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Kanji Mnemonics
An Instruction Manual for Learning Japanese Characters Robert P. Bodnaryk Ph.D.

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Kanji Mnemonics
An Instruction Manual for Learning Japanese Characters Robert P. Bodnaryk Ph.D.

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Copyright

© 2000

Robert P. Bodnaryk

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. ISBN 0-9688937-0-8. Forward comments and corrections to the publisher: Kanji Mnemonics, 149 Linacre Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 3R5, CANADA or e-mail bodnaryk@mb.sympatico.ca Copies of Kanji Mnemonics can be ordered from our Web site www.mts.netl-bodnarykiindex.htm

Acknowledgements I am indebted to Or. Isao Morishima of Tottori University for careful editing. All the errors remaining in the text are my own. Special thanks to Or. Osamu Imura for many helpful suggestions and to Or. Toshiaki Hara, Yuko Tahira and students of Tottori University for trying their best to teach me how to speak Japanese.

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
Kanji Came from China Kanji are Picture Words So Why Don't I Get the Picture? How the Pictures Changed I:::J Drift I:::J Copying Error I:::J Assignment of New Meanings to Old Characters I:::J Standardization
I:::J Simplification It's a Picture of What!? The Structure of Kanji I:::J Radicals and Elements I:::J Kanji as Radicals I:::J On and kun Readings

i-1
i-2 i-2 i-2 i-3 i-4 i-4 i-4 i-5 i-5 i-6 i-6 i-6 i-7 i-7 i-7 i-8 i-8 i-8 i-9 i-9 i-9

Mnemonics- the Key to Learning Kanji I:::J Pictographs and Ideographs Tell the Story (Sometimes) I:::J Mnemonic Strings for Complex Kanji I:::J Natural Groupings of Kanji I:::J Kanji in Compound Words
I:::J Stroke Order I:::J Kanji Cards

Other Tools for Learning Kanji I:::J Computers I:::J Dictionaries I:::J Other Kanji Texts General Rules for Writing Kanji I:::J First Steps I:::J Stroke Direction I:::J Stroke Order A Final Word ... I:::J How Many Kanji Do You Really Need to Know?
I:::J How Fast Can You Learn Them?

i-10 i-10
i-11 i-13 i-13

II. Pictures and Symbols III. Sounds Groups I:::J Level 1 I:::J Level 2 I:::J Level 3 IV. Mixed Sound and Structure I:::J Level 1
I:::J Level 2 I:::J Level 3

1 20
39

71
Groups

111 142
230

V. Structure I:::J Level 1 I:::J Level 2 I:::J Level 3

Groups 277 303 346 393 393 394 395

VI. Appendix I:::J Abbreviations and Conventions I:::J Reference Material I:::J Kanji Dictionaries
I:::J Index 1. ON Readings I:::J Index 2. Kun Readings

410

I. INTRODUCTION

Kanji Mnemonics is an instruction manual for learning Japanese characters. It incorporates powerful mnemonic (memory-assisting) devices to help students learn all 1,945 kanji in everyday use in Japan. The manual assumes only a basic knowledge of Japanese grammar and the kana and is suitable for self-study or use in a classroom setting.

Kanji Mnemonics employs many interactive strategies to facilitate learning kanji. The manual is cumulative in its approach: simple kanji, radicals and elements are learned first and form the basis for the more complex characters that come later. Kanji are organized into natural groups based on mnemonically effective affinities. Structural elements that form each complex kanji are listed and cross-indexed. Finally, kanji are assigned 'mnemonic strings' to make their meanings highly memorable for beginners and advanced students alike.

Although Kanji Mnemonics takes a modern, pragmatic approach to learning kanji, it also encourages a sympathetic appreciation of the etymology of these enduring characters and their great antiquity. A brief account of the kanji as pictographs or ideographs and their historic evolution are therefore given in Section I.

Section II presents 98 basic kanji, many of which are derived from simple pictures and symbols. In Section III, kanji are presented in groups that have a common structure and the same ON reading (Sound Groups). Section IV contains groups of kanji that have common structures but whose ON readings are not all the same (Mixed Sound and Structure Groups). Section V contains groups of kanji that have common structures but different ON readings (Structure Groups).

Within each of the Sound, Mixed and Structure groups, kanji are presented in graded levels of difficulty, which is usually (but not always) a function of the number of strokes required to write them. Although the assignment of kanji to levels of difficulty tends to be somewhat arbitrary, there seems little doubt that a Level 1 kanji such as ~ is a lot easier to learn than a Level 3 kanji such as ~f1. As the simple kanji are mastered, it becomes easier and easier to cope with the difficult ones.

Kanji Came from China

Historically the Japanese people had no written language of their own. Starting in about the fourth century AD and peaking in the sixth, they began borrowing the Chinese system of writing. Since Chinese and Japanese are entirely different spoken languages, the use of Chinese characters (in Japan called kanji, literally characters from Han China) to write Japanese was an unmitigated disaster. At first the sound of the borrowed characters was used to spell out Japanese words, and the Chinese meaning was ignored. This was an inefficient and awkward way of doing things. For example, the character for the sound KI ~ is highly complex and requires 12 strokes to write (it takes just four strokes with the Roman alphabet). Later, Chinese characters were taken for their meaning only and given a Japanese pronunciation. As a result, nearly two-thirds of kanji today have both a Chinese and Japanese pronunciation (called a 'reading'). The Japanese also supplemented the Chinese system of writing with two alphabets (called hiragana and katakana) of their own, each having some 45 different letters. The end result was, in the words of one exasperated writer, an insanely complicated system of writing.

Kanji are Picture Words

Some three thousand years ago when people in China (priests, most likely) wanted to record something, they drew pictures. What is written down can be preserved and transmitted to others and pictures are undeniably the best way of conveying some kinds of information. In our age of information overload, we use pictures with increasing frequency to convey messages effortlessly in the blink of an eye. The modern equivalent of kanji are everywhere these days- on the doors of every public washroom, on highway signs, in airports, on computer screens, on the products we buy- informing us, directing us or warning us in a way that mere words cannot match.

So Why Don't I Get the Picture?

If picture words convey information in such a direct and meaningful way, why are the characters that form the backbone of the Chinese and Japanese systems of writing utterly incomprehensible to us when we first encounter them? Why are kanji so difficult? And why does it seem to take forever to learn kanji? A simple answer is that the situation was not always like this. Once, common pictographs (pictures of things) and ideographs (symbolic representations of intangibles, like love or war) were relatively straightforward. But, over thousands of years they have evolved, diverging from pictures that almost anyone could read, to become increasingly abstract symbols. Unfortunately,

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the highly-evolved modern forms now convey little of their meaning except to those who first spend many years studing them. For example, it is doubtful that anyone would guess the meaning of even the simplest of kanji, such as B . Yet there is not a man, woman or child who does not know what;¢f stands for. This universal picture of the sun is a perfect kanji. Its modern equivalent B is really a nonsense symbol. It must be learned. The task of learning this kanji might seem trivial at first sight. After all, it does not take much mental horse power to remember that a rectangle with a horizontal dividing line stands for "sun". Multiply by two thousand (approximately the number of kanji you need to know to be newspaper-literate in Japan) and the magnitude of difficulty becomes more apparent. How did so many kanji go from being wonderfully direct pictures to their largely unintelligible modern forms? More importantly, how is the student of Japanese to cope with learning a picture writing language that has all but abandoned its pictures? Knowledge of the historical evolution of characters can help to learn them.

How the Pictures Changed

Although Chinese characters have been around for three millennia, only a few of them can be traced back unchanged to their ancient origins. Most of them have evolved over time to their modern forms, a process that continues, at least in the Peoples Republic of China, to the present day. Standardized forms began to appear by the third century BC and by 200 AD the squared 'KAISHO' form widely used today in East Asia, including Japan, had become established. The history of a kanji mayor may not help you to learn it. A long or convoluted or obscure etymology, while fascinating in its own right, may serve no useful mnemonic purpose. In Kanji Mnemonics, we cite the historical development of a kanji only when it serves as a direct memory aid. When we are etymologically silent, the reader can assume that no such purpose would be served. Many kinds of evolutionary change have been identified by scholars. Some of the more common processes leading to change are as follows:

Drift A living language never stays the same. Change to its written form may occur as the result of intervention of governments bent on reform but in fact a lot of change is simply the result of drift. The historical development of many Chinese characters has been traced back in time by studying primitive characters first written on bone and tortoise shell, by studying characters on inscriptions, in court documents, poetry, letters and in various types of manuscripts and records that may span hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. For some characters, the etymological trail quickly

grows cold and their origins remain lost forever in the mists of time. Scholars may also disagree about the etymology of individual characters and it is not uncommon for there to be competing theories.

Copying Error Chinese characters were developed and written long before the invention of printing presses and Xerox machines. Today we take it for granted that multiple copies of a document will all be the same. In ancient times when another copy of a document was needed, it was copied by hand. Bad lighting, the failing eyesight of some copyists, fatigue and human error all took their toll on the fidelity of reproduction of handwritten manuscripts. An abrupt change in the historical development of a character is often the product of a copying error and its perpetuation by succeeding generations. Copying errors have degraded the quality of characters, obscuring their meaning and making them more difficult to learn. Kanji that are the product of a copying error are noted in Kanji Mnemonics when it makes good didactic sense to do so.

Assignment of New Meanings to Old Characters From time to time, the prevailing linguistic authority has sanctioned a new meaning for an existing character. The new meaning is said to be 'borrowed', but in plain English the character was really a picture of something else. A character with a borrowed meaning is the ultimate nonsense symbol and a total capitulation of the picture writing concept. These "pictures" are not worth 1,000 words- they are not even worth one. The student must bear up and just learn these rogues with the aid and advice of Kanji Mnemonics. Standardization Early picture writing was not pretty to look at. Characters were of all different sizes and a general anarchy in writing them prevailed. In truth, the writing looked like the dog's dinner. Such an unruly state of affairs is anathema to bureaucracy. A standardized system of writing on squared paper was introduced. All characters were to be written the same size, one to a square. This Procrustean bed of squares forced many changes to be made in the way the characters were written. Round shapes were squared to fit better (hence, the square sun referred to earlier). Since all characterswhether composed of two or twenty strokes- had to be written the same size, there was a reduction in the number of strokes for the more complex characters. Entire substructures vital to the integrity of the character as a picture were dropped or replaced by abbreviated versions. Lines that stuck out every which way in the old pictographs were made to run straight up and down, or straight across, or were otherwise tidied up. The characters took on a brisk new appearance but in the process gave up much of their essential quality as pictures. Ah! the bureaucratic mind! These squared characters, in place by 200 AD, conveyed their information more as symbols and less as pictures.

Simplification Although simplification was one of the consequences of the squaring process, it has also been pursued independently as an objective of its own. Note that simplification always means a reduction in the number of strokes needed to write the character. The 'simplified' character may not be simpler to recognize or to learn. Indeed, the opposite is usually true. Take the case of the character for horse. Early forms drew a picture of a horse. Later, the stylised, squared form ~ still offered some hope of horse. With a little imagination the flowing mane, powerful rear quarters and four hooves are all there. The new form mandated by the People's Republic of China looks nothing like a horse. Is it simpler? A little. Is it easier to read? Not really. Is it easier to learn? We think not. Purists will be happy to know that the square, horsey-looking form is still retained by Japan, and also by Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.

Reforms in Japan at the end of World War II resulted in significant changes to writing the Japanese language. Many kanji were simplified or replaced by others easier to write and the number of kanji taught in school was limited to 1,850 (since increased to 1,945). These are the so-called Joyo Kanji ~l* general use kanji. Newspapers and or magazines have been pressured by the Ministry of Education to limit themselves to the Joyo Kanji so that anyone in Japan with a high school education would be newspaper literate. Other kanji such as those for family and place names are learned informally, as are kanji for technical terms and kanji used in literary works. As a result, most adults in Japan know about 3,000 kanji. University graduates, depending on their field of specialization, might know many more.

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It's a Picture of What!?

Characters developed at a time when the world was largely agricultural in its outlook and terms of reference. Technology was simple. Artefacts familiar in everyday life a thousand years ago are often as obscure to us as our computers and computer icons will be to people 100 (or maybe, 10) years from now. A few of the characters are grounded in ancient Chinese legends or Buddhist mythology. Some characters are based upon practices not commonly encountered any more: communal cooking pots, sacrifices at altars, roasting of dogs. Other characters graphically depict natural (or unnatural) events such as childbirth or sodomy. While we usually have no problem with the words, our modern sensibility may cause us to flinch at seeing the event drawn out in a picture, even if the picture is abstract. There is a certain fascination in dealing with matters of such antiquity. The downside is that many characters are based on what is no longer familiar and that makes them more difficult to learn. It may be comforting, if not too helpful, to know that Asians have as much trouble learning these characters as the rest of us.

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The Structure of Kanji

Radicals and Elements Complex kanji are made up of simpler structures called radicals (denoted R in the text) and elements (E), neither of which can stand alone. There is not much practical difference between a radical and an element. Historically, there are 214 officially recognised radicals, the more important of which have Japanese names. Dictionaries organize kanji according to their radicals and their place within the structure of kanji. Entries in The Kanji Dictionary, a modern reference work, are arranged according to Spahn & Hadamitzky's own 79-radical reference system. Kanji Mnemonics gives every radical and element a name that embodies its meaning. In most cases the English and Japanese designation for radicals are equivalent. In a few cases we have created names for elements to serve mnemonic ends. It is essential to memorize the name, meaning and structure of radicals and elements, the same as for kanji.

Kanji as Radicals Many kanji themselves are used as radicals to form more complex kanji. These are designated KR in the text. Other designations are NJY for Non-Joyo Kanji and CO for characters that are used in China only.

ON and kun Readings As we have seen, Japan's borrowing of Chinese characters was of two distinct sorts. At first the meaning of the character was ignored and its sound was used to spell out Japanese words. Later, the sound of the character was ignored and its meaning given a Japanese pronunciation. By convention, the Chinese reading of a character (called ON) is written in uppercase Roman script or in katakana. The Japanese reading (called kun) is written in lower case Roman script or in hiragana. Of the 1,945 Joyo Kanji 1,166 have both ON and kun readings, 736 have ON readings only and 43 have kun readings only.

Mnemonics- the Key to Learning Kanji

A mnemonic is something intended to assist the memory, as a verse or formula. Every school child knows the year Columbus discovered America thanks to a humble mnemonic. Many kinds of mnemonic devices are used in Kanji Mnemonics to assist learning kanji. Here are some of the most powerful.

Pictographs and Ideographs Tell the Story (Sometimes) A sympathetic understanding of a character as pictograph or ideograph is often powerfully mnemonic. A little historical perspective can also be helpful. Knowing that the kanji for power j] was once a pictograph of a biceps helps to remember it, even though the modern form may not look much like a biceps. A lot of imagination and a flexible frame of mind are needed. Mnemonic Strings for Complex Kanji In this mnemotechnique, simple kanji, radicals or elements present in a complex kanji are strung together to 'synthesize' its meaning. Some strings may seem better than others because they make sense. For example, the complex kanji for wealth is composed of two simpler kanji, money and talent, written side by side. The character for wealth is easily remembered from the string:"Money and talent bring wealth", But a mnemonic string does not have to make sense for it to be memorable. The kanji for permit is composed of words and noon. Permit is also easily remembered from the string: "Words at noon are permitted', even though this string does not make a whole lot of sense. Memory devices tend to be personal and if one in Kanji Mnemonics does not suit you, make up another. Just make sure to write it down and to use the same string the same way every time. A half-remembered, muddled mnemonic is no mnemonic at all! Natural Groupings of Kanji We learn things better when they are in like groups. A powerful mnemotechnic is to learn kanji in groups in which there is a common theme. The natural groupings found on every page of Kanji Mnemonics will help you to quickly learn kanji that have common structural elements and the same or different ON readings. Kanji in Compound Words We learn kanji so that we can read and write Japanese. But knowing a kanji is only half the battle. There is still the business of learning the meaning of compound words that contain the kanji. In English, learning just the alphabet would hardly be sufficient for someone to be able to read and write it! A vocabulary is essential for any language. Students who take up the study of kanji may already have a Japanese vocabulary, from speaking the language or from reading text written in romaji or hiragana. Learning kanji and building vocabulary can interact synergistically to reinforce one another. For example, the ON reading for the kanji ~~ is

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SHOO, and its primary meaning is general or commander-in-chief. Unfortunately, there are 65 other kanji that are also read SHOO, each with a different meaning. It is easy to distinguish ~~ from all the others because it is used to write SHOOGUN ~~~ ,a word familiar to everyone. By learning ~~~, you also get reinforcement for the kanji GUN which means army. A shogun is the commander-in-chief of the army.

Although the primary function of Kanji Mnemonics is not vocabulary building, we take advantage of synergistic interaction and give at least one compound word in which the kanji occurs to illustrate its meaning. Learn this word with the same vigour and intensity as you do for the kanji itself. It is inevitable that compound words will contain kanji that have not yet been learned. Use hiragana for these for the time being, then come back to the compound word after you have formally learned its second (or third) kanji. It is a powerful way to review.

Stroke Order Kanji must be written in the correct stroke order as prescribed by the Ministry of Education. Writing a kanji with the same stroke order every time is mnemonic in itself. After writing a character tens or hundreds of times, the very act of writing it may become neurally embedded in the brain's circuitry. An unconcious, automatic response may help carry you through the writing process and keep you from getting stuck part way through.

Kanji Cards The best mnemonic technique of all is repetition. You will need to go over kanji hundreds (yes) of times before you really know them. Kanji cards are a good way to drill. Sooner or later every student makes up a set. Buy 3 x 5 inch (7.6 x 12.8 em) index cards lined on one side. On the unlined side write the kanji. On the lined side write its ON and kun reading and meaning. Keep a pack of cards with you at all times and make use of your spare moments on the bus or at lunch time for drilling. When you can give the ON and kun reading and meaning after seeing each kanji, turn the pack over and write (or visualize) the kanji from the ON-kun-meaning side of the card. Always drill from both sides. Start small: 10 cards at the beginning, then work up to 20, then 50 and finally 100. A pack of 100 seems to be the largest physically manageable size. Get some elastic bands so the cards don't drift around in your purse or briefcase. When you are confident that you know all the cards in a set, shuffle the pack and drill some more. Drill the next day and the next day after that. Never give up! Mature students will have 20 sets of index cards each having 100 cards. A one per week set rotation ensures that every kanji will be reviewed at least twice a year. By pulling kanji cards for those that you always remember, it is possible to reduce the set size and/or the number of sets thereby making it possible to review the really difficult kanji many times per year.

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Other Tools for Learning Kanji

Computers A broad selection of computer software on CD-ROM is available for studying spoken and written Japanese. The quality and utility of the software varies, so it is a case of buyer beware. Some developers find it easy and inexpensive to put out books and software for learning 200 to 300 kanji, i.e., the number that a grade three student knows. If you are serious about learning kanji, you really do not need these! Two things can be said about computer-assisted learning for kanji: it is relatively expensive and it is not very portable (although becoming less so on both accounts, thanks to affordable lap top computers). Try to learn a few hundred kanji on your own before investing in software. You will be a more discerning customer and undoubtedly will make a better choice. Learning kanji is hard, tedious work. If a computer can keep you at it, then by all means go this route.

Dictionaries Sooner or later every student recognizes the need for a good kanji dictionary. We recommend The Kanji Dictionary by Spahn and Hadamitzsky (Appendix 1). Electronic dictionaries, such as the Canon Wordtank Super Series of hand-held electronic dictionaries, are wonderful if you have the money.

Other Kanji Texts Although we would like to think that Kanji Mnemonics is the only text you will ever need to learn kanji, there are other texts with merit. Their strengths, weaknesses and suitability are evaluated in Appendix 1.

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GENERAL RULES FOR WRITING KANJI First Steps Before you write your first kanji, become familiar with the General Rules for Writing Kanji in the section below. Refer back to the General Rules often at the beginning. After a few hundred kanji have been learned, a sixth sense for stroke order will set in.

If you seem to be having trouble with proportion and symmetry and your kanji look a little lop-sided, tracing kanji in the text a few times may help.
Make a grid of squares on plain white paper and practice writing kanji of uniform size in each square.

Stroke Direction 1. Horizontal strokes are written from left to right; verical strokes from top to bottom. Exceptions: in a combination of short, slanting strokes on the left, the last is written with an up-stroke.

2. Strokes may end bluntly, with a tiny hook or with a sharp taper. These effects are obtained easily with a brush but not so readily with a ball point pen or a pencil. Whatever your instrument, finesse your strokes for authentic-looking kanji.

blunt

hook

taper

3. A stroke may change direction several times as it is being written. Do not lift your brush or pen from the paper while writing the stroke.

Stroke Order 1. From top to bottom

23---

2. From left to right

3. Middle stroke before side-strokes

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ill
't
radical and
3

Exceptions: characters containing the

*.

:)<
4. Horizontal stroke before intersecting vertical strokes

AA

Exceptions:

5. Piercing vertical stroke last

6. Piercing horizontal stroke last

1

.rn,
p;j.
3

3~

7. Outer frame of enclosures first, but a closing bottom stroke last

'~
6

'~

'rt.tJ

Exceptions:

8. The radical for movement is written last.

A Final Word ...

How Many Kanji Do You Really Need to Know? When I was advised that I had been awarded a Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, I had six months to wind down my research projects in Canada, plan new research for Japan and, incidentally, learn Japanese. Scientists, like most, are optimists and we believe in the 20%-80% principle, i.e., for 20% of the effort one can often achieve 80% of a desired result, be it in languages or fitness or any other human endeavour. I knew that it would be impossible to learn 1,945 kanji in six months, but it might just be possible to learn 20% of them (say 400) and become reasonably literate. This scenario seemed all the more appealing when I discovered that the kanji in Hadamitzky and Spahn's Kanji & Kana were listed in order of their most frequent usage. Not only could I save time by learning just a few kanji- they would be the ones I would most likely encounter. It was a strategy that could not fail! When I arrived in Japan, I found of course that I was completely illiterate. The bus that went by my university went on to the small coastal village of jt~ written with kanji numbers 756 and 951 in the Hadamitzky and Spahn text and beyond the scope of my 400. I could not even read a simple bus sign to catch the bus! How many kanji do you really need to know? All 1,945 of the Joyo Kanji and quite a few more for comfort. The good news is that if you can learn 400 kanji, you can learn the rest. It just takes longer.

The basic unit of learning in Kanji Mnemonics is one page and there are nearly four hundred pages of kanji. One page a day would put the task at just over a year. This may be too arduous for most because it requires study seven days a week. One page a day for a 4- or 5-day week plus a day or two for a weekly review puts the task closer to two years and may be about right. It is a serious error to try to go too quickly without consolidation because the organization of Kanji Mnemonics is cumulative. It is essential to incorporate regular review periods into any prog ram of study. Formal testing and self-testing are an integral part of the review process. Start by testing your ability to read the kanji from the top row of the pages being reviewed. You must be able to give the ON and kun readings, the meaning(s), and the representative compounds containing the kanji. Second, you must be able to write the kanji from memory using the correct stroke order. Recalling the mnemonic string helps get the radicals and elements right. Write the compounds too, but use hiragana for kanji that have not been formally studied. Finally, test from randomly drawn kanji cards on a regular, rotational basis.

How Fast Can You learn Them?

II. PICTURES AND SYMBOLS

1f

BIGI LARGE DAI TAl

00.

DAIGAKU TAIHEN oo.kii oomono otona*

j\:~ j\:~ j\: 'E' j\:!to/J j\:.A.

~,

university serious / wonderful/dreadful big an important person (figure) / a big shot adult (*Readings marked with an asterisk are irregular).

1 KR Depiction of a person with spread arms and legs, looking big. SMALL I LITTLE SHOO

chii.
ko0-

SHOOGAKKOO chii.sai koishi ogawa

11\~~ 11\

'2: ~,

11\ 1:i 11\ J II

a primary (elementary) school small / little a pebble II gravel a brook / creek II Ogawa (surname)

2 KR Person with arms at his sides, looking small.

STOP SHI

to.

CHUUSHI suru ll:. to.maru ll:. -6) to. meru ll:. <If:> -6)

'* '*

stop (doing) I break off / call off I suspend stop / come to a stop bring to a stop

3 KR Depiction of the left foot () evolving to

J and finally to
3. LINE I ROW

ll:. to convey stop.

1. GO KOO GYOO

2. PERFORM I CARRY OUT I DO

[Name: gyoogamaej

i.
yu. okona.

KOODOO GYOOKAN Lku yu.ku okona.u

fillVJ fiFI'l' fi< fi<

fr?

an action I movement space between lines (of text) go go perform I carry out I do

4 KR Depiction of a crossroads ~ ~ to convey go, with various associated meanings.

7J

..t.
JOO ue uwakami a. nobo.

UPPER JOOTOO ue uwagi kami a.garu a.geru nobo.ru

...t~ ...t ...tJif

.l;
.l; iJ\ ~

...tlf~ ...t~

superior I excellent upper a coat I jacket upper part I top I head I up stream go up I climb I ascend lift up I raise I elevate go up I climb I ascend

5 KR Symbol of something above a base line to indicate upper.

l'
KA
GE shita shima sa. o. kuda,

LOWER KATOO GESUI shita shimo sa.garu sa.geru o.riru kuda.su kuda.sai 'F~

1'71<
l' l' 'FiJ\ ~ 'Flf~ l' ~) ~

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l' ~[,\

inferior I lower order I lower class sewer I drain lower part I below I under lower part I downstream hang down I dangle II drop I fall hang I suspend II lower I bring down I reduce go down (a hill, stairs) II be granted (permission) let down I lower II give I bestow please (polite imperative)

6 KR Symbol of something below

a base line to indicate lower.

7J
TOO katana

SWORD NIHONTOO katana kogatana B*JJ JJ IJ\ JJ a Japanese sword a sword a pocket knife I knife

7 KR Pictograph of a broad-bladed sword.

BLADE JIN ha HAKUJIN hamono a drawn (naked) sword an edged tool I cutlery [ 7J sword 7KR]

8 KR Slash on sword to indicate the blade.

P::J
EN maru.

1. ROUND

2. YEN

a circle ENKEI F9M strong yen ENdaka F9~ F9 (,\ round maru.i 9 Bank teller's window issues round yen 1. GOLD 2. METAL 3. MONEY [Name: kanehen**]

~ KIN KON kanakane

3ti ;( <$f )(., KIN medaru gold medal (Olympic, other) [.-::::-Iid227R] 3ti~B KINYOOBI Friday [± earth 15KR] KONJIKI a golden colour 3ti1S [ , I nuggets of gold] hardware / metal fittings kanamono 3ti!to/.J kane 3ti money 10 KR Lid covers earth where there are two buried nuggets of gold. **See 543 for the meaning of hen.

ft
TAN

1. RED

2. DILIGENT

fSHi'j TANSHA cinnabar f>t;fff TANSEI diligence / efforts 11 Simple boat is painted red by its diligent owner. BOAT
SHUUTEI a boat / craft :liTi! a (row) boat fune :liT :IiT~U: boating funaasobi 12 KR Stemless rowing boat seen from above with two people sitting in it, and an oar laid athwartships. The boat is tethered with a line (topmost stroke).

fit
SHUU

fune funa-

If
GO

NOON GOZEN a.m. -'fAA GOGO -'f~ p.m. 13 KR Depiction of a pestle to express noon, the central part of the day the centre of a mortar). CAN KANkiri

(a pestle works

ffi
KAN

tIi i;7]

~)

a can opener

[ -'f noon 13KR]

[ U container]

14 KR Noon container is

a can.

±B3
±
DO TO tsuchi

)11

JlJ

EARTH I GROUND I SOIL Saturday ±1II8 DOYOOBI TOCHI ±tI!! land earth / ground / soil tsuchi ± 15 KR Depiction of a simple plant growing from the earth. RICE FIELD the country(side) / rural districts DEN'EN 83~ 83 a rice field ta 83$ Tanaka (surname) Tanaka 16 KR Pictograph of a rice field with four paddies.

[Name: tsuchihen]

E8
DEN ta

:tJ
RYOKU RIKI chikara

POWER/FORCE/STRENGTH ZENRYOKU RIKISHI chikara

[Name: chikara] all one's power / utmost efforts sumo wrestler power / force / strength

itn

n± n

17 KR Simplification of an arm with bulging biceps, symbolizing power.

KA hi

*
III

FIRE KAZAN *LlJ KAYOOBI *1118 hi * 18 KR Pictograph of the flames a volcano Tuesday fire / a fire and sparks of a fire.

[Name: hi hen]

J II
SEN kawa

RIVER KASEN 5iiJ JlI rivers kawa JII river 19 KR Pictograph of a river flowing between its banks.

MOUNTAIN SANJOO yama

SAN yam a

LlJ..t. LlJ

mountain top / summit mountain group.

20 KR Pictograph of a mountain

v:
[

T
CHOO TEl

1. CITY BLOCK CHOOME TEINEI na

2. COUNTER FOR BLOCKS I DISHES OF FOOD I GUNS

TEl
T~t,j:.

city block (in addresses) polite I courteous I respectful II careful I meticulous

21 The T-shape symbolizes a city block, perhaps from the idea of intersecting streets. There are also connotations of exactness and correctness in T as seen in compounds such as T~ .

7
RYOO

1. UNDERSTAND

2. COMPLETE I FINISH
[ -=f child 95KR]

RYOOKAI 7 A1¥ Understood! I Agreed! I Roger! KANRYOO ~7 completion 22 Child is without arms - I understand and will complete it.

lID.
sara

PLATE I DISH I SAUCER sara

.Illl.

[Name: sara] plate I dish I saucer

.Illl. .

23 KR Pictograph of a fluted plate. There is no ON reading for

fFIl
SATSU

VOLUME I BOOKI

COUNTER FOR BOOKS

NISATSU =00 two volumes (copies) SASSHI OO-=f a booklet I pamphlet 24 KR Pictograph of a bundle of bound bamboo writing tablets, now meaning volume & book .

u.
....L.

STAND I STAND UP JIRITSU 13:!I.. ta.tsu :!I.. ~ ta.teru :!I.. -c ~ 25 KR From a pictograph of a independent I self-supporting stand up set up I raise man standing on the ground.

RITSU

tao

GO OUT I COME OUT I TAKE OUT SHUTSU de. da. SHUPPATSU de.ru da.su

t±l~ t±l ~ t±l T

departure (of a train, bus) go out I come out I depart take out I send / post

[ ll.J mountain 20KR]

26 KR Two mountains, one going out and the other coming out.

o
1. USE I EMPLOY YOO mochi. 2. BUSINESS

YOOJI m:J: business / an errand I something to do mochi. iru .@ use / employ 27 KR Depiction of a fence to express something that is used for a purpose.

m (,\

LACK KETSU ka. KETSUIN a vacant position I an opening be lacking (missing, broken off) ka.keru lack ka.ku 28 KR Depiction of a yawning person. The upper part of the structure is a wide open mouth and signifies vacant, empty & lacking.

FURTHERMORE ka. ka.tsu

liN ADDITION I BESIDES furthermore I in addition / besides

29 KR Pictograph of stones piled up in a cairn

meanings such as furthermore, STONE SEKI SHAKU KOKU ishl SEKIYU 15illl JISHAKU $.15 IKKOKU -15 ishi 15 30 KR Pictograph of in addition

§ i.e., one thing on top of another, with & besides. As a radical .§_ conveys piled up.
[Name: ishihen]

petroleum [ r cliff 100R] a magnet [ n a stone, squared] a 'koku' (160 litres, historical measure for rice) a stone I rock cliff with a stone at its base. Note variant of r .

EACH I EVERY I VARIOUS KAKU onoono KAKUCHI onoono

~±t!!
~

each (every, various) place(s) each / every I all

[ 5J.. upturned foot 459R]

[ IJ mouth 85KR]

.:I±. ~,
KYOO tomo

31 KR Upturned foot in mouth- each and every one of us has done it. The radical an upside down version of the left foot shown in 3KR as explained in 459R.
TOGETHER KYOOGAKU tomokasegi

5J.. is

i!:t:~ i!:t:m '€

32 KR Early forms

t~

coeducation dual income I both husband & wife working ~~ offering up a jewel

show two hands together

tT .

o
1. HAND SHU te ta 2. PERSON WITH A SKILL a means (step, measure, way) a singer hand reins / a bridle skilled / good at unskilled I poor at a person with skill.

~W: SHUDAN ¥X~ KASHU ~ te tazuna ~~ ..t. ~ joozu* '"F ~ heta* 33 KR Three-fingered hand of

jE
SOKU ashi tao

1. FOOT I LEG

2. A PAIR (SHOES, SOCKS)

3. SUFFICIENT

4.ADD

~,IE ENSOKU -,IE ISSOKU MANZOKU na ;lil),lEt,j. ,IE ashi ,IE§" ashikubi .IE L) ~ ta.riru ,IE"t ta.su

an excursion louting I hike one pair (of shoes, socks) satisfactory I complete / sufficient a foot ankle [ IJ knee cap] be sufficient I suffice [It stop (foot) 3KR] add and add are borrowed meanings.

34 KR Pictograph of a knee cap and foot. Sufficient (See p. i-4). Note variant of ll:. .

r=I
GEN GON koto-

1. WORD
GENMEI MUGON kotoba i.u

i,

2. SAY ii!i I3jj ~ii!i ii!i~ ii!i5

a statement I a declaration silent / mute / dumb a word say

[ IJ mouth 85KR]

35 KR Depiction of words issuing from a mouth to convey both word & say.

/j,
JI SHI shime.

SHOW JIDAN SHISA shime.su

~~ ~~ ~"t

an out of court settlement a suggestion show

36 KR Depiction of a primitive altar T with an item of sacrifice and drops of blood just meaning show.

I'

on top beneath, originally meaning to show the will of the gods and now

ONE ICHI ITSU hito. ICHI IPPON hito.tsu hito.ri -;.fi;: -? one one (cylindrical object) one one person

-A

37 KR Pictograph of one finger, extended horizontally.

TWO NI futa. NI futa.tsu futa.ri two two two people

38 KR Two fingers.
THREE SAN mi. SAN SANNIN mi.tsu I mi.ttsu

=-A =-?

three three people three

39 Three fingers.

VEHICLE SHA kururna DENSHA kuruma (electric) train a car

[Name: kurumahen]

40 KR Pictograph of a two-wheeled vehicle.

F
KO
to

1. DOOR KOGAI de KOSUU to

2. HOUSE I HOUSEHOLD out doors / in the open air the number of houses door

41 KR Pictograph of a door i.e. one-half of a gate

r~

145KR.

r•
o

Il9
SHI yon yo.

FOUR SHI yon yo.tsu I yo.ttsu yo.kka I1B I1B 11B-:l I1BB four four four 4 days I the 4th day of the month

42 Four fingers in a fist. To see the shape of I1B ,form a fist with your right hand, palm down. Then touch the tip of your index finger to a point mid-wayan the underside of the extended thumb. FIVE

GO
itsu.

GO itsu.tsu itsu.ka

five five 5 days I the 5th day of the month

43 Five fingers can substitute for a thread-reel

8 to wind yarn.

I'
mu. mul

-L. SIX ROKU mu.tsu Imu.ttsu ft:..-:l muika* ft:..B 44 Pot lid over six [...L. pot lid 227R] six [ I\, a split 49] 6 days I the 6th day of the month

ROKU

a split for six.

ONCE MORE I AGAIN I TWICE I RESAl SA SAIKON SARAISHUU futata.bi

futata.

:jijy~ :jij*Jm :jij It

second marriage / re-marriage the week after next again I twice

13:
taga.

45 Depiction of an inverted basket A of the sort that can be stacked. One - 37KR signifies one more being added to the stack. Again, twice and re- are associated meanings. MUTUAL SOOGO no taga.i 46 Depiction of

GO

tl3lICl) lIl,\

mutual I reciprocal mutual I reciprocal

a symmetrical spool for cross-winding thread to convey mutual.

)'\.
t
SHleHI SEVEN

J\.

J r ,..

nana nanD

SHICHI t seven nana. tsu t "':l seven nano.ka tB 7 days I the 7th day of the month 47 Bent finger under a fist signals seven.

J\
HACHI

EIGHT HACHI ya.tsu I ya.ttsu yoo.ka J\.

ya. yoo.

r:»
J\. B

eight eight 8 days I the 8th day of the month

48 KR Split signals eight.

NINE KYUU KU kokono. KYUU KU kokono.tsu kokono.ka nine nine nine 9 days I the 9th day of the month

49 KR Bent elbow signals nine.

:J:f:
SEI SHOO

WELL YUSEI TENJOO ido

;fB# ~# #F

an oil well a ceiling a well

50 KR Pictograph of

a framed well.

1\
KETSU

1. HOLE I PIT I CAVE

DOOKETSU ana

2. LAIR I DEN
a cave I cavern a hole II lair I den

[ ...... ouse 107R] h [ J\. eight 48KR]

ana

;FoI1\ 1\

51 KR House with eight holes that may be the lair or den (of animals).

An

JUU too

+
TEN JUU too tooka hatsuka*

+ +

+8 =+8

ten ten 10 days I the 10th day of the month 20 days I the 20th day of the month

52 KR Crossed hands for ten. 1. HUNDRED HYAKU 2. MANY [one 37KR]

HYAKU one hundred [ B white 179KR] HYAKKA TEN s:l!i rn a department store 53 One white (thumbnail) for a hundred. The thumb signified hundred in ancient times.

1.THOUSAND SEN

2. A GREAT MANY

chi

SEN T SAN ZEN T HASSEN I\" T chiyo T tt 54 One person for a thousand.

=-

1000 3000 8000 thousands of years I ages The body signified thousand

[-

[f

one 37KR] person 154R]

in ancient times.

1. OLD UNIT OF LENGTH (ca. 3.03 ern) 2. AN INCH I TINY AMOUNT

SUN ISSUN SUNPOO -

3. MEASURE

-t iii.

-t

an inch / a tiny bit measure / dimension / size

55 KR Evolved from ~ showing a hand and a dot, representing the pulse. The distance from the pulse to the base of the palm was one 'sun', roughly the width of a finger and commonly taken as an inch. As a kanji, the meaning now includes measure and tiny amount. As a radical, the ideas of hand, measure and tiny amount are combined to mean skilful use of the hand, or just skilful hand.

1. OLD UNIT OF DISTANCE (ca. 3.9 km) RI sato SENRI sato satogokoro

2. VILLAGE I HOME TOWN [

T.m. .m. .m.,j)

1000 ri / a great distance a village / one's parent's home homesickness

B3 field 16KR]

[± earth 15KR]

56 KR The fields and earth of my vii/age are one ri hence.

s
B
NICHI JITSU

IJIJ
[Name: hihen]

1. SUN I DAY
NICHIBOTSU NICHIYOOBI NICHIBEI HONJITSU hi tsuitachi* futsuka* mikka

2. PREFIX OR SUFFIX FOR JAPAN

hi
-ka

8;)t 8 ill 8 8* *8 8 -8 =8 '=:8

sunset Sunday Japan & America to-day / this day the sun / a day the 1st day of the month (also read ICHINICHI, one day) two days / the 2nd day of the month three days / the 3rd day of the month

57 KR Early forms show a roundish body (the sun) with a dot in the centre. Scholars believe this may have represented a large sun spot visible at that time to the naked eye. The modern form "squares the circle" and replaces the dot with a horizontal line.

MOON I MONTH GETSU GATSU tsuki SENGETSU 'Jf:. fl GETSUYOOBI flill 8 ICHIGATSU - fl tsuki fl 58 KR Pictograph of a crescent last month Monday January the moon / a month moon behind wispy clouds.

YEAR NEN

toshi

NENJUU £F i:j:J the whole year / all year round toshi ~ a year /I years of age toshiyori ~ ~ L) an old person / the aged 59 From an ideograph showing a rice plant and a bending person, denoting the yearly harvest.

I::J I::J
HIN

1. REFINEMENT HIN JOOHIN GEHIN shina shinamono

RR
C

2. GOODS I ARTICLE ..t.~ "F~

c RR

shina

~!jo/.J

refinement / elegance / dignity /I an article refined / elegant / graceful unrefined / gross / vulgar an article / goods / stuff /I quality goods / merchandise

60 KR Three boxes of refined goods.

o
IL\
SHIN
kokoro

HEART / FEELINGS
ISSHIN ni -II) r:: whole heartedly kokoro Ii) heart I feeelings / willI mind 61 KR Pictograph showing the coronary arteries of the heert.

[Name: kokoro]

BODY SHIN
mi SHINTAI,!jltf* the body mi ,!jlt the body 62 KR Early versions ~ show a side-on view of a pregnant woman's body. The meaning has since broadened to mean body in general.

MEAT/FLESH NIKU
NIKU ~ NIKUYA ~~ GYUUNIKU tj:. ~ 63 KR Pictograph of meat I flesh butcher / butcher shop beef filet of meat showing the graining of the flesh.

KING I MONARCH

[Name: oohen]

00

00 .±. king JOOO 3l:.±. queen 64 KR Symbol of the three orders: heaven, earth and man (horizontal lines) united by the king (vertical line). RETAINER I SUBJECT

SHIN JIN

SHINMIN DAIJIN

E2: N; *E2:
and subjects

a subject a minister (of the government) show a watchful eye symbolizing the wide-eyed alertness of in the presence of authority.

65 KR Older forms ~
retainers

1. CLAN / FAMILY SHI

GENJI SHIMEl Tanaka SHI uji

2. SURNAME

3. MR.

uji

Genji (the Minamoto family of Japanese history) one's full name Mr. Tanaka shield 240E] lineage I family I birth curved sword 106R]

[L.

[t

66 KR Shield and curved sword denote the clan and surname of Mr ....

... '"

*
[ 71< water 67KR]
[Name: amekanmuri**]

WATER SUI SUIDOO 7kli SUIYOOBI 7k III B mizu 7k 67 KR Splashes of water. ICE HYOO koori koo. an iceberg HYOOZAN koori 51< ice koo.ru :71< ~ freeze up 68 Water with a crack is really ice. RAIN U arne the water supply (service) I waterworks Wednesday water

mizu

ama-

UTEN iil\i ~ rainy weather ame iil\i rain amado iil\i F storm door / shutter 69 KR Rain drops falling from a (squared) cloud in the heavens above (topmost stroke) The vertical stroke may further emphasize falling. **See 987 for the meaning of kanmuri.

TREE I WOOD BOKU MOKU ki ko

'r'r
CHIKU take BEl

BOKUSEKI MOKUZAI **1 MOKUYOOBI III B ki kodachi rz. 70 KR Simplification of BAMBOO

*:fi * * *

[Name: kihen] trees & stones / inanimate object lumber / timber Thursday a tree / wood a grove (thicket, clump, cluster) of trees pictograph of a tree. As a radical, often conveys wood.

[Name: takekanmuri]

MAl kome

CHIKURIN 'r'r# a bamboo grove / thicket take 'r'r bamboo 71 KR Early forms show two stems of bamboo l'fwith spiky leaves.

1. RICE
BEISAKU BEIKOKU HAKUMAI kome

2. ABBREVIATION

* i'F
B

FOR AMERICA the rice crop America polished rice rice

[Name: komehenj

*~

72 KR Evolved from pictographs of an ear of rice ~~: and a rice plant ~ 213R.

JTJ1
3. OPPOSITE SIDE

1. ROTATE I TURN KAI KAITEN @].~ SANKAI @] mawa.ru @] ~ mawa.su @] T 73 Symbol of rotation

2. TIMES I REPETITIONS revolution / rotation 3 times something rotates (revolves, turns, goes around) rotate / send around squared.

mawa.

=-

1. FACE TOWARDS
KOO

2. GO I LEAVE I HEAD FOR

mu.

KOOJOO mu.kau mu.keru mu.ku mu.koo

J<iJJ: J<iJn\ oj J<iJrt~ J<iJ< J<iJ;::oj

improvement / progress II rise face / front / look out on II go / leave / head for turn to / direct (at, to, toward) / point (a gun) at turn / look (left, right, up, down, etc) the opposite side / the other side

74 Depiction of a house with a window ~ that faces towards a favorable direction. Go , leave, head for & opposite side are extended meanings.

1. BEND I CURVE
KYOKU

2. MELODY

rna.

KYOKUSEN EItltfR a curve [ IE field 16KR] MEIKYOKU :g EItl a famous (well-known) melody ma.garu EItl n{ ~ something bends / yields / is flexible II turns ma.geru EItl [f {) bend II distort / pervert 75 KR Field with plants that bend & curve like a melody.

1. OLD UNIT OF WEIGHT (ca. 600 g)

KIN IKKIN -

2. AX

IT

one 'kin' / a loaf (of bread) / a pound (of sugar)

76 KR Pictograph of an ax. Weight is a borrowed meaning.

HEN kata-

SHI ito

1. FRAGMENT I PIECE 2. ONE (OF TWO) HAHEN Mi.Ma fragment / splinter / broken piece katame .M- 13 one eye 77 KR Depiction of a tree ~ cut in half to convey fragment, piece & one (of two).
THREAD KINSHI ito golden thread thread [Name: itohen]

78 KR Depiction of a skein of yarn ~ to convey thread.

1. HEAVEN
TEN TENGOKU TENKI TENSAI ama no gawa

2. SKY ~I!l
~~ ~~ ~o)JlI

3. NATURE heaven / paradise the weather a natural disaster the Milky way sky in nature. [[~ one KR 37] big KR 1]

ama-

79 KR One big heavenly ARROW SHI ya

ISSHI - 5c a return shot / riposte ya 5c an arrow 80 KR Emphatically heavenly shaft is an arrow. BOW

[J [~

emphatically 138E] heaven 79KR]

KYUU yumi

KYUUDOO is )i Japanese archery yumi is bow (for archery, violin) yumiya is 5c bow & arrow 81 KR Pictograph of a bow minus the string.

r:
BOO

1. DEAD

2. BE RUINED
L::)(: L: I!l L:$

3. FLEE I ESCAPE
one's late father the ruin of a country flee from one's country / seek refuge

BOOFU BOOKOKU BOOMEI suru

82 KR Looks like a coffin, seen end on, containing the dead.

~ KOO ooyake

1. PUBLIC
KOOKYOO KOOHEI na ooyake no

2. OFFICIAL
1}::lt 1}IjItJ 1} 0)

3. FAIR I UNBIASED
the public fair / unbiased / impartial/just public / open / official/formal

[ )\. eight 49] [ b. nose 502E]

83 KR Eight noses are public, official, fair & unbiased.

WEST SEI SAl SEIYOO TOOZAI nishi the West east & west west

nishi

84 KR Wine stopper in the west. Note wine jar 220R.

D
KOO KU

1. MOUTH
JINKOO KUCHOO kuchi iriguchi deguchi

2. OPENING AD DBJ!J D AD I±lD

3. UNIT FOR COUNTING PEOPLE population a tone II intonation mouth entrance exit

[Name: kuchihen]

kuchi

85 KR Open mouth, squared. Used as a radical,

D may also mean speak or say, or be used to denote various objects such as a window, a box, a kneecap etc.

1. EYE
MOKU

2. SUFFIX FOR ORDINALS

[Name: mehen]

me

MOKUTEKI me meue meshita hitome de

13 I¥.J 13 13 ...t. 13 "F - 13 -r:

an aim I a purpose an eye one's superior I senior one's subordinate I junior at a glance

86 KR Pictograph of an eye tSY tilted up and squared.

EAR

JI mimi

JIMOKU 0 hiku :Ej: mimi :Ej:

13 ~

v. <

attract attention ear

87 KR Pictograph of an ear

E1

squared.

1. HEAD I NECK
SHU SHURYOO SHUSHOO kubi tekubi ashikubi

2. LEADER I CHIEF
a leader I chief I boss prime minister head I neck wrist ankle

kubi

-m-~ -m-:m -m.:f. -m.IE -m-

88 KR From a pictograph of an eye with an exaggerated eyebrow to indicate

the head / neck and figuratively,

a leader or chief.

7\:
~ KEN inu DOG YAKEN inu

D:* :*

a stray dog dog

[*-

big 1KR]

89 KR Big spotted dog. Once a graphic pictograph of a dog standing on its hind legs and barking. The modern version, which seems to have no doggy features at all, is composed of and dot, changed here for mnemonic purpose to 'spot'.

*-

COW/BULL GYUU ushi GYUUNYUU ushi !j:.!fL !j:. milk cow / bull

[Name: ushihen]

90 KR From a pictograph of a cow's head with horns. The modern version has only one horn.

S=l
kal

SHELLFISH I SHELL kai ~ shellfish / shell

[Name: kaihen / kogai]

91 KR Pictograph of a clam or shellfish depicting the shell and perhaps feelers. As a radical ~ means money, reflecting the early use of shells as money.

HORSE

[Name: umahen] horsepower horse

BA
uma

BARIKI uma

92 KR Pictograph of a horse. Still evident in the stylised squared form are the flowing mane and the four galloping legs or hooves.

BIRD CHOO tori HAKUCHOO tori sfl.il; fl.il; swan bird

93 KR Pictograph of a bird. The modern squared form still evokes a bird .

... ,.,

A
JIN NIN hito

1. MAN

2. PERSON

3. HUMAN BEING man-made I artificial a Japanese 100 people a human being I mankind a man I person I human being

JINKOO no NIHONJIN HYAKUNIN NINGEN hito

AI(J) B:<$:A SA
Ara' A

T
SHI SU ko

94 KR Pictograph of a person (stick figure, sans head and arms). 1. CHILD

SHISON SHUSHI SENSU ko kodomo onna no ko otoko no ko Yoko

2. SMALL THING

3. SUFFIX FOR FEMALE NAMES

offspring I descendants I children a seed a fan I a folding fan a child a child a girl a boy Yoko (common name for females in Japan)

-1-tKi li-1ii-1-1-1-m
tl:.(J)-1-

1lr;-1-

~(J)T

95 KR Pictograph of WOMAN I FEMALE JO NYO NYOO onna me JOSHI tl:.-1NYOSOO tl:.{1fI NYOOBOO tl:. monna tl:. otome Z. tl:. 96 KR Pictograph of MOTHER BO haha

a child wrapped in swaddling clothes waving its arms.

[Name: onnahen] woman I woman's Buddhist nun a wife lone's better half a woman a maiden I virgin kneeling subservient woman.

BOSHI iJJ:-1mother & child haha iJJ: mother okaasan* t:> iJJ: ¢ Iv mother 97 Woman with prominent nipples is a mother. FATHER FUKEI chichi otoosan* 98 Big-shouldered man wearing one's father & elder brothers I guardians I parents father father

:Sl:
FU chichi

a kimono is my father .

.. ,..

III. Sound Groups- Level 1

++-

[Name: kusakanmuri] PLANT I PLANTS 99 R Pictograph of plants, originallY'ii squared to~1\" simplified to i+ and sometimes to to convey plants, vegetation, or grass.

J
,
\

CLIFF 100 R Looks like a cliff.

[Name: gandare]

WATER 101 R Three drops of water.

[Name: sanzui]

sao

!F-

1. EARLY

2. FAST

3. HASTY I RASH

SA haya.

sao
kusa

lit 1m

SOOSHUN early spring [ B sun 57 KR] .!¥~ SANAE .!¥Ei3 rice seedling /I female name [+ v ++ plant 99R] .!¥(" haya.i early II fast I quick I rapid I speedy haya.maru .!¥*-@ be hasty / rash .!¥&)-@ hasten / accelerate haya.meru 102 KR Sun rising over plants- it is early. Fast, hasty & rash are associated meanings. GRASS I PLANTS SOOGEN 1ltrnt a grassy plain I prairie I pampas kusa grass / a herb / weed 1lt 103 Plant that is early is grass.

[+t plant 99R] [ 1lt early 102KR)

1. ORIGINAL I FUNDAMENTAL

2. PLAIN I FIELD

[r
[ /J\

cliff 100R] small 2KR]

GEN hara

;~
GEN minamoto

GENSHI rnt-=f atom hara a plain I field I wilderness rnt 104a KR Cliff that is white and small was originally SOURCE I ORIGIN KIGEN minamoto iUJjffli: iJ»i:

[ B white 179KR]
on the plain.

the beginning / the origin a source / the fountainhead (see 66KR)

[ ~ water 101R]

[ rnt original 104KR]

104b Water is the original source (of aI/life).

BUTTOCKS 105 R From

a slumped figure or corpse

[Name: shikabane] depicting the buttocks.

CURVED SWORD 106 E Looks like

a curved sword.

HOUSE

107 R From

t"'\

[Name: ukanmuri] showing the roof of a house.

ROOTED PLANT 108 E Depiction of

a plant with a prominent root.

PEOPLE I NATION MIN tami MINZOKU ~~ a race / nation [F buttocks 105R] MINSHUSHUGI ~±±fi democracy [ "\ curved sword 106R] tami ~ a subject / the people / a nation 109 KR Buttocks and curved swords are characteristic of that people and their nation. Note that ~ is closely related to E£; 66. SLEEP/SLEEPY MIN nemu, FUMIN :iF1li sleeplessness / insomnia nemu.ru Ili.@ sleep nemu.i Ili l.\ sleepy / tired 110 The eyes of the people are sleepy.

[ 13 eye 86KR]
[ ~ people 109KR]

~ TAKU

HOME I RESIDENCE JITAKU 13~ one's home / private residence

111 House with a rooted plant is home.

[=t, rooted

[ .....house 107R] plant 1CBE]

~=E
TAKU

ENTRUST TO I LEAVE IN THE CARE OF TAKUJISHO

~nj'iJT

a day-care centre I a nursery it

112 Words about rooted plant- entrust

to me.

[ ~ word 35KR] [:lC rooted plant 1C8E]

o
A
ROOF 113 E Looks like a roof.

z:;:
A. :z:;:
KAI

MIST 114 E Originally ~ then inverted to

Z and finally modernized

:is.: to represent mist.

MEET KAISHA a.u

~U
,6..-

a.

=?

company meet

[A

roof 113E] [ ii; mist 114E]

115 KR Roof is where mist meets.

PICTURE KAIGA EHON

KAI
E

~*

~illii

pictures I paintings / drawings a picture book

[*
[~

thread 78KR] meet 115KR]

116 Threads meet in the picture. The original meaning of ~ was 'embroidered picture' but now it refers to pictures in general.

tJ]
SETSU ki.

CUT TAISETSU ki.ru

j;:tJ] tJ].@

important I of great consequence cut

[t seven 47]
[ ]] sword 7KR]

117 KR Seven swords cut.

~ SETSU

STEAL SETTOO

iSJ~

theft

[ 1i: hole 51]

[tJ] cut 117KR]

118 Hole cut to steal.

ttt

Jl

TABLE 119 NJY Pictograph of a small table.

CLOTH 120 NJY From a pictograph showing the threads of a piece of cloth.

SEATED PERSON 121 R Stick figure of a seated person (sans head, arms folded).

HAND 122 R Two-fingered hand.

[Name: tehen]

COMMON I COMMONPLACE HAN BON HAN REI BONJIN BON'YOO na

I ORDINARY

.FL#lJ

explanatory notes / a legend (on a map, diagram) Fl.)" the common man .FL IitJ: mediocre / commonplace / ordinary [ Jl table 119NJY]

123 KR Table with a scratch is common. SAIL

HAN
ho

HANSEN ~.ftJll'd a sailboat ho ~.fL a sail 124 Cloth is common for a sail.

[m

cloth 120NJY] [ Fl. common 123KR]

J:I:
HI kura.

COMPARE HIKAKU kura.beru

1:t'_R

comparison

[ t: seated per 121 R]

!:t '" ~ compare

itt
HI

125 KR Two seated persons- compare them. (Good advice because each is written differently). CRITICISE HIHAN tJi,¥IJ criticism / comment / judgement
[ :j: hand 122R]

[ !:t compare 125KR]

126 Hand compares then criticises.

o
[Aroof 113E]

4 I::::J
SHA

BUILDING I HUT I QUARTERS KOOSHA t~~ HEISHA ~~ inaka* EE ::@j 127 KR Roof over the

[± earth 15KR] school house / building [ IJ an entrance 85KR] barracks the country / rural areas earth with an entrance is a primitive building.
[ 1= hand 122R]

1. THROWAWAY
SHA

2. ABANDON

suo

SHISHAGONYUU suru 119~liA round off (in math) [::@j building 127KR] su.teru ~"C.Q throwaway / dump II abandon 128 Hand on building throws away (its contents) and then abandons it.

1t
KAI

1. BE IN BETWEEN

2. SHELLFISH

[ A person 94KR]

KAINYUU ft}... intervention KAI suru ft"9.Q mind (care, worry) about II through (someone) GYOKAI 1lft fish & shellfish / marine products 129 KR Person wearing armor front and back is in between just like a shellfish

(clam).

1. BOUNDARY I LIMITS
KAt

2. WORLD
[ EEfield 16KR] [ft in between 129KR]

KYOOKAI ±1i!jff a boundary / border SEKAI t!!!jff the world 130 Field in between has a boundary and so does the world.

1. BRIGHT I LIGHT
MEl MYOO

2. CLEAR [ B sun 57KR] [Fl moon 58]

a. aka. aki.

MEIGETSU :g Fl a bright (full) moon MEIHAKU na B}j B t,J. clear / distinct / plain MYOONICHI B}j B tomorrow asu* / ashita* Il}j B tomorrow a.keru B}j It.Q become light / dawn II end / be over aka.rui B}j.Q l,\ bright / light II cheerful aki.raka na B}j i; "IJ\ ts clear / distinct / plain / obvious 131 KR Sun and moon together are bright. PLEDGE lOATH I ALLIANCE

1lIL
MEl

13.F.1

[Il}j bright 131KR]

MEIYAKU.oo. f:J a pledge / pact I alliance [ .rm plate 23KR] DOOMEI 1iiJ.oo. an alliance 132 Bright plate pledged in alliance. Earlier versions were written with .IfIl blood 1724KR which seems more appropriate to the idea of a pledge. (See Copy Error, i-4)

/.f
o

5<\

___

FEELINGS [Name: risshinben] 133 R Stylised version of II) heart 61KR used figuratively to mean feelings. Review i-11 example 3 for the correct stroke order for this radical.

i'lL
IJC
GO kata.

1. WORD
ICHIGO NIHONGO kata.ru

2. LANGUAGE 3. TELL I RELATE -gil one word

B*~! Japanese language ~!~ tell / relate / talk

[ ~ word 35KR] [ :ti. five 43] [ IJ mouth 85KR] & what they tell.

134 Words from five mouths are about words & language

GO satori sato.

't~

1. COMPREHENSION
KAKUGO suru satori sato.ru

2. ENLIGHTENMENT
be resolved (resigned, prepared) to do religious enlightenment / awakening comprehend / become aware of

ji:ffi ffi ffi ~

['I'

feelings 133R] [ 3i five 43] [ IJ mouth 85KR]

135 Feelings from five mouths are about comprehension

and enlightenment.

1'KI KE

3<\,

SPIRIT TENKI nemuKE

5'C ~ Ill£ ~

the weather sleepiness / drowsiness

[ 9:. vapour]

136 Vapour rising is the spirit of 'x'. Originally written as ~ showing vapour 9:. rising from cooked rice 72KR and meaning an unseen spirit or force. Simplification of to ,c degraded the clarity and power of this ideograph.

:1=
'" KI STEAM KISHA

r.:!I!

a steam train

[ 9:. vapour]

[ '7

water 101 R]

137 Water vapour is steam.

o
EMPHATICALLY 138 E For mnemonic purpose, we call a stroke written in either direction 'emphatically'.

1. END MATSU sue sue

2. FUTURE

SHUUMATSU

~* *

weekend the end II the future

[* tree 70J

139 KR Topmost branch of tree is longer but in the end what future does it have?

1. ERASE
MATSU

2. POWDER [ f. hand 122RJ

MASSATSU suru tt~ erase I cross out MATCHA tt* powdered green tea 140 Hand in the end erases and leaves only powder .

[* end 139KRJ

jJ(
EI

....

A LONG TIME EIEN naga.i

[ "' emphatically

138EJ

naqa.

7J<~ 7J< (, \

eternity long I prolonged I lengthy

[ 7l< v 71< water 67KR]

141 KR Emphatically 'fancy' water has been around for a long time. Do not confuse with 51<. 68 . ice

i7l<
EI

......

SWIM SUIEI oyo.gu 142 Water for

7.1< b1<

oyo.

j,1<

<.

swimming swim

[ Y water 101R] [ 7J< a long time 141 KR]

a long time has been used to swim in. 2. COMPOSE I WRITE

an aria compose I write (a poem) [ ~ words 35KR] [7J< a long time 141KR] poems.

67]<
EI

-'It

1. POEM I SONG
EISHOO yo.mu
~p~

yo.

~ib

143 Words for a long time have been used for composing

o
BODY I BODY PART [Name: nikuzuki] 144 R Depiction of a filet of meat to symbolize body & body part.

GATE MON kado MON r~ a gate kado r~ a gate 145 KR Pictograph of a double-doored gate. 1. ASK I INQUIRE MON
[ pi door 41 KR]

2. CARE ABOUT
a question I problem a call (visit) of condolence ask & inquires because it cares about you.
[ [J

to.

MONDAI r"Ul CHOOMON ~ r"" r",,? to.u 146 Mouth at gate asks

[r, gate

mouth 85KR] 145KR]

1. HEAR I LISTEN TO
MON BUN ki.

2. ASK

3. OBEY
[ ]I: ear 87KR]

CHOOMONKAIIIJ&.Im~ a public hearing SHINBUN tIT 1m a newspaper ki.ku 1m hear II ask II obey ki.koeru 1m ~ 3t.@ be audible 147 Ear at gate hears, asks & obeys.

<

[r, gate

145KR]

f::::::,

E3

GIST I PURPORT!

CONTENT

SHI

rnune

SHUSHI itll& §" the meaning (import, point) mune §" the gist I purport I content I effect 148a KR Seated person in the sun gets the gist. 1. POINT 2. FINGER

[ t: seated pers 121 R]

[ EI sun 57KR]

SHI yubi

sa.

SHIJI suru t~~ point out I indicate yubi t~ finger sa.su f~"t point to (at) 148b Hand of seated person in the sun points

[ ~ hand 122R] [ t: seated pers 121 R] [ EI sun 57KR] with a finger.

n~
SHI abura

FAT I GREASE I RESIN I GUM SHIBOO abura

n~IIIi n~

fat! grease fat I grease

[~

body 144R]

[ t: seated pers 121 R]

[ EI sun 57KR]

149 Body of seated person in the sun is fat & greasy.

ANIMAL [Name: kemonohen] 150 R Dog standing on its hind legs, now symbolizing anima/ in general.

-H-

83

SEEDLING/SAPLING SHUBYOO naegi nawashiro

BYOO
nae nawa

~EB EB* EB {-t

seedlings a seedling I sapling a bed for rice seedlings I a rice nursery

plant 99R] [ EBfield 16KR]

[ -t+-

151 KR Plant in the field is

a seedling.

BYOO
ega.

ti

DRAW I SKETCH I PAINT" BYOOSHA ega.ku

m:Ej.
m<

DEPICT

a depiction I description I portrayal draw I sketch I paint /I depict

[ EB

[ l hand 122R]
seed ling 151KR]

152 Hand with a seedling- draw it as depicted.

CAT neko neko manekineko

m ~ ~Bi porcelain

fEB

a cat

[ '3 animal
[ EB a cat.

cat in store windows beckoning customers.

150R] seedling 151 KR]

153 Animal amongst the seedlings is

PERSON [Name: ninben] 154 R Stick figure symbolising person. One of the commonest radicals.

1. MIDDLE I CENTRE I INSIDE

CHUU CHUUOO ICHINICHIJUU CHUUGOKU NITCHUU naka nakayubi

2. THROUGHOUT

3. CHINA

naka

>:P:'k: the centre / middle - B >:P all day long >:P I!l China B>:P Sino-Japanese 1/ during the day I in the daytime >:P the inside I interior I middle >:p:j:~ the middle finger

155 KR Symbol for middle.

PERSONAL CHUU

RELATIONS

naka

CHUUKAI naka nakayoku nakama nakoodo*

{tf!1\' {tf! {tf! J:: {tf! F139 {tf! A

<

mediation [ { person 154R] relations / relationships [ >:P middle 155KR] on good terms a companion / comrade / pal II a group I circle I gang go-between I matchmaker

156 Person in the middle has personal relations.

OPEN SEA I OFF SHORE CHUU oki * oki okiai * no common words with this reading open sea I off shore open sea I offshore
[ ;i water 101 R]

[ >:P middle 155KR]

157 Water in the middle is open sea.

LOYALTY I FAITHFULNESS CHUUSHIN :~ ~ CHUUSHINGURA a loyal subject I a faithful retainer

[ >:P middle 155KR]

[ It\ heart 61 KR]

~ ~ii the 47 Ronin story

158 Middle of the heart symbolizes loyalty and faithfulness.

±
±
SHI 1. SAMURAI
BUSH I BUSHIDO SHINSHI GAKUSHI

2. MAN

3. SCHOLAR
a samurai / warrior 'bushido' / the samurai code of chivalry a gentleman a university graduate with a bachelor's degree

IEt± IEt±~

*$±
!!F±

159 KR Erect phallus symbolizes a virile samurai.

SHI JI

i±

SERVE
SHIGOTO SHIKATA KYUUJI tsuka.eru

[1

person 154R]

tsuka.

it $ work / a job [ ± samurai 159KR] it 1i way / means / method ~it an office boy / a steward(ess) / a waiter (waitress) it ;t.@ serve / wait on a samurai must serve (his master).

160 Person who is

II!,' SHI

WilL !INTENTION I AIM

ISHI kokorozashi kokoroza.su

Jl~

kokorozashl

kokoroza,

will / volition willi intention / aim intend I aim I aspire (to do)

[ ± samurai 159KR]
[ II) heart 61 KR]

161 Samurai's heart is his will.

1. WRITE DOWN I RECORD

NISSHI ZASSHI B~

2. MAGAZINE
[ ~ words 35KR] [± samurai 159KR] [ It> heart 61 KR]

$t~

a diary a magazine

162 Words from samurai's heart are written down in

a magazine.

KNIFE [Name: rittoo] 163 R Although strictly a pictograph of a curved sword, we call 163R knife to distinguish it from 7J sword 7KR. Both often convey cut in compounds.

HALF HAN naka. HANBUN SEPPAN suru naka.ba

ffi,*

'*~ '*[~

half go halves / split 50-50 / share equally half / the middle / midst

164 KR Symbol for something split in half.

ACCOMPANY HAN BAN tornona, HANRYO BANSOO tomona.u

i=!O ~J~ a companion i=!O* accompany (in a musical sense) f=!O? accompany (general sense) / go with

[i

['* half 164KR]

person 154R]

165 Person is only half unless accompanied.

1. RIDGE (BETWEEN RICE PADDIES) HAN KOHAN

)itIJ IIFf

2. EDGE [ EEfield 16KR] half 164KR]

lakeshore

166 Field in half by

a ridge at the edge.

['*

1. STAMP I SEAL HAN -ban HAN HANKETSU ooban 167 Half it with

2. JUDGEMENT

3. SIZE (OF PAPER, BOOKS)

!fIJ !fIJ ~ :;Ie!fIJ

a stamp / seal a judgement / sentence large size paper / foolscap

[IJ

['* half 164KR]

knife 163R]

a knife and stamp it for a judgement but use the right size of paper.

HAND REACHING 168 R Pictograph of

a hand reaching.

1. REACH I COME UP TO I EXTEND TO KYUU

oyo.

FUKYUU suru oyo. bu oyo.bosu oyo.bi

if:& :& ,5~ :& (£ 9" :& If.

diffuse I spread I pervade I popularize reach I come up to I extend to " cover (a topic) " equal I match cause I affect and I as well

[ J... person 94KR]

[., hand reach 168R]

169 KR Depiction of a person and a hand reaching to seize him, to convey reach, come up to, extend to and various extended meanings.

INHALE I SUCK IN I SMOKE KYUU

suo

KOKYUU su.u

breath I breathing II a knack inhale I breathe in "absorb II smoke II sip 170 Mouth reaches to inhale.

PiJiIQ IQ?

[ IJ mouth 85KR] [ :& reach 169KR]

RANK/CLASS/GRADE KYUU SHINKYUU DOOKYUU KAIKYUU KOOKYUU liM. F81M. 1liM. ~M. a promotion the same class I grade (in school) a class (in society) high-class I deluxe" high ranking

[*

thread 78KR]

[ :& reach 169KR]

171 Thread(s) reach all ranks, classes & grades. We exploit the broader sense of to include cloth, or even clothing, for mnemonic resonance with the modern 'threads' , as in 'nice threads'.

DEAL WITH I HANDLE I TREAT atsuka, atsuka.u toriatsuka. u

f& ?
l1XLJ

m?

deal with I handle I treat I operate (machinery) I work I control deal with I handle I manage

[ ~ hand 122R] [ :& reach 169KR]

172 Hand reaches to deal with it.

fij
1. POSSIBLE KA 2. GOOD 3. APPROVAL [T city block 21 KR] [ [J opening 85KR] possible KANOO iiI!i~ FUKAno =1'iiIO) bad I wrong approve I adopt I pass KAKETSU suru iiI 5~ kawai.i* dear I cute I sweet

173 KR City block with an opening is possible

and good but needs approval.

)ijJ
KA kawa

RIVER KASEN kawa 5iiJ JlI

5iiI

rivers a river

[ :I water 101 R]
[ iiI possible 173KR]

174 Water is possible in that river.

1. WHAT?
KA nan nani KIKAGAKU nanji nannin nanimono nanika

2. HOW MANY? ~iiiI~ iiiI IJii¥ iiiI).. iiiI 1lf iiiI fJ\

3. SOMETHING

geometry what time? how many people? what sort of person? I who? something I anything I what

[1

person 154R]

[ iiI possible 173KR]

175 KR Person is possible- but what? how many? Something ...

1. LOAD I CARGO
KA ni SHUKKA nimotsu

2. BAGGAGE
shipment (of goods) baggage I luggage II load
[ 11"

I±l f.ij f.ij!to/.J

plant 99R]

[ iOJ what 175KR]

176 Plants and what? There is already a load of baggage.

~ KA

SONG KASHU uta uta.u

~.:f

uta uta.

~?

a singer a song sing

[iiI possible 173KR]

[ X lack 28KR]

177 Doubly possible that we lack a song.

MOVEMENT [Name: shinnyuu] 178 R Looks like fluid movement. We call ~ simple movement, although in fact it is distinct radical named ennyuu. Both radicals are written last (see i-12, example 8).

WHITE HAKU shiro. shiraHAKUJIN B).. shiro.i B (, \ shiraga B~ 179 KR Depiction of a Caucasian white white (grey) hair thumbnail to express white.

18
HAKU

COUNT I SENIOR FIGURE HAKUSHAKU fs ~ a count / earl oji* fs ~ an uncle (elder brother of a parent) oba* fs £J: an aunt (elder sister of a parent) 180 Person who is white is a count. See 893.

[1

person 154R]

[ B white 179KR]

1. CLAP
HAKU HYOO HAKUSHU HYOOSHI

2. BEAT (IN MUSIC)

ts -¥ ts =f

[ ~ hand 122R]

clapping beat / rhythm to the beat.

[ B white 179KR]

181 Hand is white from clapping

PUT UP FOR THE NIGHT fLODGE HAKU

to.

IPPAKU to.maru to.meru

-;8
58,*.@ ;8 {jJ'@

an overnight stay put up for the night / stay / stop over put a person up for the night / lodge

[~

water101R]

[ B white 179KR]

182 Water is white where we put up for the night. 1. PRESS (SOMEONE FOR SOMETHING) HAKU serna. HAKUGAI sema.ru 2. BE IMMINENT [ movement 178 R] [B white 179KR]

is. ~ is..@

persecution / oppression press / urge /I be imminent / draw near and is imminent.

183 Movement that is white presses

SHIPPING HAKU HAKURAI no

Me

(j)

imported

[ :lit boat 12KR] [ B white 179KR]

184 Boat that is white is in shipping.

I"')

it
HILL hand side of a kanji. See 347R. [Name: kozatohen]

185 R From a pictograph of a terraced hill. This radical always occupies the left

r
FU

BUILDING 186 R From ()

[Name: mad are] showing the roof of a building.

ATTACH

[1
<

person 154R]

tsu.

FUKA suru tsu.ku tsu.keru

f-ti][] add to I supplement [ -t skilful hand 55KR] f-t be attached I be connected with II be lit f-t It {) attach I put (stick) on I fasten I apply II set (a fire) I turn on

187 KR Person with a skilful hand attaches (something to something else).

ATTACH/ACCOMPANY FU FUKIN Il#il! neighbourhood I vicinity [ ~ hill 185R] [ f-t attach 187KR]

188 Hill is attached and accompanies (others). This kanji seems largely redundant: modern dictionaries, for example, give {-til!, not Ilf~il! for neighbourhood. SiGN I SYMBOL FU FUGOO KIPPU
~-liij-

t1J~

a sign I symbol a ticket

bamboo 71 KR] [ N attach 187KR]

[A-A-

189 Bamboo is attached as

a sign & a symbol.

FU

1. GOVERNMENT OFFICE 2. URBAN PREFECTURE SEIFU i&Jffl' the government I the administration KYOOTOFU IN Kyoto Prefecture

*.m

[1 building 186R]
[ i-t attach 187KR]

190 KR Building that is attached is a government

ROT I SPOIL / TURN SOUR FU FUHAI suru TOOFU kusa.ru

office in an urban prefecture.

kusa.

IlAA ~Il Il {)

rot I putrify I decay I go bad tofu I bean curd rot I putrify I decay I go bad I turn sour

[ Jffl' gov't office 190KR [ ~ meat 63KR]

191 Government office has meat that is rotten.

WRAP

192 R From a convergence of forms such as encircling arm

snake

G) a/l conveying

"3) womb

() coiled

the idea of wrap.

WRAP UP HOO tsutsu. HOOI suru '211ftl1" {:, besiege / surround / envelop tsutsu.mu '21t; wrap up / envelop 193 KR Wrap self and get all wrapped up.

[ '1 wrap 192R]

[ c. self

755KR]

1. HUG HOO da. ida. kaka.

2. HOLD I CARRY IN ONE'S ARMS

KAIHOO suru 1t~ nurse / tend / look after da.ku ~ hug / embrace ida.ku ~ hug II harbour (feelings) kaka.eru ~;it {:, hold / carry in one's arms 194 Hand wraps you up in a hug and holds you.

< <

[ :j;

hand 122R]

[ '21 wrap up 193KR]

BUBBLE/FOAM/FROTH/SUDS HOO awa HOOMATSU ;@.;* bubbles / foam awa ;@. a bubble / foam / froth 195 Water wrapped up in bubbles & foam.

[ '7 water 101 R] [ '21 wrap up 193KR]

MEMBRANOUS HOO

SAC

[.F.I body 144R]

DOOHOO f<i] ~ a fellow countryman / a compatriot [ '21 wrap up 193KR] SAl BOO ~~ a cell (in biology) 196 Body wrapped in a membranous sac. (Body here refers to a fetus.)

GUN I CANNON HOO HOOGAN ~~ a cannon ball 197 Stone wrapped up in a cannon.

[ =5 stone 30KR]

['21 wrap up 193KR :It food 804KR] [ '21 wrap up 193KR]

[

GET TIRED OF I BE SATIATED HOO

a.

HOOWA WHO satiation a.kiru WJ '2- {:, get tired of / be satiated 198 Food wrapped up because we got tired of it and were satiated.

I
STRIKE

TWISTING WATERWEED 199 CO Showing a long twisting waterweed coming up to the surface before spreading out flat. As a CO character it means seeking an exit. As a radical it can convey flat, long and drawn out, or decaying.

200 R Hand holding a stick~

[Name: nobun] to convey strike, coerce, cause to do.

I
KOO KU

1. ARTISAN'
KOOJOO** DAIKU

CRAFTSMAN

2. MANUFACTURING'

CONSTRUCTION

I:I:i
":t::. I

a factory **also read as KOOba. a carpenter

201 KR Depiction of a carpenter's square to convey artisan & craftsman and by extension, manufacturing & construction.

1. CRIMSON I DEEP RED KOO KU KOOYOO SHINKU kurenai beni kuchibeni

kurenal
benl

n~ ~n

2. LIPSTICK j ROUGE

n n
CI

crimson leaves (of autumn) crimson I deep red crimson I deep red lipstick I rouge lipstick

[*
[I

thread 78KR] artisan 200KR]

202 Threads of the artisan are crimson and so is her lipstick.

5I
KOO

1. BAY 'INLET'
KOOGA edo irie

RIVER
u)iiJ

2. THE YANGTSE RIVER the Yangtse River Edo I old Tokyo a creek I inlet [ ~ water 101R] [ I artisan 200KR]

5IFi A L)

rr

203 Water and artisan who works by the bay & sometines by the Yangtse River

'" ....,

*.

o
SKILL

KOO taku.

GIKOO taku.mi na

ttVJ an art / a technical skill / technique VJiI-J. t,J. skilful/clever / ingenious

[I

[ '5

artisan 200KR] twisting ww 199CO]

204 An ideograph in which an artisan has planed something until it is as flat and level as a twisting waterweed floating on the surface, an act requiring great skill.

ATTACK KOO se.

KOOGEKI se.meru
lj(

v:

lj( {j).Q

an attack attack

artisan 200KR] [ ~ strike 200R]

[I

205 Artisan strikes when he attacks.

1. MERITS KOO
KOOZAI SEIKOO

2. SUCCESS
~~
P.l(;~

pros and cons success

[I

artisan 200KR]

[1.J power 17KR]

206 Artisan with power merits his success.

II
KOO

ITEM I HEADING I CLAUSE

KOOMOKU

J:Ji: f§l

a heading / an item

[I

artisan 200KR]

[ Ji[ forehead 453R]

207 Artisan's forehead is full of items, headings

& clauses.

1. PAY TRIBUTE KOO

KU KOOKEN NENGU mitsu.gu

2. SUPPORT FINANCIALLY
a contribution / service a land tax (historical) support financlally / give money to artisan 200KR] [ ~ money 91 KR]
[I

Ji: m1: ~ Ji:

mitsu.

R <.

208 Artisan sits on money and won't pay tribute or support

me financially.

III. Sound Groups- Level 2

o
1. MORNING CHOO asa CHOOSHOKU CHOOTEI asa 2. COURT ~~ ~~ ~ breakfast the Imperial Court morning [ B sun 57KR] [ -iT plant 99R] [Fl moon 58KR] in the court.

209 KR Sun rising through simple plants and a waning moon- it's morning

TIDE CHOO shio CHOORYUU shio

iWli10t
~

a tidal current II a tendency I trend the tide

[ ;i water 101 R]
[~ morning 209KR]

210 Water in the morning is the tide.

INTERVAL I SPACE I GAP KAN KEN aida JIKAN SEKEN NINGEN aida ma

~ FI'l9 mFI'l9 J.. FI'l9 Fdl

rna

Fa'

time I an hour I a period the public I society I the world a human being an interval I space / gap an interval I space (of time) 1/ a room spaces & gaps.

[ F~ gate 145KR]
[ B sun 57KR]

211 KR Sun on gate reveals intervals,

SIMPLE I BRIEF KAN KANTAN na SHOKAN

e- bamboo
AA lj! t,j. simple It AA a letter
& brief.

71 KR]

[ Fa9 interval 211 KR]

212 Bamboo (writing tablet) with intervals is simple

I~J

o
RICE PLANT 213 R From ~ showing a rice plant. In some compounds,

*'

[Name: nogihen] can refer to rice itself.

,
\

ICE

214 R Two cracks in the ice.

[Name: nisui]

SICKNESS 215 R Icy building leads to sickness.

[Name: yamaidare] [ / ice 214R] [ ) building 186R]

-II=3J
E::I

1. TALL I HIGH

KOO

taka.

KOOKOO KOOSHOO na ~ taka. i ~ taka.maru ~ taka.meru ~ 216 KR Depiction

~*'~
rtfJ
tJ,

2. EXPENSIVE

senior high school noble I elegant I lofty I refined ~\ tall I high II expensive *.@ something rises (/).@ raise I elevate I enhance I improve of a watchtower to convey tall & high and by extension, expensive.

f~
KOO

MANUSCRIPT GENKOO

m\ 1it

a manuscript I draft I copy

[*'
[~

rice plant 213R] tall 216KR]

217 Rice plant is as tall as my manuscript.

~IJ
RI ki.

1. PROFIT I ADVANTAGE

2. WORK I BE EFFECTIVE

RISH I ~J:::rinterest (monetary) YU U RI na 1iflJ tJ, profitable I advantageous I favourable ki.ku ~J work I be effective hidarikiki '-i: flJ =e- left-handed I a left-handed person 218 KR Rice plant is cut with a knife for profit. It works!

<

[IJ

[*'

rice plant 213R] knife 163R]

DIARRHEA RI GERI

l' WI

diarrhea

pr

sickness 215R]

[ flJ profit 218KR]

219 Sickness that profits (no one) is diarrhea.

1"\

o
~

WINE JAR I ALCOHOL 220 R Pictograph of a stoppered wine jar about one third full.

CHI shi.

~D

KNOW CHISHIKI shi.ru

~~ ~.@

knowledge know

[ :9;: arrow 80KR] [ 1:1 mouth 85KR]

00
CHI

221 KR Arrow mouth knows. The ideograph means to speak with the speed of an arrow, indicating that the speaker knows a lot. FOOLISH CHIJOO

~11i

foolish love / blind passion / jealousy

[t[~

sickness 215R] know 221KR]

222 Sickness of knowing that you are foolish.

SHUU su

~'N

1. PROVINCE I STATE HONSHUU nakasu

*#1

2. SANDBANK Honshu a sandbank in a river are like provinces. [\ sandbank] [lil river 19KR]

$~~

223 KR Three sandbanks

~
SHUU

REWARD HOOSHUU

*&M

a reward / remuneration

[ ~ wine jar 220R] [ #I province 223KR]

224 Wine jar to the province as a reward.

M
REKI koyomi

CALENDAR SEIREKI koyomi

iNn\\' n\\'

the Western calendar / A.D. a calendar

[r cliff

[ ** woods
[r

100R] 1468KR]

225 Cliff with woods and the sun- that's a nice scene for a calendar!

~
REKI

HISTORY REKISHI

~!E

history was made.

[**

cliff 100R] woods 1468KR]

[.ll:. stop 3KR]

226 Cliff where woods stops- that's where history

AA

.c-:
-1-.

LID POT LID 227 R Both radicals usually convey cover.

[Name: nabebuta]

~
SOO

WAREHOUSE SOOKO a warehouse kura a warehouse 228 KR Lid covers the door and entrance to the warehouse.

[~Iid

227R]

kura

*'* *

[)3 v pi door41KR] [ [J entrance 85KR]

ilj
SOO

CREATION
~j i11i SOOZOO creation 229 Warehouse knife- a useful creation.

[*
[IJ

warehouse 228KR] knife 163R]

.:E.
TEl

PRESENT I OFFER SHINTEI suru ift§! present (something to someone) 230 KR Mouth of king presents an offer.

[ [J

mouth 85KR]

[ .:E king 64KR]

~¥
TEl

EXTENT I DEGREE TEIDO extent I degree / measure / grade ~Jl hodo extent / degree / bounds / limit ~ 231 Rice plant presented- and that's about the extent of it.

[* rice plant 213R]

[ §!

present 230KR]

hodo

ffl
TAl

-tI::t1. BELT I SASH lOBI NETTAI ~HW ..... obi 'ffi' o.biru 232 KR Pictograph of 2. ZONE 3. WEAR the tropics [ rtJ cloth 120NJY] a belt / sash / obi wear (around the waste ego a belt, sword) an obi with small items attached. Cloth is added for emphasis.

obi o.

*0:{)

iw
TAl

'i::I::t
1. STOP I STAGNATE 2. BE OVERDUE TAIZAI a stay / sojourn I visit [ $t water 101 R] l*tE TAINOO l*t:fJl nonpayment / in arrears belt 232KR] l*{) todokoo.ru be overdue (in arrears, unpaid) 233 Water that's "belted up" stops & stagnates like bills that are overdue.

todokoo,

[*

lfU
KEI

7f.rJ. (
•

o
(:J:I: we1l50KR]

*IJ
~

PENALTY I PUNISHMENT

jfIJ iii [IJ knife 163R] a penalty' punishment / sentence KEIBATSU jfIJ ~ fiJi a prison / jail KEIMUSHO 234 KR Well and knife are both good for penalty & punishment. Note variant of 1t .
TYPE I FORM I MODEL GENKEI kata oogata torakku

KEI

kata

rnt~ ~

a large truck 235 Penalty on the earth- but what type?

*~ '7 '/ ?
f-

a prototype type' form'

[jfIJ penalty 234KR]

model' design' size

[±

earth 15KR]

........... E:::I
TEl

'T'

RESTAURANT RYOOTEI TEISHU

liNN

*4~

~:±

a Japanese-style restaurant [~ tall 216KR] a husband' the master / host (of an inn) [ T city block 21 KR]

f~
TEl

236 KR Tall city block has STOP TEISHI suru

a restaurant

& an inn.

f$lt

stop' suspend / interrupt'

ban

[1

person 154R] [ ~ restaurant 236KR]

237 Person at restaurant stops (the waiter).

00
ki

lit

YELLOW OOGON no KOOYOO kiiro

KOO

JitffiO) gold' yellow (in colour) yellow leaves (of autumn) Jit~ yellow Jit~

[ jt; together 32KR] [ B3 field 16KR]

238 KR Together the fields turn yel/ow.

m
00
yoko

SIDE I SIDEWAYS I CROSSWAYS OODAN suru yoko yoko ni

mwr m mr::

cross / go across / traverse a side / width across / crossways / sideways

[*
[•

tree 70KR] yellow 238KR]

239 Tree yellow from lying on its side.

A'"

r
JUN tate

SHIELD 240 E Looks like a shield.

SHIELD

MUJUN an inconsistency I a discrepancy tate a shield 241 KR Shield 10 eyes with a shield.

*m
m

[f shield

240E]

[+ ten 52] [ 13 eye 86KR]

CIRCULATE I FOLLOW JUN JUNKAN min'! circulation 242 Go with a shield- circulate!

[ :f go 482R] [m shield 241KR]

ill!
JUTSU

STATE I TELL I MENTION I REFER TO KOOJUTSU no.beru D;i£tt ;i£tt" ~ an oral statement state I tell / mention I refer to [i.,movement 178R] tree 70KR]

no.

1~j
JUTSU -EEl-

243 Movement of loose dotted tree is as stated. Note variant of TECHNIQUE SHUJUTSU
.=f.{iIij

*.

[*

an operation / surgery

[fi go 4KR]
tree 70KR]

244 Go around loose dotted tree requires technique.

[*
[m

j§l

PIERCE

mother 97]

KAN tsuranu.

KANTSUU Ji iI penetration [ 5[ money 91 KR] tsuranu.ku ft pierce I penetrate /I accomplish 245 KR Mother's money is pierced. Note variant of m .Originally this character showed two shells on a string and referred to money threaded on a string. The idea of piercing the shells in order to string them gave rise to the current meaning.

<

KAN na.

'II

BECOME USED TO SHUUKAN na.reru na.rasu

['r

feelings 133R]

~'II 'II;h..~ 'II i; "t

a habit I custom I practice [ft pierce 245 KR] become used to I grow familiar with II become tame tame I domesticate / break in (new shoes) / get someone used to

246 Feelings pierced but I've become used

to it.

o
COVER 247 R Looks like a cover.

o
[Name: wakanmuri]

TEl

EMPEROR

TEIKOKU an empire 248 KR Standing up and covered with cloth- it's the emperor.

*~

[s: stand

up 25KR]

[ ...... over 247R] c [ rh cloth 120NJY]

1. TIE I BIND
TEl shi.

2. SHUT I CLOSE

3. BE THRIFTY

TEIKETSU ~*S shi. maru ~ *.@ shi.meru ~d.>'@ 249 Thread around the

[*

thread 78KR]

a conclusion [* emperor 248KR] be shut I closed 1/ be thrifty / frugal tie / bind / tighten up 1/ shut / close 1/ save / economize emperor- tie him up & close (the palace) to be thrifty.

1. VITAL I ESSENTIAL
YOO

2. NEED I WANT

3. MAIN POINT

i,

JUUYOO na ~ ~ t;;. vitalI essential I weighty I important [ ~ west 84KR] HITSUYOO ~\~ need / want I necessity I requirement [ 3r:. woman 96KR] YOOTEN ~ F.a the main point I gist I substance i.ru ~.@ need I want 250 KR Western woman is vital. I need & want one, and that is the main point. PELVIC REGION !LOINS

I HIPS I LOWER BACK [ Fl body part 144R]

[ ~ vital 250KR]

YOO koshl

YOOTSUU koshi

1lI~ III

lumbago the waist I loins I hips

251 Body part that is vital is the pelvic region. Koshi is also used figuratively in Japanese and has the same sense as backbone in English.

TANG TOO kara

(A DYNASTY OF CHINA)
Jj!f*-=r Jj!ft'~

[r building

186R]

TOOgaraSHI karamatsu

red (cayenne) pepper a Japanese larch

[-3-hand] [ I pestle & IJ mortar]

252 KR Buildings with a hand holding a pestle & mortar were common in T'ang China. SUGAR TOO SATOO VY*i sugar 253 Rice from T'ang China- sugar too.

[*

rice 72KR]

[ Jj!f Tang China 252KR]

o
--1-

TWISTING DEVICE 254 E Pictograph of a simple twisting confuse with ....L. pot lid 227R.

device used to twist threads into rope. Do not

~
GEN

MYSTERIOUS I DARK GENMAI GENKAN kurooto* 1;;* 1;;00 1;;).. brown (unpolished) rice entranceway / porch an expert / a specialist / connoisseur [ .....twisting dev 254E] [ :K v thread 78KR]

255 KR Twisting device applied to a short thread in a mysterious

& dark way.

5!
GEN tsuru

STRING I BOWSTRING GENGAKKI tsuru

5!~$ a string instrument

~
a string / a bowstring

[ i3 bow 81 KR] [ 1;; mysterious 255KR]

256 Bow has a mysterious string.

~
KAI rnlna'"

ALL I EVERYTHING I EVERYBODY KAIKIN mina san

~!JJ

perfect attendance ~ ~ Iv everyone **also minna

[ J± compare 125KR] [ 8 white 179KR]

& everybody.

W:~
KAI

251 KR Compare what is white: all of it is- everything

1. STAIRS KAIDAN SANKAI

2. FLOOR I STORY

1lW~ '=1lW

stairs I stairway the 3rd floor (story)

[ ~ hill 185R] [~ all 257KR]

258 Hills are all like stairs or floors & stories.

B~
HEI

1. MAJESTY

2. STEPS (OF THE THRONE)

[ 1\

hill 185R] earth 15KR]

HEIKA Ilil' his (her) majesty TENNO HEIKA 7\:~~fl' His Majesty the Emperor

[ J± compare 125KR]

[±

259 Hill compared to earth is like his majesty's steps of the throne. HEI is an orphan in the Kanji Mnemonics system in that it does not fit in the 'KAI' same sound group nor does it fit as a structural member.

o
a frame. As a radical it

JU

MELON 260 NJY Pictograph of a melon in a rope sling hanging from expresses alone in 261 and arc-shaped in 262.

11
KO

ALONE KOJI an orphan 1JJl!Jf. KORITSU isolation 1JJl.ft 261 Child and melon are alone.

[T child 95KR]

[m

melon 260NJY]

5JU
KO

ARC KO IDll an arc KAKKO parentheses ( ) ffiIDll 262 Bow and melon have an arc. [ is bow 81 KR] melon 260NJY]

[m

jR
SEN Izumi

SPRING

;1ffi.~ ON SEN a hot spring I spa izumi a spring I fountain ~ 263 KR White water from the spring.
LINE SEN ~ pg~ NAISEN NIBANSEN 264 Thread-like spring a line telephone extension track no. 2 forms a line.

[ B white 179KR] [ 7l< water 67KR]

SEN

*i
=t<

[*

='**''it

thread 78KR] [ ~ spring 263KR]

CLOTHES I CLOTHING IFUKU ;&HR ;& koromo 265 KR Originally-:;" clothing clothes I clothing showing a collar »<ena sleeves ~

I
koromo

to convey clothes.

1~
I

DEPEND ON I RELY ON IZON suru depend (rely) on ~ff IRAI suru ask II entrust II depend (rely) on ~~Ii 266 Person with clothes is someone you can depend on. [-{ person 154R]
[ ;& clothes 265KR]

A '"7

o
BIRD 267 R From

is
2. PERMIT [ ;...ice 214R] [v.s. bird 267R]

,.

a pictograph

&

of

a bird.

1. SEMI-! QUASI-! JUN JUNSHOO HIJUN

JUNIOR!

ASSOCIATE

;1£~~ fJ:t;1£

a brigadier general! a commodore ratification

268 Ice bird is only

a semi-bird, if you will permit it.

1. SEMI-! QUASI-! JUNIOR! 3. IN PROPORTION TO

JUN JUNKESSHOO JUNSHAIN JUNBI SUIJUN JUNjiru

ASSOCIATE

2. LEVEL! STANDARD
[ '/ water 101 R] [v.s. bird 267R] [+ branch]

~j~llJ a semi-final game! match ~t±ji a junior employee! an associate member

~{iIfi

preparations!

arrangements

water level!! a level! a standard il<~ ~ L. .@ apply correspondingly to! be in proportion to

269 Water birds roosting on

a branch are at semi- levels that are in proportion.

1. INN I LODGE
SHUKU

yado yado.

SHUKU

SHUKUHAKU lodging SHUKUDAI ffi'~ homework SHUKUTEKI ffi'i'lilr an old enemy yado an inn! a hotel yado.ru m.@ stay at! put up at !Iodge yado.su conceive! be with child 270 KR House where 100 persons lodge is a long-standing

renE!
m

2. LONG-STANDING
[ ...... ouse 107R] h person 154R] [ i3 one hundred 53]

[1

m"t

inn.

SHRINK! SHUKUZU chiji.mu chiji.meru chiji.rasu

REDUCE
~jg]

[*
m
& reduces (its services) .

thread 78KR]

chiji.

~q:;.
~6f).@

~ I;, T

a scaled-down drawing [ inn 270KR] something shrinks! shortens! contracts contract! cut down! shorten! reduce! shrink curl one's hair

271 Thread (bare) inn shrinks

.;10

o
~
NEWBORN CHILD 272 E From showing a child being born head first.

J:~
KON

E3

1. INSECT

2. MUL TITUDE

[ B sun 57KR]

[ .It compare 125KR] an insect KONCHUU fE!:Ii fE:(ff 'konbu' I sea tangle I kelp KONBU 273 KR Pictograph of an insect showing the carapace (now written as sun) and the legs (now written as compare). The modern version probably arose through miscopying.
MIX KONKETSU iIEm mixed blood I a half-breed ;IE!I. confusion / disorder KONRAN ma.jiru lIE L: ~ mix (mingle, blend) with ma.zaru iIE ~ ~ mix (mingle, blend) with ;IEit ~ mix I mingle I blend 1/ adulterate ma.zeru 274 Water with an insect mixed in it. [ "5t water 101R]

iJ:~
KON

~E3

rna.

1)11,

:~

1. FLOW

2. STYLE

RYUU

naga.

m
~
KI

RYUUTSUU circulation / ventilation mtil RYUUKOO a fashion I vogue I craze / fad 15ft fi mt;i'L~ flow I drain I stream down I run down naga.reru pour naga.su mt"9 275 Water & newborn child & amniotic fluid flow out in style. SULFUR iiJ,t~ RYUUSAN sulfuric acid iiJ,tjit sulfur ioo* 276 Stone that flows is sulfur. Note the "waterless" variant of

[Y

water 101R] [v.s. newb child 272E]

RYUU

[ mt mt .

[ :c stone

30KR] flow 275]

ABANDON

/I THROW OUT

[v.s. newb child 272E]

reject I turn down I dismiss (a lawsuit) KIKYAKU suru ~Ufl [fbroom] HAIKI suru abandon I discard JJ!~ tree (wood) 70KR] HAIKIBUTSU JJ!~!IWJ waste material/scrap 277 Newborn child swept away with a broom with a wooden handle has been abandoned & thrown out. An orphan with few sound or structural relatives.

[*

o
of ego steam from a pot, words from a mouth.

,,'

OUT OF 278 E Symbol for something coming out

YOUNGER BROTHER DAI DE TEl KYOODAI .5t. a brother / a sister / brothers & sisters [" out of 278E] DESHI a pupil / disciple I an apprentice [ i'3 bow 81 KR] SHITEI sons / sons & daughters / children [.J feathered arrow] otooto a younger brother 279 Out of his bow a feathered arrow is shot by younger brother.

otooto
/Tn~ DAI

mT Tm m

1. PREFIX FOR ORDINALS

2. ORDER

3. GRADE

DAIICHI ~No. 1lfirstl best [""k- bamboo 71 KR] DAINIKA Lesson 2 (in a text) [ i'3 bow 81 KR] SHIDAI ~~ order II circumstances II depend on [J feathered arrow] KYUUDAI suru B: ~ pass (an examination) 280 Bamboo bow with a feathered arrow is No.1 but in any order it makes the grade.

~=~

t~
KYOO KYOO obiya.

COOPERATE KYOORYOKU ~:tJ cooperation KYOOKAI ~~ an association / a society 281 Ten triple powers cooperate. THREATEN

[+ ten 52] [ :tJ power 17KR]

KYOOHAKU a threat / intimidation obiya.kasu • tJ\"9 threaten / intimidate 282 Triple power of the body threatens.

.i§.

[ :tJ power 17KR]

[Fl body 144R]

Wi
KIN

1. MUSCLE KINNIKU suji sujigaki sujimichi

2. A LINE

3. THE PLOT

4. REASON I LOGIC

suji

1l$~ 1l$ 1l$:;: 1l$)i

muscles / sinews [Jtk: bamboo 71 KR] a line II muscles / sinews II a fibre II [Fl body part 144R] plot II reason / logic [ :tJ power 17KR] the plot of a play II a synopsis / plan reason / the thread (of an argument) II due formalities which are like a line or plot or reason.

283 Bamboo body part with power are muscles

1JUJ
l+

A 'SHO' (UNIT OF VOLUME = 1.8 LlTRES) SHOO ISSHOOBIN

[ 1 person

154R]

-:fH[

a one 'sho' bottle I a 1.8 litre bottle

ten 52KR]

284 KR Person is as ten after drinking a 'sho'. sake.

The measure is widely associated with

:rtSHOO

EI

1. RISE

2. BE PROMOTED

JOOSHOO suru SHOOSHIN

..t. ~ ~i1!

rise / go up I ascend a promotion

[ B sun 57KR] [ 7t a 'sho' 284KR]

285 Sun shines on a 'sho'- it rises and I get promoted.

~IJ
SOKU

RULE/LAW KISOKU HOOSOKU

~JUIJ ;:li;J'lIJ

a rule I a regulation a law

[ ~ money 91 KR] [IJ knife 163R]

286 KR Money and a knife make the rules.

{~Ij
SOKU kawa

SIDE SOKUMEN kawa hidarigawa migigawa hantaigawa

{!tIJiIii {!tIJ ii{!tIJ :E{!tlj &)I;t{!tlj

the side a side left side right side opposite side

[1

person 154R]

[ J'lIJ rule 286KR]

287 Person with a rule is at the side.

MEASURE SOKU haka. SOKUTEI haka.ru

mlJ:iE mlJ.Q

a measure measure I weigh

[~

water101R]

[ J'lIJ rule 286KR]

288 Water rule- always measure.

o
...J_

JL
i

HIGH 289 NJY From a depiction of a person with an exaggerated neck Other shades of meaning may include stiff, erect, haughty.

11' to convey

high.

~'j
i

1. PROTECT I DEFEND SHUBI RUSUBAN mamo.ru komori

2. OBEY

3. BABYSIT

[ ,...,house 107R]

SHU SU mamo. mori

'<TiiJij OO'<Ti& '<T.Q -=j=-'<T

[-t skilful hand 55KR] defense house-sitting protect / defend /1 keep (a promise) II obey (the law) baby-sitting

290 KR House and a skilful hand will protect them if they obey the baby-sitter.

~~
SHU ka.

HUNT SHURYOO f.i'~ hunting ka.ru f.i'.Q hunt f.i' ~) ka.ri hunting 291 Animal protected from hunting. [~ animal 150R] [ '<T protect 290KR]

tit
KOO

RESIST I OPPOSE KOOSOO KOOTAI

t1i:$ t1i:1*

a dispute I quarrel I resistance an antibody

[ :j: hand 122R] [n.high 289NJY]

292 Hand held high to resist & oppose.

iit
KOO

MINE I PIT I HOLE KOOFU TANKOO

±.1i:~ Elt ±.it

a miner a coal mine

earth 15KR] [ Jl high 289NJY]

[± .....

293 Earth piled high by the mine.

f.tn
KOO

SAILING I VOYAGE KOOKAI KOOKUUBIN

*1L5m *1Lggif

a sea voyage II navigation airmail

[7lt boat 12KR] ..... [ Jl high 289NJY]

294 Boat on high is on a sailing voyage.

,..,...

o
HAND 295 R From a pictograph of a hand. Since 295R almost always occurs on the right-hand side of kanji, it can be thought of as a right hand to distinguish it from hand 122R.

HUGE I GIGANTIC KYO KYODAI na KYOJIN

§ j;;: §.A.

rs

huge I gigantic a giant II the Giants (baseball team)

296 KR Staring eye is huge. Don't confuse with ~ retainer 65KR. REFUSE KYO

koba.

KYOHI suru :j:§ S refuse I reject I deny I veto koba. mu :j:§ i8 refuse I reject II oppose I resist 297 Hand that is huge can refuse. DISTANCE

[ ~ hand 122R]
[ § huge 296KR]

KYO

KYORI

t§J1Mt

distance

[ ,IE foot 34KR] [§ huge 296KR]

298 Foot that is huge can cover a lot of distance.

1. SLAVE! DO DOREI yatsu* yakkosan*

SERVANT

2. GUY (IDIOT, DUMMY, S.O.B.)

[ f;I: woman 96KR] [ 3Z. hand 295R]

YX~
~

a slave that guy (derogatory) YX (!: Iv that guy (derogatory)

299 KR Woman's hand works like a slave for that guy.

II!,'

GET ANGRY DOKI ika.ru I oko.ru ~~

~.Q

DO

ika.! oko.

anger get angry I lose one's temper

[ PSl. slave 299KR] [ IL' heart 61 KR]

300 Slave's heart gets angry. ~

DO tsuto.

1. TRY HARD I STRIVE

DORYOKU suru tsuto.meru ~
jJ ~/1).Q

2. BE EMPLOYED

[ ~ slave 299KR]

try hard I strive I make an effort [ jJ power 17KR] be employed (in, by) I work in II try hard I strive I endeavour 301 Slave with power trys hard to be employed.

o
.JL
LEGS
302 R Looks like legs. [Name: hitoashi]

WAY I ROAD I STREET DOO TOO

michi TETSUDOO JUUDOO SHINTOO michi

~it ~it *'IIit it

a railway / railroad judo Shinto a way / road / street / path

[i.. movement

178KR]

[§ head 88KR]

303 KR Movement of head shows the way to the road.

~"§
~ DOO
michibi.

LEAD I GUIDE
SHIDOO michibi.ku

fl:ji# i# <

leadership / guidance lead / guide / show the way

[ it way 303KR]

[ -t

skilful hand 55KR]

304 Way of the skilful hand is to lead & guide.

1. AHEAD! EARLIER I PREVIOUS SEN

saki SENSEI SENGETSU saki ~~ ~ Fl ~

2. THE FUTURE

3. DESTINATION

4. TIP

teacher last month the future II the destination II ahead / first II tip / point

[ tj:. cow 90KR] [ J[, legs 302R]

305 KR Cow on two legs ahead but what is her future & destination? Same as earlier.

WASH SEN
ara. SENTAKU ara.u o-te arai

*=?

*=;It
;B -=F

*= l,\

the wash wash a washroom

[ :>

water 101 R]

[ st ahead 305KR]

306 Water ahead for washing.

PIG IRON SEN

SENTETSU ~~ pig iron [~ metal 10KR] [ ~ ahead 305KR]

307 Metal ahead is pig iron.

,..

..

o
DOTTED CURVED SWORD

308 E Looks like a curved sword with a dot.

1. GENERATION DAI

I AGE

2. FEE I FARE

3. REPRESENT

4. REPLACE I RELIEVE

TAl yo shiro

ka.

JIDAI ,*ft a time I period I epoch I age I era person 154R] basu DAI I\A ft bus fare [-t dot curv swor 308E] DAIRI ftl.l a representative I proxy I deputy I agent KOOT AI suru ~ ft relieve I take someone's place I take turns I alternate kimigayo ~ f:J~ft Kimigayo / the national anthem of Japan minoshiro Jlt (J) ft a ransom ka.waru i-t;!?.Q take the place of I replace I relieve (a person) 309 KR Person with a dotted curved sword is from another generation. He charged a fee to represent you but now he has been replaced. LEND

[1

TAl

ka.

1§:. lend TAIYO suru ka.su lend 310 Generations of money-lend BAG

-a -aT

[ i-t generation 309KR]

[~ money 91KR]

me some!

~
TAl fukuro

YUUTAI i3~ a mail bag fukuro ~ a bag I sack I pouch tebukuro -¥~ gloves Ibukuro ~~ stomach 311 Generations of clothing in a bag.

[ 1-t generation 309KR] [ ?x clothing 265 KR]

1. BEND
KUTSU

2. YIELD [ F buttocks 105R] [ tIl go out 26]

FUKUTSU no l' IllI (J) unyielding / undaunted / dauntless 312 KR Buttocks go out as one bends and yields. DIG

KUTSU ho.

HAKKUTSU ~ fRH excavation ho.ru fRH.Q dig / excavate / burrow 313 Hand bends as you dig. MOAT I CANAL I DITCH

[ ~ hand 122R] [1!II bend 312KR]

[±

earth 15KR]

hori

hori t'lil a moat I canal/ditch 314 Earth bends in moats, canals & ditches.

[1!II bend 312KR]

,..,..

o
SQUEEZED BETWEEN 315 NJY From an earlier form ~ showing a big person 7:.. squeezed persons A . between two other

PUT BETWEEN KYOO hasa. KYOOGEKI hasa. maru hasa.mu ~. ~ ~t,'

[ :J: hand 122R]

'*~

a pincer attack get between I be caught (pinched, squeezed, hemmed in) put between / interpose

316 Hand got squeezed between when I put it between. RAVINE I GORGE I CANYON KYOO KYOOKOKU ~~ a ravine I gorge I canyon

[ III mountain 20KR]

[;:: squeez bet 315NJY]

317 Mountain squeezed between a ravine. NARROW I SMALL & CRAMPED KYOO sema, seba. KYOORYOO na ~_tJ: sema.i ~ (,\ seba.meru ~/1) ~ 318 Animal can squeeze [~ animal 150R]

narrow-minded [:*: squeez bet 315NJY] narrow I small & cramped I poky narrow I reduce I limit (the width) between narrow spaces and small & cramped places .

.:::C:::..

J;fl,

1. BADGE

2. CHAPTER

SHOO

SHOO sawa.

~!

KISHOO a badge I insignia /1 a medal DAISANSHOO Chapter 3 319 KR Stand up early to get a badge for your chapter.

~=a

~aa

[s: stand

up 25KR]

[ .!f!. early 102KR]

HINDER I BLOCK

SHOOGAI SHOOJI sawa.ru

an obstacle I obstruction I impediment I hindrance a 'shoji' screen I a paper sliding door hinder / hurt I offend [ B hill 185R] [a badge 318KR] 320 Hill badge is for hindering & blocking. OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE HYOOSHOO ~~ official commendation (heroism,

fll~ fll-=f III~

:b:.~

¥~
SHOO

[a badge 318KR]
[ ~ hair 342CO]

321 Badge with hair openly acknowledges

a good deed etc.).

,...,..

o
ALTAR WITH STURDY LEGS 322 E From a pictograph E;:;:j of

a large altar with sturdy legs.

THIRD IC HEI KOO-OTSU-HEI ~ z ~ 1-2-3/ ABC 323 KR Sacrificial item on altar with sturdy legs is 3rd rate and gets a C . The current meaning is borrowed to express third in a sequence and has no connection with altars.

1. PATTERN I DESIGN
HEI

2.NATURE/CHARACTER

3.HANDLE

gara

OOHEI gara

mm m

arrogance a pattern / design II nature I character a handle

[*

tree 70KR] [ ~ 3rd 323KR]

324 Tree that is 3rd rate has a poor pattern and by nature will not make a good handle. ILLNESS HEI BYOO SHIPPEI a disease BYOOIN Iljt a hospital yamai illness I sickness / disease ya.mu ib fall ill / get sick 325 Sickness is 3rd rate- so is illness.

yamai ya.

m m m

~m

[:j sickness 215R] [ ~ 3rd 323KR]

1. ASK FOR I REQUEST

KYUU

2. SEEK I LOOK FOR [ 7k water 67KR]

moto.

KYUUSHOKU *111& job hunting moto.meru *;}:).@ ask for / request 1/ seek I look for 326 KR Dotted cross in the water- ask for & seek it. BALL I SPHERE

KYUU

tama

CHIKYUU YAKYUU tama 327 King asks RESCUE I AID

the earth / the globe baseball J;j( a ball / sphere / globe II gem / jewel for his ball and sphere.
;tjgJ;j( myJ;j(

[*

[ ::E king 64KR]

ask for 326KR]

KYUU

suku.

KYUUKYUU suku.u 328 Ask for

11&1ll 11& ?

first aid rescue / aid / help I save / relieve

[* [ sc

ask for 326KR] strike 200R]

a strike to rescue them.

t::.7

~±
BED 329 E Originally written ~ this element is one side of a tree split longitudinally and represents a plank of wood used as a litter or sick bed. Its mirror image evolved to become Jt fragment 77KR.

rr·

'*

ALTAR 330 R Derived from ~ 36KR and depicting an altar. As a radical frequently denotes 'of the gods' or 'having to do with the gods'. The kanji ~ no longer has religious connotations and simply means 'show'.

*'

BONES VERTEBRAE 331 R Bones is derived from an earlier form showing the skull and vertebrae. In compounds it usually refers to the skeleton. Vertebrae in compounds often conveys flexibility or ease of movement.

:f

MANLY/STRONG/GRAND SOO SOOKEN na SOODAI na

~±~t,J.

hale & hearty / robust / healthy

[~

bed 329E]

~±:J;::. t,J. grand / magnificent

[± samurai 159KR]

332 KR Bed of samurai is manly, strong & grand.

1. MANOR I VILLA SOO BESSOO 5llj itt SOOCHOO na itt ~

2. SOLEMN I MAJESTIC
t,J.

a cottage / country house / villa solemn / majestic / sublime

[ -++ plant 99R]

[H manly 332KR]

333 Plants are manly at the manor which is solemn & majestic.

~±

1. WEAR FUKUSOO HENSOO SOOCHI ISHOO yosoo.u

2. PRETEND I FEIGN

3. EQUIPMENT I GEAR

SOO

n&~
~~

SHOO yosoo.

~iil: :tR~

~?

clothes / garments / dress a disguise equipment I a device I an apparatus clothes I garments / dress wear II pretend I feign

[ H manly 332KR]
[ :tR clothing 265KR]

334 Manly clothing- wear it and pretend it is your equipment.

Jt8,.

Fl

o
BONE KOSSETSU ~ tJT a bone fracture hone ~ a bone 335 KR Bones in the body and all of them bone. [v.s. bones 331 R] [.FI body 144R]

~
KOTSU hone

5~
KATSU sube. name.

1. SLIDE

2. SMOOTH

JUNKATSUYU ENKA TSU na sube.ru name.rakana

Jl'M1il'5m p:j i'lil' ts

lubricating oil smooth! harmonious *.Q slide! glide! skate! skid! slip i'lil'i; tJ\ t.i: smooth

[ >-

water 101 R] [ ~ bone 335KR]

336 Water on bone makes it slide because it becomes smooth. The KOTSU! KATSU pair is also a slippery one- be careful not to confuse their ON readings.

j~
KA uzu

1. WHIRLPOOL
KACHUU uzu

I VORTEX if9J $
jf9J

maelstrom! vortex whirlpool! vortex

[ )r water 101 R] [v.s. vertebrae 331 R]

337 Water that moves like vertebrae is

a whirlpool.
4. ERROR

~
KA

1. PASS I GO PAST I BE PAST

TSUUKA suru KADO no su.giru tabesugiru su.qosu ayama.chi 338 Movement time recovering

2. EXCEED

3. SPEND TIME

suo

ayama.

pass (by, through, over) /I pass (a bill) excessive I too much pass by I go past /I exceed movement 178R] eat too much! overeat [v.s. vertebrae 331 R] spend time an error of vertebrae may pass and exceed the norm: you may have to spend from this error.

5111 11Tf. (J) 11 'f! .Q lltr{lI 'f!.Q 11::::1" 11 "t:,

[1..

CALAMITY I MISFORTUNE KA KAKON SAIKA ZEKKA ~ ~~

=&~

the root of evil! the seeds of trouble a calamity I disaster an unfortunate slip of the tongue

[*

altar 330R] [v.s. vertebrae 331 R]

339 Altar with vertebrae- there has been a calamity.

,....,...

~,

HAND REACHING DOWN

*
[*
[ '\-1 hand rea dow 340E] tree 70KR]

L+

340 E Showing a hand reaching down. As a NJY character, 340 means talon I claw.

PICK

341 NJY Hand reaching down into a tree to pick (fruit etc.)

-$
:/

HAIR

342 CO Looks like hair. Often conveys 'attractive' or 'delicate' in compounds.

SAl

f*

1. PICK' GATHER'
SAISHU suru SAIYOO suru to.ru

COLLECT

2. ADOPT 'INTRODUCE

3. EMPLOY
[ ~ hand 122R] [v.s. pick 341 NJY]

~1Bl

to.

~m
~~

pick I gather I collect adopt I introduce (a new method) pick I gather /I employ I engage

343 Hand picks and adopts (a new method) that employs

(more workers).

SAl

=*

'±:!!"

1. VEGETABLE
YASAI na natane

na

my

*~i *

2. RAPE I MUSTARD PLANT

vegetables greens rapeseed I canola
[ -t-I-

plant 99R]

[v.s. pick 341 NJY]

344 Plants that are picked are vegetables

including rape & mustard.

SAl

m~ *~

COLOUR SAISHIKI suru irodo.ru

~ts
~~

irodo.

colour I paint colour I paint I dye

[v.s. pick 341 NJY]

[ ~ hair 342CO]

345 Pick some hair and colour it.

if
B itt

BOTTOM 346 E Clan is at the bottom.

[ ~ clan 66KR] t , bottom]

VILLAGE [Name: oozato] 347 R On the right hand side of kanji, oozato B means vii/age. On the left hand side of kanji, kozatohen B means hill 185 R.

LOW TEION hiku.i

TEl hiku.

i~it i~~\

a low-pitched sound II a low voice / bass [ { person 154R] low [g bottom 346E]

348 Person at the bottom is low.

Itt
TEl

RESIST TEIKOO TEITOO

t~m

m~

resistance / opposition a mortgage

[ j hand 122R]

[g

bottom 346E]

349 Hand at the bottom will resist.

JtE
TEl soko

BOTTOM KAITEI soko

~Ii Ii

bottom of the sea / sea bottom the bottom

[r building 186R]

[ g;

bottom 346E]

350 Building at the bottom is at the very bottom.

gB
TEl

MANSION I RESIDENCE TEITAKU Tanaka-TEl gjllf; a mansion I residence EEl gjl Tanaka's residence t:j:l & residences.

[g bottom 346E] [ ~ village 347R]

351 Bottom of the vii/age ties many mansions

o
1. BOTH SIDES I MUTUAL SOO SHOO aiSOODAN SHUSHOO aite 2. GOVERNMENT MINISTER

m~ -m-m

m"¥-

consultation Prime Minister the other party / partner / opponent

[*

tree 70KR] [ 13 eye 86KR]

352 KR Tree eyed by both sides and the Minister. ~

~13
SOO shima

FROST SOOGAI shimo ~~ ~ frost damage frost

[ f:Il.i rain 69KR] [m both sides 352KR]

353 Rain on both sides turns to frost.

sao

*§

Il!,~

IDEA I THOUGHT SHISOO KUUSOO

,I[I.:I!! ~:I!!

an idea I thought a day-dream / fantasy

[m both sides 352KR]

[Ii) heart 61KR]

354 Both sides of the heart have ideas & thoughts.

BOX hako hako

a box

[I<-k

bamboo 71 KR]

[m both sides 352KR]

355 Bamboo on both sides of the box.

CALCULATE SAN KEISAN YOSAN

~t. :v.

~k

bamboo 71 KR]

calculation / computation an estimate /1 a budget

[ 13 abacus] [f+ two hands]

356 Bamboo abacus held by two hands is for calculating. The element 13 which looks like 13 eye 86KR in fact is an abacus. The element 7+ is a simplification of Y'~ two hands holding the abacus. SAN is an orphan: structurally, it does not fit the SOO group and its etymological origins are also different.

BEGIN 357 NJY Composed of muse 27KR and a simplified version of a hand holding a tool to convey 'start to work' and more generally, begin.

CLOTHING 358 R Derived from a pictograph showing a collar and sleeves to express clothing. kanji for clothing is written :tx 265KR and is of the same origin.

The

CATCH I SEIZE HO HOGEI HOSHU to.raeru tsuka.maeru

[ ; hand 122R]

to.
tsuka.

tmi~ tm -¥ tm .; ;t ~ tm ;t ~

whaling a catch f a catcher (baseball) catch f seize f arrest catch f seize f arrest

[m

begin 357NJY]

359 Hand begins to catch.

BAY HO*

[ ~ water 101 R]

lira

*Few, if any, compounds exist [m begin 357NJYj ura 5ifi bay f inlet II seacoast Urashima Taroo SilUI:;~M Urashima Taro, a character in a Japanese folk tale. 360 Water begins at the bay.

MAKE UP FOR I SUPPLY I COMPENSATE HO ogina. HOKYUU ogina.u

tIII~
till?

a supply (of food, fuel etc.) make up for I supply / compensate

[ ;t.- clothing 358R]

[m

begin 357NJY]

361 Clothing begins to make up for it.

M
HO

1. SHOP I STORE TENPO HOSOO suru

}Q~

2. PAVEMENT

a shop / store
pave

[~

~~

[ m begin

building 127KR] 357NJY]

362 Building begins as

a shop

on the pavement.

1. LONG CHOO CHOOJIKAN SHACHOO naga.i

2. CHIEF I HEAD :&~ra' U:& :& L \ a long time' many hours the president (of a company) long

[ F flowing

mane]

[ ;& clothing 265KR]

naga.

363 KR Flowing mane and simple clothing are long as befits a chief.

~ft
CHOO

SWELL BOOCHOO fuku.reru fuku.ramasu fuku.rasu swelling' expansion something swells' expands /I be sulky' sullen ~ i; "*"9 swell' expand' distend' inflate' blow up ~i;"9 =fuku.ramasu [F.1 body part 144R] 364 Body part that is long swells. [ :& long 363KR]

~~

fuku.

~n~

DIRECTORY I REGISTRY I NOTEBOOK CHOO DENWACHOO TECHOO

~~i!irJl& telephone book (directory)

-¥ i!J&
a notebook

[ rtJ cloth 120NJY]

[ :& long 363KR]

365 Cloth that is long is listed in the directory.

STRETCH CHOO ha. KAKUCHOO SHUTCHOO ha.ru

fJtsi tfj si si ~

extension / expansion a business trip stretch

[ ~ bow 81KR] [ :& long 363KR]

366 Bow that is long can stretch.

*=
SHU

BARE BONES 367 E Looks like a vertebrae and bare bones. The element often signifies death in compounds.

SCARLET SHUIRO

[/

emphatically 138E] top branch] tree 70KR]

*@.

scarlet I vermillion

[-

368 KR Emphatically the top branch of the tree is scarlet.

[*

ESPECIALLY SHU koto nl TOKUSHU koto ni

~ (::

~~*

special especially (unpleasant).

[ ?l bare bones 367E]

[*

scarlet 368KR]

369 Bare bones turn scarlet- that's especially

PEARL SHU SHUGYOKU SHINJU SHINJUWAN

1$::E Jt1$ Jt1$~

a jewell gem I jewelry a pearl Pearl Harbor

[ 3: king 64KR]

[*

scarlet 368KR]

370 King turns scarlet over his pearls.

kabu

**

1. STOCK I SHARE
kabuSHIKI kabunushi kirikabu

2. STUMP
a stock I share a stockholder a stump Soon it will be a stump.

~rt
~~
l;J]

LJ ~

[* [*

tree 70KR) scarlet 368KR]

371 Tree turns scarlet like my stocks.

CHECK CAREFULLY 372 E Derived from ~ showing two persons RR. (fused as 5E' in the modern version) talking together under a cover or root r": . Perhaps they are horse traders. The element conveys meanings such as judge, examine closely, and check carefully.

THRIFTY KEN KEN'YAKU no

~~O)

thrifty' frugal'

economical

[1

person 154R] [v.s. check carefully 372]

373 Person who checks carefully is thrifty.

INVESTIGATION KEN KENSATSU ~~ KENTOO ~~ KENSAKU suru ~ ~ a criminal investigation an investigation' examination' study look up (a word in a dictionary)

[* tree 70KR]
[v.s. check carefully 372]

374 Tree checked carefully for clues during the investigation.

1. STEEP I PERILOUS KEN kewa, KEN'AKU na kewa.shii

2. SEVERE

[ ~ hill 185R] [v.s. check carefully 372]

~~t~

dangerous' perilous' critical ~ l., l,\ steep II severe' harsh' fierce' grim

375 Hill checked carefully because it is steep & severe.

EXAMINATION KEN SHIKEN JIKKEN

I TESTING

gil:Bi ~Bi

an examination I a test an experiment

[ I) horse 92KR]

[v.s. check carefully 372]

376 Horse checked carefully during the examination & testing.

~Ij
KEN tsurugi

SWORD KEN KENDOO tsurugi

~J ~Jli ~J

a sword Kendo a sword

[v.s. check carefully 372] [IJ knife 163R]

377 Check the knife carefully:

it is really a sword.

1. AN OFFICIAL SHI
SHIKAISHA SHIHOO SUSHI*

2. ADMINISTER
master of ceremonies / chairman administration of justice sushi

~~~ ~~ $lf~

378 KR A wonderfully plain ideograph showing a rear end (left buttock & anus) to convey the idea of a sedentary government official, now more widely used for any official and for the work that officials do, i.e. administer.

1. VISIT
SHI ukaga.
SHIKOO ukaga.u

2. ASK I INQUIRE ABOUT 3. HEAR I BE TOLD iil~ a courtesy call iil ? visit I call on /I ask / inquire about
II hear / be told

[1

person154R] [ ~ official 378KR]

379 Person who is an official visits and asks about (others), I hear.

SHI

~m

WORDS
MEISHI DOOSHI

::g ~
II.J~

a noun (lit. name word) a verb (lit. action word)

[ ~ words 35KR] [ ~ official 378KR]

380 Words of an official are just words.

RAISE (KEEP) ANIMALS SHI ka.

SHIRYOO ka.u

~*lI~?

feed I fodder raise (keep, feed) animals

[ ~ food 804KR] [ ~ official 378KR]

381 Food official raises animals.

~~ SHI

HEIR
SHISH I ffii~T heir
[ [J

mouth 85KR]

[ ffil volume 24]

382 Mouth says volumes about the official who will be heir. [ ~ official 378KR]

.
1. CROSS I INTERSECT
KOOSATEN KOOTSUU GAIKOO maji.waru maji.eru ma.zeru ka.wasu

_._
...........
KOO

-v-

2. COMING & GOING

3. MIX I INTERMINGLE

maji. rna.

ka.

~ & F.ii. an intersection! a crossing ~iI traffic ~~ diplomacy ~P.Q associate with / mix with / intermingle 1/ intersect! cross ~ ;t.Q mix / blend / adulterate ~1f.Q =maji.eru ["ft.. six 44] ~P"9 exchange (words, greetings)

383 KR Six Xs cross and intersect, some coming & going, some mixing. 1. SCHOOL
KOO

2. COMPARE

KOO shl, shlbo,

*~
~ KOO

GAKKOO school [ ;;+;; tree70KR] KOOSEI ~ IE proofreading [ ~ cross 383KR] SHOOKOO ~;;f~ an officer (military) 384 Tree crosses at the school where we compare commanders. WRING OUT I STRANGLE KOOSATSU shLmeru shibo.ru o-shibo. ri

~*'~

3. COMMANDER

*SE~ *SE1f.>.Q *SE.Q iI3 *SE L)

strangulation! hanging wring! strangle wring out! squeeze / press! milk a wet hand towel

[*
[~

thread 78KR] cross 383KR]

385 Threads cross when you wring out (a mop), BE EFFECTIVE YUUKOO na MUKOO no

ii~
~~

t,J. effective / vaid / good

(J)

ineffectual!

invalid / void

[ ~ cross 383KR] [ tJ power 17KR]

386 Cross power to be effective.

KOO

KOO KAKU

,~

~B

SUBURBS KOOGAI

AA~

the suburbs

[ ~ cross 383KR] [ B village 347R]

387 Cross the vii/age to get to the suburbs. COMPARE KOOSEI HIKAKU ~ IE

.I:t~

calibration comparison

[ II! vehicle 40KR] [ ~ cross 383KR]

388 Vehicle that crosses- compare it.

o
GROWING PLANT 389 E Pictograph of a growing plant .

..::E.

t=J

1. BLUE I GREEN
SEINEN SEISHUN ao ao.i aozora ilf~ ilf~

2. YOUNG
a youth! young person the prime of one's life blue colour blue! green blue sky

SEI

[ .:E growing plant 389E]

(F.I moon 58KR]

ao ao.

'I!f
ilf (,\ ilfgg

390 KR Growing plant and the moon look blue/green when they are young.

In
SEI

~..:::I:::. ~ 1=1

CLEAN I PURE SEIKETSU na kiyo.i kiyo.meru ~~ ts clean' pure ~(,\ clean' pure ~&':> ~ cleanse I purify [ ~ water 101R] [ilf blue 390KR]

kiyo.

391 Water that is blue is clean & pure.

1. ENERGY I SPIRIT I VITALITY

SEI SEIRYOKU SEISHIN SEIMITSU na BUSHOO na

2. FINE I DETAILED

~:h

~fiIl ~W
~~

SHOO

energy I vigour' vitality spirit I mind' soul t,j. precise! detailed I thorough' t.i. lazy' idle' slothful! indolent

[*
[•

rice 72KR] blue 390KR]

minute

392 Rice that is blue gives you energy.

B~
SEI

CLEAR UP SEITEN ha.reru hare ha.rasu clear clear clear clear sky' fine weather [ B sun 57KR] up , stop raining 'lift (fog) [ilf blue 390KR] (fine, fair) weather (one's name)' dispel (doubt, gloom)

ha.

393 Sun and blue (sky)- it's clearing up.

1. FEELINGS / EMOTION FUZEI JOOJI NINJOO JOOHOO nasa.ke

2. SYMPATHY / COMPASSION

3. FACTS / DATA

nasa.

J!L'IW'IW-~ A'IW'IW-¥iR 'lW-lt

an air II taste / elegance a love affair / romance [ t feelings 133R] human feelings / sympathy / kindness [i\lt blue 390KR] a report / information / intelligence tender feelings / sympathy / pity / mercy / compassion and that's

394 Feeling b/ue- I need sympathy

a factI

:::E
fiF.l
1. ASK FOR
SEIGAN FUSHIN ko.u uke.ru ukeoi

2. RECEIVE

SEI SHIN ko. uke,

~11fmi ifil3< iiI'! ~R?

~rt.@
~~

a petition / an application building / construction II repairs ask / request / beg / solicit receive a contract (for work) (a contract).

[ ~ word 35KR] [ .. blue 390KR]

395 Words turn blue as one asks for & receives

SEI JOO shizu.

W~

CALM/QUIET HEISEl JOOMYAKU shizu.ka na shizu.maru shizu.meru

~nm
~iJ\tti.
~&')~

!J!~

~*~

calm / tranquility / serenity [ .. blue 390KR] a vein [ \fft quarrel 1646KR] calm / quiet / still! tranquil/placid become calm (quiet) II calm down / subside calm / quiet / soothe / appease! pacify

396 Blue quarrel is calm & quiet.

III. Sound Groups- Level 3

HEI

1. SHINTO ZIGZAG PAPER OFFERING GOHEI SHIHEI KAHEI

2. MONEY

[ IJ\

small 2KR]

~m ~m
~

cut paper strips (in Shinto) paper money / a bill / a note money / currency / a coin

[ rtJ cloth 120NJY]

[ ~ strike 200R] [ m cloth 120NJY] to

397 Small, small (bits) of cloth struck (cut) from a (larger) cloth as a symbolic offering the gods. The cloth offerings later became paper, then paper money and eventually money in general. The uppermost small is a variant of IJ\ .

~
HEI

1. EVIL I VICE
HEIGAI HEISHA

2. HUMBLE PREFIX MEANING 'OUR'

~~

~t±

an evil / a vice / a harmful effect our company

[ m offering

397] [ ;+ two hands 356]

398 Offering by two hands is evil in our humble (opinion).

PRIVATE CRAMMING SCHOOL I A 'JUKU' JUKU JUKU JUKUSEI ~ ~~ ajuku a juku student

[~

tall 216KR]

399 Tall child 'round the eerth goes to

a juku.

[ T child 95KR] [ ~ round 1616KR] [± earth 15KR]

RIPE I MATURE JUKU SEIJUKU HANJUKU no u.reru

P.It~
,*~O)
~;fL.Q

u.

ripeness I maturity half-ripe I soft-boiled (egg) ripen / be ripe

[~

tall 216KR] [T child 95KR] [ ~ round 1616KR] [ .... fire 402R]

400 Tall child 'round the fire is ripe & mature.

'7-1

o
DANCER 401 E Originally showing a person with exaggerated tasseled sleeves dancing. modern form has few, if any, features that might suggest a dancer. The

.II"

FIRE 402 R Looks like a fire.

[Name: rekka! renga]

OPPOSED FEET 403 E From a pictograph of two opposed

feet, now squared in the modern version.

NOT I NOT BE I WITHOUT I UN-/-LESS BUJI ni MURI na MURYOO no na.i

[v.s. dancer 401 E]

na,

.~ (::. safely / without a hitch (accident) [v.s. fire 402R] • J! 1;j: unreasonable! unjust! unnatural! forced .~(J) no charge! free of charge .L\ not be

404 Dancer on fire- she's not!! The character. was borrowed to express not and cease to be and has no connection with either dancing or fire. See pi-v. 1. DANCE BU 2. FLIT I FLUTTER

rna.
mal

KABUKI ~"ii kabuki ma.u .. ? dance /I flit! flutter! whirl about maiko • .:r a dancing girl 405 Dancer with opposed feet dances & flits about.

[v.s. dancer 401 E] [v.s. opposed feet 403E]

FOLLOW ZUI ZUII no

Ilii:§: (J) optional/voluntary

[B
[~

[i. movement

hill 185R]

406 Hill movement exists- follow it. MARROW ZUI KOTSUZUI SHINZUI

178R] exist 1742KR]

it tit
~~

the marrow the essence (soul) of

[it bone 335KR]

[ }_ movement 178R]

[ 1i exist 1742KR]
407 Bone movement exists- in the marrow.

o
SHARP

408 CO This CO character means butt I gore and is composed of fJt.. upside down foot 3KR and :I:. a variant of tf. cow 90KR to mean a person sent over a cow's horns. As a radical it conveys tapered or sharp.

SHUHOO ±~ the main peak mine ~ a peak / top / summit 409 Mountain is sharp at the peak.

PEAK I TOP

[ LiI mountain

20KR]

[v.s. sharp 408CO]

SEW HOO
nu.

SAIHOO i4m sewing nu.u a? sew / stitch 410 Thread, movement and sharp (needle) for sewing.

[* [L

thread 78KR] movement 178R] [v.s. sharp 408CO]

RETURN
HENKAN KIKAN

ii:i£ ~~:i£

a return / a restoration / repayment a return / repatriation

[L movement
[ §I

178R] eye 86KR] [& pity 1730KR]

411 Movement eyed with flat pity because we have to return it.

RING I CIRCLE
KAN
KANJOO no ~~O) ring-shaped / circular / loop KANKYOO ~~ environment 412 King eyed with flat pity because he's in the ring.

[x

[ §I

king 64KR] eye 86KR] [ & pity 1730KR]

OFFICER
CHUUI
I:j:J

[ F buttocks 105R]

liM

a lieutenant

[ ~ show 36KR] [ ;j" skilful hand 55KR]

413 KR
I nagusa.

Buttocks show the skilful hand of an officer.

COMFORT I CONSOLE I CHEER UP

IAN nagusa.meru m3C comfort / consolation / relaxation m rh -6> comfort / console / cheer up consoles

[ liM officer 413KR]

[ Ie.,

heart 61 KR]

414 Officer with heart comforts,

& cheers up (his men).

o
EXUDE I OOZE

415 E An element depicting a crude wine press 1=\ and liquid 7l< 67KR exuding / oozing
from it.

RECORD ROKU ROKUON ROKUGA KIROKU

~ff
~U!Ii

~a~

recording video recording a record / document / archives

[ 1ft: metal 10KR]

[v.s. exude 415E]

416 Metal that exudes is used for records. According to Henshall (Appendix I), this
character originally referred to verdigris (copper oxide) which is 'exuded' from copper. Copper was used extensively for engraving and inscriptions and it is the idea of an enduring record that is now conveyed by this kanji.

~~
ROKU RYOKU

GREEN ROKUSHOO YOORYOKUSO midori

~W

midori

~~~ ~

verdigris chlorophyll green

[*

thread 78KR] [v.s. exude 415E]

417 Threads that exude are green. This character originally referred to thread that was the colour of copper oxide (verdigris) but now means green in general.

1. RELATION I CONNECTION
5. EDGE I BORDER
EN EN ENDAN ENGAWA fuchi ~

2. MARRIAGE

3. FATE I DESTINY

4. VERANDA

~BiJt ~ffilJ
~

fuchi

relations 1/ fate I destiny /1 a veranda / balcony / porch a marriage proposal a veranda [ thread 78KR] an edge / border / rim / hem [ ~ pig 867NJY]

418 Thread tied to a tusked pig? Relations in that marriage depend on fate, especially on the veranda and at the edge. Although similar in form to 417, this kanji is of different
etymological origin.

'"7,A

LANCE 419 R Derived from a pictograph ~ of a stake, doubled to ~ for emphasis, to give lance f halberd. In compounds it often imparts meanings such as cut, pierce or kill.

HALBERD VARIANT OF HALBERD VARIANT OF HALBERD TASSELED HALBERD 420 R The various forms of halberd are derived from ~ showing a halberd fIance with a prominent blade p-. Tassels were hung on such weapons to indicate a killing. Henshall (Appendix I) makes the analogy to notches being filed on a gun handle in the American West. In addition to being a weapon of war, a halberd could be used for cutting and trimming and in some kanji it imparts the meaning of making things right. Halberds could also be stuck in the ground as temporary markers and this use is reflected in other kanji.

HOW MANY? HOW MUCH? KI ikuKIKAGAKU ikutsu ikura ~1PJ~ ~ -:> ~G geometry how many? how much?

[~ v thread 78KR [ JX: halberd 420R]

421 KR Two short threads cut by a halberd- that's how many and how much! Note yet another variant of halberd in ~ and :tm .

1. MACHINE I DEVICE KI hata KIKAI KIKAI hata

2. OPPORTUNITY

3. LOOM

:tm~ :tm~

a machine / machinery an opportunity / occasion / a chance a loom

[*

tree 70KR] [ ~ how many 421 KR]

422 Tree. How many does it take to make opportunity?

a machine or a loom if given the

7t:.

&
~

GOOD VARIANT OF GOOD

N
U

NOT GOOD
VARIANT OF NOT GOOD

r=I

423 For mnemonic purpose we consider these radicals and elements all to be variants of good, although in fact Ii and ~ have different origins. It is good to learn Ii 1035KR at this point.

VILLAGE I RURAL AREA KYOO GOO KOKYOO KINGOO

$:$IlI!

[*'

thread 78KR]

ili$lll!

one's home town 1 village neighbouring districts

[v.s. not good 423] [ B village 347R]

424 KR Strange thread not good in that village or in rural areas. ~ ~ KYOO hibi,

1. ECHO I REVERBERATE

2. AFFECT

HANKYOO &~ an echo 1/ a response [ $Ill! village 424KR] EIKYOO ~~ an effect 1 influence 1 consequence [ 'Ilr sound 1488KR) hibi.ku ~ echo 1 sound 1 reverberate 1 ring 1/ affect 425 Village sound echos & reverberates and affects everyone.

<

GENERAL/OVERALL/TOTAL SOOKAI SOORI SOOKEI 426 Thread in f(t~ a general meeting f(tI! prime minister 1 premier f(tat the total 1 the total amount the public's heart is general.

thread 78KR] public 83KR] [ 1(.\ heart 61 KR]

[ 1}

[*'

"if'
II,!,~

WINDOW DOOSOOSEI mado

500
mado

fiil ~ ~
~

a fellow student / graduate 1 alumnus a window

[ 'ft. hole 51 KR]

[.b. nose 502E]
[ 1(.\ heart 61 KR]

427 Hole in my nose and heart is like a window.

1TIf
BEARD 428 E Stylized pictograph of

- --

a beard.

BLOOMING PLANT 429 E Showing a growing plant .i. 389E with a bloom for emphasis. (The blooming plant is in fact a violet).

[J .

Plant -t+ 99R has been added

i1ii
JU

1_1_1

1. NEED

2. DEMAND

HITSUJUHIN JUYOO

~\ 11ti .iI. necessities 11ti~ a demand

[ f;Iij rain 69KR] [v.s. beard 428E]

430 KR Rain on beard-I need and demand (a towe!).

{~
JU

CONFUCIANISM JUGAKU JUKYOO

~!!F iI~

Confucianism Confucianism

[1

person 154R]

[ 11ti need 430KR]

431 Person's needs are met by Confucianism.

1. BE EMPLOYED
KIN tsuto. KINMU suru KINROO tsuto.meru tsuto.maru
jjJn jjJ:1j jjJ ~ ~ jjJ"* ~

2. BE FIT FOR
serve / work / be on duty labour / work / service be employed / work in be fit for (a job)

[ ++ plant 99R]
[v.s. bloom plant 429E]

432 Blooming plant with power- I'm employed

to tend it and I'm fit for the job.

KIN tsutsushi.

~l

RESPECTFUL KINTEI tsutsushi.mu

I CIRCUMSPECT
~.§1

[ ~ word 35KR]
[v.s. bloom plant 429E]

~t;

with the compliments of the author restrain oneself / abstain / be cautious

433 Words about blooming plant should be respectful & circumspect. The formal KINGASHINNEN ~jUJTfF meaning Happy New Year may be seen on cards.

o
1. ROAD RO -ji 2. ROUTE I WAY

DOORO i!li§ a road kooji Ij\li§ an alley / a lane 434 KR A foot on each road.

[*

[ .IE foot 34KR]

each 31 KR]

~ RO

1. OPEN I PUBLIC

2. DEW

3. RUSSIA
[ iiIij rain 69KR] [ li§ road 434KR]

tsuyu

ROTEN de il'I::R -c: outdoors / in the open NICHIRO B~ Japan and Russia tsuyu B dew 435 Rain on the road but in the open it is dew in Russia.

~ KEN

PREFECTURE KENCHOO YAMAGUCHI-KEN

[ 13 eye 86KR]

!iii: IT
LI.J
[J

!iii:

a prefectural office Yamaguchi prefecture

[L corner]
[ Ij\ small 2KR]

436 KR Eye looks in the corner for a small prefecture.

M
KEN

HANG KEN'AN ISSHOOKENMEI ~~

-~~$

an unsettled question with all one's strength

[ !iii: prefecture 436KR] [ ~ system 801 KR] [ Ie.\ heart 61 KR]

437 Prefectural system has hearts hanging.

BRING UNDER CULTIVATION KON KAIKON suru

[ 1.. animal
bring under cultivation

150R] 423]

1mJ!

[ R not good
under cultivation.

[ ± earth 15KR]
438 Clawed animal not good for earth that is brought

INTIMACY I FRIENDSHIP KON nengo. KON'I na nengo.ra na intimate / friendly / familiar / close kind / friendly / cordial/warm

[~ animal 150R]

[.R. not good 423]

[ Ie.\ heart 61 KR]
either.

439 Clawed animal not good far the heart or for intimacy

& friendship

o
[fi sound 1488KR] [ JL legs 302R]

Jt

II:

FINISHED 440 NJY Sound with legs means you are finished.

KYOO KEI sakai

m
~

BOUNDARY

I BORDER I FRONTIER

KYOOKAI KEIDAI sakai 441 Earth is finished at 1. MIRROR

m.w. mp;j m

[±

earth 15KR] finished 440NJYj

2. OPTICAL INSTRUMENT

KYOO kagami

a telescope finished 440NJY] BOOENKYOO KENBIKYOO 1m ~. a microscope kagami a mirror 442 Metal is finished and is now a mirror. Mirrors were first made from highly polished bronze- hence ~ in this compound.

~~. •
ft.i*4 ft.i;t~ ft.i~T

a boundary / border / frontier precincts / grounds (of a temple or shrine) a boundary / border / the frontier the boundary.

[ l

[~

metal 10KR]

[t

II"

AS IT SHOULD BE I DULY TOOZEN ~!H'~ SHIZEN i3?& ;R?&(}) TENNEN no 443 KR Body of a dog BURN

[.Fl body 144R]

ZEN NEN

as a matter of course / naturally [ jC dog 89KR] nature [111\ fire 402R] natural/spontaneous roasting over a fire is just as it should be.

~
NEN mo.

fuel fire 18KR] something burns / is on fire [ ?& as it should 443KR] burn / kindle / light (a fire) 444 Fire, as it should, burns. (Note the difference between fire 18KR and fire 402R.)

NENRYOO

[ *-

mo.eru rno.yasu

~
CHIKU

LIVESTOCK CHIKUSAN livestock raising / stock breeding Wi~ CHIKUSHOO Damn! (an expletive in Japanese) Wi~ 445 KR Mysterious field for livestock. STORE I SAVE UP I ACCUMULATE CHOCHIKU suru Il'T ')I store / save up / hoard 446 Plants for livestock are stored (in the barn). [ ~ mysterious 255KR] [ EBfield 16KR]

I:EI
CHIKU

kJ;

[+t plant 99R]

[ Wi livestock 445KR]

JrL
Jill
KOO a. ara.

o
ROUGH / WILD / VIOLENT

l:!:

KOOHAI desolation / devastation / ruin mm m;h..Q fall to ruin /I be rough f stormy a.reru mr;1" devastate flay waste / rob f plunder a.rasu m(,\ rough / wild / violent / rude ara.i 447 KR Plants are dead in that river because it's rough, wild & BE FLUSTERED KYOOKOO awa.teru awate mono a panic f consternation ~11ft 11ft'C.Q be flustered f confused 11ft'C~ a scatterbrain

[-+t plant 99R] [L: dead 82] [ 111 river 19KR]

violent.

KOO awa.

'tm

[1' feelings 133R]

[11ft rough 447KR]

448 Feelings rough - I'm flustered.

~
SAl matsu.

FESTIVAL / WORSHIP

[Fl body 144R]

SAIJITSU a festival day /I national holiday ~B [ 3Z. hand 295R] ~.Q matsu.ru deify / enshrine f worship [ jf- show (altar) 36KR] ~ L) matsu.ri a festival 449 KR Body (i.e. an animal sacrifice) in hand is placed on an altar during the festival. 1. AT THE TIME WHEN SAl KOKUSAI kiwa 450 Hill festival 2. EDGE

~
SAl kiwa

~ IE~ ~

at the time when / when [ ~ hill 185R] international [ ~ festival 449KR] edge / brink f side held at the time when things were on the edge.

SATSU

*
~

JUDGE / UNDERSTAND KEISATSU

.~

/ SURMISE [ ...... ouse 107R] h [ ~ festival 449KR]

the police

451 KR House festival was judged.

~
SATSU suo

RUB I CHAFE / FILE MASATSU su.reru su.ru

.IfI»l! friction »l!;h..Q something rubs / chafes / wears out »l!.Q rub / file /I strike (a match)

[ j: hand 122R]

[~

judge 451 KR]

452 Hand judges then rubs.