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 MEANING REMINDER HINT EXAMPLES

On-yomi / Kun-yomi
イチ ichi one, first 一番 ichi ban – number one, the best
一 ひとつ hitotsu 世界一 sekai ichi - the best in the world
ニ ni two, second 第二 dai ni – the second
二 ふたつ futatsu
サン san three, third 三つ mittsu – third
三 みっつ mittsu
シ shi four, fourth 四つ yottsu - fourth
四 よん yon
よっつ yottsu
 ゴ go five, fifth 五つ itsutsu - fifth
五 いつつ itsutsu
ロク roku six, sixth 六つ muttsu - sixth
六 むっつ muttsu
シチ shichi seven, seventh 七つ nanatsu - seventh
七 なな nana
ななつ nanatsu
ハチ hachi eight, eighth 八つ yattsu - eighth
八 やっつ yattsu
ク ku nine, ninth 九つ kokonotsu - nineth
九 キュウ kyuu
ここのつ kokonotsu
ジュウ jyuu ten 十 too - tenth
十 とお too
ヒャク hyaku hundred
百 もも momo
セン sen thousand
千 ち chi
マン man ten thousand
万 バン ban
よろず yorozu
フ fu father お父さん otousan – a father
父 ホ ho 父の日 chichi no hi – Father’s day
トウ tou
ちち chichi
 ボ bo mother お母さん okaasan – a mother
母 モ mo 母の日 haha no hi – Mother’s day
カア kaa 保母 ho bo – kindergarden teacher, or a
はは haha nurse
ユウ yuu friend 友達 tomodachi – friend(s)
友 とも tomo 友情 yuujou - friendship
ジョ jo woman, female looks like a woman / 彼女 kanojo – her, or girlfriend
女 ジョ/ ニョ(zyo / nyo) ironing board 女の子 onna no ko – a girl
おんな onna 女優 joyuu – an actress
ダン dan man, men, male rice field + power = 男女 danjo – men and women
男 ナン nan must be strong to work 男らしい otokorashii – manly, like a man
おとこ otoko in a rice field (a man).
ジン jin person, people 三人 san nin – three people
人 ニン nin 七人 shichi jin – seven people
ひと hito 女の人 onna no hito - woman
シ shi child, children, the looks like a child. 子猫 ko neko – kitten (child cat)
子 ス su young 女子学生 jo shi gakusei... female student
こ ko 子供 kodomo – child, children
お菓子 okashi - cake
ニチ nichi the sun, day ある日 aru hi – one day
日 ジツ jitsu 毎日 mai nichi – every day
ひ hi 三日 mikka – 3rd day (of the month)
び bi 明日 ashita – tomorrow
か ka
ガツ gatsu the moon, month 今月 kon getsu – this month
月 ゲツ getsu 月 tsuki – the moon
 つき tsuki 一月 ichi gatsu – January (first month)

カ ka fire, light looks like flames. 火事 kaji – a fire

火 ひ hi 花火 hana bi – fireworks
火花 hi bana – sparks
火山 ka zan – fire mountain
火曜日 ka youbi - Tuesday
スイ sui water looks like a river 大水 oo mizu – flood (big water)
水 みず mizu converging (water). 水着 mizu gi – swimsuit
水田 suiden – rice field
モク moku tree, wood a tree. 木上り ki nobori – tree climbing
木 ボク boku 松の木 matsu no ki – pine tree
き ki 木曜日 moku youbi – Thursday
こ ko 木村さん kimura-san – Mr. Kimura
キン kin gold, money digging under a hill for 賞金 shoukin – prize money
金 コン kon gold. 金曜日 kin youbi – Friday
かね (o-)kane 金田 kaneda-san – Mr. Kaneda
かな kana
ド do earth, ground, soil a grounded mast. 土曜日 do youbi – Saturday
土 ト to 粘土 nen do – clay
つち tsuchi 土地 to chi – ground area, soil
土木 doboku – civil engineering
ホン hon book, tree with a root. 日本 nihon – Japan
本 もと moto 本 hon – a book
origin, root,
 counter for long
slender objects
キュウ kyuu rest, vacation a man resting by a tree. 夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation
休 やす(む) yasu(mu) 昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break
お休みなさい oyasuminasai – “Good
night”
ゴ go word, speech, 日本語 nihongo – Japanese
語 かた(り) kata(ri) language, narration, 物語 mono gatari – a story, tale, legend
かた(る) kata(ru)
to tell, to speak
ネン nen year 一年 ichi nen – one year
年 とし toshi 二年前 ni nen mae – two years ago
去年 kyo nen – last year
ゴ go noon 午前 gozen – morning
午 うま uma 午後 gogo – afternoon
午後二時 gogo ni ji – 2 o’clock in the
afternoon
ゼン zen before, in front of, 名前 namae – name
前 まえ mae previous 前書き mae gaki – preface (before the
writing)
ゴ go behind, after 最後 sai go – the last, the end, the
後 コウ kou conclusion
のち nochi 後ろ ushiro – behind
うしろ ushiro
ジ ji time 時間 jikan – time
時 とき toki 時々 toki doki – sometimes
何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is
 it?

カン kan interval, between, the sun is between the 居間 ima – living room
間 ケン ken space, gates. 時間 jikan – time
あいだ aida 昼間 hiru ma - daytime
room,
ま ma
time
まい mai each, every 毎日 mai nichi – every day
毎 ばい bai 毎朝 mai asa – every morning
ごとに gotoni 毎週 mai shuu – every week

セン sen previous, ahead 先生 sen sei – teacher (previous life)

先 さき saki 先日 sen jitsu – the other day
お先に どうぞ o-sakini douzo – please
go first
コン kon now, the present 今月 kon getsu – this month
今 キン kin 今晩は konbanwa – good evening
いま ima 今度 kon do – next time
カ ka what, how many 何人 ですか nan nin desu ka – how
何 なん nan many people?
なに nani 何時ですか nan ji desu ka – what time is
it?
ジョウ jou top, above, on the stem is above the 上手 jouzu – good at
上 カミ kami ground. 上る noboru – to go up
うえ ue 上げる ageru – to rise
うわ uwa つくえの 上 tsukue no ue – on the table
 のぼ(る) nobo(ru) 年上 toshi ue – older, old (years)
あ(がる) a(garu)
あ(げる) a(geru)
カ ka bottom, beneath, the stem is below the くつ 下 kutsu shita – socks [lit. shoes
下 ゲ ge down ground. under]
した shita 下る kudaru – to go down
しも shimo 下車 する gesha suru – to get off
もと moto 下さい kudasai – please (give, do)
くだ(る) kuda(ru)
さ(がる) sa(garu)
さ(げる) sa(geru)
サ sa left looks like an ‘H’ on its 左手 hidari te – left hand
左 ひだり hidari side – ‘H’idari means 左足 hidari ashi – left leg
left 机の左 tsukue no hidari – to the left of the
desk
ウu right second symbol looks 右目 migi me – right eye
右 ユウ yuu like katakana ‘ro’. 右ページ migi pe-ji – right page (of
みぎ migi ‘right’ also starts with book)
‘r’.
トウ tou east the sun is behind the 中東 chuutou – the Middle East
東 ツウ tsuu tree rising in the East. 東京 toukyou - Tokyo
ひがし higashi
セイ sei west 西口 nishi guchi – west entrance
西 サイ sai 西ドイツ nishi Doitsu – West Germany
にし nishi 大西洋 tai sei you – the Atlantic
 ナン nan south 南米 nan bei – South America
南 みなみ minami 南極 nan kyoku – the South Pole
ホク hoku north 北アメリカ kita amerika – North
北 ボク boku America
きた kita 南北戦争 nan boku sen sou – US civil
war (North South)
ガイ gai outside, foreign 外国人 gaikoku jin – foreigner
外 ゲ ge 外人 gaijin - foreigner
そと soto 外国語 gaikoku go – foreign language
ほか hoka 外で遊ぶ soto de asobu – to play outside
メイ mei name, fame, famous 有名な yuumei(na) – famous
名 な na 名前 namae – name
平仮名 hiragana – hiragana
コウ kou high, tall, looks like a tall 最高 sai kou – the highest, the best
高 たか(い) taka(i) building 高校生 koukou sei – high school student
costly 高いビル takai biru – tall building
ショウ shou small, little 小学校 shou gakkou – elementary school
小 ちい(さい) chii(sai) 小さい家 chiisai ie – a small house
小説 shou setsu – a novel, a story (fiction)

チュウ chuu inside, middle, a line goes through the 一日中 ichi nichi juu – all day long
中 なか naka centre, within middle of this kanji 家の中 ie no naka – inside the house
勉強中 benkyou chuu – in the middle of
studying
 タイ tai / ダイ dai big, large, great 大学 dai gaku – university, college (big
大 おお(きい) oo(kii) 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
ハン han half a sword cutting 半月 han tsuki – half a month
半 なかば nakaba horizontal sticks in 半月 han getsu – half moon
half. 半島 han tou – peninsula (half island)

ブン bun / フン fun / units, minutes, a part, 半分 hanbun – half

分 プン pun to divide, 部分 bubun – a part
わ(ける) wa(keru) 気分 kibun – feeling, mood
to understand
わ(かる) wa(karu) 気分がよいです kibun ga yoi desu – I
am feeling good
分かりました wakarimashita – I
understand
ガク gaku / カク kaku learning, science, to 科学 ka gaku – science
学 まな(ぶ) mana(bu) learn 中学校 chuu gakkou – middle school
数学 suu gaku - math
コウ kou school 学校 gakkou – school
校 高校 koukou – senior high school
校内 kou nai – within the school grounds
セイ sei birth, life, to give 学生 gaku sei – a student
生 ショウ shou birth, to live 一生 isshou – all life, a lifetime
い(きる) i(kiru) 人生 jin sei – (human) life
う(まれる) u(mareru) 先生 sen sei – teacher, master, doctor
 デン den / テン ten electric, electricity 電気 denki – electricity
電 いなずま inazuma 電池 denchi – battery
電車 densha – train (electric car)
電話 denwa - telephone
キ ki spirit, intention, 空気 kuu ki – air, atmosphere
気 ケ ke mind, 元気 genki – healthy, full of spirit
いき iki 人気 nin ki - popularity
power, energy
シャ sha car, vehicle 自転車 jitensha – bicycle
車 くるま kuruma 自動車 jidousha - car
救急車 kyuukyuusha – ambulance
電車 densha - train
コク koku country, a nation 韓国 kan koku – Korea
国 くに kuni 外国 gai koku – foreign country
中国 chuu goku - China
エン en yen, a circle 千円 sen en – 1000 yen
円 まる(い) maru(i) 円高 en daka – a high yen rate
円を書く en o kaku – to draw a circle
サン san / ザン zan mountain 火山 ka zan – a volcano (fire mountain)
山 やま yama 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
セン sen river, stream 川田さん kawada-san – Mr. Kawada
川 かわ kawa
 ハク haku white 白鳥 hakuchou – Swan (white bird)
白 しろ(い) shiro(i) 白い shiroi – white
白蟻 shiro ari – termite (white ant)
テン ten heaven, the sky 天井 tenjou – ceiling
天 あま ama 天気 tenki – weather
あめ ame 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)
ウu rain 雨水 ama mizu – rain water
雨 あめ ame 大雨 oo ame – heavy rain
あま ama 小雨 ko same – light rain
ショ sho book, document 書く kaku – to write
書 か(く) ka(ku) 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
ケン ken to see, to show 見る miru – to see
見 み(る) mi(ru) 花見 hana mi – flower viewing
み(える) mi(eru) 見える mieru – to be able to see, visible
意見 iken - opinion
コウ kou to go 行きましょう ikimashou – let’s go
行 ギョウ gyou 銀行 ginkou – bank
 い(く) i(ku) / 旅行 ryokou – a trip, travel
ゆ(く) yu(ku)
シュツ shutsu to go out, leave 出口 de guchi – exit
出 だ(す) da(su), で(る) 思い出す omoi dasu – to remember, to
de(ru) recollect
出来る dekiru – be able to do
出かける dekakeru – goes, comes out

ニュウ nyuu enter, to go in, to 中入り naka iri – intermission (of a play)
入 はい(る) hai(ru) insert 入り口 iri guchi – entrance
い(る) i(ru) / 手に入れる te ni ireru – to obtain, to get
い(れる) i(reru) one’s hands on
入院 nyuuin - hospitalisation
ワ wa a talk, topic, a story 英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation
話 はなし hanashi (class)
はな(す) hana(su) 昔話 mukashi banashi – an old tale,
legend
手話 shu wa – sign language (hand talk)
ブン bun to hear, listen, ask the ear is between the 新聞 shinbun – newspaper
聞 モン mon gate and you use your 聞いてください kiite kudasai – please
き(く) ki(ku) ear to listen. listen
き(こえる) ki(koeru)
ジキ jiki eating, a meal, food 食べ物 tabemono – food
食 ショク shoku 食べる taberu – to eat
く(う) ku(u) 食べたい tabetai – I want to eat
た(べる) ta(beru) 食事 shokuji – a meal
 ドク doku to read 読みやすい yomi yasui – easy to read
読 よ(む) yo(mu) 読書 dokusho – reading (read
book/document)
読んでください yonde kudasai – please
read

ライ rai to come 未来 mi rai – the future (not yet come)

来 く(る) ku(ru) / 来週 rai shuu – next week
きた(る) kita(ru) 来月 rai getsu – next month
出来る dekiru – to be able to do
デン den rice field looks like a rice field, 田中さん tanaka-san – Mr. Tanaka
田 た ta / だ da in four parts. 山田さん yamada-san – Mr. Yamada
水田 suiden – rice field
田舎 inaka – countryside, rural area,
hometown
モン mon a gate looks like a gate. 門 mon – a gate
門 専門 senmon – speciality
コウ kou a mouth, looks like a mouth. 人口 jinkou – population
口 くち kuchi / 出口 de guchi – exit
ぐち guchi an exit, an entrance 入り口 iri guchi – entrance
シ shi private 私立大学 shiritsu daigaku – private
私 わたし watashi / university
わたくし watakushi 仮面ライダーは 私です ka men raida-
wa watashi desu – I am the Masked Rider.
リョク ryoku power 水力 sui ryoku – water power
力 リキ riki 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.
なに nani / what ? 何人 nan nin – how many people?
何 なん nan 何ですか nan desu ka – what is it?
タイ tai body, a man’s origin is his 体力 tai ryoku – physical strength
体 からだ karada body. 体育 tai iku – physical education (P.E.)
object 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
コウ kou love, like, favourite a mother loves a child. 魚は好きです sakana wa suki desu – I
好 す(き) su(ki) like fish
好物 koubutsu – one’s favourite food
リン rin wood, grove two trees make a wood 林業 ringyou – forestry
林 はやし hayashi 林 hayashi – a wood
小林さん kobayashi-san – Mr. Kobayashi
シン shin forest, jungle three trees make a 森田さん morita-san – Mr. Morita
森 もり mori forest 森林 shinrin – Woods and forests
 はたけ hatake cultivated field fire + rice field = burnt 畑 hatake – a cultivated field
畑 はた hata (cultivated) field. 田畑 ta hata – fields of rice and crops
花畑 hana batake – a flower garden
ガン gan rock a stone by a mountain 岩田さん iwata-san – Mr. Iwata
岩 いわ iwa is a rock. 岩石 ganseki – rocks and stones
火山岩 ka zan gan – volcanic rock
モク moku eye, looks like an eye 目上 me ue – one’s superiors
目 め me (vertically). 目下 me shita – one’s inferiors
item 目 me – an eye
目次 moku ji – table of contents
目的 moku teki – a purpose
ジ ji ear could be an ear (use はつ 耳です hatsu mimi desu – “That’s
耳 みみ mimi your imagination). the first time I’ve heard of that”
シュ shu hand looks like a hand 歌手 ka shu – a singer
手 て te 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)
ソク soku leg, pair, looks like a man with a 足りる tariru – to be enough
足 あし ashi very long leg. 足す tasu – to add
た(りる) ta(riru) suffice 二足 ni soku – two pairs
不足 fu soku – a shortage
チク chiku bamboo two bamboo sticks. 竹田さん Takeda-san – Mr. Takeda
竹 たけ take 竹の子 take no ko – a bamboo shoot
 マイ mai rice, 米国 bei koku – America
米 ベイ bei 北米 hoku bei – North America
ごめ gome America 南米 nan bei – South America
中米 chuu bei – Central America
かい kai shellfish looks like a crustacean 貝殻 kaigara – a shell
貝 (big shell, little legs). 真珠貝 shinjugai – pearl oyster
セキ seki stone a stone (square) is in 石川さん Ishikawa-san – Mr. Ishikawa
石 いし ishi the picture. 石や seki-ya – petroleum
化石 ka seki – a fossil
カ ka flower 花 hana - a flower
花 はな hana 花火 hanabi - fireworks
花びん kabin - a vase
チャ cha tea 茶 cha - tea
茶 サ sa 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)
ニク niku flesh, meat hangars at an abattoir 鳥肉 tori niku - Chicken
肉 for meat. 牛肉 gyuu niku – Beef
魚肉 gyo niku – fish meat
肉体 niku tai – Body
ブン bun pattern, a man crossing his legs 文 bun - a sentence
文 モン mon reading a book 文学 bun gaku – literature
ふみ fumi letter, sentence, (containing a sentence)
文字 moji – letter or character
literature
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?
ジ ji letter, character letters are associated 字 ji - a letter or character
字 with learning, and this 文字 mo ji / mon ji - a letter
looks like gaku. 漢字 kanji - kanji
数字 suuji - a number
ブツ butsu a thing, matter, object 買い物 kaimono – shopping
物 モツ motsu (non-human) 品物 shinamono - goods
もの mono 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?
ギュウ gyuu cattle, cow, bull, ox a bull with one horn. 子牛 ko ushi – a calf (child cattle)
牛 うし ushi 牛乳 gyuu nyuu – cow’s milk
 バ ba horse a galloping horse. 馬車 ba sha – a carriage
馬 うま uma 馬力 ba riki – horsepower
馬肉 ba niku – horse meat
チョウ chou bird the kanji for white 白 焼き鳥 yaki tori – roast chicken
鳥 とり tori (shiro(i)) is included 白鳥 haku chou – a swan
making this a white 野鳥 ya chou – wild bird
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
ギョ go fish a fish is caught by a 魚や sakana-ya – fish shop
魚 さかな sakana hook 焼き魚 ya ki zakana – grilled fish
金魚 kingyo – goldfish
ひつじ hitsuji sheep
羊
さる saru monkey
猿
ねこ neko cat the rice field looks like 猫の子 neko no ko – kitten
猫 a mat. The cat sat on
the mat!
ケイ kei dog 子犬を飼った ko inu o katta – I got a
犬 いぬ inu puppy (katta used to mean ‘raise’).
ぶた buta pig
豚
 ぞう zou elephant two big (square) ears
象 and a curved trunk
make an elephant.
-i Adjectives
Kanji + i

KANJI READING MEANINGS REASONING FOR EXAMPLES

On-yomi / Kun-yomi MEANING
コ ko old churches are old. 古い furui – old
古い ふる(い) furu(i) 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

チョウ chou long, 長い nagai – long

長い なが(い) naga(i) 長男 chou nan – the eldest son
eldest, chief 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
タン tan short (distance) 短い mijikai – short
短い みじか(い) mijika(i) 短時間 tan jikan – a short time
短大 tan dai – a junior college
コウ kou tall / Expensive looks like a tall 高校 kou kou – a high school
高い たか(い) taka(i) building. 高速 kou soku – high speed
高橋 Takahashi – Japanese surname
アン an cheap, safe a woman inside a 安売り (yasu u) ri – a bargain sale
安い やす(い) yasu(i) building is cheap? 安心 する an shin suru – to be relieved
安全な anzen na - safe
テイ tei low (height) 低温 tei on – low temperature
低い ひく(い) hiku(i) 低下 する tei ka suru – to fall down, to
go down
アン an dark, gloomy, 暗い kurai – dark
暗い くら(い) kura(i) depressing 暗室 an shitsu – a dark room
タta many, much 多少 ta shou – more or less
多い おお(い) ooi() 多数 ta suu – a large number
ジュウ juu heavy 重い omoi – heavy
重い チョウ chou 重くない omokunai – not heavy
おも(い) omoi 重かった omokatta – was heavy
えe 重くなかった omokunakatta – was not
かさ(なる) kasa(naru) heavy
かさ(ねる) kasa(neru)
貴重 ki chou – precious, valuable
 重点 juu ten – important point

かる(い) karu(i) light, easy

軽い
キン kin near, early 近郊 kinkou – suburbs, outskirts
近い ちか(い) chika(i) 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.
とお(い) too(i) far
遠い
アク aku bad, evil looks like an anchor on 最悪 sai aku – worst case, the worst
悪い わる(い) waru(i) top of the Kanji for 悪魔 akuma – devil, demon
heart. When you do 罪悪 zai aku – crime, sin
something bad it
最近天気が悪い saikin tenki ga warui –
should weigh on your
lately the weather has been terrible.
heart (feel bad).
ソウ sou fast, early looks like a stick man 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up
早い はや(い) haya(i) and a stick man is fast. early
はや(まる) haya(maru) 早速 sassoku – immediately, at once
はや(める) haya(meru) 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)
メイ mei bright, lively, sun + moon = bright 明るい aka(rui) – bright, cheerful
明るい ミョウ myou cheerful 明らか(な) akiraka(na) - obvious
あか(るい) aka(rui) 明ける a(keru) to break (to dawn)
あ(ける) a(keru) 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

シン shin new 新しい atarashii – new

新しい あたら(しい) 新しくない atarashikunai – not new
atara(shii) 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
ガク gaku enjoyment looks like a 楽しみます tanoshimimasu – to enjoy
楽しい ラク raku microphone on a stage 音楽 ongaku – music
たの(しい) tano(shii) that someone has 快楽 kairaku - pleasure
enjoyed singing in to.
たの(しむ) 快楽主義 kairaku shu gi - Hedonism
tano(shimu) 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.
 セイ sei correct, right, justice if you stop 止 to think 正義 seigi – justice, righteousness
正しい ショウ shou about it you will get it 正月 shou gatsu – new year
ただ(しい) tada(shii) right 改正 kai sei – revision; amendment
ただ(す) tadasu 正解 sei kai – correct (answer)
まさ masa 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?
うつく(しい) beautiful
美しい utsuku(shii)
いそが(しい) busy 毎日 忙しい です mai nichi isogashii
忙しい isoga(shii) desu – Every day I am busy
すばら(しい) wonderful, superb
素晴ら subara(shii)

しい
-na Adjectives
Kanji + na

しずか(な) shizukana quiet 静かな 公園 です ね shizukana

静かな kouen desu ne – It is a quiet park isn’t it?
おだやか(な) calm あの 人は 穏やか です ano hito wa
穏やか odayaka(na) odayaka desu – That person is calm

な
まっくら(な) 真っ暗な makkura(na) – pitch black
真っ暗 makkura(na) 真っ黒 makkuro(na) – jet black

な
ビ bi faint, vague, 微光写真 bikou shashin – low-light
微かな かすか(な) kasuka(na) microscopic photography
みょうな myou(na) strange 妙に myouni – strangely...
妙な
かんたんな kantan(na) simplistic 試験は 簡単でした shiken wa kantan
簡単な deshita – The test was easy (simple)
へいおんな peaceful 平穏で 静かな 公園 です heion de
平穏な shizukana kouen desu – A peaceful and
quiet park
ばかな stupid a stupid person could 場かな 質問 bakana shitsumon – a
馬鹿な not tell the difference stupid question
between a horse 馬
 (uma) and a deer 鹿
(shika)
じゅうような important 重要な 書類 jyuuyouna shorui – an
重要な important document
More Adjectives
Kanji + others

ショウ shou few, little Kanji for small (chiisai) 少し sukoshi – a little, a few
少ない すく(ない) sukunai is in this kanji character 少年 shou nen – a boy
すこ(し) sukoshi (few, little). 少女 shou jo – a girl
少し
JLPT Level 3 Kanji
しん shin heart, mind, the long line is the heart 安心 an shin – relief, peace of mind
心 こころ kokoro and the short lines are the
(relating to) emotion blooooooood.
カイkai / エ e turn any way you turn it, it is 遠回り too mawari – detour
回 まわ(る) mawa(ru) still a square in a square.
まわ(す) mawa(su)
セイ sei blue 青空 ao zora – blue skies
青 ショウ shou 青森県 aomori ken – Aomori Prefecture
あお(い) ao(i) (northern Japan)
青色 ao iro – blue colour
セキ seki red the Kanji for earth is 赤道 seki dou – equator
赤 シャク shaku above, and underneath is 赤字 aka ji – deficit, go in the red, red
あか(い) aka(i) the red fiery lava rising letters
up 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
シュウ shuu autumn, fall (season) in the fall leaves have the 秋ぶんの ひ shuu bun no hi – autumn
秋 あき aki colour of fire. equinox holiday (September)
秋ば しょ aki ba sho – autumn sumo
tournament
カイ kai to open through an open door we ドアを開けて ください doa o akete
開 あ(ける) a(keru) can see a Shinto gate in kudasai – please open the door
the distance. 全開 zen kai – full throttle, all the way
開港 kai kou – open port, treaty port
 再開 sai kai – re-opening, resumption

チョウ chou morning, dawn a car driving the moon 朝日新聞 Asahi shinbun – Asashi
朝 あさ asa away (morning) 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
ミ mi taste, experience open your mouth to taste 趣味 shumi - hobby
味 あじ aji a tree top 意味 imi – meaning
あじ(わう) aji(wau) 味見 aji mi – taste testing
隠し味 kakushi aji – hidden taste
シュウ shuu to collect, to gather my aerial is on top of the 編集 hen shuu – editing (newspaper,
集 あつ(まる) atsu(maru) tree (gathering signals) book)
採集 sai shuu – collecting, gathering
ケイ kei older brother the top part looks like an 兄弟 kyou dai – brothers
兄 キョウ kyou eye. big brother is
あに ani watching you!
シ shi older sister my older sister 市(ichi) 姉妹 shi mai - sisters
姉 あね ane works at the market 姉妹都市 shi mai to shi – sister cities
ホ ho to walk, to step the top part is to stop 止 一歩一歩 ippo ippo – step by step, little
歩 フ fu (tomeru) and the bottom by little
ある(く) aru(ku) is little 少(し), so when 散歩 sanpo - walking
you walk a little you have
 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.
ユウ yuu to have, to exist you have a month 月 固有 ko yuu – characteristic, inborn
有 あ(る) ar(u) (inanimate object) (getsu) to do something 有効 yuu kou – effective, valid
有罪 yuu zai – guilt, guiliness
有名(な) yuumei(na) – famous
イi to heal, to cure a person lying in bed 医者 isha – doctor
医 with a bandage being 歯科医 shikai – dentist
healed. 医師 ishi – doctor, surgeon
イi mind, heart, your mind and heart 注意 chuui – attention, caution
意 (bottom) are standing to 意見 iken – opinion, view
attention attention (top part looks 意味 imi – meaning
like legs standing).
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.
 イi more, with, through, 以上 ijou – more than or at least
以 on account of 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.
カ ka house the top part is a roof, 家族 ka zoku - Family
家 ケ ke while the bottom is a pig.
借家 shaku ya – rental, rented house
いえ ie You keep pigs at home.
恐妻家 kyou sai ka – a henpecked
うち uchi 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.
キュウ kyuu to hurry fish are always in a hurry 急行 kyuukou – Express Train
急 いそ(ぐ) iso(gu) because their hearts 心 急(な) kyuu(na) - sudden
(kokoro) beat too fast.
 マイ mai younger sister little girls (younger 姉妹 shimai – sisters
妹 いもうとimouto sister) like to play 姉妹都市 shimai to shi – sister cities
outside, hence the tree.
ショク shoku colour fishing hooks are 青色 ao iro – blue colour
色 シキ shiki colourful to attract fish. 灰色 hai iro – grey colour
いろ iro 黄緑色 kimadori iro – yellow-green (pea-
green)
黄色 ki iro – yellow
茶色 chairo – brown (tea colour)
オン on sound if you stand on the sun 音読み on yomi – the ‘Chinese’ reading
音 イン in you will make a lot of of a Kanji (by sound)
おと oto sound. 音階 on kai – Musical scale
ね ne 雑音 zatsu on – noise, jamming,
interference, grating
イン in member, official an official is just a shell 委員 i in – committee member
員 with a mouth. 職員 shoku in – staff
イン in institution, academy 参議院 san gi in – House of Councilors
院 病院 byouin – hospital
ドウ dou to move car plus power = moving. 移動 i dou – move, transfer
動 うご(く) ugo(ku) 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.
 カ ka a song, to sing a person on the right 短歌 tan ka – Tanka poem (a 31 syllable
歌 うた uta singing into karaoke Japanese poem)
うた(う) uta(u) boxes on the left.
シャ sha to copy, to take (a someone is moving the 写真 shashin – photograph, picture
写 うつす utsu(su) photo) camera to take a photo of
the number ‘5’.
エイ ei to be reflected, to Final Fantasy – person is 今度映画を見に行きませんか kondo
映 うつ(す) utsu(su) project onto a screen casting Reflect in front of eiga o mi ni ikimasen ka – next time, why
うつ(る) utsu(ru) them. 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.
カイ kai sea, ocean the three marks on the 北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern
海 うみ umi left mean ‘water’ and the Japanese island)
other symbol means 海外 kai gai - overseas, abroad
‘every’. Every water 黄海 kou kai – the Yellow Sea
comes from the ocean.
公海 kou kai – the high seas, international
waters
航海 kou kai – voyage, ocean navigation
紅海 kou kai – the Red Sea
バイ bai sale, to sell looks like a man standing 読売新聞 yomi uri shinbun – Yomiuri
売 う(る) u(ru) behind a counter in his Newspaper
う(り) u(ri) shop, selling.
ウン un carry, a man carrying a car 運河 un ga – canal
運 はに(ぶ) hani(bu) home that he has won 運命 un mei – fate, destiny
luck (because he is lucky). 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.

エイ ei England, English, the top part of the Kanji 英会話 ei kai wa – English conversation
英 ヨウ you is grass (tea) which the 石英 seki ei – quartz (grand stone)
はなぶさ hanabusa grand English drink a lot of. 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.
シュウ shuu end, finish Winter is the ending 最終 sai shuu – last, final
終 シュ shu thread of the year. 終電 shuu den – last train (for the night)
お(わる) o(waru) 終了 shuu ryou – end, termination
お(える) o(eru) 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
キ ki get up, wake up running at 2 in the 早起き haya oki – early riser, getting up
起 コ ko morning makes you wake early
 お(きる) o(kuru) up 一念発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved
お(こす) o(kosu) to do something
お(こる) o(koru) 朝の六時に 起きました asa no roku ji
ni okimashita – I woke up at 6 this
morning.
オク oku roof, house, shop a roof starts from the 本屋 hon-ya – book shop
屋 や ya ground up 部屋 heya – room (in a house)
靴屋 kutsu-ya – shoe shop
屋根 ya ne – roof
ソウ sou send Mr. Yen is running away 衛星放送 ei sei hou sou – satellite
送 ス su (people sending money) broadcasting
おく(る) oku(ru) 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
キョウ kyou teach, education, child gets smacked by the 教会 kyou kai – church
教 おし(える) oshi(eru) adult (teaching) キリスト教 kirisuto kyou – Christianity
おそ(わる) oso(waru) faith 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.
テイ tei younger brother a lot of younger brothers 兄弟 kyou dai - brothers
弟 おとうと otouto have a bow and arrows 師弟 shi tei – master and pupil; teacher
and student
ドウ dou same, agree, equal when everyone agrees 混同 kon dou – confusion, mixing
同 おな(じ) ona(ji) they have one 一 mouth 賛同 san dou – approval, endorsement
口
シュ shu Lord, master, the the Lord is above a king 民主主義 min shu shu gi – democracy
主 ス su principal matter 王 (ou) 快楽主義 kai raku shu gi – Hedonism
ぬし nushi 主人公 shu jin kou – master, hero,
おも omo heroine
印象主義 in shou shu gi – impressionism
(art)
主人 shujin – husband, the owner

シ shi think a lot of thinking can be 七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven
思 おも(う) omo(u) done in one’s heart 心 wonders of the world
(kokoro) in a rice field
田 (den)
シン shin parent, relative, being close to someone 父親 chichi oya – father
親 おや oya (relative, familiar) 親指 oya yubi – thumb
した(しい) shita(shii) familiar requires looking closely アメリカから両親が来ます amerika
at them (miru 見る). 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.
カ ka Summer in Summer you get 夏休み natsu yasumi – Summer vacation
夏 なつ natsu hundreds 百 of friends 友
ガ ga picture looks like a picture of a 絵画 kai ga – picture, painting
画 かく kaku rice field hung up on the 計画 kei kaku – plan
えがく egaku wall. 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?
カイ kai world feed the world using a 界 sakai - world
界 さかい sakai rice field 田 (den) 世界 se kai – the world
世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world
キ ki return, arrive at looks like a man 帰国 ki koku – return to one’s own
帰 かえ(る) kae(ru) returning to his home country
かえ(す) kae(su) (entering the front door). 国へ帰ります kuni e kaerimasu – I am
returning to my own country.
ダイ dai generation, a dog with a broken leg is 時代 ji dai - era, the times, generation
代 タイ tai behind the times and the 古代 ko dai - ancient times
か(える) ka(eru) price, price to fix it is 明治時代 mei ji ji dai - Meji era
 か(わる) ka(waru) expensive. 時代錯誤 ji dai saku go - anachronism,
しろ shiro age, being behind the times
よ yo 交代 kou tai - take turns, relieve (a
exchange, substitute person)
電話代 denwadai – telephone charge
フウ fuu wind, air, an insect 虫 (mushi) is 最近、台風が 多いです sai kin, taifuu
風 かぜ kaze hiding under a tent ga ooi desu – lately, there have been many
style because it is windy. typhoons.
風 kaze – a cold, wind
風をじみです kaze o jimi desu – I have a
cold.
カ ka lend kanji for “buy” 買 (kau) 貸す kasu – to lend
貸 か(す) ka(su) is paired with
“generation” 代 (dai) to
show money going from
one person to another
(lending).
ホウ kou person, looks like a person 方言 hou gen – dialect
方 かた kata running in a direction. 夕方 yuugata - evening
way, 方向 hou kou – direction, bearing, course
平方根 hei hou kon – square root (math)
direction
シ shi paper paper is made of threads 折り紙 origami – origami (paper folding)
紙 かみ kami 糸(ito) of wood 手紙 tegami – letter (lit. hand-paper)
ツウ tsuu go through, avenue, 交通 kou tsuu – traffic; transportation
通 とお(る) too(ru) この道路は 交通が少ない kono dou ro
とお(す) too(su) traffic wa kou tsuu ga sukunai – Traffic is light
on this road.
 かよ(う) kayo(u)

シャク shaku borrow, rent a person (left radical) 借家 shaku-ya – rented, rented house
借 か(りる) ka(riru) borrows things during
the day 日 (ni)
カン kan China China is across the
漢 ocean, so the three marks
on the left mean ‘water’.
カン kan palace, building a government 官 (kan) 図書館 toshokan – library
館 やかた yakata building has a place to 体育館 tai iku kan – a gym
eat 食べる (taberu) 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.
ゲン gen beginning, origin it has two legs going 元気 genki – healthy, strong, fine
元 ガン gan back to the beginning お元気ですか o-genki desu ka – How are
もと moto you?
コウ kou thought, think, someone is striking the 参考 san kou - reference, consultation
考 かんが(える) kanga(eru) consider ground 土 (do) by
thinking.
チャク chaku wear (clothes), at the top is the character 着る kiru – wear
着 き(る) ki(ru) for sheep 羊 and you
着く tsuku – to arrive
き(せる) ki(seru) arrive wear clothes made from
wool. 水着 mizu gi – swim suit, bathing suit
つ(く) tsu(ku) 上着 uwagi – jacket, coat
つ(ける) tsu(keru) 到着 touchaku – arrival
 キュウ kyuu research, study researching six and nine. 彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大した
究 きわ(める) kiwa(meru) kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai
shita – He expanded the focus of his
research.
キョ kyo past, gone, it is a boat with the sail 去年 kyo nen – last year
去 コ ko going past 過去 kako – past
さ(る) sa(ru) to leave
キョウ kyou capital looks like a tall building, 東京 toukyou - Tokyo
京 ケイ kei like you might see in a
京都 kyouto – Kyoto
みやこ miyako capital city.
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?
キョウ kyou strong a bow on the left, and 勉強 benkyou – study
強 ゴウ gou (looks like) a man’s face 強制 kyousei – coercion
つよ(い) tsuyo(i) on the right. a strong man 一歩一歩日本語を 勉強してください
can use a bow.
つよ(まる) tsuyo(maru) ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite
つよ(める) tsuyo(meru) kudasai – Please study Japanese little by
し(いる) shi(iru) little.

ギョウ gyou business, vocation a big fancy Mr.Yen, and 鉱業 kou gyou – mining (industry)
業 ゴウ gou business gets you lots of 残業 zan gyou – overtime
わざ waza money. 卒業 sotsugyou – graduation
セツ sei cut, cut off seven 七 swords 刀 cut 大切 taisetsu – important
切 サイ sai better than one 親切 shinsetsu – kind, helpful
き(る) ki(ru) 電池が 切れました denchi ga
き(れる) ki(reru) kiremashita – The battery is dead.
 ギン gin silver metal on the left, right 銀行 ginkou – bank
銀 しろがね shirogane symbol looks kind of like
a silver spoon
コウ kou construction, craft looks like an I beam for 細工 saiku – work, craftmanship
工 ク ku construction 工場 koujou – factory, plant
コク koku black the sun 日 is burning the 白黒 shiro kuro - white and black
黒 くろ(い) kuro(i) ground 土 black
ケイ kei plan, measure planning and measuring 目覚まし時計 me zamashi do kei – alarm
計 はか(る) haka(ru) takes talk clock
はか(らう) haka(rau) 計画 keikaku – plan
計算 keisan – computation, calculation
気圧計 kiatsukei – barometer
時計 tokei – clock
ケン ken study of, sharpen your study of 研究 kenkyuu – study, research
研 と(ぐ) to(gu) rocks 石 (ishi)
sharpen
ケン ken build there is a number ‘3’ on 再建 sai ken – reconstruction, rebuilding
建 た(つ) ta(tsu) the left, and on the right 建設 ken setsu – construction
た(てる) ta(teru) is part of ‘book’. You そのビルは 未だ 建設中です sono
need three books to build biru wa imada kensetsu chuu desu – That
a house building is still under construction.
ケン ken testing, test, examine, looks like a person 試験 shiken – test
験す ため(す) tame(su) standing by a desk (on 試験管 shikenkan – test tube
effect the left) with a high
試験まで 後 一週間 shiken made ato
board because he is
ishuukan – There is one week before the
taking a test
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.
コウ kou wide, broad, spacious there is a lot of space 広告 kou koku – advertisement
広 ひろ(い) hiro(i) around this kanji この道は 広いです kono michi wa
ひろ(がる) hiro(garu) hiroi desu – This road is wide.
ひろ(げる) hiro(geru) 知識を 広める chishiki o hiromeru –
ひろ(まる) hiro(maru) To widen one’s knowledge.
ひろ(める) hiro(meru)
シ shi test, try, examine saying words 言 (iu) 試験 shiken – test, examine
試 ため(す) tame(su) during a ceremony 式
こころ(みる) (shiki) makes an
kokoro(miru) experiment
トウ tou answer, solution “Who designed your T- 応答 する outou suru – to respond
答 こた(え) kota(e) Shirt?” and I answered
こた(える) kota(eru) “Two pidgeons on a
rooftop”!!!
ジ ji thing, matter, 故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin
事 ズ zu 事故 jiko – accident, trouble
こと koto business, 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
fact
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.
 テン ten revolve, turn around you need space 広い 自転車 jitensha – bicycle
転 ころ(ぶ) koro(bu) (hiroi) to turn your car 車 安全 運転 an zen unten – safe driving
ころ(がす) koro(gasu) (kuruma) around 転換 tenkan – convert
ころ(がる) koro(garu)
ころ(げる) koro(geru)
サク saku make, prepare, the mark to the left イ 工作 kou saku – handcraft, manoeuvring
作 サ sa produce represents a person, so 耕作 kou saku - cultivate, till, plow
つく(る) tsuku(ru) someone who is making 作品 sakuhin – creation, opus
something 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.

シ shi stop looks like a road block 立ち入り禁止 tachi iri kin shi - do not
止 と(まる) to(maru) which makes you stop enter
と(める) to(meru) 喫煙の 習慣を 止めることが でき
やめる ya(meru) 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.
ジ ji self, oneself 自分 jibun – oneself, myself
自
it is the kanji ‘me’目
シ shi (eye) but with an 自白 jihaku – confession (self + white =
みずか(ら) mizuka(ra) eyebrow which means “I come clean”)
‘Me’ 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
シ shi serve, work (serve) until you 五日 たてば 仕事が 完了するだろ
仕 つか(える) tsuka(eru) die (grave). う itsuka tateba shigoto ga kanryou suru
official, darou – We should complete this job in
five days.
attend
シ shi die, death it could be two souls 枯死 koshi – withering, dying
死 し(ぬ) shi(nu) dead under the land (the 死罪 shizai – capital punishment, capital
line along the top). offence
シ shi beginning, begin, the woman 女 (onna) on 始めまして hajimemashite – a greeting
始 はじ(まる) haji(maru) start stage 台 began to (when meeting for the first time)
はじ(める) haji(meru) perform
シ shi use looks like an old man 大使館 taishikan - embassy
使 つか(う) tsuka(u) looking at a stick of 使って も いい です か tsukatte
bamboo and wondering
mo ii desu ka – may I use (this)?
how to use it.
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.
チ chi ground, soil (in the contains the kanji for 土地 tochi – ground, soil, area
地 ジ ji context of the Earth, ground/soil 地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway
Holy place etc) 地域 chiiki – local, area, zone, district
耕地 kouchi – cultivated land
砂地 sunaji – sandy place, sandy terrain
 地理 chiri - geography

ジ ji hold, have a man in front of a 維持 iji - maintenance

持 も(つ) mo(tsu) temple holding 持参 jisan – bringing or taking with one
も(てる) mo(teru) something. 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.
シツ shitsu quality, matter, two axes chopping into 質問 shitsu mon – question
質 シチ shichi substance the shell to see what the 材質 zai shitsu – material properties,
quality is. lumber quality
シツ shitsu room, chamber the top part of a room is a 更衣室 kou i shitsu – dressing room
室 むろ muro roof 個室 koshitsu – private room
ヒン hin goods, article, three mouths 口 look like 物品 buppin – goods
品 しな shina three boxes (goods) 上品 jouhin – elegant
elegance, dignity 食料品 shokuryouhin – groceries
作品 sakuhin – creation, opus
シャ sha someone, person this kanji represents a 医者 isha – doctor, physician
者 もの mono person’s life. There is the 妻帯者 sai tai sha – a married man
sun (birth) and the
ground (looks like a
grave).
シュウ shuu learn, practice it is a face of someone 練習 renshuu - practice
習 なら(う) nara(u) looking troubled because 慣習 kanshuu – usual custom
it is hard to practice 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.
ジュウ juu live, reside, dwell you are the lord 主 of the 住所 jusho – address
住 す(まう) su(mau) house you live in 三年間 日本に 住みました san nen
す(む) su(mu) 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.
シュン shun spring (season) three 三 people 人 out in 春雨 haru same – Spring Rain
春 はる haru the sun 日 in springtime.
ジョウ jyou place, location the earth 土 is a place 駐車場 chuu sha jou – parking lot /
場 チュウ chuu under the sun 日 garage
ば ba 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.
 チ chi to know, wisedom the kanji on the left 知識 chishiki – knowledge, learning
知 し(る) shi(ru) means arrow 矢 (ya) and 温故知新 on ko chishin – exploring the
the right kanji is a mouth old (past), one comes to understand the
口 (guchi). wisedom is new (present)
like an arrow from one’s 告知 koku chi – notify, announce
mouth. 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.
シン shin true, reality 真実 shin jitsu – truth, reality
真 ま ma 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
ズ zu map, drawing, plan X marks the spot on this 図書館 toshokan - library
図 ト to treasure map 地図 chizu - map
はか(る) haka(ru) 合図 aizu – sign, signal
地図を 見せてください chizu o misete
kudasai – Please show me the map
セイ sei generation, world, looks like katakana se 世界一 se kai ichi – the best in the world
世 セ se society セ because it (katakana) 世紀 sei ki - century
よ yo derives from kanji. It is 浮世絵 uki yoe – Ukiyoe (woodblock
the previous generation. print)
セキ seki evening 夕方 yuugata - evening
夕 ゆう yuu 夕焼け yuuyake – sunset
 ソウ sou run looks like a man running 本田さんは マラソンを はしりまし
走 はし(る) hashi(ru) た honda-san wa marason o
hashirimashita – Mr.Honda ran a
marathon.
ゾク zoku family, tribe on the left is person 方 家族 kazoku – family
族 (kata) and on the right 民族 minzoku – tribe
arrow 矢 (ya), so this
represents a person
hunting food for his tribe
(family).
チュウ chuu pour, flow into, the Lord 主 is 注目 chuu moku – attention, notice
注 そそ(ぐ) soso(gu) concentrating on the 注意 chuui – careful (concentrate)
concentrate water (kanji on the left). 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.
タイ tai stand, stage, pedestal looks like someone on a 最近、台風が多いです sai kin, taifuu ga
台 ダイ dai stage shouting into a ooi desu – Lately, there have been many
microphone (side-on typhoons.
view)
タイ tai wait, depend on person + time = wait ちょっと 待って ください chotto
待 ま(つ) ma(tsu) matte kudasai – please wait a moment
ダイ dai topic, subject a person with a shellfish 飲み放題 nomi hou dai – all you can
題 on his leg is a subject of drink
study 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.
 ド do degree, 今度 kondo – next time, soon
度 タク taku 硬度 koudo – hardness
たび tabi time, 支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation
今度映画を 見ましょう kondo eiga o
times occurred
mimashou – Next time let’s see a movie.
制度を 改めた seido o aratameta –
They changed the system.
リョ ryo travel, trip the top right hand 旅行 ryokou – trip, travel
旅 たび tabi horizontal line is an arm 次の 旅行は どこに 行きたい で
passing a ticket to a す か tsugi no ryokou wa doko ni ikitai
person 方 (kata) for their desu ka – Where do you want to go for the
trip. next trip?
旅館 ryokan - Japanese-style inn
チュウ chuu noon, daytime the sun 日 is in the 昼休み hiru yasumi – lunch break
昼 ひる hiru middle at noon
チョウ chou town, village think of a small town 車で町に行きましょう kuruma de
町 まち machi with a T shaped road machi ni ikimashou – Let’s go to town by
leading to a rice field 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.
モン mon question, ask, you go to the gate 門 and 質問 shitsu mon – question
問 と(い) to(i) problem speak with your mouth この問題は 難しいです kono mondai
と(う) to(u) 口 if you have a problem wa muzukashii desu – This problem is
or need to ask a question. difficult.
質問があります shitsumon ga arimasu
– I have a question.
 トウ tou winter think of a cloud dropping 冬眠 tou min – hibernation
冬 ふゆ fuyu two snowflakes in winter
ドウ dou hall here we see the ground, a 食堂 shokudou – dining hall
堂 roof, and in the middle a 任天堂 nintendou – Nintendo. 任
mouth (the hallway) responsibility/duty, 天 heaven
トク toku special the left symbol looks like 特技 toku gi – special skills
特 a cow. A special cow 特急 tokkyuu – special express train
was dontated to the その習慣は 日本独特の もの だ
temple. sono shuukan wa nihon dokutoku no
mono da – That custom is unique to
Japan.
ヤ ya plains, field on the other side of a 野球 yakyuu - baseball
野 の no village 里 (sato) there is 長野 nagano – Nagano Prefecture
a field (wilderness) 野菜 yasai - vegetables
荒野 kou ya – wilderness, the wilds
ハツ hatsu / パツ patsu depart, start from, it looks like a rocket 一年発起 ichi nen hokki – to be resolved
発 departing to the stars to do something
to happen 出発 shuppatsu – leave, departure
告発 koku hatsu – prosecution, accusation
再発 sai hatsu – relapse, recurrence
発音 hatsuon - pronounciation
発散 hassan – exhalation, emanation,
diffusion, radiation, evaporation
発売 hatsu bai – released for sale
ハン han meal, cooked rice the left part is to eat 食べ 朝ご飯 asa gohan - breakfast
飯 めし meshi る (taberu), and you can 昼ご飯 hiru gohan – lunch
 see an F in there too 晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner
(people in famine need a
meal)
ビョウ byou ill, sick could be an ill person on 黄熱病 ou netsu byou – yellow fever
病 ヘイ hei a hospital bed (top down 病院 byouin – hospital
やまい yamai view) 病気になる byouki ni naru – to become
や(む) ya(mu) sick
フ fu negative, bad, non- it’s bad when your back 七不思議 nana fu shi gi – the seven
不 is down and falling apart wonders
不安 fu an – uneasiness, anxiety
不幸 fu kou – unhappiness, misfortune
不在 fu zai - absence
フク fuku clothing, obey me and wear the 洋服 you fuku – Western-style
服 moon as clothing
clothes
obey
ベツ betsu separate, another, the bottom part is the 特別 toku betsu - special
別 わか(れる) waka(reru) kanji for sword 刀 so this 別々に betsu betsu ni – separately
specially kanji separates it from 別荘 bessou – a second house
others 区別 ku betsu - to make a distinction
差別 sa betsu – discrimination
リョウ ryou fee, the part to the left is rice 給料 kyuu ryou – pay, salary
料 米 (bei) which is an 香辛料 kou shin ryou – spices, seasoning
materials essential material to pay 香料 kou ryou – spices, perfumes
for. 送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping
(charges) included
材料 zai ryou – material, matter, factor,
element
 資料 shi ryou – materials, data

リ ri truth, logic, reason in ancient times the king 地理 chiri - geography

理 王(ou) of the village 里 論理 ron ri - logic
(sato) would be the 理論 ri ron - theory
person with the logic and
理解 ri kai – understanding, comprehend
reason.
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

ヨウ you the west, western- ever play Worms? water 大西洋 tai sei you – Atlantic Ocean
洋 style, + sheep = aquasheep (a 洋服 you fuku – Western-style
western idea from across
ocean the ocean) clothes

ヨウ you weekday 水曜日 sui youbi – Wednesday

曜 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.

ヤ ya evening, night 今夜 kon ya – this evening

夜 よ yo 昨夜 saku ya – last night
よる yoru
ヨウ you use, service, business in the service business 用意 you i – prepare, preparations
用 もち(いる) mochi(iru) everybody wants the 引用 in you – quotation, citation
moon on a stick (moon 雇用 ko you – hire, employment
月 with a line through it) 採用 sai you – adoption, acceptance,
employment, appointment
べん ben exertion it takes power 力 勉強 benkyou – study
勉 (chikara) to exert oneself
クウ kuu sky, weather, The number six 六 (roku) 空く suku – to become empty, hungry
空 そら sora is in the sky 空く aku – to become empty (not used for
す(く)su(ku) empty hungry)
あ(く) a(ku) 空 kara – empty
空手 karate – Karate (empty hand)
カイ kai meeting, conference, People gather inside a hut 会社 kaisha – office
会 あ(う) a(u) gathering for a meeting 会議 kaigi – meeting
会話 kaiwa – conversation
教会 kyoukai – Church
会う au – to meet
JLPT Level 2 Kanji
アイ ai love tomo(dachi) 友 is at the 愛知県 aichi ken – Aichi prefecture
愛 いと(しい) ito(shi) bottom and you love your 愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunch box
friends. packed with love by ones wife
愛妻 aisai – someone’s beloved wife
アツ atsu pressure looks like a jack that you 気圧 ki atsu – atmospheric pressure
圧 raise a car with, in order 圧巻 akkan – highlight, masterpiece
to test the pressure of タイヤの 空気圧を 調べて もらえ
tires
ます か - taiya no kuukiatsu o shirabete
moraemasu ka – Could you check the tire
pressure?
アン an proposal, idea it was a good idea to put 案内 する annai suru – to show around
案 the woman on the tree 君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ
て いるの か kimi no an o jikkou ni
utsuseru to omotte iru no ka – Do you
think you can put your idea into practice?
イi commit, entrust with a woman is trustworthy 委員 iin – committee member
委 about her family tree その問題は 委員会に かけられてい
る sono mondai wa iinkai ni kakerate iru
– The question is before the committee
イi stomach fill your stomach after 仕事が 胃にこたえて きた よ
胃 the harvest moon shigoto ga i ni kotaete kita yo – My job is
giving me a stomach-ache
イi surround, enclose you enclose a well 井 雰囲気 funiki – an atmosphere (of a
囲 かこ(う) kako(u) with a wall place)
かこ(む) kako(mu) 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
イi rank, position, about, 一位 ichi i – first place
位 くらい kurai approximately 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.
イi clothes, garments you can see the letters F I 更衣室 kou i shitsu – changing room
衣 ころも koromo T in this kanji, and to get その 金が 全て 衣服に 使われた
fit you need gym clothes sono kane ga subete ifuku ni tsukawareta
– All the money was spent on clothes.
イi transfer, infect, move with two タ s this kanji is 移動 i dou – move, transfer (something)
移 うつ(す) utsu(su) on the move 君の 案を 実行に 移せると 思っ
うつ(る) utsu(ru) 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?
イi different 異常 ijou – abnormal, unusual
異 こと koto 差異 sai – difference, disparity

イi depend on the left radical is ‘person’ 依存 izon – dependence (state of

依 エe and the right is ‘clothes’ depending on)
衣 – a person depends on
clothes for survival
イi great, high ranking a great person has a 偉人 ijin – a great person
偉 えら(い) era(i) person to his left
 イi different, wrong, the difference between 違反 ihan – violation, offence
違 ちが(う) chiga(u) differ wrong 違う and great 偉
ちが(える) chiga(eru) い is slight but important.
イキ iki region, boundary this kanji is land 土 with 地域 chi iki – local, area, zone, district
域 lines around it dividing it
up into regions
イク iki bring up, educate, 教育 kyou iku – education
育 そだ(つ) soda(tsu) grow 体育館 tai iku kan – a gym
そだ(てる) soda(teru) 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
イン in sign, mark this kanji is a picture of 刻印 koku in – carved seal, stamp
印 しるし shirushi the Fonz saying “hEy” – 印刷 in satsu – printing
his sign or mark 印象 in shou - impression
第一 印象が 大事である daiichi
inshou ga daiji de aru – First impressions
are important
この 印は 何を あらわして いま
す か kono shirushi wa nani o
arawashite imasu ka – What does this sign
signify?
イン in cause if you put something big 火事の 原因は だいたい 分かって
因 よ(る) yo(ru) 大 (ookii) in your mouth いる kaji no genin wa daitai wakette iru –
口 (guchi) it will cause There is not much doubt about the cause
you to choke of the fire
ウu wing, feather looks like two wings 二羽 ni wa – two birds (wa is the counter
羽 はね hane 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
ウu universe, looks like an alien from 宇宙人 uchuu jin - alien
宇 somewhere in the
house universe
ウン un cloud the top symbol is rain 黒い 雲が でて きた よ kuroi
雲 くも kumo which comes from clouds kumo ga dete kita yo – Dark clouds are
gathering
月が 雲の 間 から でた tsuki ga
kumo no aida kara deta – The moon came
out from behind the clouds
エイ ei swim two waters (left radical 川で 泳ぎましょう kawa de
泳 およ(ぐ) oyo(gu) and 水) make up this oyogimashou – Let’s swim in the river
kanji so there is a lot of
water to swim in
エイ ei flourish, glory a tree with a crown must 栄光 eikou – glory
栄 さか(える) saka(eru) be truly flourishing 栄枯盛衰 eiko seisui – prosperity and
は(え) ha(e) decline, rise and fall
は(える) ha(eru) 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
エイ ei manage, the hat denotes authority 自営 jiei – self-employed
営 いとな(む) itona(mu) and the big mouth means 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
エイ ei eternity, forever this looks like water 水 永遠 eien – forever, eternity
永 なが(い) naga(i) with more water being 永久歯 ei kyuu shi – permanent teeth
poured onto it, so it あなたは 永久に 日本を 去るの
continues forever 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?
エイ ei sharp (wit, object, but metal 金 (kin) is sharp あたま が 鋭い atama ga surudoi –
鋭 するど(い) surudo(i) not as in fashion) clever, quick-witted
エキ eki liquid the water radical can be
液 seen
エキ eki easy looks similar to horse 馬 当時 よい 職を 得る ことは 決
易 イi (uma) and horse riding is して 容易では なかった touji yoi
やさ(しい) yasa(shii) easy shoku o eru koto wa kesshite youi de wa
nakatta – In those days it was far from
easy to come by a good job
エツ eji go over, cross, the right radical looks 引越し hikkoshi – to move to (another
越 こえる ko(eru) exceed, move to like a man walking house)
こす ko(su) briskly away from a
telegraph pole, crossing
over the road
エン en garden a garden is enclosed with 公園 kouen – park
園 その sono earth 土 (do) inside 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?
エン en salt salt comes from the earth もう ちょっと 塩味を きかせてみ
塩 しお shio 土 (do) and this looks たら mou chotto shioaji o kikasete mitara
like a pestle and mortar – How about adding a little more salt?
エン en act, perform (a play) 講演 kou en – lecture
演 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
エン en postpone, extend, the radical for stop 止め 延長 enchou - extension
延 の(びる) no(biru) total る (tomeru) is running
の(べる) no(beru) ahead, extending the race
の(ばす) no(basu)
エン en smoke 喫煙の 習慣を 止める ことが 出
煙 けむり kemuri 来たら いい ね kitsuen no shuukan o
けむ(る) kemu(ru) yameru koto ga dekitara ii ne – It’d be
 けむ(い) kemu(i) nice if I could kick my smoking habit

オo dirty, to soil this looks like a 汚染物 osenbutsu - contamination

汚 きたな(い) kitana(i) blindfolded man’s face
よご(す) yogo(su) with his mouth open
about to put something
よご(れる) yogo(reru)
dirty in it
けが(す) kega(su)
けが(れる) kega(reru)
オウ ou king 王国 oukoku - kingdom
王
オウ ou centre その 公園は 市の 中央に 位置し
央 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
オウ ou side, width, beside 横領罪 ou ryou zai – usurpation,
横 よこ yoko 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
 オウ ou response when somebody’s heart 呼応 koou – agreement, act in concert
応 is bleeding you need an 新しい 仕事に 適応 出来ます か
urgent response atarashii shigoto ni tekiou dekimasu ka –
Can you adapt yourself to the new job?
オウ ou Europe navigating the seas using 欧米 oubei – Europe and America
欧 a map and a telescope to
find Europe
オウ ou push, hold the left kanji radical is はしごを 押さえて いて ください
押 お(す) o(su) like a hand 手 (te) hashigo o osaete ite kudasai – Please hold
お(さえる) o(saeru) pushing down the ladder
オウ ou inner part, depths, 奥さん okusan – (someone’s) wife
奥 おくoku heart of, interior
オク oku hundred million a hundred million of 地球は およそ 五十億年 前に 生
億 something is likely to get まれた chikyuu wa oyoso gojuu okunen
a person’s (left) attention mae ni umareta – The earth came into
(right) 意 (i) 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
オン on warm (temperature) this kanji has warm 一時間 ジョギング したら 体が
温 あたた(かい) atata(kai) things in it like sparks 温かく なった ichiji kan jogingu
あたた(める) (left) the sun (top) and shitara karada ga atatakaku natta – I got
atata(meru) blood (bottom) warm from jogging for an hour
あたた(まる) スープ が 温まる まで 待ちなさ
atata(maru) い su-pu ga atatamaru made machinasai –
 Wait until the soup warms

カ ka subject of study 教科書 kyoukasho – textbook

科 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?
カ ka change 文化 bunka – culture
化 ば(ける) ba(keru) 機械化 kikaika – mechanization
ば(かす) ba(kasu) 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
カ ka load the top is plant and the 荷物 nimotsu – baggage, luggage
荷 に ni bottom is “what”, and at 手荷物 は いくつ 有ります か te
customs they always ask nimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka – How
what plants are in your many pieces of hand (carry-on) luggage
luggage (load) do you have?
カ ka fruit, end there’s big fruit in this 果物 kudamono – fruit
果 は(たす) ha(tasu) tree, which may end up 効果 kouka – effect, result
 は(て) ha(te) on the floor 結果 kekka - result
は(てる) ha(teru)
カ ka add this kanji looks like 参加 san ka – participate, join
加 くわ(える) kuwa(eru) katakana カ(ka) with a マイクは 昨日 練習に 参加 しな
くわ(わる) kuwa(waru) box added to it 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?
カ ka section, lesson talking 言う (iu) about 放課後 houkago – after school
課 fruit 果物 (kudamono) in アンは 放課後 よく テニスを し
lessons ます An wa houkago yoku tenisu o
shimasu – Ann often plays tennis after
school
カ ka possible, approve 可能性 kanousei – possibility
可 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
カ ka excess, exceed looks like a robot moving 過去 kako – past
過 す(ぎる) su(giru) right, because it has 飲み過ぎる nomisugiru – to drink to
す(ごす) su(gosu) exceeded the barrier (on excess
the left) 納豆を 食べ 過ぎました nattou o
あやま(つ) ayama(tsu)
あやま(ち) ayama(chi) tabe sugimashita – I ate too much nattou
それは ひど 過ぎる sore wa hido
 sugiru – That is way too terrible

カ ka river what water? a river! (left 運河 unga – canal

河 かわ kawa radical is water, right 氷河は ゆっくり 動いて いる
radical is what) hyouga wa yukkuri ugoite iru
カ ka temporary 仮面 kamen – mask, disguise
仮 かり kari
カ ka value, price the right part looks like a 価値 かち - value, worth
価 scale which you weigh 価格 かかく - price, value
goods on to work out 大統領は 彼の 仕事を公正に 評価
their value
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
カク kaku norm, status it is not the norm for a 価格 kakaku – price, value
格 コウ kou man on a box to be 合格 する to pass an exam
higher than a tree 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
カイ kai explain, clarify the left part means 解説 する kaisetsu suru – to
解 ゲ ge “angle” or horn so angles
clarify, explain, comment
と(く) toku help explain mathematics
and horns help explain 読解 dokkai – reading comprehension
 と(かす) tokasu cows (bottom right)
と(ける) tokeru
カ ka shoes the left part means
靴 くつ kutsu leather and the right
means change, so think
of leather being changed
into shoes
カ ka confectionary the top is plant and the
菓 bottom is fruit so think of
a plant bearing fruit for a
cake (confectionary)
カイ kai picture the left part is “thread”
絵 エe 糸(ito) and the right is
“meet” 会 (kai) – when
threads meet they make
an embroidered picture
カイ kai floor, two people going up an
階 escalator with their
rank, luggage (hand rail on the
left) to the next floor
理解 rikai – understanding,
comprehension
正解 seikai – correct (answer)
誤解 gokai – misunderstanding,
misconception
二つの問題が 未解決の ままで あ
った futatsu no mondai ga mikaiketsu no
mama de atta – Two problems remained
unsolved
靴磨き kutsumigaki – shoe polish
靴屋 kutsuya – shoe store
靴下 kutsu shita - socks
お菓子 o-kashi – cakes, sweets
茶菓 cha ka – tea and sweets
絵本 e hon - picture (children’s) book
絵画 kaiga – picture, painting
絵師 e shi – painter, artist
その 絵画を 見たら おもしろかっ
た sono kaiga o mitara omoshirokatta – I
found the picture interesting
階段 kai dan – stairs
段階 dan kai – stage
 step

カイ kai reform left side is self and right 改革 kaikaku – reformation

改 あらた(める) is striking. zen monks 改正 kaisei – revision, amendment
arata(meru) would strike each other 制度を 改めた seido o aratameta – they
あらた(まる) with bamboo rods to changed the system
arata(maru) reach enlightenment, thus
“I reform myself by
striking”
カイ kai device, machine 機械 kikai – machine, device
械 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
カイ kai pleasant when you “open up” 快楽 kairaku - pleasure
快 こころよ(い) kokoro(i) (right) your “heart” (left) 快速電車 kaisoku densha – express train
you feel pleasant
カイ kai ash fire 火 (ka) under some 灰色 hai iro – grey (ash colour)
灰 はい hai wood creates ash 灰皿 hai zara – ash tray (plate)
降灰 koukai – a fall of volcanic ash
カイ kai all two people and all their 皆様 minasama – everyone (polite)
皆 みな mina luggage going to meet
みんな minna everybody
 カイ kai meditate meditation takes us 自己紹介 jikoshoukai – self-introduction
介 higher 紹介 shoukai - introduce
ガイ gai harm a man jumping over a 災害 saigai – disaster
害 mouth 口 (guchi) to 障害 shougai – obstacle, disaster
escape harm 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
カク kaku angle, it looks like a horned fish 三角 sankaku – triangle
角 カドド kado 魚 (sakana) 角柱 kaku chuu – prism
つの tsuno horn 互角 go kaku – equality, good match
そこの 角です よ soko no kado desu
yo – It’s at the corner
カク kaku each each friend 友(tomo) 各駅 kaku eki – every station
各 おのおの onoono gets a chance to speak 口 各種 kaku shu – every kind, all sorts
(guchi) 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
 カク kaku remember, perceive, you need to look 見る この子は 物覚えが 早い kono ko wa
覚 おぼ(える) obo(eru) (miru) in school 学 mono oboe ga hayai – The child is
wake up (gaku) to remember and learning quickly
perceive things 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
カク kaku certain かちまけの 確立は 五分五分 です
確 たし(か) tashi(ka) kachimake no kakuritsu wa gobu gobu
たし(かめる) desu – The chances of winning or losing
tashi(kameru) are 50 / 50
コ ko solid, firm, harden, as solid as a Christian 固まり katamari – Katamari (PS2 game)
固 かた(まる) kata(maru) solidify, lump, mass, tombstone 固体 kotai – solid, solid matter
かた(い) kata(i) 固定 kotei – fixed, permanent
sticky
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
コ ko individual, a person is counting solid 個人 ko jin – indvidual (person)
個 固まる (katamaru) 個数 kosuu – number of articles
general counter, objects 個室 koshitsu – private room
個々 koko – individual, separate
item
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
コ ko old, former, the cause of the incident 故事 koji – tradition, historical fact, origin
故 ゆえ yue deceased, was the deceased 故人 kojin – the deceased
事故 jiko – accident, trouble
incident, affair,
故郷 kokyou – hometown
intentional,
その事故に 対して 責任が あるの
reason, cause 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
コ ko employ, hire 日雇い hi yato(i) – day labourer
雇 やと(う) yato(u) 解雇 kaiko – discharge, dismiss
雇用 koyou – employ, hire, employment
船を 雇う fune o yatou – charter (hire)
a boat
コ ko call, cry out a mouth (guchi) 口 is 呼吸 kokyuu – breathe, respiration
呼 よ(ぶ) yo(bu) shouting (crying out) and 呼応 koou – agreement
scaring away the right 呼ぶ yobu – call out to
radical
 コ ko wither, dry up, when a tree 木 (ki) gets 井戸が 枯れて しまった ido ga
枯 か(らす) ka(rasu) old 古い (furui) it karete shimatta – The well has dried up
か(れる) ka(reru) deplete, exhaust withers and dries up
ゴ go mistake a student at a desk with 誤解 gokai – misunderstanding
誤 あやま(る) ayama(ru) his arm raised is speaking 誤字 goji – misprint, wrong character
言う (iu) and making a 錯誤 sakugo – mistake
mistake 誤差 gosa - error
ゴ go equality this kanji has rotational 互角 gokaku – equality, good match
互 たが(い) taga(i) symmetry so either way 交互 kougo - mutually
round it is equal お互いさまです o-tagai sama desu –
That makes two of us
コウ kou exchange, the lines cross like at an 交渉 koushou – negotiation, bargaining
交 カ(ウ) ka(u) intersection where cars 交換 koukan – exchange, interchange
まじ(える) maji(eru) cross, exchange 交差点 kousaten – intersection
まじ(る) maji(ru) 交際 kousai – association, friendship
traffic,
ま(ざる) ma(zaru) 交代 koutai – take turns
ま(ぜる) ma(zeru) 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
mix, shuffle 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
コウ kou yellow 黄色 ki iro – yellow
黄 き ki 硫黄 iou – sulphur
こ ko この花は 黄色だが ほかの花は み
おう ou 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
コウ kou public, state, 公園 kouen – park
公 おおやけ ooyake government 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
コウ kou happy, looks like a yen ￥ which 幸運 kouun – good luck
幸 さち sachi brings good fortune and 幸福 koufuku – happiness
しあわ(せ) shiawa(se) good fortune happiness 薄幸 hakkou – unhappiness
不幸 fukou – misfortune
コウ kou turn toward, similar to onaji 同 (same) 向上 koujou – advancement, progress
向 む(く) mu(ku) this kanji is moving in 方向 houkou – direction, course
む(ける) mu(keru) direction, orientation, the same direction 志向 shikou – intention, aim
opposide side
む(かう) mu(kau) 趣向 shukou – idea, plan
む(こう) mu(kou) 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?
 コウ kou port 空港 kuukou - airport
港 みなと minato 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
コウ kou navigate the left radical is “ship” 航空便 koukuubin – air mail
航 and the right radical 航海 koukai – voyage, ocean navigation
looks like a sailor 航路 kouro – route (sea, air)
navigating the high seas
航空券 koukuuken – plane ticket
その船は 出港した sono fune wa
shukkou shita – The ship set sail
コウ kou season, seasonal 気候 kikou – climate, weather, season
侯 そうろう sourou weather 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
コウ kou calm, healthy 健康 kenkou - health
康 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
コウ kou effect what will the effect be 効果 kouka – result, effect
効 きく kiku when the father 父 効率 kouritsu – efficiency
(chichi) uses his power 有効 yuu kou – effective, valid
力 (chikara) 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
コウ kou kind, be kind to thick children 厚意 koui – kindness, favour
厚 あつ(い) atsu(i) 子 (ko) under the sun 日 温厚 onkou – gentle, courteous
thick (hi) 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
コウ kou ore, mine the right radical looks a 鉱物 koubutsu – mineral
鉱 little like wind 風 (kaze), 金鉱 kinkou – gold ore, gold mine
so a golden wind 金風 採鉱 saikou - mining
 whistles through the mine

コウ kou construct, a tree 木 (ki) is a source 構成 kousei – composition, formation

構 かま(える) kama(eru) of construction material 構造 kouzou – structure, construction
かま(う) kama(u) mind for a house with many 構想 kousou – plan, conception
floors 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?
コウ kou lecture someone is giving a 講義 kougi – lecture
講 lecture about a house 購読 koudoku – subscription
with many floors (言う 講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker
iu = speech) 休講 kyuukou – cancelled lecture
コウ kou cultivate a three-pronged tree 耕作 kousaku – cultivate, plow
耕 standing next to a well in 耕地 kouchi - arable land, farmland
a farmer’s cultivated 農場主は 一日中畑を 耕した
field noujoushu wa ichinichijuu hatake o
tagayashita – The farmer plowed his field
all day

コウ kou crimson use thread 糸 (ito) to lift 深紅 shinku – crimson

紅 べに beni a bar for construction 工 紅白 kouhaku – red and white
くれない kurenai (ku) or your face will go 紅潮 kou chou – blush, redden
crimson 紅玉 kougyoku – ruby
紅茶 koucha – black tea
 コウ kou descend, fall, get off someone is trying to 降りる oriru – get off (a bus)
降 お(りる) o(riru) (a bus) scale the wall (on the 降伏 koufuku – surrender, submission
お(ろす) o(rosu) left) but his ladder has 下降 kakou – descent, fall, drop
broken and he is falling
ふ(る) fu(ru) 雨が 降っています ame ga futteimasu
– It is raining
コウ kou renew when you use something 更正 kousei – correction, revision,
更 さら sara 使う (tskau) you must rectification
ふ(ける) fu(keru) renew it 更新 koushin – renew, renovate
ふ(かす) fu(kasu) 更衣室 kouishitsu – changing room
変更 henkou – change, modification
コウ kou wild, desolate 荒廃 kouhai – desolation, waste, ruin
荒 あら(い) ara(i) 荒野 kouya – wilderness, the wilds,
あ(れる) a(reru) wasteland
あ(らす) a(rasu) 荒天 kouten – stormy weather
コウ kou hard you can use a stone 石 硬貨 kouka – coin, metallic money
硬 かた(い) kata(i) (ishi) because it is hard 硬化 kouka – hardening, stiffening
硬度 koudo – hardness
コウ kou assent, the council gave consent 肯定 koutei - affirmation
肯 for a bus stop 止める 首肯 shukou – assent, consent
consent (tomeru) on the moon 月
(tsuki)
コウ kou fragrance on a sunny day in the 香辛料 kou shinryou – spices, seasoning
香 キョウ kyou forest you need deodrant 香水 kousui – perfume
か ka (fragrance) 芳香 houkou – fragrance, aroma
かお(り) kao(ri) 香川県 kagawa ken – Kagawa prefecture
かお(る) kao(ru)
 コウ kou suburbs 郊外 kougai – suburbs, outskirts
郊 郊野 kouya – suburban fields
ゴウ gou number, signal, sign you can see the number 5 暗号 angou – code
号 in this kanji 号令 gourei – order, command
信号 shingou – traffic signal (light)
番号 bangou - number
電話番号 denwa bangou –
telephone number
コク koku valley this is a hut in a valley 峡谷 kyou koku – gorge, valley, canyon
谷 たに tani and rocks are falling onto その谷で金が 見つかったと いう
it 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
コク koku notify a man is jumping over a 告白 koku haku – confession,
告 つ(げる) tsu(geru) desk rushing to give you acknowledgement
the piece of paper that 広告 koukoku – advertisement
notifies you not to forget 告知 kokuchi – notify, announce
this kanji
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
コク koku carve, engrave 刻印 kokuin – carved seal, stamp
刻 き(ざむ) kiza(mu) 時刻 jikoku – time, hour
深刻 shinkoku - serious
定刻 teikoku – regular (appointed) time
 カク kaku leather, this looks like a fancy 改革 kaikaku – reformation
革 かわ kawa staff that they may use in 変革 henkaku – change, reform
reform government ceremonies
when reforming acts and
laws
カク kaku enlarge by felling trees 木 (ki) 拡大 kakudai – enlargement, expansion
拡 コウ kou we can enlarge the space 彼は 研究の 対象を 拡大 した
ひろ(がる) hiro(garu) 広い (hiroi) kare wa kenkyuu no taishou o kakudai
ひろ(げる) hiro(geru) shita – He expanded the focus of his
research
コツ kotsu bone this kanji looks like a 骨髄 kotsuzui – (bone) marrow, main
骨 ほね hone skeleton and you can see point
his bones 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

こ(む) ko(mu) into, be crowded when many people enter 送料込み sou ryou komi – shipping
込 入る (hairu) a place gets (charges) included
crowded いつも駐車場が 込んでいます itsumo
chuushajou ga kondeimasu – The parking
lot is always crowded
コン kon root (math), root 根気 konki – perserverance, patience,
根 ね ne (chemistry), energy
根拠 konkyo – grounds, basis, authority
perserverance 根本 konpon – nasis, foundation, origin
球根 kyuukon – bulb
 大根 daikon – Japanese radish

カク kaku compare try to compare a car (left) 比較 hikaku – comparison

較 コウ kou with a father (right) 私は 大学院で 比較文学を 勉強し
くら(べる) kura(beru) た watashi wa daigakuin de
hikakubungaku o benkyou shita – I
studied Comparative Literature in
graduate school
コン kon mix 混雑 konzatsu – confusion, disorder,
混 ま(じる) ma(jiru) congestion
ま(ざる) ma(zaru) 混戦 konsen – brawl, confused fight
ま(ぜる) ma(zeru) 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
コン kon be in trouble 困難 konnan – difficulty, trouble,
困 こま(る) koma(ru) 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
 コン kon marry a woman at what looks 婚約 konyaku - engagement
婚 like an altar waiting to 結婚 kekkon – marriage
marry 婚姻 konin – marriage
離婚 rikon – divorce
再婚 saikon – second marriage
サ sa difference, remainder what is left 左 (hidari) 交差点 kousaten – intersection
差 さ(す) sa(su) (math), behind is the difference 差額 sagaku – balance, difference
or remainder 差別 sabetsu – discrimination
rise (of water)
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
サ sa look into, investigate, the bottom radical looks 査察 sasatsu – inspection, investigation
査 inspect like an eye 目 (me) and it 査定 satei – assessment, audit
is inspecting a tree 木 検査 kensa – inspection, examination
(ki) 調査 chousa – investigation, examination,
survey
サ sa sand sand is made up of many 砂糖 satou – sugar
砂 すな suna little 少し (sukoshi) 砂漠 sabaku – desert
stones 石 (ishi) 砂丘 sakyuu – sand dune
砂場 sunaba - sandbox
ザ za seat, sit two people 人 (hito) are 座席 zaseki – seat
座 すわ(る) suwa(ru) sitting on the earth 土 正座 seiza – sit straight
(do) under a tent. 座標 zahyou – coordinates
サイ sai talent, looks like a child 天才 tensai – genius
才 dropping her baton 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
サイ sai slender, minute thread 糸(ito) in a field 細菌 saikin – bacteria, germ
細 ほそ(い) hoso(i) 田 (den) is a tiny, minute, 細工 saiku – work, craftmanship
こま(か) koma(ka) slender object 細部 saibu – details
こま(かい) koma(kai) 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
サイ sai festival 祭日 sai jitsu – national holiday, festival
祭 まつ(る) matsu(ru) day
まつ(り) matsu(ri) 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?
サイ sai most the sun is the most tall of 最高 saikou – the hightest, supreme
最 all the radicals in this 最終 saishuu – last, final
kanji 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
サイ sai another time, again 再来週 saraishuu – week after next
再 サ sa 再開 saikai – reopening, resumption
ふたた(び) futata(bi) 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?
ガク gaku amount, this kanji shows 100 百 差額 sagaku – balance, difference, margin
額 ひたい hitai (hyaku) which can be a 半額 hangaku – half-price
forehead large amount 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
カツ katsu active, life a man skiing on water 生活 seikatsu – life, lifestyle
活 い(かす) i(kasu) has an active lifestyle 活動 katsu dou – action, activity
カツ katsu divide this kanji contains part of 割引 waribiki – discount, reduction
割 わ(る) wa(ru) ‘separate’ 別 (betsu) to 一割 ichiwari – 10 percent
わ(り) wari divide up this character 時間割 jikanwari – timetable
わ(れる) wa(reru) 我が 家の 家計は 収入の 割りに
さ(く) sa(ku) 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

カン kan sense, feel you use your heart 心 敏感 binkan – sensitivity

感 (kokoro) for feeling 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
カン kan pipe, looks like two 血管 kekkan – blood vessel
管 くだ kuda controlling eyes looking 管理 kanri – control, management
control at the kanji for 試験管 shikenkan – test tube
government 官 (kan)
カン kan concern, Mr Yen is is concerned 関西 Kansai – Kansai (area including
関 せき seki that you havn’t paid so Osaka and Kyoto)
barrier he’s put up a barrier 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
カン kan view the kanji to see 見る 観光 kankou - sightseeing
観 (miru) is in this 観察 kansatsu – observation, survey
character, which is like 彼は 経済 観念の ない男だ kare
view wa keizai kannen no nai otoko da – He is
a man with no financial sense
 カン kan complete looks a little like sell 売 完了 kanryou – completion
完 る (uru) which is 完璧 kanpeki – perfect
completing a transaction 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
カン kan government looks like a filing cabinet 器官 kikan - organ
官 that they use in 警察官 keisatsukan - policemen
government offices 警官 keikan - policeman
サイ sai wife a woman 女 (onna) 愛妻弁当 ai sai bentou – lunchbox
妻 つま tsuma makes a complicated wife packed with love by ones wife
妻子 saishi – ones wife and children
妻帯者 saitaisha – a married man
恐妻家 kyousaika – a hen-pecked
husband
サイ sai verge, a festival 祭り(matsuri) 交際 kousai – association, friendship
際 きわ kiwa by the verge is a big 際限 saigen – limits, ends, bounds
occasion occasion 実際 jissai – true, actual, real
水際 mizu giwa – beach, waterside
際どい kiwadoi – risky
彼が そう言うの を 実際に 聞き
ました kare ga sou iu no o jissai ni
kikimashita – I actually heard him say that
カン kan habit this kanji looks like a 慣習 kanshuu – normal custom
慣 な(れる) na(reru) hobbit but it’s actually a 習慣 shuukan – custom, habit, manners
な(らす) na(rasu) habit 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
カン kan publish, carve these radicals look like 週刊誌 shuukanshi – weekly publication
刊 carving tools used to 朝刊 choukan – morning edition of a
make and publish old newspaper
newspaper これは 日刊新聞 です kore wa
nikkan shinbun desu – This is a daily
newspaper
サイ sai pick, gather picking fruit from a tree 採掘 saikutsu – mining
採 とる to(ru) 木 (ki), or gathering rice 採集 saishuu – collecting, gathering
米 (bei) 採点 saiten – marking, grading, rating
伐採 bassai – cut down, fell a tree
サイ sai settle, relieve 返済 hensai – repay, reimburse
済 ザイ zai 救済 kyuusai – relieve, help, save
す(む) su(mu) 経済 keizai – economy, economics
す(ます) su(masu) 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
サイ sai year, age suffix 歳月 saigetsu – time
歳 セイ sei 歳末 saimatsu – year end
歳入 sainyuu – revenue, annual income
何歳 nan sai – what age (of a person)
ザイ zai timber, material two trees, one is partially 材木 zaimoku – logs, timber
材 felled for building 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
ザイ zai exist, stay 在庫 zaiko – stock, stockpile
在 あ(る) a(ru) 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
ザイ zai wealth you can see a part of buy 財源 zaigen – revenue / financial resource
財 サイ sai 買う (kau) in this kanji, 財産 zaisan – property, fortune, wealth
implying wealth 財布 saifu - wallet
ザイ zai crime the gap in the middle is 軽犯罪 keihanzai – light offence (legal)
罪 つみ tsumi the hall and on the sides 罪悪 zaiaku – crime, sin, vice
are cells, which people 罪人 zainin – criminal, sinner
are put into when they
無罪 muzai – not guilty, innocent
commit a crime
有罪 yuuzai – guilt
謝罪 shazai - apology
 さ(く) sa(ku) bloom this could be a flower in きれいな 花が 咲いて います
咲 bloom outside a cave 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
サク saku yesterday, last part of make 作る 昨日 saku jitsu – yesterday
昨 (tsukuru) + day 日(nichi) 昨日 kinou – yesterday
= I made something 昨年 sakunen – last year
yesterday 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
サツ satsu kill the X by the tree 木 (ki) 殺意 satsui – intent to kill
殺 サイ sai is where the man was 殺害 satsugai – murder, killing
セツ setsu killed 殺人 satsujin – murder
ころ(す) koro(su) 殺人犯 satsujinhan - murderer
殺菌 sakkin – seterilisation
自殺 jisatsu – suicide
サツ satsu print like publish 刊 (kan) this 刷新 sasshin - reform, renovation,
刷 す(る) su(ru) kanji has tools for revision
printing, symbolised by 印刷 insatsu – printing
the big ‘P’ 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
サツ satsu tag 千円札 senen satsu – 1000 yen note
札 ふだ fuda 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?
サツ satsu card, volume, book 冊子 sasshi – booklet, pamphlet
冊 サク saku 別冊 bessatsu – separate volume, extra
issue
各冊 kaku satsu – each book (volume,
copy)
ザツ zatsu rough, mixed trees 木 (ki) chopped up 混雑 kon zatsu – confusion, disorder,
雑 ゾウ zou with power 力 (riki) are congestion
rough and mixed in size 雑音 zatsuon – noise, jamming,
interference
雑誌 zasshi – magazine
雑学 zatsu gaku – wide knowledge
複雑 fuku zatsu - complicated
さら sara plate looks like a drainer for 灰皿 hai zara – ash tray
皿 plates on a sideboard 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
サン san calculate to work out the answer to 誤算 gosan – miscalculation,
算 a question 質問 misjudgement
(shitsumon) you need to 算出 sanshutsu – computation, calculation
calculate 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
サン san scatter 散歩 sanpo – walking, a stroll
散 ち(る) chi(ru) 解散 kaisan – breakup, dispersion
ち(らす) chi(rasu) 分散 bunsan – dispersion, divergence,
ち(らかす) chi(rakasu) variance
ち(らかる) chi(rakaeru) 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
サン san participate, go to pray 参加 sanka – participate
参 まい(る) mai(ru) 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
サン san approve, praise looks like two people in 賛成 sansei – approval, agreement,
賛 the background are support
cheering and praising the 賛美 sanbi – praise, admiration
radical at the front 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
ザン zan remain, ruthless the タ is holding a big 残金 zankin – balance, surplus
残 のこ(る) noko(ru) hammer and is chasing 残酷 zankoku – cruel, ruthless
のこ(す) noko(su) the right-hand radical 残高 zandaka – balance, remainder
because it is cruel and 残念 zannen – regret, disappointment
ruthless
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
シ shi thread, string this could be a ball of 一糸 isshi – a thread, a stitch
糸 いと ito yarn (thread) 毛糸 keito – wollen yarn
綿糸 menshi – cotton yarn
 糸口 itoguchi – beginning, first step, clue

シ shi tooth 歯科医 shikai – dentist

looks like a tooth that has
歯 は ha plaque on it, with the rot乳歯 nyuushi – baby teeth
at the top 永久歯 eikyuu shi – permanent teeth
歯磨き ha migaki – toothpaste, brushing
one’s teeth
シ shi finger, point a baby on a stool is 指示 shiji – indication, pointing out
指 ゆび yubi pointing out something to 指導 shidou – guidance, instruction
his mummy 指定 shitei – appointment, authorization
指定する shitei suru – to specify
指摘 shiteki – pointing out
指紋 shimon – fingerprint
親指 oya yubi – thumb
足の指 ashi no yubi – toe
指圧 shiatsu - accupressure
シ shi history a wizened old man with 史学 shigaku – history (field of study)
史 whiskers is talking about 史料 shiryou – historical materials
history (records)
歴史 rekishi – history
日本史 nihon shi – Japanese history
中国の 歴史は 日本の 歴史 より
古い です chuugoku no rekishi wa
nihon no rekishi yori furui desu – The
history of China is older than that of Japan
 シ shi officiate 司会 shikai – presiding, officiating
司 つかさど(る) 司令 shirei - command
tsukasado(ru) 司令官 shireikan – commander
上司 jyoushi – superior officer
寿司 sushi – raw fish and rice
シ shi branch, support under the gound there are 支持 shiji – support, backing
支 ささ(える) sasa(eru) supporting roots 支店 shiten – branch (office, store)
支給 shikyuu – provision, supply,
payment
支度 shitaku – arrangement, preparation
シ shi resources part of buy 買う(kau) is 資格 shikaku – qualificatinos,
資 here, because you have to requirements
buy resources 資源 shigen – resources
資金 shikin – funds, capital
資産 shisan – property, fortune
資本 shihon – funds, capital
カン kan simple it is simple for two 簡単 kantan – simple
簡 pidgeons to get past a 簡単でした kantan dehita – it was easy
gate 門 (mon) 簡潔 kanketsu – simplicity
この本棚は 組み立てが 簡単だ
kono hondana wa kumitate ga kantan da –
This bookshelf is easy to assemble
カン kan dry looks like a spike you 干渉 kanshou – interference, intervention
干 ほ(す) ho(su) drive deep into the 欄干 rankan – handrail, bannister
ground to find water
when it is dry
 カン kan roll up, volume the backwards ‘S’ shape 巻き maki – Maki sushi (rolled)
巻 ま(く) ma(ku) at the bottom is a strip 巻頭 kantou – opening page of a book
ま(き) ma(ki) being rolled up 鉢巻 hachi maki - headband
カン kan watch, care for looks like a big hand 手 看護婦 kangofu – nurse
看 み(る) mi(ru) (te) caring for a baby in a 看板 kanban - signboard
cot
カン kan sweet looks like a big tongue 甘受 kanju – submission to, putting up
甘 あま(い) ama(i) tasting sweet things with
あま(える) ama(eru) 甘露 kanro – nectar
あま(やかす) 君は その結果を 甘受 すべき だ
ama(yakasu) kimi wa sono kekka o kanju subeki da –
You should abide by the consequences
カン kan sweat the stick man needs a 汗顔 kangan – ashamed
汗 あせ ase shower (water, left 汗腺 kansen – sweat gland
radical) because he is
sweaty
カン kan exchange the top of fish 魚 (sakan) 交換 koukan – exchange, interchange
換 か(える) ka(eru) can be seen and four 四 換気 kanki – ventilation
か(わる) ka(waru) (yon) is below, so 換算 kansan – conversion, evaluate
perhaps four fish are 転換 tenkan – convert
being exchanged for a 彼は 何で も お金に 換算 して
tree
しまう kare wa nan de mo okane ni
kansan shite shimau – He thinks of
everything in terms of money
カン kan dry a car 車 (kuruma) has 乾杯 kanpai – cheers (toast)
乾 か(わく) ka(waku) ‘Z’ero petrol left so it is 乾燥 kansou – dry, arid
か(わかす) ka(wakasu) dry 肌が 乾燥 して います hada ga
 kansou shite imasu – my skin is dry

カン gan round 弾丸 dangan – bullet

丸 まる maru 日の丸 hinomaru – The Japanese Flag
まる(い) maru(i)
まる(める) maru(meru)
カン kan ring 環境 kankyou – environment,
環 わ wa circumstances
環状線 kanjyousen – loop line
シ shi branch tree 木 (ki) + branch 支 枝葉末節 shiyoumassetsu – branches and
枝 えだ eda (shi(sha – company leaves, unimportant details
branch)) = tree branch 枝川 eda gawa – branch of a river
枝豆 edamame – green soy beans
楊枝 youji - toothpick
シ shi master looks like government 官 講師 koushi – lecturer, speaker
師 (kan) and market 市 師匠 shishou – master, teacher
(ichi), and the 医師 ishi – doctor
government is the master 教師 kyoushi – teacher, instructor
of the economy (market) 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
アa sub-, Asia 亜細亜 ajia - Asia
亜 アジア – Asia (usual spelling)
アイ ai helpless, sorrow, 垢を落とす aka o otosu – Wash off the
哀 あわ(れ) awa(re) misery dirt
アイ ai greeting, salutation 挨拶 aisatsu – greetings
挨 挨拶状 aisatsu jyou – greeting card
コウ kou dirt, filth soil 土 (do) + ‘F’ilth are
垢 あか aka dirty
アク aku grasp, seize, mould, 握手 akushu - handshake
握 にぎ(る) nigi(ru)
sushi
ショウ shou yearning, longing, 憧れる akogareru – long for, admire
憧 あこが(れ) akoga(re) aspiration
あつか(う) atsuka(u) handle, deal with, あつかい atsukai – treatment, service
扱 treat
ワク waku certain, some 或いは aruiha – or, possibly
或 ある aru 或る日 aru hi – one day... (start of a
story)
イi take 威嚇 ikaku – menace, threat
威 威厳 igen - dignity
イi good, advantage, looks like a tank which 為さる nasaru – to do (honouriffic)
為 ため tame benefit, gives you a huge なす nasu – to do
advantage and benefit
in order to, because
of
 ジョウ jyou jailer, military rank 大尉 taii - captain
尉 いi 中尉 chuui – lieutenant, first lieutenant
少尉 shoui – second lieutenant
イi leave, bequeath, looks like a person sitting 遺言 yuigon - will, testament
遺 ユイ yui reserve in a seat reserving it for
のこ(す) noko(su) someone
ワン wan bowl shares a radical with sand 茶碗 chawan – rice bowl, teacup
碗 砂 (suna) and bowls can
be made from sand
ワク waku beguile (trickery), this kanji beguiles you 困惑 konwaku - embarassment, confusion
惑 まど(う) mado(u) bewilder into thinking about 惑星 waku sei – planets
emotions 心 (shin) 誘惑 yuu waku - temptation
イi support, fasten, use a thread 糸 (ito) to 維新 ishin – restoration
維 make a net for support 維持 iji - upkeep
rope, fibre
イi comfort, consolation, a military officer has 慰安 ian – consolation, comfort
慰 なぐさ(める) amusement feelings 心 (shin) so he 慰謝 isha – consolation, solace
nagusa(meru) needs comfort 慰問 imon – visit, to give comfort (to
なぐさ(む) nagusa(mu) 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
イi horizontal the thread 糸 (ito) looks 緯度 ido - latitude
緯 vertical but wrong 違う
(chigau) – it is horizontal
ジ ji samurai a samurai is a person (left 七人の 侍を 見ました か shichi
侍 さむらい samurai radical) who is special 特 nin no samurai o mimashita ka – Did you
(toku) see 7 Samurai?
Miscellaneous Kanji
トウ tou this, hit yourself to learn this 本当 hontou – really
当 あ(たる) a(taru) kanji – it is everywhere 本当ですか hontou desu ka – really?
hit, 当駅 toueki – this railway station
当時 touji – old times, those days
right, appropriate,
当面 toumen (no) – present, immediate
himself 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
ヨク yoku bathe, pour water radical on the left 浴びる abiru – bathe, pour
浴 あ(びる) a(biru) and it looks like the hut is 浴びせる abiseru – to throw
あ(びせる) a(biseru) bathing (water is pouring シャワーを浴びる shawa- o abiru – to
onto it) take a shower
日光浴 nikkouyoku – to sunbathe
ヨウ you hoist, 揚げる ageru – to fry
揚 あ(げる) a(geru) 旗を揚げる hata o ageru – hoist a flag
fry, 凧を揚げる tako o ageru – fly a kite
land
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
セン sen wash 洗う arau – to wash
洗 あら(う) a(rau) 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
ユウ yuu play 遊ぶ asobu – to play
遊 あそ(ぶ) aso(bu) 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
セン sen choose, elect 選ぶ erabu – to choose
選 えら(ぶ) era(bu) 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
ゾウ zou increase 増える fueru - to proliferate, increase
増 ふ(える) fu(eru) 川の水かさが増してきた kawa no mizu
ま(す) ma(su) kasa ga masite kita – The river is rising
hold out, do one’s 頑張る ganbaru – to try one’s best
頑張 がんば(る) ganba(ru) best 頑張れ！ganbare! – Come on / Keep
going!
る
り ri put on (for feet), 履く haku - to put on (shoes or socks)
履 は(く) ha(ku) 契約を履行する keiyaku o rikou suru –
fulfilment to execute a contract
フツ futsu dust, 払う harau – to pay for, to dust
払 はら(う) hara(u) 彼女は机の上の埃を払った kanojo wa
pay 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
シュウ shuu pick up, flag down, 拾う hirou – find, pick up, flag down (a
拾 ひろ(う) hiro(u) ten taxi)
道で財布を 拾った miti de saifu o
hirotta – I found a wallet on the road
きょ kyo exist, live, house 居る iru – to exist (animate objects)
居 い(る) i(ru) 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?
ツウ tsuu painful, hurt 痛める itameru – to afflict, hurt
痛 いた(い) itai 足が痛い ashi ga itai – I have sore feet
いた(める) ita(meru) 足を 痛めた ashi o itameta – I injured
my foot
ゲン gen say, tell, meaning, 言う iu – to say, tell
言 ゴン gon language, statement 人の言葉お 理解する 能力が ある
こと koto ゴリラ – a gorilla that has the ability to
い(う) i(u) 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
ヒ hi suffer, 被る kaburu – put on (headwear)
被 かぶ(る) kabu(ru) 被る koumuru – to suffer
こうむ(る) koumuru put on (for head)
ゲン gen limit, restrict 限る kagiru – to be limited to
限 かぎ(る) kagi(ru)
か(む) ka(mu) bite, chew 噛む kamu – to bite, chew
噛
ショウ shou win, surpass 勝つ katsu – to win, defeat an opponent
勝 か(つ) ka(tsu) 勝る masaru – to be superior to
 ま(さる) masa(ru) 勝ちました か kachimashita ka – Did
you win?
ヘン hen change, be different 変わる kawaru – to change
変 か(わる) ka(waru) (from normal state) 変更 henkou – change, modification
変革 henkaku – change, reform
変な hen(na) – odd, clumsy
タン tan train, forge 鍛える kitaeru – train, strengthen
鍛 きた(える) kita(eru) (oneself)
く(れる) kureru give (indicates a 呉れる kureru – give, do a favour for
呉 closeness to a person 私の妹が 彼に 本を 呉れた
as opposed to あげる watashi no imouto ga kare ni hon o kureta
which states cold – My sister gave him a book.
fact)
キョク kyoku music, 曲がる magaru – turn (around a corner)
曲 ま(がる) ma(garu) / 曲げる mageru – twist
ま(げる) ma(geru) curve, turn 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
フ fu negative 負かす makasu – to defeat, beat (make an
負 ま(かす) ma(kasu) (maths/physics), opponent lose)
ま(ける) ma(keru) 負ける makeru – to lose
lose, 負う ou – to take, to assume
お(う) o(u)
この件に ついては、私が責任を 負
carry (an object),
います kono ken ni tsuite wa watashi ga
take (responsibility) sekinin o oimasu – I’ll take responsibility
for this matter
 め(し)あ(がる) eat (polite espression) 召し上がる meshiagaru – eat (polite)
召し me(shi)a(garu)

上が
る
マ ma brush, polish, grind, 磨く migaku – brush (teeth), polish (a
磨 みが(く) miga(ku) skill)
improve, refine 技を磨く waza o migaku – to improve
one’s skills
カン kan watch, see 観る miru - to watch
観 み(る) mi(ru) 観賞 kanshou – enjoy seeing (beautiful
charm of a thing)
芝居を見る sibai o miru – to see a play
シン shin examine 診る miru – to examine
診 み(る) mi(ru)
もら(う) mora(u) get, be given, receive, 貰う morau – to receive
貰 父から辞書を 貰った chichi kara jisho
take (a wife), adopt (a o moratta – I was given a dictionary from
child), my father
かれは あの器量 よしを 嫁に 貰
win,
った kare wa ano kiryou yoshi o yome ni
moratta – He married that good-looking
pick up (disease)
woman
ゲイ gei meet, greet 迎える mukaeru – to meet, greet (from
迎 むか(える) muka(eru) 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
チョク choku straight 直す naosu – to fix, repair
直 ジキ jiki 空港へ 直接 行く kuukou e
ただちに tada(chini) in a moment, soon chokusetsu iku – I went to meet him at the
なお(す) nao(su) airport
fix, repair
なお(る) nao(ru)
ミン min sleep, sleepy 眠る nemuru – to sleep
眠 ねむ(る) nemu(ru) 睡眠 sleep, slumber
九時に 眠った ku ji ni numutta – I
went to sleep at nine
シン shin lie down, go to bed, 寝る neru – to sleep, to go to bed, to lie
寝 ね(る) ne(ru) down
have sex 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?
イン in drink, swallow, 飲む nomu – to drink
飲 飲(む) no(mu) 飲料水 inryousui – drinking water
take (medicine)
ジョウ jou step onto, get on, 乗る noru – to get on (a bus)
乗 の(る) no(ru) ride, be carried, 乗せる noseru – to pick up, to give a lift
の(せる) no(seru) 乗車券 joushaken – a (railway) ticket
pick up, give a lift to,
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
ラク raku fall, clashed, 落ちる ochiru – to fall
落 お(ちる) o(chiru) collapse, drop, lose, 落とす otosu – to drop, to lose
お(とす) o(tosu) 落雷 rakurai – lightning (strike on the
set (moon or sun), ground)
壁のペンキを 落とす kabe no penki o
come off, fade,
otosu – to remove paint from the wall
fail (exam), 城を落とす shiro o otosu – to capture a
castle
slow down, go down, 飛行機が 落ちた hikouki ga ochita –
decline, The airplane crashed
地震で屋根が落ちた jishin de yane ga
pass out (lose ochita – The root collapsed by an
consciousness), make earthquake
one’s opponent faint, 彼女の成績が 落ちた kanojo no
seiseki ga ochita – Her marks went down
remove, capture 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
チ chi be late, be delayed, 遅延 chien – a delay
遅 おく(れる) oku(reru) be slow (clock) 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
セツ setsu break, 折る oru – to break
折 お(れる) o(reru) 折れる oreru – to break
お(る) o(ru) fold, folded, bend, 骨折 kossetsu – fracture
turn,
おり ori 枝を 折る eda o oru – to break a branch
give in, yield to 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.
タン tan search, look for, 探す sagasu – to look for
探 さが(す) saga(su) 探る saguru – to feel for
さ(ぐる) sa(guru) investigate 事故の原因探る jiko no genin o saguru –
to investigate the cause of an accident
 ヘイ hei shut, close 閉める shimeru – to close
閉 し(める) shi(meru) 閉門 heimon suru – to close a gate (where
と(じる) to(jiru) 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
シン shin believe, trust 信じる shinjiru – to believe
信 しん(じる) shin(jiru) 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
シン shin advance, progress, 進む susumu – to advance, progress
進 すす(む) susu(mu) 進化 shinka – evolution
go on (to college), 光は 秒速 ２９９７９２４５８*
メートルで まっすぐ 進む hikari wa
travel (sound/light),
byousoku 299792458 me-toru de massugu
 gain, susumu – Light travels in straight lines at
299792458 metres per second
be ready to, be 彼の仕事は 順調に 進んでいる kare
willing to 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
スウ suu count, 数学 suugaku - mathematics
数 かぞ(える) kazo(eru) 数える kazoeru – to count
かず kazu number, figure
ジョ jo save, rescue, help 救助する kyuujo suru – to save, rescue
助 たす(ける) tasu(keru) 助けて ください tasukete kudasai –
please help
セン sen war, make war, fight, 戦争 sensou – war
戦 たたか(う) tatakau do battle, 戦争を する sensou o suru – make war
 戦え！tatakae! – fight!
contend 生々堂々と 戦おう seisei doudou to
tatakaou – Let’s play fair
リツ ritsu stand up, put up, 立つ tatsu – to stand
立 リュウ ryuu raise, set up, 銅像を立てる douzou o tateru – put up a
た(てる) ta(teru) establish, bronze statue
た(つ) ta(tsu) 音を立てる oto o tateru – make a noise
make (sound),
埃を立てる hokori o tateru – rise a cloud
of dust
make (plan),
計画を立てる keikaku o tateru – make a
respect, plan
目標を立てる mokuhyou o tateru – set
stand, be (exist), up a goal
新記録を立てる shinkiroku o tateru –
take action, rise up, establish a new record
彼はいつも友達を 立てていた kare
be reasonable, wa itsumo tomodachi o tateteita – He
always paid respect to his friends
leave for, start from 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.

ホウ hou visit 訪ねる tazuneru – to call on

訪 たず(ねる) tazu(neru) 訪れる otozureru – to visit (a place)
おとず(れる) (time) come 訪問 houmon – to pay a visit
otozu(reru) 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
ライ rai request, ask, 頼む tanomu – request
頼 たの(む) tano(mu) 頼る tayoru – to depend on
たの(もしい) reliance, depend 依頼 irai – a request
tano(moshii) 依頼 する irai suru – to request
たよ(る) tayo(ru) 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
ヒ hi fly 飛ぶ tobu – to fly
飛 と(ぶ) to(bu) 飛ばす tobasu – to send, to fly
と(ばす) to(basu) 飛行機 hikouki – an airplane
飛行船 hikousen – an airship
deliver, send, 届ける todokeru – to deliver (from a
届 とど(ける) todo(keru) person) e.g. a mail sent from a person
とど(く) todo(ku) arrive, reach, 届く todoku – reach, be received, deliver
(object) e.g. a mail which was sent
report, notify 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
ハク haku lodge, stay if you’re staying 泊まる tomaru – to stay overnight
泊 パク paku overnight you can have a 泊める tomeru – to take in, to
と(まる) to(maru) drink (looks like a tall accommodate
cup) 三泊する san haku suru – to stay for three
と(める) to(meru)
nights
ヒ hi fatigue, exhaustion, 疲れる tsukareru – to tire
疲 つか(れ) tsuka(re) be tired 疲労 hirou – fatigue, exhaustion
つか(れる) tsuka(reru) 疲れ tsukare – fatigue, exhaustion
キン kin work (working “for” do not confuse with the 通勤手当 tsuukin teate – a
勤 つと(める) tsuto(meru) something e.g. a verb for just “working” communication allowance
つと(まる) tsuto(maru) company) 働 hatara(ku) 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
ゾク zoku continue, last 続ける tsudukeru - to continue, to go on
続 つづ(く) tsudu(ku) occurrence, 相続 souzoku – to inherit
つづ(ける) tsudu(keru) その慣習は 二百年間 続いたいる
lead to follow 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!
get (be) drunk 酔っ払う yopparau – to be drunk
酔っ よっぱら(う) yoppara(u)

払
キ ki happy, delighted 喜ぶ yorokobu – to be happy, delighted
喜 よろこ(ぶ) yoroko(bu)
キ ki come near to, let 寄る yoru – to stop by, drop in
寄 よ(る) yo(ru) come near, 寄せる yoseru – to bring close together
よ(せる) yo(seru) 寄付 kifu – a contribution, a donation
gather, call on, call
彼女は そばへ 寄ってきた kanojo
at,
wa soba e yotte kita – She came up to me
be attracted to, fall in わきへ寄ってください waki e yotte
love, kudasai – Please step aside
三人寄れば文殊の知恵 san nin yoreba
put one’s trust in, monju no chie – Two heads are better than
one (Proverb)
send
 ショウ shou laugh, smile 笑う warau – to laugh
笑 わら(う) wara(u) 明日の ことを 言えば 天井で ね
え(む) e(mu) 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)
ボウ bou forget 忘れる wasureru – to forget
忘 わす(れる) wasu(reru) 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
ト to hand over, transfer, 渡す watasu – hand over
渡 わた(す) wata(su) 渡る wataru – to cross, to get across
わた(る) wata(ru) move (across the 渡英する toei suru – to visit the United
sea), ferry, cross, be Kngdom
imported (be
渡米する tobei suru – to visit the United
introduced),
States
pass 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

バン ban evening, night 今晩は konbanwa – good evening

晩 今晩 konban – this evening
晩ご飯 ban gohan – dinner
シュウ shuu week 週末 shuumatsu – weekend
週 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
ユ yu oil 油田 yuden – oil field
油 あぶら abura 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
タク taku home お宅 otaku – your home
宅 お宅 otaku – a ‘geek’
帰宅 する kitaku suru – to go home
キャク kyaku guest, customer 客 kyaku – customer
客 乗客 jyou kyaku - passenger
ゆき yuki snow 雪 yuki – snow
雪 雪国 yuki guni – a snowy country
 ド do degree, frequency 一度 ichido – once
度 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
ソク soku fast, speedy 速度 sokudo – speed
速 はや(い) haya(i) 速達 soku tatsu – express delivery
ドウ dou street 北海道 hokkaidou – Hokkaido (northern
道 みち michi Japanese island)
長い道 nagai michi – a long road
赤道 seki dou – equator
車道 shadou - roadway
セイ sei fine, clear up 素晴らしい subarashii - wonderful
晴 は(れ) ha(re) 晴れる hareru – to clear up
は(れる）ha(reru) 晴天 seiten – fine weather

ジ ji temple 寺 tera – temple

寺 てら tera
フ fu husband 夫 otto – one’s husband
夫 おっと otto 夫婦 fuufu – a married couple
かれ kare he 彼 kare – he
彼 かの kano 彼女 kanojo – she
彼ら karera - they
わか(い) waka(i) young 若さ wakasa – youthfulness
若 若者 wakamono – a young man
 ドウ dou work (just “working”, don’t confuse with 動く 働く hataraku – to work
働 はたら(く) hatara(ku) not “working for ...”) (ugoku – move) – notice 労働 roudou – labour
the i on the left meaning 彼は 働いている kare wa hataraite iru
person – and this is – He is working
different to 勤 (work
“for” a hospital etc.)

ブ bu department, section, 部分 bubun – a part, section

部 club 全部 zenbu - all
エキ eki station 駅長 eki chou – stationmaster
駅 駅員 ekiin – station employee
シャ sha shrine, company, 会社 kaisha – a company
社 ジャ ja assembling 社会 shakai – a society
社長 shachou – company president
テツ tetsu iron 鉄槌 tettsui – iron fist (karate move)
鉄 地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway
ショ sho place, that which 所 tokoro – place
所 ジョ jyo 台所 daidokoro – kitchen
ところ tokoro 事務所 jimusho – an office
バン ban number, order 一番 ichiban – number one
番 電話番号 denwabangou – telephone
number
交番 kouban – police box
シ shi city, market 市 shi – city
市 いち ichi 市場 ichiba / 市場 shi jou – a market
市長 shi chou – a mayor
 市民 shimin - citizen

ト to capital, big city 都会 tokai – urban area

都 都市 toshi – big city
東京 tokyou - Tokyo
フ fu administrative, 大阪府 oosaka fu – Osaka prefecture
府 prefecture 政府 seifu - government
ケン ken (also) prefecture 県 ken – a prefecture
県
トウ tou island 島 shima – island
島 しま shima 島国 shima guni – an island nation
リュウ ryu stay, detain 書留 kaki tome – a registered letter
留 と(まる) to(maru) 留学 ryuugaku – to study abroad
と(める) to(meru)
シュク shuku lodging, dwelling 宿題 shukudai – homework
宿 宿泊する shukuhaku suru – to stay
宿舎 shuku sha – a dormitory
セイ sei administration 政治 seiji – politics
政 行政 gyousei – administration
政府 seifu – a government
ジ ji govern 治す naosu – to cure, fix
治 おさ(まる) osa(maru) 政治家 seijika – a politician
おさ(める) osa(meru)
なおる nao(ru)
なおす nao(su)
 ケイ kei control, pass through 経済 keizai – economy
経 経営する keiei suru – to manage
経由 keiyu – via, by way of
レキ reki career 歴史 rekishi – history
歴 学歴 gakureki – one’s educational
background
カ ka goods, money 硬貨 kouka – coin
貨 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/