins
五分ばかり この道を行けば、右手に
その百貨店が あります gofun bakari
kono michi o ikeba, migite ni sono
hyakkaten ga arimasu – If you go down
the street for about five minutes, and you
will see the Department store to the right
Writing Kanji:
The order and direction of strokes is as follows.
Left to right
Top to bottom
Always write downward
Reading Japanese:
When reading Japanese it is either left to right (if in a horizontal line) or vertical top to bottom, right to left.
Hello World
W H
o e
r l
l l
d o
ダニエル グレンフィールド Daniel Glenfield http://www.dglenfield.co.uk
荻野将司 Masashi Ogino http://massyoggy.spaces.live.com/