Hesign Kanji 3007 PDF

onyomi:
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Story1:
one
: one, one radical (no. 1)
1
one
One down, 2041 to go. ;).
Story2:
heisig:
To learn this one kanji, I recommend

(#2000) this story : Bambi is in a
cave, eating a side-dish of salad
when trying to learn the kanjis. As
he succeed to learn the kanji for
"one", you get jealous and decide to
shoot him with a slingshot. At this
moment you hear the police coming,
so you hurriedly burn all the proofs
into a fire (so you remove the keywords Bambi, slingshot and fire
from recommend). So that when the
1
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two
: two, two radical (no. 7)
2
two
Two lines.
Roman numeral II, written on its
side.
2
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three
: one; one radical (no.1) :
one; one radical (no.1) : one;
one radical (no.1)
3
three
One + two = three.
THREE measurements define the
female shape: BUST, WAIST, and
HIPS. Waist is the smallest, and for
most women the HIPS are wider
than the chest.
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four
: box or enclosure radical (no. 31);
box : eight; eight radical (no.
12)
5
four
FOUR year-olds often put their
FOOT (human legs) in their
MOUTH - but they are too young to
realize.
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I imagine a giant devouring a human

in four bites. First the giant bites off
the persons head, then he bites the
torso, then from the waist to the
knees, and finally the giant plucks
up the remaining portion of the
human legs into his mouth. See the
fourth bite falling in there?
4
five
: two; two radical (no.2)
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4
five
+ two vertical lines = 5.
This Kanji looks like a "3" Kanji
with two added vertical lines. 3+2=
5.
5
six
: kettle lid radical (no. 8) :
eight; eight radical (no. 12)
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4
six
Indicating 6 parts of the human
body: head, body, 2 arms, 2 legs.
Six-Six-SIX ((666)) Mark of the
Beast!! Imagine that dapper old
beastly fellow summoning his top
hat to himself. See it scamper over to
him on a little pair of beastly legs.
6
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seven
the latter; duplicate; strange; witty;
fishhook radical (no. 5)
2
seven
This kanji is our good old seven,
turned upside down.
I wrote it upside down so I crossed it
out.
7
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eight
: eight, eight radical (no. 12)
2
eight
Hachi (eight) begins with the sound
of the katakana "ha", and its
approximately the same character.
The valcano hasnt erupted for 8
years.
8
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nine
: katakana no radical (no.
4) : the latter; duplicate;
strange; witty; fishhook radical (no.
5)
2
nine
Kinda of looks like the kanji of
1 with the kanji of 8 added.
So think of it as .
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Warning - naughty reminder A

woman in the doggie style position,
waiting for my NINE inches.
9
ten
: ten, ten radical (no. 24)
2
ten
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Two needles crossing marks the

spot, or you can use the Roman
character for ten (rotated 45 degrees).
I scared away ten vampires with a
single cross!
10
mouth
: mouth, opening, mouth radical
(no. 30)
3
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mouth
Looks like a huge open mouth.
Momma used to say: "Keep your
trap shut!" This thing is shaped like
a trap door.
11
day, sun, Japan

: sun, day, sun radical (no. 72)
4
day
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Open the window, new day.

Picture two halves of a 24-hr period:
Day & Night.
12
month, moon
: moon, month, moon radical (no.
74)
4
month
A month is longer than a day.
Story2:
heisig:
Am I the only one who sees this as

someone sticking their ass in the air
"mooning" someone (two cheeks of
the butt and the legs coming off of
it)? The Moon meaning connects
well to the meaning of month,
considering that months were
traditionally measured by the phases
of the moon. Also, the mooning
"ass" part of it connects well to
Hesigs seemingly unconnected
"flesh" or "part of the body"
13
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rice field, rice paddy

: field, field radical (no. 102)
5
rice field
A rice field divided into four parts.
Ten people use their mouths to eat
the yield of the rice fields.
14
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eye, class, look, insight, experience,

care, favor
: eye, eye radical (no. 109)
5
eye
There are 3 sections. Imagine the
outer two being the whites of your
eye. The middle is the pupil. Fill it in
with imaginary color.
_.
15
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old
: ten : mouth
5
old
Tombstone and cross on an old
mans grave.
You get OLD fast if you have ten
open mouths to feed.
16
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I, my, our, one's own

: five : mouth
I
I have 5 senses.
I eat five times at day.
17
risk, face, defy, dare, damage,

assume (a name)
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: day; sun; Japan; counter for

days : eye; class; look;
insight; experience; care; favor
9
risk
Dont look at the sun directly with
your eyes, its risky!
Youll risk your eyesight if you look
up at the sun.
18
companion, friend
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: meat : meat
companion
My companion and I are like two
moons side by side.
Under the twin moons of Tatooine,
Luke had no COMPANION.
19
bright, light
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days : month; moon
8
bright
The sun makes the moon bright.
The sun and the moon are brightest
objects in the day and night,
respectively.
20
chant, recite, call upon, yell
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heisig:
: mouth : prosperous;
bright; clear
11
chant
Someone chanting with their mouth
open for two consecutive days.
Chants from our mouths are meant
to reach the sun and the stars. Stars
are just suns just further away so
they seem smaller.
21
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sparkle, clear, crystal

days : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days : day; sun;
Japan; counter for days
12
sparkle
A diamond sparkles as brightly as
three suns.
Sparkle is a forest (#197) of suns!
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22
goods, refinement, dignity, article,

counter for meal courses
: mouth : mouth :
mouth
9
goods
Three boxes of goods are devoured
by the hungry mouths of waiting
consumers.
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Three hungry mouths waiting for the

goods to come.
23
spine, backbone
: mouth : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : mouth
7
spine
Spine connects head and body.
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The spine goes from one opening

mouth/opening (mouth/face) to
another mouth/opening (genitals).
Just think of these openings being
enlarged to represent the head and
the body. The bottom is bigger
because the body is bigger than the
face.
24
prosperous, bright, clear
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days : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
prosperous
If you work from Sun UP to Sun
DOWN you will be prosperous.
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heisig:
I kept getting this mixed up with

meanings like fortune, so here is a
fool proof story! Remember the
Vulcan salute from Star Trek (a
fiction of the sci-fi genre in which
heavenly bodies such as SUNS play
a huge role) used with the phrase
live long and PROSPER? If thats
not enough of a visual reminder, the
Vulcan salute shows the fingers
parted in to 2 sets of 2, and visually
kind of looks like this kanji if you
25
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early, fast
days : ten
6
early
The sun up is early, well before ten.
An early sun-flower looks like a
miniature sun perched on a
needlelike stems.
26
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rising sun, morning sun

: nine : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
rising sun
9am carries with it the rising sun.
Nine planets revolve around our
rising sun.
27
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generation, world, society, public

: twenty; 20
5
generation
3 tens = generation.
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They SAY a generation is

ten+ten+ten years, with the big first
ten providing a grounding, and the
next ten providing a little more
grounding for the final ten. But I
wish the next generation didnt
always SAY "yo!". (ON reading is
SEI, KUN reading is yo).
28
stomach, paunch, crop, craw
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: rice field; rice paddy :

month; moon
9
stomach
The rice field is harvested once a
month to get food for our stomach.
The stomach is the part of the body
that digests food (which, in Japan, is
mainly rice).
29
nightbreak, dawn, morning
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days : one; one radical (no.1)
5
nightbreak
A nightbreak happens when the sun
rises over the horizon (floor).
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onyomi:
It may be easier to think of the

keyword "DAYBREAK" or
"MORNING" for this kanji (other
kanji dictionaries do). Then the
mnemonic phrase "SUN rising over
the HORIZON" works better. It is an
infrequent kanji, but can be found in:
morning and
evening, or
New Years Day.
30
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gall bladder, courage, pluck, nerve

: meat : daybreak; dawn;
morning
9
gall bladder
The moon has a lot of gall sticking
around after sunrise.
All the month long I have to start
working at nightbreak. This really
activates my gall bladder (=I get
angry).
31
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: two; two radical (no.2) :

daybreak; dawn; morning
span
The sun spans from horizon to
horizon in a day.
The span of the day is the time
between the sun goes up and comes
down.
32
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concave, hollow, sunken

: open box enclosure; open box
radical (no. 17)
5
concave
The letter "U" is concavely written.
Concave has a concave shape.
33
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convex, beetle brow, uneven

: open box enclosure; open box
radical (no. 17)
5
convex
When I get vexed, I give people the
middle finger.
Convex has a convex shape.
34
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old times, old things, old friend,

former, ex: number one; line; rod radical
(no. 2) : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
5
olden times
Age 18 = olden times.
The old man with a walking stick
kept talking of olden times all day
long.
35
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oneself
: eye; class; look; insight;
experience; care; favor
6
oneself
Faced with his clone, our hero
valiantly cut a mark on his forehead
right above his eye so that his
comrades could tell his true oneself
from the enemy.
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To use an eyedropper by oneself,

aim from above to put a drop into
the eye.
36
white
: day; sun; Japan; counter for days
5
white
A white ray is a drop of sun.
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Even a small drop () of the sun ()

would make you see nothing but
white.
37
hundred
white
6
hundred
100 turned sideways. {sort of the
same as what ashoksaraf said}.
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That dirty ceiling was painted

WHITE a hundred times!
38
in, inside, middle, mean, center

: mouth : number one; line;
rod radical (no. 2)
4
in
Pocky goes in the mouth.
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My GF lets me come in her mouth

(pictogram).
39
thousand
4) : ten
3
thousand
It takes many drops of ten to get to a
thousand.
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One T = one thousand.

40
tongue, reed, clapper

: mouth
6
tongue
What is in a mouth that permits it to
speak a thousand things? Yes, a
tongue.
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Kissing a thousand mouths

eventually gets you some tongue.
41
measuring box, 1.8 liter

4) : twenty; 20; twenty or
letter H radical (no. 55)
4
measuring box
It is a thousand or ten? I need my
measuring box.
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I can fit a thousand needles into my

measuring box, but only if I bend the
thousand.
42
rise up
days : measuring box; 1.8 liter
8
rise up
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heisig:
onyomi:
This kanji does not mean "get up" or

"awake." It means rising, like the
rising of a salary, or a promotion.
STORY: You know that your salary
has RISEN UP when your
MEASURING BOX has enough
dollar bills in it to reach the SUN.
We Measure the Sun to decide when
we should Rise Up out of bed.
43
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round, full, month, perfection, -ship,

pills, make round, roll up, curl up,
seduce, explain away
: nine : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
3
round
Nine plus a drop rounds it off to ten!
Story2:
heisig:
Watch out for plump (#120). Here

Heisig could have added a "t" and
we would have had a much better
keyword : rotund. Rotund is more
specific than "round" which begs for
confusion with circle (#1811). A
dictionary search on "fat" or "round"
doesnt yield this kanji, but "rotund"
does! Primitive suggestion: the
Laughing Buddha is often depicted
as a rotund, smiling bald man in
robes with a largely exposed pot
44
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measurement, foot/10
: sun (unit of measurement)
(radical no. 41)
3
measurement
The decimal system uses drops of
ten as a measurement.
Glue two sticks together to make the
best measurement. (I always
remember the primitive, but never
the original keyword.).
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45
specialty, exclusive, mainly, solely

: wherefore; a reason :
measurement; foot/10
9
specialty
After you have chosen your 10 fields
of study, measure how good you are
at each to find out your specialty.
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10 brains glued together allows you

to specialize in any specialty that
you want. Imagine each brain having
its own specialty.
46
Dr., command, esteem, win acclaim,

Ph.D., exposition, fair
: ten : to state to; to
announce
12
Dr.
Story1:
Story2:
Ten specialties grants you the title of

Dr. with a dot.
Watch for doctor (#1694), the sooner
the better! In fact this kanji refers to
someone well "learned", with
extensive knowledge. This could
apply to any kind of field. The kanji
("doctor") is directly related to
medicine. I would suggest to take
away completely the idea of
medicine here, and use a popular
character whose name includes the
keyword such as "Dr. Who", "Dr.
Jekyll", even "Dr. Dobbs" if youre
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47
fortune telling, divine, forecast,

occupy, hold, have, get, take
: divination : mouth
5
fortune-telling
Fortune-telling: using a mouth as a
divining rod.
A great number of people who do
fortune-telling are "almost old".
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48
above, up
: divination : one; one
radical (no.1)
3
above
A magic wand standing on above the
floor.
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Above all else, be grounded if you

are going to practice augury
(#2103). You could turn yourself
into a oad...
49
below, down, descend, give, low,

inferior
divination
3
below
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Roots are below the ground.

A magic wand hanging below the
ceiling.
50
eminent, table, desk, high

: divination : early; fast
8
eminent
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The most eminent magician is he

who learned to use his magic wand
early in life.
The eminent sunflower is the one
that stands above the others.
51
morning, dynasty, regime, epoch,

period, (North) Korea
: ten : early; fast :
meat
12
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morning
There is mist as the moon fades
away in the morning.
Morning has come "ten" hours
"early"!!! The "moon" is still in the
sky!
52
only, free, in addition

: mouth : eight; eight
radical (no. 12)
keyword:
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only
Imagine an animal with only a
mouth and legs.
My girlfriend insists that the only
thing I want from her is whats
between her legs.. Shes drawn me
this pictograph to demonstrate. Its a
head and two legs spread apart.. I
explain that I also love her breasts,
and then she smacks me in the face.
Ill never understand women.. (I
keep failing this kanji, hopefully this
silly story will help me!).
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53
shellfish
7
shellfish
Eye thought I saw a shellfish legging
it down the beach!
Stare at the shellfish, it looks like an
eye with legs.
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54
upright, chastity, constancy,

righteousness
: divination : shellfish
9
upright
A magic wand is needed to make a
clam stand upright.
Just the thought of my magic wand
on her clam makes my magic wand
stand upright.
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55
employee, member, number, the one

in charge
: mouth : shellfish
10
employee
An employee (member of the
company) has to clam up his mouth
if he wants keep the job!
An employee is basically a shellfish
with a mouth.
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56
see, hopes, chances, idea, opinion,

look at, visible
7
see
As a primitive, this is Mike
Wazowski from Monsters Inc. (the
giant eyeball with legs...) Makes for
easy stories later on.
Story2:
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Eyes and legs are all you need to see

the world.
57
newborn babe, child, young of

animals
: old times; old things; old friend;
former; ex- : eight; eight
radical (no. 12)
7
newborn babe
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In the olden times, a newborn babe

came out legs first.
Only 18 and already got a newborn
babe. Young girls are so quick to
spread their legs these days...
58
beginning, former time, origin

4
beginning
Story1:
Story2:
In the beginning were just two who

walked on human legs.
In the beginning God created
woman, and God asked her how she
liked his work. Woman replied,
"Well, you know how I have two
eyes, two arms, two legs... it seems
redundant to have three breasts. It
would look more symmetrical with
two." God nodded, and the middle
breast fell off... and it was good.
Woman picked up the breast and
said, "Thank you, God! But what do
I do with this useless boob?" And
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59
page, leaf
: shellfish
page
A shellfish carrying a page balanced
on its head.
One drop of ink from a shellfish can
fill a whole page.
60
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stubborn, foolish, firmly

: beginning; former time;
origin : page; leaf
13
stubborn
A stubborn person in the beginning
gets something into their head and
cant change their mind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Picture a STUBBORN schoolboy,

with his arms crossed and his book
still open to the BEGINNING
PAGE. Despite the teacher telling
him to turn the page, he refuses and
keeps his book on the BEGINNING
PAGE.
61
mediocre
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heisig:
onyomi:
: table; table enclosure; table or

windy radical (no. 16) : dot;
tick or dot radical (no. 3)
3
mediocre
A drop of breeze is naught but a
mediocre wind.
Is there anything as mediocre as a
drop of piss in the wind?
62
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onyomi:
defeat, negative, -, minus, bear, owe,

assume a responsibility
: wrapping enclosure; wrapping
radical (no. 20) : shellfish
9
defeat
Tied up, the shellfish had to accept
defeat!
Defeat is defined by a shellfish in
binds.
63
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ten thousand
: one; one radical (no.1)
3
ten thousand
I bound ten thousand dollars
together and hid it under the floor.
We have "one" at the top and if you
turn the kanji 90 degrees you will
see arabic 4 shich means it has four
zeros in front of it!
64
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component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
phrase, clause, sentence, passage,

paragraph, counter for haiku
5
phrase
Some Japanese phrases are difficult
to wrap your mouth around.
A bound mouth cannot utter a single
phrase.
65
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
texture, skin, body, grain

: meat : table; table
enclosure; table or windy radical
(no. 16)
6
texture
When you expose your flesh to the
wind it gets textured: goosebumps!
The moons lack of wind preserves
its texture.
66
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
decameron, 10day period, season

(for specific products
radical (no. 20) : day; sun;
6
decameron
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hesig should be BOUND for a DAY

(or maybe 10 days - a decameron)
for calling this Kanji
DECAMERON. See martyrdom
(#809).
If you bind up ten days, you get a
decameron.
67
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

radical (no. 20) : dot; tick or
dot radical (no. 3)
ladle
A ladle binds drops together.
Forget about the primative bound
up. Imagine instead the shape of a
ladle and holding it upside down to
drink the last DROP (of water).
68
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bull's eye, mark, target, object,

adjective ending
days : ladle; one tenth of a go;
dip
8
bull's eye
I managed to hit the bulls eye by
throwing my white ladle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A white, bound up, drop in the

center is the bulls eye. (why Heisig
had to use "ladle" instead of the
original two primitives that make up
"ladle" Ill never understand!).
69
neck
: oneself
9
neck
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The V shape is your neck on top of

your collar bone, or the straight line.
Yourself, or the rest of your body is
below that!
The mooses neck supports its big
horns and long nose.
70
the latter, duplicate, strange, witty

: second, latter, second radical
(no. 5)
1
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
fish guts
This is a fish hook, that pulls out the
fishguts.
You cut a fish in a z shape on the
belly to make it easier to open the
fish and rip out its fish guts silly!
71
riot, war, disorder, disturb

: tongue; reed; clapper : the
latter; duplicate; strange; witty;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
7
riot
The riot police broke up the riot by
dragging the rioters away by their
tongues with fishooks.
A tongue with a hook can cause a
riot.
72
straightaway, honesty, frankness,

fix, repair
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: ten : eye; class; look;

8
straightaway
If you get a needle in your eye that is
hooked in there, get to a hospital
straightaway.
I caught a freaky creature with ten
eyes on my fish hook, so I threw it
back straightaway.
73
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tool, utensil, means, possess,

ingredients, counter for armor, suits,
sets of furniture
experience; care; favor :
8
tool
Keep an eye on your tools while you
work at the table.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
One tool nobody should be without a Mordor-type eye that floats over
the workbench. It jerks around,
monitoring all who come near, and if
anyone so much as removes a stapler
from the bench - ZAP.
74
true, reality, Buddhist sect

: ten : tool; utensil; means;
possess; ingredients; counter for
armor, suits, sets of furniture
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
10
TRUE
A compass is a tool with a needle on
top that points to true north.
Ten tools are all a true craftsman
needs.
75
craft, construction
: work (radical no. 48)
3
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
craft
I consider craft to be one of the
harder primitives to use in stories so
Ive personified it as Bender the
crafty robot from Futurama who was
designed to bend I-beams.
I crafty.
76
left
: craft; construction; katakana e
radical (no. 48)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
5
left
The LEFT side of my brain posesses
the faculties needed for logical
crafts, like engineering.
The left side of my brain, is for
crafts.
77
right
: mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
5
right
The right hand is for putting food in
your mouth. (The other hand is for
ass-wiping!).
Always keep your right to free
speech (mouth) by your side!
78
possess, have, exist, happen, occur,

approx
: meat
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
6
possess
Possessed by the Earths gravity, the
moon stays by its side.
By my side I POSSESS a moon of
flesh, better known as your big ass!
79
bribe, board, supply, finance

: shellfish : possess; have;
exist; happen; occur; approx
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
13
bribe
To bribe someone, money is a
necessary possession.
If you possess enough shellfish, you
can bribe anyone.
80
tribute, support, finance

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
10
tribute
This next song is a TRIBUTE to a
little SHELLFISH friend of mine
who was tragically crushed by an Ishaped table..
Tribute is the craft of raising money.
81
paragraph, nape of neck, clause,

item, term (expression)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

radical (no. 48) : page; leaf
12
paragraph
To write a paragraph is the craft of
grouping sentences on a page.
To craft a page well, we need
paragraphs.
82
sword, saber, knife
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: knife, sword, knife radical (no.

18)
2
sword
This SWORD is so sharp, it can cut
the top part of off in .
If you look really close this kanji
looks like a person bending over
touching the ground Waiting for
someone to put there sword in his
ass!
83
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
blade, sword, edge

: sword; saber; knife : dot;
tick or dot radical (no. 3)
3
blade
The part of a sword where a drop of
blood can usually be found is the
blade.
A drop of blood on the blade of my
sword.
84
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: seven : sword; saber; knife
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
cut, cutoff, be sharp
4
cut
The seven samurai used their swords
to cut their opponents.
Seven swords cut better than one.
85
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
seduce, call, send for, wear, put on,

ride in, buy, eat, drink, catch (cold)
: sword; saber; knife :
mouth
5
seduce
A man is easily seduced by a mouth
to his "sword.".
To seduce is to make a sword of
ones mouth.
86
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
shining, bright
days : seduce; call; send for;
wear; put on; ride in; buy; eat; drink;
catch (cold)
9
shining
Shining is the suns seduction.
The sun was shining so bright that it
seduced Icarus and he flew too close.
87
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
rule, follow, based on, model after

: shellfish : sword; saber;
knife
9
rule
When you have both money and the
power of the sword, you can make
the rules.
If youve got CRABs on your
SABER, then you didnt follow the
rules of safe sex!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
88
vice-, duplicate, copy

: to fill; roll of cloth :
sword; saber; knife
11
viceThe wealthy guy with the sword
standing next to the king, thats the
vice-roy who does all the dirty work.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Vice-president Cheney: a wealthy

saber rattler.
89
separate, branch off, diverge, fork,

another, extra, specially
: mouth : wrapping
enclosure; wrapping radical (no.
20) : sword; saber; knife
7
separate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
I dont know about you but to me

this seems like someones head is
about to be separated from his body.
You can see hes kneeling and his
mouth is wide open gasping for the
last breath he will ever take.
A wise old samurai keeps his
hostages (with their mouths bound
up to keep them quiet) in a separate
room from his sabers. Putting them
together would be a silly mistake.
90
onyomi:
english:
street, ward, town, counter for guns,

tools, leaves or cakes of something,
even number, 4th calendar sign
feathered stick; barb radical (no. 6)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2
street
Today, the program "Sesame Street"
is brought to you by the letter "T".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Two streets make a T-intersection.

91
village, town, block, street

street; ward; town; counter for guns,
tools, leaves or cakes of something;
even number; 4th calendar sign
7
village
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Actually this means town, like one

that has lots of streets and is
surrounded by all the rice fields.
Getting this one confused with Town
is easy, so remember it with this
rhyme. "Pillage the village, for the
rice and and the tea." the street
primitive on the right looks like a t.
92
can, passable, mustn't, should not, do

not
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: street; ward; town; counter for

guns, tools, leaves or cakes of
something; even number; 4th
calendar sign : mouth
5
can
A mouth on the street asking for
things: "Can I get some help?! Can I
get directions, Can I have some
money? Can you please speak
English?!".
I can eat nails.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
93
place on the head, receive, top of

head, top, summit, peak
: street; ward; town; counter for
guns, tools, leaves or cakes of
something; even number; 4th
calendar sign : page; leaf
11
place on the head
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If I put a street sign on my head what

do I get ? A place on the head !
NAILS - place directly on the
forehead, NAILS - place directly on
the forehead, NAILS - place directly
on the forehead, The HEAD
ON commercial nails it into your
head......
94
child
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: child, seed, child radical (no. 39)

3
child
A child who is ten will still ask for
his ma (top looks a bit like katakana
ma).
A pictograph of a child, with arms
outstretched for mother (or perhaps
because she is chasing a rat?). Note
that this kanji occupies the first
space on the Zodiac circle, and is the
sign for the rat (such as 2008!).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
95
cavity, hole, slit, very, great,

exceedingly
: child; sign of the rat; 11PM1AM; first sign of Chinese
zodiac : the latter; duplicate;
5)
4
cavity
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The childs arms flailed around at

the sight of the hooked tool the
dentist was going to use to fill his
cavity.
I warned him about cavities, but the
child is still hooked on sweets.
96
complete, finish
: feathered stick; barb radical (no.
6)
2
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
complete
The experiment was a complete
failure! The child was made without
any arms!
A child with the arms inside the
blanket will be completely wrapped
up.
97
woman, female
: woman, female, female radical
(no. 38)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
3
woman
To remember the order of strokes,
remember a female ninja is called a
"kunoichi". That is, (hiragana)
(katakana) (kanji, ichi=one).
My mother taught me that a woman
should always sit with her legs
crossed (but the arms can be
stretched out).
98
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
fond, pleasing, like something

: woman; female : child;
sign of the rat; 11PM-1AM; first
sign of Chinese zodiac
6
fond
A woman is fond of her child.
Jane Fonda carrying a Vietnamese
child. Pro-war protesters hold signs,
"Im not fonda Jane!"...
99
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
likeness, like, such as, as if, better,

best, equal
: woman; female : mouth
6
likeness
Women share a common likeness.
Their mouths are always open,
whining about this and that.
From a womans other comes a
baby with a perfect likeness.
100
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
mama, mother
: do not; must not; be not; mother
radical (no. 80)
5
mama
The two breasts of a momma who
breastfeeds.
This mama had twins, one mouth for
each nipple.
101
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
pierce, 8 1/3lbs, penetrate, brace

: mother : shellfish
11
pierce
Ariel the Little Mermaids clamshell
bra was held to her breasts by
piercings.
The sad fate of Mama shellfish was
to be captured and pierced to make
an earring.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
102
elder brother, big brother

radical (no. 12)
5
elder brother
My elder brother was basically a
mouth on legs when he was a
teenager.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Mother, why is elder brothers

mouth between the neighbor girls
legs?
103
overcome, kindly, skillfully

: old : elder brother; big
brother
7
overcome
Ten elder brothers can overcome
anything.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A teenager addicted to heroine must

overcome the needle.
104
little, small
: small, insignificant, small radical
(no. 42)
3
little
A little penguin with its wings at its
side.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A depressed child, head low and

arms hung low, because hes too
little to ride the roller coaster.
105
few, little
: little; small : katakana no
radical (no. 4)
4
few
Only a few people can make an ugly
face like that.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Few usually refers to three. To

emphasize three, we underline the
three drops in little.
106
large, big
: big, big radical (no. 37)
3
large
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A person stretching their arms and

legs to look large and scare a bear
away.
Think of a large St. Bernard dog
with his paws all stretched out.
107
many, frequent, much

: evening : evening
6
many
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Two evenings too many!

This reminds me of a childish
pseudo-confucion rhyme: "He who
eats many prunes sits on toilet many
moons".
108
evening
: evening, katakana ta radical (no.
36)
3
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
evening
The evening is young, the moon is
not full.
In the evening, I try my best to
remember the katakana symbol for
"TA" (ie. "ta ta!").
109
eventide, tide, salt water, opportunity

: water : evening
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
eventide
Eventide is just another word for
evening, and it has the word tide in it
which we associate with water.
Drops of water shower the beach as
the evening tide approaches:
eventide.
110
outside
: evening : divination
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
5
outside
A young magician likes to practice
outside in the evening with his
magic wand (as opposed to the old
magician who wakes early to
practice with his wand in eminent
(#51)).
Outside in the dark of evening, only
a magic wand can help you.
111
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
name, noted, distinguished,

reputation
: evening : mouth
6
name
In the evening, when it becomes
dark, open your mouth to say your
name so that people can recognise
you.
In the evening, her sweet mouth
whispered my name.
112
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stone
: mouth
5
stone
Indiana Jones jumps up and grabs
the lip of cliff just in time to evade
the huge STONE rolling out of the
mouth of the cave!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Theres a VERY simple way to

remember this, in case the cliff thing
isnt working for you... Just see it as
a stone [] being hammered by a
miner searching for jewel stones
[] ;).
113
resemblance
: little; small : month; moon
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
resemblance
Using DNA matching, a very little
bit of flesh can be used to show the
resemblence between family
members.
Hey baby, it might be a little bit of
flesh now, but in a moment itll bear
a strong resemblance to a
candlestick.(nudge nudge, wink
wink).
114
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
nitrate, saltpeter
: stone : resemblance
12
nitrate
That stone has sparks coming out of
it! Someone must have poured
nitrate acid on it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Salpetre is the common name for

Nitrate coming from Latin "sal
petrae" or stone salt. It is also a
component of gun powder so
including a candle in this kanji can
be quite explosive!
115
english:
smash, break, crush, familiar, popular
component:
: stone : soldier; private; die
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
9
smash
To SMASH a STONE you need to
hit it NINE or TEN times.
The Stones (the Rolling Stones) are
90 aged but theyve done a new
SMASH hit!
116
sand
: stone : few; little
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
sand
Heres how I remember that stone is
on the left. This is because sand
starts as stones, and only later they
become few.
In good SAND, stones are few, if
any.
117
plane, sharpen, whittle, pare
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: resemblance : sword;
saber; knife
9
plane
Sparks will fly if you attempt to
PLANE your sabre.
With todays strict air regulations,
carrying a sabre onto a plane could
spark quite a commotion.
118
ray, light
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: little; small : high & level;

lofty; bald; dangerous
6
ray
A ray of light is not a wave but made
of little photons with human legs.
The ray from Honey I Shrunk the
Kids made people little - ha! look at
them run around on their tiny legs!
119
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
plump, fat, thick, big around

: large; big : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
4
plump
A large person with a big drop of
sweat dripping off of him because he
is so plump.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Fat("plump") men always have small

penises.....the kanji is a combination
of "large" with a drop(representing
the small penis between his legs).
120
utensil, vessel, receptacle,

implement, instrument, ability,
container, tool, set
: mouth : mouth :
large; big : mouth :
mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
15
utensil
Imagine four hungry mouths all
sitting around the table. They are all
banging their utensils on the table
waiting for a big meal to be placed
in the centre.
Note: by itself means
container/caliber/vessel. And
means eating utensils ("food
container", hehe).
121
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious

looking, odor, savor, fragrance, be
fragrant, stink, glow, be bright
: oneself : large; big
9
stinking
The ST. BERNARD DOG lifted his
large NOSE high in the air to find
out where the stinking smell comes
from.
When I is big, Ego stinking.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
122
exquisite, strange, queer, mystery,

miracle, excellent, delicate, charming
: woman; female : few; little
7
exquisite
Exquisite women are few and far
between.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A geisha is an exquisite and delicate

(another meaning of this kanji)
women, however, even in the past
there was only few of them.
123
focus, government ministry, conserve

: few; little : eye; class;
look; insight; experience; care; favor
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
focus
You focus by concentrating your eye
on fewer objects.
Success (or survival?) method for
accelerated juggling course: focus
on a few nitroglycerine filled
juggling balls flying OVER your
eyes ---(I have trouble with this few
primitive that can be anywhere in a
kanji. To build in its location in the
story is important somehow).
124
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
thick, heavy, rich, kind, cordial,

brazen, shameless
: wild goose; trailing cliff radical
counter for days : child; sign
of the rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of
Chinese zodiac
9
thick
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In Sparta we throw our Children

over a Cliff. Under the Sun, they
fight other Children. In the end, if
they survive, they sure have thick
skin.
The thick cliff walls protected the
children from the sun.
125
strange, strangeness, curiousity

: large; big : can; passable;
mustn't; should not; do not
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
8
strange
I find it strange that so many people
commit suicide in Tokyo by
throwing themselves in front of the
train. To me when I look at this
kanji, I see a train just about to come
out of a tunnel, and above the man
waiting for his oppourtunity where
he can end it all.
Imagine a ST. BERNARD DOG
carrying a CAN instead of a barrel in
rescue missions. How strange!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
126
stream, river
: river, river radical (no. 47)
3
stream
So as not to confuse this with river
(#146) think of streamers falling
down.
There are three default I/O Streams
in UNIX, stdin, stdout, and stderr.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
127
state, province
: dot; tick or dot radical (no.
3) : curving river radical
(no.47) : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3) : dot; tick or
dot radical (no. 3)
6
state
Story1:
There were 3 little islands in the

stream who all decided to set
themselves up as independent states.
Story2:
heisig:
The original meaning of

this character was "sandbar", and for
me this conjures up images of the
Mississippi River, which is very
wide with many sandbars and which
was used to define the borders in ten
American states. Picture Huck Finn
and Tom Sawyer floating by state
after state as they adventure down
the mighty Mississippi, occasionally
beaching their raft on sandbars.
128
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
obey, order, turn, right, docility,

occasion
: curving river radical
(no.47) : page; leaf
12
obey
Obey, Obey! says the brain-washing
scientist as he sends a stream of
orders to fill your head.
Obey the orders streaming down
from head office.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
129
water
: water, water radical (no. 85)
4
water
Story1:
Story2:
The kanji for water is an abstract

primitive itself, so unless one is
willing to break down its
etymological development, it should
just simply be memorized by
strokes; constructing a story is not
necessarily useful unless it strongly
denotes its shape (I find that
Heisigs story doesnt do this).
For those having issues with this*
"A 7K foot pool of water" Notice it
looks like a 7, and a K. Might have
to practice writing it a few times.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
130
icicle, ice, hail, freeze, congeal

: water : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
5
icicle
Icicles start with 1 frozen drop of
water.
A drop in temperature turns water
into an icicle.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
131
eternity, long, lengthy

3) : water
5
eternity
It would take an eternity to count all
the drops of water.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
It takes but one drop from the most

special water: the fountain of youth
(and it is written in a special way to
with an extra horizontal line on the
top) to live for an eternity. (In order
to remember that the drop is at the
top, think that the drop must come
from the topmost water in order for
its effects to be true).
132
spring, fountain
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: white : water
9
spring
White is a symbol of purety, so
white water is pure water, the
precise definition of spring water.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Perhaps the most common

appearance of this kanji is in the
word (, onsen), a
Japanese hot spring. The kanji is an
excellent image of someone
enjoying a Japanese hot spring: a
little white towel on top, water
below. (This helps keep all
associations: spring, little and onsen).
133
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
meadow, original, primitive, field,

plain, prairie, tundra, wilderness
(no. 27) : white : little;
small
10
meadow
Follow the springs down the cliff
and you will find a nice meadow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Sorry about this, but Heisig was

stupid calling this kanji meadow,
used in composite words the most
common meaning is ORIGIN... To
remember just think that life may
have begun in pounds or springs in a
land with many cliffs ... Just to
answer correctly the review lessons
think of meadow as the origin of a
huge forest.
134
petition, request, vow, wish, hope
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: meadow; original; primitive;

field; plain; prairie; tundra;
wilderness : page; leaf
19
petition
Lets petition to save that beautiful
MEADOW from overdevelopment
by signing on this PAGE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Japanese hippies PETITION to save

a meadow by getting people on the
street to sign their page - as you pass
by they call out:
"
.
135
swim
: water : eternity; long;
lengthy
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
swim
With that much WATER (2 actually)
you would need to swim for an
ETERNITY.
If you dont know how to swim,
youll be in that water for eternity.
136
marsh, lake, bog, swamp, pond

: water : seduce; call; send
for; wear; put on; ride in; buy; eat;
drink; catch (cold)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
8
marsh
The marshlands near Mordor seduce
Frodo into gazing upon them, and he
falls into the water--splash!
A marsh is where water is seduced
into the ground.
137
open sea, offing, rise high into sky
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: water : in; inside; middle;

mean; center
7
open sea
Open sea is a lot of water in the
middle of nowhere.
Water in the middle of the ocean is
referred to as open sea.
138
creek, inlet, bay
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: water : craft; construction;

katakana e radical (no. 48)
6
creek
A CREEK is a small trail of water
easily crafted with a stick.
Creeks are small water, easily
crossed with a simple i-beam.
139
soup, juice, broth, sap, gravy, pus
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: water : ten
5
soup
To make soup you just take water
and add (+) the rest of your
ingredients.
To make soup you just take water
and add ten tasty ingredients.
140
tide, salt water, opportunity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: water : morning; dynasty;

regime; epoch; period; (North) Korea
15
tide
The morning tide is basically, well,
WATER in the MORNING.
This is not the eventide, but the
water of the morning tide.
141
source, origin
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : meadow; original;

primitive; field; plain; prairie;
tundra; wilderness
13
source
The water that flows from the
meadow is the source of life for the
wild antelope.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The source of clean water is from the

meadow (#134): it comes from that
spring at the bottom of the cliff. Pay
no attention to Julie Andrews lying
face down in spring. The waters
clean. Trust me.
142
lively, resuscitation, being helped,

living
: water : tongue; reed;
clapper
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
lively
Conversations can become more
lively after everyone has had a few
drinks. Its because "watery tongues"
loosen lips!
Im sure I can get her pretty lively
and wet using my tongue.
143
extinguish, blow out, turn off,

neutralize, cancel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: water : resemblance
10
extinguish
To extinguish a SPARK, you need
WATER.
You need a few drops of water to
extinguish the candle.
144
condition, situation
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : elder brother; big

brother
8
but of course
If you ask your teenager if what hes
drinking is water (and not Vodka),
he will answer "but of course".
Story2:
heisig:
But of course, this character

really means "situation/condition".
"Elder brother gulped some water
and said, What the hell was Heisigs
mental CONDITION when he came
up with this definition? Heisig must
have a drinking CONDITION. But
of course, if Heisig sticks to water,
rather than sake (like me, water
quaffing, situation assessing, sober
elder brother), his SITUATION may
improve."[MODEL
145
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
river
: water : can; passable;
8
river
A river CAN exist only if there is
WATER.
Story2:
heisig:
I kept confusing this with stream.

My Japanese friend said that to him
this is for an artificial river. Looking
at kanji compounds with this there
are two that struck me: One is the
Yellow River in China (), and
the other is the Milky Way ().
Now I either think of the Little
Engine that could dragging a bunch
of stuff down a river in China and
polluting it (so it turned yellow) or I
see the Little Engine that Could
146
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
overnight, put up at, ride at anchor,

3-day stay
: water : white
8
overnight
Please supply a guest who stays
overnight with WATER and WHITE
sheets.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When I go to an OVERNIGHT
party, all I need is a bit of water and
some of that hard white. (crack). (not
really, but come on. much easier to
recall than white sheets).
147
lake
: water : barbarian; foreign
12
lake
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This is my favorite story. Simply

associate the sad moment of an OLD
person, standing near the WATER of
the lake and looking at the MOON
reflected in the lake. The created
primitives themselves are put so
beautifully, that you will not forget
this kanji.
Water reflects the old moon in the
lake.
148
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
fathom, plan, scheme, measure

: water : rule; follow; based
on; model after
12
fathom
A fathom is the unit you use when
making rules about waters depth.
You cant fathom how deep this
water is. Perhaps you should use a
ruler to measure it?
149
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
soil, earth, ground, Turkey

: earth, earth radical (no. 32)
3
Story1:
soil
Remembering soil is easy. If soil is
soft, you can take a walking stick
and plunge it two* feet into the
ground.
Story2:
King Arthur pulled the magical

sword Excalibur out of the hardened
soil to claim his place as king.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
150
spit, vomit, belch, confess, tell (lies)

: mouth : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
6
spit
The only things that come out of my
MOUTH and onto the GROUND are
spit and vomit. Everything else
(words, song) floats on the air.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
SPIT goes from my MOUTH to the

GROUND.
151
pressure, push, overwhelm, oppress,

dominate
(no. 27) : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
5
pressure
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The GROUND at the base of a

CLIFF must suffer from enormous
pressure.
For physics people: p = F/A
(p:pressure, F:Force, A:Area).
Where the force is from the
immensity of the cliff. The area on
the cliff is covered by soil. So the
equation becomes p = F/A =
cliff/soil which preserves the
position of the primitives.
152
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
cape, spit, promontory

: soil; earth; ground;
Turkey : strange; strangeness;
curiosity
11
cape
This refers to LAND, not the
STRANGE gear superheroes wear.
Cape Cod "odd" is a land where
odd=strange things happen.
153
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
hedge, fence, wall

Turkey : span; request
9
hedge
Before the Great Wall of China,
there was a dirt hedge that spanned
across.
The HEDGE of roses growing from
the castle grounds fully spanned the
castle walls.
154
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
square jewel, corner, angle, edge

Turkey : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
squared jewel
Piling SOIL upon SOIL for aeons is
how SQUARE JEWELS are formed
deep in the earth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
How would you stop someone

stealing your biggest square jewel?
Bury it deep in the soil under
ground. Then plant ivy to mark the
spot.
155
seal, closing
: square jewel; corner; angle;
edge : measurement; foot/10
9
seal
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The king used a special seal of ivy

leaves glued onto his document.
A bit of ivy glued to a letter can
make a lovely SEAL when in a
pinch, says Martha Stewart.
156
horizon, shore
: water : precipice; shore;
bank; surname; cliff
11
horizon
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Try to reverse Heisigs story in this

Kanji: imagine being trapped in one
of those prison towers on an ivy
cladcliff like in the movies. From
your prison ontop the ivy clad cliff
all you can see in the distant horizon
is nothing but water.
From the water, I can see the ivyclad-cliffs on the horizon.
157
Buddhist temple
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

Turkey : measurement; foot/10
6
Buddhist temple
At the Buddhist temple the monks
are seated on the ground, glued there
in meditation.
To be allowed to join the Buddhist
temple, imagine an aspiring monk
being asked to stand still in the soil
for a long time in a measurement of
his resolve.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
158
time, hour
days : Buddhist temple
10
time
When the SUN starts to shine on the
TEMPLE, its time to get up.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
In ancient Japan, TIME of day

was announced at the buddhist
temples. They did this by ringing
large iron bells. This is similar to
churches who ring their bells to
announce the time of day.
159
level, average
Turkey : equal
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
level
Soil is scooped up into a ladel. The
extra drop is brushed off to make it
level.
To remember the extra stroke in the
ladle, make a vivid image of a big
drop of excess soil fr0m the ladle
falling out onto the ground when
you level it.
160
fire
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: fire, fire radical (no. 86)

4
fire
For some reason, this kanji reminds
me of a person running, her arms
(the two drops) raised up, because
she caught on fire!
A tepee getting shot at by fire arrows.
161
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
inflammation, flame, blaze

: fire : fire
8
inflammation
To fight fire with fire would just
inflame a situation.
An inflammation can often feel like
FIRE upon FIRE burning.
162
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
anxiety, trouble, worry, pain, ill,

annoy, nuisance, irksome
: fire : page; leaf
13
anxiety
An anxiety feels like FIRE in the
HEAD.
Many performers get "Michael
Jackson anxiety" wherein they fear
their head will catch on fire.
163
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
thin, faint, pale, fleeting

: water : inflammation;
flame; blaze
11
thin
Drink water and burn twice as many
calories as you eat... youll definitely
get thin. Imagine inside your body,
all those calories literally being
burned from above and below...
THATs what it takes to become thin.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Thin girls are twice as hot when

theyre wet.
164
lamp, a light, light, no. of lights

: fire : street; ward; town;
counter for guns, tools, leaves or
cakes of something; even number;
4th calendar sign
6
lamp
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Imagine old gas lamps which had a

flame to light up the street signs.
A lamp is fire you can hang from a
nail.
165
farm, field, garden, one's specialty,
(kokuji)
: fire : rice field; rice paddy
9
farm
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Many farms are created by first

setting FIRE over the land to clear
the land for the FIELDS.
When creating a farm, the
prospective farmer must first set fire
to the forest to clear the ground.
Only then can he plow the fields.
Fire before fields to make a farm.
166
disaster, calamity, woe, curse, evil
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

(no.47) : fire
7
disaster
What a disaster! First a FIRE, then
on top of it came FLOODs.
Dont know about Japan, but here in
Australia, flooding rivers and
bushfires are the most common
natural disasters.
167
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ashes, puckery juice, cremate

(no. 27) : fire
6
ashes
The fire underneath the cliff will
eventually turn everything above to
ashes.
Story2:
heisig:
Scene from "The Big Lebowski" :

Walter scatters Donnys ashes, but a
wind blows much of the ashes into
"The Dude" Lebowskis face. Upset,
The Dude lashes out at Walter.
Walter apologizes and hugs The
Dude, before suggesting "Fuck it,
man. Lets go bowling." I bet you
that The Dude wanted to cremate
(fire) Walter right there and then, at
the top of the cliff! (thanks
Elktapestry).
168
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
spot, point, mark, speck, decimal

point
: fortune-telling; divining;
forecasting; occupy; hold; have; get;
take : fire
9
spot
The FORTUNE TELLER was
burned by FLAMES on the spot
because she was accused of being a
witch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
You have to stimulate the G-spot

with your magic wand in order to get
her on fire. Or you can juste use your
mouth...
169
illuminate, shine, compare, bashful

: shining; bright : fire
13
illuminate
SHINING FLAMES illuminate!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The sun was seduced to give us fire,

by which we illuminate the night.
170
fish
radical (no. 20) : rice field;
rice paddy : fire
11
fish
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The elements of this kanji are bound

up, rice field and cooking fire. When
I think of bound up cooked rice, it
makes me think of sushi, which in
turn brings to mind fish.
Bind that FISH and cook his brains!
Yarhh!
171
fishing, fishery
: water : fish
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
14
fishing
You need WATER and FISH for
fishing.
If you are confusing this with
angling like me, take fishing to mean
not the act of catching a fish but the
act of being a fish not living but
fishing (i.e. in the water).
172
ri, village, parent's home, league
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: village, mile, village radical (no.

166)
7
ri
The ri is a Japanese way of
measuring the area of the GROUND
underneath a RICE FIELD.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Hint: Heisig makes here a severe

disservice to everyone by using a
weird keyword for this character.
Youll save a lot (and I mean, a
whole lot) of trouble later by giving
it instead its intended meaning:
House of the Parents.
173
black
: ri; village; parent's home;
league : fire
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
black
If you burn the GROUND of a RICE
FIELD with FIRE, eventually it will
turn black.
If your parents home catches on
fire, it will turn black.
174
black ink, India ink, ink stick,

Mexico
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: black; dark; evil; sinister :

soil; earth; ground; Turkey
14
black ink
Theres BLACK on the
GROUND...most likely someone
spilt some black ink.
Anyone who has worked with
laserjet ink cartridges will know the
black ink looks like powdered dirt.
175
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
carp
: fish : ri; village; parent's
home; league
carp
Japanese carp are massive fish - they
are measured in ri!
The fish got carpal tunnel syndrome
from the computer(I know its lame
but its hard to find a good story for
this).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
176
quantity, measure, weight, amount

: daybreak; dawn;
morning : ri; village; parent's
home; league
12
quantity
I did such a quantity of work that
when NIGHT BREAK came, I was
asleep on the COMPUTER.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
If you find that by nightbreak, youre

still playing at your computer,
chances are your World of Warcraft
character has a high quantity of
levels. [thanks to ssmoler] ..... To
remember that nightbreak appears
ABOVE computer, think of looking
UP from your computer at the
window to realize youve been
playing until nightbreak.
177
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
rin, 1/10sen, 1/10bu

(no. 27) : ri; village; parent's
home; league
9
rin
I threw my Rindows computer off a
cliff because it kept crashing. Now,
after its last crash, its worth less
than a rin.
A computer dropped off of a cliff
would be worth about 1 RIN.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
178
bury, be filled up, embedded

Turkey : ri; village; parent's
home; league
10
bury
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You cant bury computers

underground, because of the
dangerous heavy metals, so you hide
them behind an equally large mound
of soil and hope no-one notices.
I used SOIL to BURY my
COMPUTER.
179
same, agree, equal
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: upside-down box radical (no.

13) : one; one radical
(no.1) : mouth
6
same
Muslim women wearing veils
(HOOD) all look the same, you can
just see ONE MOUTH and very
little else.
Imagine monks wandering around
the monastery. Covered in their
hoods and chanting as if with one
mouth they all look the same !
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
180
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: water : same; agree; equal
Story1:
den, cave, excavation
9
den
All the animals in the den share the
same water.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Den and "cave" also make me think

of a monks cell. Monks take vows
of silence and fast. So a den is where
youd find nothing but water (to
drink) and a monk.
181
english:
trunk, torso, hull (ship), hub of wheel
component:
strokes:
: meat : same; agree; equal

10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
trunk
A trunk, a trunk // The body of a
monk // The body of a monk in a
trunk, a trunk.
Dead flesh all looks the same when
you chop off everything but the
trunk. Yes, Im appalled at how
gruesome this story is too.
182
yonder, facing, beyond, confront,

defy, tend toward, approach
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

4) : upside-down box radical
(no. 13) : mouth
6
yonder
Look over yonder ! That tiny dot is
robin hood at the mouth of his secret
cave !
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
There was an old woman named

Wanda,// Who wanted to make
herself blonder.// She covered her
// With a glass hood from
Gucci// And dropped some hair dye
on from yonder.
183
esteem, furthermore, still, yet

: little; small : upside-down
box radical (no. 13) : mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
8
esteem
An especially esteemed alien has
three antennae on his helmet.
Remember that scene from Star
Wars, where Luke is wearing that
helmet that only his mouth could
see, and was swinging at that little
thing buzzing around the room? That
was Obi-Wans trick to get Luke to
build his self-esteem, or his
confidence in the Force.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
184
character, letter, word, section of

village
: shaped crown; katakana u radical
(no. 40) : child; sign of the
rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of
Chinese zodiac
6
character
CHILDren learn Kanji characters
underneath a HOUSE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Why do I have to wear this roof on

my head all the time father? "Shut
up! It builds character!".
185
guard, protect, defend, obey

(no. 40) : measurement;
foot/10
6
guard
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A GUARD is usually "glued" to the

house he watches.
A guard provides a measure of
security to those under a roof.
186
perfect, completion, end

(no. 40) : beginning; former
time; origin
7
perfect
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Make the perfect impression in the

beginning by removing your shoes
upon entering a Japanese home.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had
a home in Eden. It was perfect.
187
proclaim, say, announce

(no. 40) : span; request
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
proclaim
You can proclaim your opinions
from the comfort of your HOUSE
and have it SPAN the entire globe
these days via The Internet.
I heard young Muslims have to
memorise the Koran and proclaim it
aloud as a kind of rite of passage.
Imagine the SPAN of hours spent
under a ROOF practising that! It
must surely be worse than trying to
get through Heisigs RTK - count
yourself lucky.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
188
wee hours, evening, early night

(no. 40) : resemblance
10
wee hours
I burn the CANDLE in my HOUSE
until the WEE HOURS reviewing
the kanji!!!
Story2:
heisig:
I agree with elktapestry. This kanji

really means "early evening", not
"wee hours" [Heisig really should
have done his homework on this and
several other characters (e.g., #145
"but of course" -- what the hell???).
Oh well.] "Every house lights
candles in the EARLY EVENING
which stay lit until the wee hours".
E.G. early
evening; this
evening; tonight.
189
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
relax, cheap, low, quiet, rested,

contented, peaceful
(no. 40) : woman; female
6
relax
Story1:
Story2:
Its funny, Hesig gives no Kanji in

his book that means
cheap/inexpensive... well... if you
were wondering what Kanji would
carry that meaning, look no further.
Sometimes I wonder if Hesig just
thinks our little brains would be too
easily confused by multiple
meanings. Regardless, think of that
woman relaxing. Cheapest place to
do that is in ones own home rather
than at some fancy resort, eh?
You can only relax, when you have
woman under roof to do all chores.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
190
banquet, feast, party

counter for days : woman;
female
10
banquet
The WOMAN spent all DAY
preparing a banquet in the HOUSE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Under the roof, all day long, the

woman prepared for the banquet
(this wording helps me remember
the order of this kanjis elements).
191
draw near, stop in, bring near,

gather, collect, send, forward
(no. 40) : strange;
strangeness; curiosity
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
draw near
The strange house has a sign saying
"DRAW NEAR" in its window,
instead of a Beware sign. It must
be a trick!
Imagine a horror movie set in a
haunted mansion. The house is very
strange. The characters draw near to
one another for protection against
the unknown.
192
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wealth, enrich, abundant

(no. 40) : to fill; roll of cloth
12
wealth
Remember Ducktales? That rich
duck had that room in his house
where he kept all the wealth! He had
so much in that house you could
even swim in it!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In ancient Japan, a RICE FIELD is a

unit of wealth as it can produce
enough to feed all the MOUTHs in
ONE HOUSE.
193
savings, store, lay in, keep, wear

mustache
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shellfish : shaped crown;

katakana u radical (no. 40) :
street; ward; town; counter for guns,
tools, leaves or cakes of something;
even number; 4th calendar sign
12
savings
It takes a lot more than one clam of
savings to buy a house on a street.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
My SAVINGS plan - I nail my

moneybags up in the rafters below
my roof. Im very secretive about it,
and I wear a disguise with a big
mustache (another meaning of this
kanji) while I stash my loot.
194
tree, wood
: tree, tree radical (no. 75)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
tree
If you need a story for a tree, then
you need to be hit by one.
Pictograph of a tree.
195
grove, forest
: tree; wood : tree; wood
8
grove
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A grove has at least two TREEs.

Two tree huggers saying that
protecting the environment is grovey
man...
196
forest, woods
: tree; wood : grove; forest
12
forest
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The higher you go up a mountain the

less trees there are, thats so u dont
mess up with their possition like i do.
Another tree planted within a grove
turns it into a FOREST.
197
Japanese Judas-tree, cinnamon tree

: tree; wood : square jewel;
corner; angle; edge
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Japanese Judas-tree
Simple mnemonic : "The Japanese
Judas-tree is the tree on which Judas
hang himself to the ivy" (Judas the
traitor of the Christian bible). Just
picture Judas hanging himself, using
ivy as a if it was a rope.
A tree covered in poison ivy will
quickly betray you, thus the name
JAPANESE JUDAS-TREE.
198
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
oak
: tree; wood : day; sun;
oak
The wood from oak trees can be
used to make barrels in which white
wine is aged. Whats more, I love
white wine with an oaky flavour...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
An oak tree is white, from left to

right!
199
frame, framework, spindle, spool,
bounding-box, (kokuji)
: tree; wood : soldier;
private; die
8
frame
wood at 90 (9 * 10) degrees.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Nine out of ten picture frames are

made out of wood. The rest are made
of metal or plastic.
200
treetops, twig
: tree; wood : resemblance
treetops
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
At Christmas time, on the treetops,

people used to place great big
candles (Now we usually place a star
instead).
If you cut off the treetops, they still
resemble the trees they used to be
part of. Treetops=tree resemblance.
201
shelf, ledge, rack, mount, mantle,

trellis
: tree; wood : companion;
friend
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
12
shelf
A shelf is a wooden companion to
books.
I think of an Otaku, with a wooden
shelf full of anime action figure
statures, who are sadly his only
companions.
202
apricot
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tree; wood : mouth

apricot
From the tree straight into the mouth
is the best way to eat an APRICOT!
Imagine Totoro sleeping under his
tree. As he snores a giant apricot
falls nicely into his open mouth and
he emits a giant burp of satisfaction.
I can hear that music alreay....to - to
to - to - ro...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
203
paulownia
: tree; wood : same; agree;
equal
paulownia
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In Japan, a paulownia (is

known as the "princess tree". It was
once a traditional TREE planted at
the SAME time as the birth of a
daughter. It would grow fast enough
that, at the time of her wedding, it
could be used to make a dresser as a
wedding present for her.
Paulownia is a Japanese tree which
looks same as any other tree.
204
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
plant
: tree; wood : straightaway;
honesty; frankness; fix; repair
12
plant
Plants dont become trees
straightaway.
When you plant plants, you use a
piece of WOOD to make the plant
grow STRAIGHT.
205
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
wither, die, dry up, be seasoned

: tree; wood : old
9
wither
A tree withers away as it gets old.
When flowers get old they suffer
(frame 225), but old trees just
WITHER away painlessly. (Picture
flowers crying in pain, but a dried up
tree silent and sad).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
206
crude, simple, plain, docile

: tree; wood : divination
6
crude
Wooden wands are the crudest. They
are nothng compared to their carbon
fibre equivilents.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A beginner magician starts with a

crude wooden magic wand. Later
hell upgrade to magicite, of course.
207
town, village
: tree; wood : measurement;
foot/10
7
town
Story1:
If youve ever played an old 8 bit or

16 bit RPG, like Dragon Warrior or
Final Fantasy or Inindou, youll
remember that every town was all
bordered off by a line of trees with
no space in between to get out
through. Imagine that the trees were
glued together so you could only
exit town through the main or side
gates, (so you couldnt escape the
important scripted scenes.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Pfft. At its core, a town is just a

bunch of wood glued together. Edit Stop starring this piece of crap story!
xD.
208
english:
inter-, mutual, together, each other,

minister of state, councillor, aspect,
phase, physiognomy
component:
: tree; wood : eye; class;

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
9
interThe prime minister is having intercourse behind that tree! All you can
see are his eyes poking out from the
righthand-side of the tree.
Story2:
heisig:
// INTER /MUTUAL
/ASPECT /PHASE /MINISTER.
"Long ago, before there were
telephones, people living far from
one another would climb trees to eye
each others aspects and inter-act for
their mutual benefit. Those who did
this best became government
ministers, with the top person
(perhaps the one with the longest
neck (, neck (#70)) becoming the
prime minister
209
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
desk, table
: tree; wood : table; table
(no. 16)
6
desk
My wooden desk is so messy, it
looks like a strong wind blew my
things all over it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Whenever Im alone at my computer

desk, Im always getting wood and
breaking wind.
210
book, present, main, true, real, no. of

long things
: tree; wood
5
book
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The origin of a book is paper made

out of TREEs. ONE tree can make
many books.
An axe cutting a tree to make books.
211
tag, paper money, no. of bonds,

placard, bid
: tree; wood : the latter;
duplicate; strange; witty; fishhook
radical (no. 5)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
5
tag
Botanists like to identify TREEs by
HOOKing tags on them.
Story2:
heisig:
Might be good to note that this is

also the Kanji for "Paper Money" w/
the reading (1000
Yen paper bill)... It also takes on the
meaning of Playing Card with the
reading of as in
(Hanafuda cards) or
("trump" playing cards). For the tag
meaning I like to think of wooden
tags hung on hooks from trees... but
for these other meanings I like to
think of both paper money and
212
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
calendar, almanac
(no. 27) : grove;
forest : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
14
calendar
Story1:
Years-Months-Days: It takes many

years for a cliff to form or erode. A
tree takes many months to grow. But
days pass by regularly - so in this
way, we see the movement of time
such as with a CALENDAR.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This is just a picture of a wall

calendar with a page for each month.
The bottom half has the grid of days,
the top half has a pretty picture of a
forest this month. The cliff radical
here is the top and left edges of the
paper. You can see the paper curling
up at the lower left where a breeze is
trying to turn the page.
213
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
plan, suggestion, draft, ponder, fear,

proposition, idea, expectation, bill,
worry
: relax; cheap; low; quiet; rested;
contented; peaceful : tree;
wood
10
plan
I plan to RELAX on top of that
TREE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you bring a woman to your house,

generally its not a good plan to stick
your wood up her bottom, she may
scream in pain !
214
parch, dry up
: fire : goods; refinement;
dignity; article; counter for meal
courses : tree; wood
17
parch
Story1:
Story2:
Tip: goods + wood/tree : This

combination of primitives appears
four times in Heisig, so its
worthwhile giving it a name. I
suggest "furniture" (a common type
of wooden goods). REF: parch
(FRAME 215) , maneuver (#671),
winding (#1369), seaweed (#2035).
Story: Its been so parched recently
that your furniture suddenly catches
fire.
The parchment says you need fire to
make goods from trees.
heisig:
onyomi:
215
un-, not yet, hitherto, still, even now
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood
5
not yet
I believe a better version of that by
mameha1977: [Cheat] Remember
these as a set: The tree () does not
yet () have exremities () of
vermilion ().
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
[Cheat] Remember these as a set:

The tree () is not yet ()
vermilion ().
216
not yet, end, close, tip, powder,

posterity
: tree; wood
5
extremity
Story1:
The tree has reached the extremity of

its growth and no longer produces
small, new branches at the top.
Instead the existing top branch just
grows longer and longer.
Story2:
heisig:
There are no great stories for this

one yet, and I always forget it.. So,
lets try something ridiculous: The
man lived by himself in the
wilderness, with no females within
miles. So, his only way of relief was
to stick his extremity into a small
hole in a tree.. The poor guy. Which
horizontal stroke is the extremity?
The longer one or the shorter one?
That, my friends, is up to your own
imaginations. Id prefer not to dwell
217
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: water : end; close; tip;

powder; posterity
splash
The extremity of a wave of water is
the splash.
A splash is WATER that has reached
its EXTREMITY.
218
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
flavor, taste
: mouth : un-; not yet;
hitherto; still; even now; sign of the
ram; 1-3PM; eighth sign of Chinese
zodiac
8
flavor
My mouth has not yet swallowed the
food because the flavor is so
delicious that I keep chewing it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To enjoy a foods FLAVOR, it must

be in ones MOUTH but NOT YET
swallowed.
219
younger sister
: woman; female : un-; not
yet; hitherto; still; even now; sign of
the ram; 1-3PM; eighth sign of
Chinese zodiac
8
younger sister
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
My younger sister is NOT YET a

fully grown WOMAN.
Is your younger sister a woman? Not
yet! Damn!
220
vermilion, cinnabar, scarlet, red,

bloody
4) : un-; not yet; hitherto;
still; even now; sign of the ram; 13PM; eighth sign of Chinese zodiac
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
6
vermilion
Its autumn: only one vermilion leaf
on the tree has not yet fallen.
[Cheat] Remember these as a set:
The tree () is not yet
()[correction wrong character
before] vermilion ().
221
stocks, stump, shares, stock, counter

for small plants
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : vermilion;

cinnabar; scarlet; red; bloody
10
stocks
Which tree would you buy stocks in the healthy one on the left, or the
one with only one vermilion leaf left
on the right?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Ideally, one buys stocks when a

company is young, "green," and
rapidly growing -- then sells them
just before the last vermillion leaf
falls off, and a period of dormancy
or limited growth begins.
222
young, if, perhaps, possibly, low

number, immature
: grass; plants; grass radical (no.
140) : right
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
8
young
The young little girl held a cute
flower in her right hand.
In Hawaii, if you wear a flower over
your left ear, it means you are taken.
A flower over the right means you
are not. The younger you are, the
more likely you are to have a flower
over your right ear
223
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write,

draft
140) : early; fast
9
grass
Grass grows in earlier than flowers.
This grass is very long. The only
flowers you can see are sunflowers
the rest are hidden by the grass.
224
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
suffering, trial, worry, hardship, feel

bitter, scowl
140) : old
8
suffering
Flowers for the old man suffering in
the hospital.
The derivates from opium poppies
such as morphine can be used to
tame the suffering of the old.
225
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tolerant, leniency, generosity, relax,

feel at home, be at ease, broadminded
(no. 40) : edible greens;
amaranth
13
tolerant
A tolerant person will ignore SEEing
GRASS (marijuana) in the HOUSE
of a friend.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To be tolerant is to see flowers

(meaning "beautiful things") in
every house, instead of looking for
drawbacks.
226
dilute, thin, weak (tea)

140) : far and wide
16
dilute
Story1:
A Dr. missing his needle can only

use dilute flower water for medicine.
Story2:
heisig:
Note This character belongs to a set

of characters which share the
flower/water primitive such as::
dilute (#227), fall (#299), clan
(#1912), and seaweed (#2035).... (
) It may be helpful to create
a primitive keyword for this
occurrence (like seaweed or
watering can) which can save a lot
of time distinguishing them from
characters like Sino and Full ,
where the water primitive is larger
227
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
leaf, plane, lobe, needle, blade,

spear, no. of flat things
140) : generation; world;
society; public : tree; wood
12
leaf
On top of the leaves a flower
appears, promising new generations
for the old tree below.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The flower generation spent far too

much time up trees trying to smoke
leaves.
228
imitation, copy, mock

: tree; wood : must not; do
not; be not
14
imitation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If I find out this furniture youre

selling me is made of imitation
wood, Ill put you in the graveyard.
The Japanese are so enamored of
everything plastic, they even put
IMITATION plastic trees in their
graveyards! (No, not really, but I
wouldnt be surprised).
229
vague, obscure, desert, wide
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : must not; do not;

be not
13
vague
The precise locations of sailors who
meet a WATERY GRAVE are vague.
The water in the graveyard has worn
away the headstones, so the writing
is vague.
230
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
grave, tomb
: must not; do not; be not :
13
grave
The soil under a graveyard is full of
graves.
A grave is a patch of soil in a
graveyard.
231
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
livelihood, make a living, spend time

day; sun; Japan; counter for days
14
livelihood
He made a livelihood out of robbing
GRAVEYARDS in broad DAYlight.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The gravedigger makes his

LIVELIHOOD digging in the
graveyard all day For graveyard,
imagine an idyllic picture: beautiful
grass with the sun shining
down...and a dog peeing on one of
the graves. Dont confuse with
occupation (#1034). Hold onto the
irony of making your LIVElyhood
from tending dead people.
232
membrane
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: meat : must not; do not;

be not
14
membrane
In the moonlight of the graveyard I
hear a zombie say,
MMMMM..EMM...BRANEsssss.
The membranes in your flesh rot
when placed in the graveyard.
233
seedling, sapling, shoot
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

140) : rice field; rice paddy
8
seedling
If you plant seedlings in a FIELD
eventually they will FLOWER.
Crap! There are flowers in the rice
field... Who let those seedlings get in
there?!
234
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
portent, 10**12, trillion, sign, omen,

symptoms
: eight; eight radical (no. 12)
6
portent
When your wifes LEGs get huge
hairs on them it is surely a bad
portent for things to come.
A bad portent makes the hairs on
your legs stand.
235
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
peach tree
: tree; wood : portent;
10**12; trillion; sign; omen;
symptoms
10
peach tree
The pits of a peach tree look like
turtles.
King Koopa consistently captures
Princess Peach. Eventually hes
going to run out of castles and just
set her in a tree.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
236
stare, watch, look at, see, scrutinize

portent; 10**12; trillion; sign; omen;
symptoms
11
stare
Story1:
Saurons One fiery eye stare at

Frodo and it is a sign of portent. Evil
will become whomever the eye is
staring upon.
Story2:
heisig:
You lost a staring contest with a

turtle because you blinked your eye
before he did. (The contest wasnt
fair, because turtles have nictitating
membranes, and dont need to blink
so often.) Eye comes first, because
stare is most associated with eyes.
And compare with challenge (#658)
where this same obstreperous turtle
challenges you to a finger wrestling
contest. (Sibyls story with some
notes that helped me).
237
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
dog
: large; big : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
4
dog
A large dog, dripping drool.
If we remember large (#107) as a
man with his arms outstretched, the
drop represents mans best friend - a
dog.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
238
status quo, conditions,

circumstances, form, appearance
: left-side kata radical (no.
91) : dog
7
status quo
It was left to the turtle to make right
with the dog and thus maintain the
status quo..
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A turtle mounting a chihuahua

clearly disrupts the status quo.
239
silence, become silent, stop

speaking, leave as is
: black; dark; evil; sinister :
dog
15
silence
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The computer wont stop beeping,

which is making the chihauhua bark,
and its driving this guy insane. The
only solution he can come up with is
to throw them both on the fire and
finally enjoy the silence.
Your neighbor is so sick of you
playing Led Zeppelin that he takes
your copy of the song Black Dog
and burns it. Finally, silence in the
neighborhood.
240
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sort of thing, so, if so, in that case,

well
: month; moon :
dog : fire
12
sort of thing
Story1:
Flesh of a dog over a cooking fire =

"hotdog". There are all sorts of
things in hot dogs. Believe me, you
dont want to know what sort of
things . Visualize the hotdog curling
as it cooks, to remember the unusual
way the flesh primitive curves in this
kanji. (tweaked version of ziggrs.
Thanks!).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
There are all sorts of things in hot

dogs. (I use hot dog for this
primitive (meat of a dog over a
cooking fire). I swear I can actually
see the here as a hot dog, with its
slight curve and grill marks.).
241
reed
140) : barbarian
keyword:
reed
Story1:
REEDS are the only FLOWERS that

WILD DOGS like to FIRE up and
smoke while they are playing poker.
A reed is a flower that looks like a
hot dog.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
242
hunt, raid, gather

: dog : guard; protect;
defend; obey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
hunt
Actually when hunting it may be a
good idea to use a pack of dogs as
your personal guard.
After a pack of wild dogs hunt some
food, they will guard it fiercely.
243
cat
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: dog : seedling; sapling;

shoot
11
cat
The cat hid in the FLOWERS of the
FIELD from the WILD DOGs.
Dawgs always wanna put their
seedlings in pussies.
244
cow
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: cow, cow radical (no. 93)

4
cow
A cow tried to climb up a vermilion
tree, but in doing so, it broke its two
bottom branches off.
A cow bleeds vermilion when you
cut off two of its legs.
245
special
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cow : Buddhist temple

10
special
Think of not special people, but
special animals. The sacred Hindu
cows are special - they can wander
around the temple without fear of
becoming roast beef.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The Church Lady is traveling

through Japan and notices with
distaste a sacred cow relieving itself
inside a Buddhist Temple. "Well,
isnt that special".
246
revelation, tell, inform, announce

: cow : mouth
7
revelation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The revelation makes the cows

mouth drop down, "Hamburgers are
made of what?!".
When you get a revelation, you may
drop to the ground with your mouth
wide open.
247
before, ahead, previous, future,

precedence
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
before
Ive never seen a cow with human
legs before!
Nasty story but it keeps the meaning
true to the kanji. "BEFORE you
stick it in a COW and SPREAD the
legs (the bottom stroke of this cow
looks like two legs) make sure she
has HUMAN LEGS"------------sorry, Ill remove if I get enough
reports, but will keep if I get more
stars.
248
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
wash, inquire into, probe

: water : before; ahead;
previous; future; precedence
9
wash
In Japan, you always wash with
water from the shower before you
enter the bathtub.
You wash things with WATER to
get them back to the clean state they
were in BEFORE.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
249
jammed in, shellfish, mediate,

concern oneself with
: person : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : number one;
line; rod radical (no. 2)
4
jammed in
The two strokes at the bottom look
like a J and I, which stands for
"jammed in.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Two people jammed in under an

umbrella. A woman with a dress and
a man (straight). Its always me that
ends up getting wet.... but the tail of
the skirt is this time!
250
world
jammed in; shellfish; mediate;
concern oneself with
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
world
One Japanese farmer I know is so
small minded that he thinks the
entire world is JAMMED IN the
borders of his little RICE FIELD.
A famous philosopher once said that
his world consisted of all the things
he could jam into his brain.
251
tea
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : person : tree;
wood
9
tea
Some people think drinking tea is
boring and quaint. Thats why I
spice mine up by adding a cocktail
umbrella, which of course is made
from a wood-en toothpick
supporting a paper umbrella with
flowers printed on top.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When I drink herbal tea I like to

drink it under a parasol. If its too
hot I go "ho, ho, ho !!" (katakana ).
252
fit, suit, join, 0.1

: person : one; one radical
(no.1) : mouth
6
fit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I wouldnt mind a meeting of

mouths with her, shes really fit !
He had such a big mouth that he
could easily fit one whole umbrella
in it.
253
pagoda, tower, steeple

Turkey : adzuki beans; thick
12
pagoda
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In order to build a pagoda in this

small Japanese garden everything
has to fit: the soil to the left and the
flowers in the upper right corner.
Pictograph-o-rama. This is a corner
of a Japanese garden, with a small
mound of soil on the left, and a little
concrete pagoda in the front with
flowers behind it. (To my eye, the fit
looks a lot like a little pagoda
anyway. This may or may not cause
confusion for you, though...).
254
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
-
king, rule, magnate
: jewel; ball
4
king
To be king you have to be a real
crafty one !
The king unites heaven and earth.
(imagine heaven being the top line
over the soil).
255
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
jewel, ball
: jewel; ball : dot; tick or
dot radical (no. 3)
5
jewel
The king is said to have only one
family jewel below the belt...
The king is said to have only one
family jewel below the belt...and he
hangs left! (I always screw up the
direction of the "drop").
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
256
treasure, wealth, valuables

(no. 40) : jewel; ball
8
Story1:
treasure
On treasure island is a single house where all the jewels are stored.
Story2:
Put a "roof" (lid) on your jewels and

voila! Youve got a treasure chest.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
257
pearl, gem, jewel

: jewel; ball : vermilion;
10
pearl
The king of the Oysters produces
special Vermillion pearls!
King Vermillion is a little queer and
likes to wear pearl necklaces.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
258
present, existing, actual

: jewel; ball : see; hopes;
chances; idea; opinion; look at;
visible
11
present
The KING ... can SEE clearly the
PRESENT state of affairs in the
land. (maybe he hees them in the
crystal ball on the left?).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hey, I want my money back! This

crystal ball is out of order, I can see
the present instead of the future!
259
lunatic, insane, crazy, confuse

: dog : jewel; ball
7
lunatic
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Oh no ! A pack of dogs has bitten

the king. He has turned into a rabid
lunatic !
Think of King Nebuchadnezzar, who
for 7 years lost his sanity and had to
live like a wild animal.
260
emperor
: white : jewel; ball
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
emperor
Ancient Rome had Emperors instead
of Kings, and they wore white robes.
Thus an emperor is a king in white.
(make sure you picture a roman
emperor not a japanese one and
youll be ok).
The white dove descended on the
king and he was promoted to
emperor.
261
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
display, offer, present, send, exhibit

: mouth : jewel; ball
7
display
The mouth of the king is displaying
his bling.
What a pathetic display! The king is
sprawled on his throne, head back
and mouth wide open, fast asleep.
We should never have let him drink
so much at that banquet last night.
262
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
whole, entire, all, complete, fulfill

: person : jewel; ball
6
whole
The fat king hogs the whole space
under his umbrella. (tweaked version
of radical tyros story. "fat" makes a
more vivid image for me.).
The king takes up the whole space
under his umbrella.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
263
plug, bolt, cork, bung, stopper

: tree; wood : whole; entire;
all; complete; fulfill
10
plug
Story1:
Story2:
The fat king under his umbrella

offers useless advice to the workers.
"Youll need the whole tree to plug
that gap". Imagine a grossly fat,
incompetent king under a parasol
giving annoying advice to sweating
workers who know what theyre
doing. (I always have trouble
bringing up the "whole" primitive.
This story reminds me how to build
that part. ).
To plug the hole, you need to use a
whole piece of wood - like a cork or
something.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
264
logic, arrangement, reason, justice,

truth
: jewel; ball : ri; village;
parent's home; league
11
logic
The king of LOGIC is the computer.
Computers are ruled by logic (it is
the king of computers).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
265
lord, chief, master, main thing,

principal
jewel; ball
5
lord
A lord is a little drop down from
King in hierarchy.
Story2:
heisig:
Although this kanjis meaning hasnt

caused me much trouble, Ive had
problems remembering the direction
of the drop above king, since drops
at tops of kanji often seem to appear
in different directions. To remember
this one, I think of the placement of
the drop in jewel (#256). Both of
them use the king primitive and
include a short drop stroke going
from the top left to bottom right.
266
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
pour, irrigate, shed (tears), flow into,

concentrate on, notes, comment,
annotate
: water : lord; chief; master;
main thing; principal
8
pour
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Visualize an idiot trying to figure

out how to extinguish a candle. He
sees a glass of WATER and decides
to pour it onto the CANDLESTICK
to put it out. Water spills everywhere.
Like water the hot wax poured down
the side of the candlestick.
267
pillar, post, cylinder, support
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tree; wood : lord; chief;

master; main thing; principal
9
pillar
The main pillar in a house should be
made of the biggest and strongest
tree - the lord of the trees.
Why has this pillar been carved in
the shape of a giant penis?! "You
said that it should be made of
wood, My Lord.".
268
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
gold
: metal, gold, gold radical (no.
167)
8
gold
The fat king taking up the whole
space under the umbrella actually
isnt fat - he just has two big gold
bars hidden under his clothes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Under the umbrellas shade, the king

sang, " Drop it to the left, drop it to
the right, give me all the GOLD in
sight!".
269
: gold : before; ahead;

previous; future; precedence
pig iron
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Pig iron is basic/crude metal, that is,

before it has been processed.
Pig-iron is crude metal () before
() it is refined. If you have trouble
with this character, envision a big
minotaur (cow head with human
legs) as a blacksmith, smelting
metals and making swords for war.
270
bowl, rice tub, pot, crown
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: gold : book; present;

main; origin; true; real; counter for
long cylindrical things
13
bowl
This is the BOWL of an alchemist:
see how he mixes metals in his bowl,
as he follows the instructions from
his book?
If I was begging with a BOWL, I
would want GOLD and BOOKS.
271
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
copper
: gold : same; agree; equal
14
copper
I cant believe no one has used this
one yet: Copper is metal which looks
almost the same as gold. Really,
look it up on Wikipedia, its yellow
and its shiny (atleast in some
compounds)!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Copper is an excellent conductor. In

other words, its a metal for which
the voltage is the same everywhere.
Thats why its used for wires.
272
angling, fish, catch, allure, ensnare

: gold : ladle; one tenth of a
go; dip
11
angling
Story1:
Story2:
All the people that go to the

Japanese festivals to catch fish part
time are suckers. Me? Im a pro. I
bring a big-ass golden ladle. Im a
true ANGLING professional.
Imagine an effeminate Roman 2000
years ago angling with a golden
ladle instead of a rod because it
matches his eyes and hair better and
it impresses the boys. (Why a
Roman? Because angling is just
the roman-derived way to say
fishing - use this to distinguish
fishing from angling.).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
273
needle, pin, staple, stinger

: gold : ten
10
needle
Remember the story of the needle in
the haystack. Why would someone
even look for a needle if it wasnt a
GOLD NEEDLE?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A golden needle is worth ten times

more than an ordinary needle.
274
inscription, signature (of artisan)

: gold : name; noted;
distinguished; reputation
14
inscription
A piece of metal with a name on it.
Well, this is basically the definition
of inscription.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I imagine ancient Egyptian

inscriptions: Pharaohs names
written in gold.
275
tranquilize, ancient peacepreservation centers

: gold : true; reality;
Buddhist sect
18
tranquillize
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Tranquilize - using a metal syringe

to get the truth.
Enough gold can tranquilize the
truth in anyone.
276
road-way, street, district, journey,

course, moral, teachings
: neck; counter for songs and
poems : walk; walking; road
radical variant (no. 162)
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
road-way
When we go out on the ROADWAY, we often risk our own necks
(thats why I take the train! ).
Watch as a villianous fiend stretches
a poor damsels neck over a dusty
road. Her ear pressed to the ground,
she can hear the rumble of a carriage
thundering down the roadway. Will
the hero save her in time? Or will
her neck be ground into the road,
spilling its precious contents into
the dust?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
277
guidance, leading, conduct, usher

: road-way; street; district;
journey; course; moral;
teachings : measurement;
foot/10
15
guidance
For guidance on the road-way, glue
a GPS unit to your car.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Good guidance will help you stay

glued to the right path.
278
crossing, crossroad, street corners,

(kokuji)
: ten : walk; walking; road
crossing
Cross-road.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This kanji appears in the remarkable

compound,
(n): killing a passerby in order to test
a new sword. Imagine a cross by the
road, at a busy crossing, marking the
spot of the unfortunate passerbys
death.
279
swift, fast
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: to fly rapidly : walk;

walking; road radical variant (no.
162)
6
swift
The car went too swiftly through the
crossing and was hooked by the cops.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In the Heisig version of Frogger, you

can image ten giant fish hooks
sweeping across the road, with our
hapless hero froggy forced to make
a swift crossing or end up as fish
bait.
280
create, make, structure, physique

: revelation; tell; inform;
announce : walk; walking;
road radical variant (no. 162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
10
create
A cow creates a road by eating all
the grass on its path.
CREATION is the ROAD to
REVELATION (if youre feeling
artsy) :).
281
urge, force, imminent, spur on

: white : walk; walking;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
8
urge
When you have the URGE to go to
White Castle, you know its time to
hit the road.
When you start down the road of
cocaine, youre sure to feel some
pretty bad URGEs soon.
282
escape, flee, shirk, evade, set free
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: portent; 10**12; trillion; sign;

omen; symptoms : walk;
162)
9
escape
I used my pants to make a rope,
which I then used to escape from
prison; hence the naked, hairy legs
running along the road!
A turtle version of frogger dodging
cars to escape to the other side of the
road...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
283
environs, boundary, border, vicinity,

(kokuji)
walk; walking; road radical variant
(no. 162)
5
environs
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Caution: this kanji doesnt mean

environment; it means "environs;
boundary; border; vicinity". To
separate the environs, create the
border by placing daggers on the
road.
To protect the environs around their
village, samurai would travel the
roads with their swords.
284
patrol, go around, circumference
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

(no.47) : walk; walking; road
6
patrol
The cops dont PATROL anymore they just flood the road.
The Venice cops patrol on river
roads.
285
car
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cart, car, car radical (no. 159)

7
car
My car is so fast it can go through
ten rice fields in ten minutes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Rather than hobbling along with a

walking stick to cross through a
span, its much better to use a car.
(Imagine an old man with a walking
stick creeping along a span of road,
and you, in a car, whizzing right by
him. Its funny cause its true.)
Also, its important to include the
word "through," so you know the
walking stick goes right THROUGH
the span.
286
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
take along, lead, join, connect, party,

gang, clique
: car : walk; walking; road
10
take along
When you put your car on the road
you should always take along a few
friends. Dont confuse with carry
(#303).
Story2:
heisig:
This kanji also means "linked" or

"series" so Ive changed the kanji
meaning to "GO ALONG (WITH
EACH OTHER)." Well, a ROAD
and a CAR certainly GO ALONG
with each other. And the CAR will
help you to GO ALONG the ROAD.
This Kanji is the "Union" in Soviet
Union and the "United" of United
Nations (the countries that "go along
with each other" at least some of the
time).
287
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
rut, wheel, track, model, way of

doing
: car : nine
9
rut
My car got so stuck in a rut it
required nine people pushing to get
it out again.
I got my car stuck in a rut ! Im
gonna have to call 999 !
288
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
transport, send, be inferior

: car : steal
16
transport
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The car is a cattle-car, used to

transport animals for the butchers
meeting - a convention on new
butchering techniques. Hear the
screams of the animals as it pulls up
in front of the convention hall,
where the butchers are waiting with
their knives out front.
The vehicle transports animals for a
meeting with the butcher.
289
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
in front, before
: eight; eight radical (no.
12) : month; moon :
sword; saber; knife
9
Story1:
in front
When I get horny my flesh sword
sticks out in front of me.
Story2:
If you stand in front of a bulls

horns, you are asking for your flesh
to be cut (or butchered if you prefer).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
290
each, every, either

: winter radical (no. 34) :
mouth
6
each
Son, Ive never told you this but
each woman has a second mouth
between their fiiiiiine walking legs.
Each and every one of us walks and
talks differently.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
291
status, rank, capacity, character, case

(law, grammar)
: tree; wood : each; every;
either
10
status
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Ranger! I want you to go check the

status of each tree. "Errr, Each tree
sir?" replies the ranger looking out
over the vast forest. "Thats Right, I
want the status of each tree! Move
out!".
A man measures his own status by
the size of his woody...and compares
it to each one he sees.
292
abbreviation, omission, outline,

shorten, capture, plunder
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

each; every; either
11
abbreviation
There are so many abbreviations and
acronyms nowadays that no brain
can remember each of them.
Mnemonic: ab-brain-each-ation.
A very anal farmer wants to
catologue each grain of rice in his
rice field. Imagine him scribbling a
tiny abbreviation of his name and a
number on each grain.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
293
guest, visitor, customer, client

(no. 40) : each; every; either
9
guest
Each person under my roof is treated
as a guest.
In my house I welcome each guest.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
294
forehead, tablet, plaque, framed

picture, sum, amount, volume
: guest; visitor; customer;
client : page; leaf
18
forehead
Sign the guestbook page with your
forehead. (Picture a guestbook full
of forehead prints like thumbprints).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In New Zealand, people welcome

guests by touching their foreheads
together.
295
summer
oneself : winter radical (no.
34)
10
summer
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In SUMMER you are hot from the

top of your head down to your
walking legs.
I personally think it was too
confusing to try and use head as the
primitive. (How am I supposed to
remember that the animal legs are
replaced with walking legs instead
of human legs?) Rather, I think have
the image of a hot summer and you
want to keep oneself under a ceiling
not out jogging around.
296
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dispose, manage, deal with,

sentence, condemn, act, behave
table; table enclosure; table or windy
radical (no. 16)
5
dispose
The best way to dispose of a nasty
bit of wind is to let it go and use
those walking legs to dissapear.
Nobody will ever know it was you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To dispose of rubbish you should

walk it to the bin not throw it to the
wind.
297
article, clause, item, stripe, streak

tree; wood
7
twig
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
They all say they have a TREE

between their WALKING LEGS but
most only have a TWIG.
Dont confuse with branch or bough think of snapping twigs. A twig is
always the kind of wood that snaps
when the hunters walking legs just
barely touch it, making a snapping
sound that alerts the prey to the
hunters presence.
298
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fall, drop, come down

140) : Kyoto; the capital
12
fall
Water each flower or the petals will
wither and fall.
Story2:
heisig:
[Its been suggested on the forum

(http://forum.koohii.com/viewtopic.p
hp?id=1079) that flower across the
full width of the kanji and water on
the left below it should have its own
keyword; seaweed is a popular
choice. See also dilute (#227), clan
(#1912), seaweed (#2035). This
story is for the benefit of those using
that idea.] Picture a group of
Japanese skydivers falling through
the sky -- suddenly each one opens,
299
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
superfluous, uselessness
: wa-shaped crown radical (no.
14) : table; table enclosure;
table or windy radical (no. 16)
4
superfluous
The kings crown was blown off by
the wind. "Oh well," he said, "its
just a superfluous symbol.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The court jester wears a crown and is

full of wind with bad jokes. He is
superfluous to the Kings court. This
kanji is read as "JOU" and
commonly used to create the
compound for jou-dan (jest or
joke) hence court jester. Also jou-go
(redundancy) and jou-in
(useless workers) -employee (#56).
300
army, force, troops, war, battle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

14) : car
9
army
British army cars are at the service
of the crown.
Imagine a crown is the hood
ornament on every army car.
301
radiance, shine, sparkle, gleam,

twinkle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: ray; light : army; force;

troops; war; battle
15
radiance
Rays of light emitted from Apollos
chariot = radiance. Dont put the sun
into this kanji. The rays are coming
from the chariot directly!
Radiance is an army of rays.
302
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
carry, luck, destiny, fate, lot,

transport, progress, advance
: army; force; troops; war;
battle : walk; walking; road
12
carry
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Dont confuse it with take along

(287). In that one, there was a car so
you could take along your friends
once you found them on the road. In
this one, there is an army chariot just
to carry military supplies (sorry no
room for you).
Roads carry armies (in contrast to
seas carrying navies or skies
carrying air forces).
303
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
crown, best, peerless

14) : beginning; former time;
origin
9
crown
Remember the SUPERFLUOUS
CROWN that flew away in the
WIND? Well now the king is saying
"i should have had the thing GLUED
to my head from the BEGINNING".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A crown, from the beginning of the

new kings life, is glued to him. He
must inherit it.
304
dream, vision, illusion

140) : net; net or net crown
radical (no. 122) : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) :
evening
13
keyword:
Story1:
dream
Last nights date with Miss Sweden
was like a dream. She even laid
flowers over my eyes to crown the
perfect evening.
Story2:
In the movie American Beauty,

Kevin Spacey liked to DREAM
about his daughters friend and have
a rose petal fall onto his eye from the
ceiling. He did this lying in his bed
each evening. You can almost see
him lying in his bed in this kanji.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
305
pit, hole
Turkey : high spirits
7
pit
A whirlwind digs a hole in the
ground throwing out lots of dirt until
it ends up with a giant pit.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Tazmanian Devil whirlwinds a pit

into the soil. Note: Take care
difference between pit and rut.
306
tall, high, expensive

mouth : upside-down box
10
tall
Story1:
Story2:
Two little aliens in a trenchcoat and

top hat, trying to look TALL. The
bottom one, in the glass helmet, is
under the coat. The top one has his
top hat pulled down in disguise, so
all you can see is his mouth.
Here we have TWO MOUTHS each
wearing a different hat. The top one
is wearing a TOP HAT which is
know to be as a TALL hat. The
bottom one is wearing a SPACE
HELMET which is known as an
EXPENSIVE hat. (this kanji means
both).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
307
receive, undergo, answer (phone),

take, get, catch
mouth : child; sign of the rat;
11PM-1AM; first sign of Chinese
zodiac
8
receive
In basketball however, tall children
receive all the attention.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Tall children receive all the

attention. They also make great
receivers in football... this kanji also
means catch (therefore a football
receiver is a great image).
308
cram school, private school

: which; how; who : soil;
earth; ground; Turkey
14
cram school
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Welcome to our cram school: you

will receive a rounded education on
our grounds.
You can receive a well-rounded
education if you study at our cram
school says the advertisement. "Just
come to our school grounds and
check it out yourself!".
309
mellow, ripen, mature, acquire skill

: which; how; who : fire
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
15
mellow
Imagine tall children sitting round
the fire toasting marsh-mellows.
The cram school (309) tortures its
students - especially the tall and fat
ones who need to grow up - over a
fire until they mellow. (Note that
here the keyword mellow only
means to mature, ripen, or acquire
skill; not the colloquial meaning of
chill out).
heisig:
onyomi:
310
english:
pavilion, restaurant, mansion, arbor,

cottage, vaudeville, music hall, stage
name
component:
: tall; high; expensive : tall;

high; expensive : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) : street;
ward; town; counter for guns, tools,
leaves or cakes of something; even
number; 4th calendar sign
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
9
pavilion
The Pavillion on crown street is the
tallest I have ever seen.
The tallest Pavilion crowns the street.
311
capital, 10**16
mouth : little; small
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
8
capital
Tokyo, capital of Japan: tall
buildings, small people (compared to
the buildings).
The capital is where the powerful act
formal wearing top hats, open their
mouths, and get little done.
312
refreshing, nice and cool
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : capital; 10**16

11
refreshing
When youre a tourist in the capital
during the heat of summer, finding a
water fountain is oh, so refreshing.
The water from the capital of Japan,
Tokyo, is so refreshing!
313
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
scenery, view
days : capital; 10**16
12
scenery
Imaging the sun rising over the
capital--classic postcard scenery.
Anyone whos been to Kyoto
doesnt need to think too deeply into
this Kanji! Imagine a sunny day in
the old capital, and theres no better
scenery.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
314
whale
: fish : capital; 10**16
19
whale
If fish were cities, the whale would
surely be the capital.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the whale was first discovered

it was the biggest fish people had
ever seen. Stories exaggerated its
size - people said it was as big as the
entire capital city!
315
cottage, inn, hut, house, mansion

: person : good luck; joy;
congratulations
8
cottage
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The cottage is so small - it has an

umbrella for the roof; soil for the
floor and room for only one mouth.
My vacation cottage is nothing but a
hole in the ground covered by an
umbrella.
316
circumference, circuit, lap

13) : good luck; joy;
congratulations
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
8
circumference
If my LIDDED CROCK has the
same CIRCUMFERENCE as my
head, I like to use it as a HELMET.
Youre at a motorcycle store looking
to buy a helmet. The only way to
check the circumference of your
head is to put increasingly larger
lidded crocks on your head until one
slips on just right. Now you know
what size helmet to buy.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
317
week
: circumference; circuit;
lap : walk; walking; road
11
week
Imagine a road built so well that it
takes only a week to travel the
circumference of the earth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Actually the week is like a never

ending road where we travel in a
circle through the same seven days
again and again, the circumference is
always the same. circumference
(#317) also means circuit or lap, so
that also makes think about the
rotations of the moon, sun and the
earth -- all important for measuring
all kinds of time periods.
318
gentleman, samurai
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: scholar, bachelor (radical no. 33)

3
gentleman
What a handsome gentleman.
Standing up so straight, and broad
shoulders too!! Hes like a modern
samurai!
A gentleman has broad shoulders
and doesnt soil himself.
319
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
good luck, joy, congratulations

Turkey : mouth
6
good luck
The samurais wife gives him a
(uhum) before battle for good luck.
A true samurai gentleman will
always mouth, "Good luck" to his
opponents before a match.
320
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
robust, manhood, prosperity

91) : gentleman; samurai;
samurai radical (no. 33)
6
robust
Half of a turtle shell as a shield
makes a samurai more robust.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
are robust gentlemen arent they?
321
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
villa, inn, cottage, feudal manor

140) : robust; manhood;
prosperity
9
villa
A villa is fancier (decorated with
flowers) and more robust than the
average.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The teenage mutant samurai turtles

live in a villa with flowers on the
roof so that the neighbours dont get
suspicious.
322
sell
Turkey : wa-shaped crown
radical (no. 14) : eight; eight
radical (no. 12)
7
keyword:
sell
Story1:
The samurai happened to find an

extra large crown that he wore as a
belt on his waist, just above his legs.
I wonder if he will sell it to me?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A "samurai" will never sell his

"crown" (king), even it meant having
both his "human legs" chopped off!
323
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
study, learning, science

: small, insignificant : washaped crown radical (no.
14) : child; sign of the rat;
zodiac
8
study
In the school house there are kids
always studying. (BTW, atomiton,
this is NOT ).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Children in schoolhouses are there to

study, nothing else!!!
324
memorize, learn, remember, awake,

sober up
14) : see; hopes; chances;
idea; opinion; look at; visible
12
memorize
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In a schoolhouse in class: 1) you see

something on the blackboard, then
2) you memorize it.
Youll never memorize all the kanji
by seeing them in a school house.
You need Heisig and RtK!
325
flourish, prosperity, honor, glory,

splendor
14) : tree; wood
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
flourish
The TREES FLOURISH in the
CLASSROOM, a little too much
perhaps, theres no room for the
students any more.
Students are like young trees. They
tend to flourish in the schoolhouse.
326
write
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: brush; finally; self; relate;

follow; here; fast; writing brush
10
write
Make sure you practice writing kanji
with a brush every day before the
sun goes down.
The calligrapher had a peculiar
habit: when using her brush to write,
she would stick out her tongue, just
slightly.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
327
haven, port, harbor, ferry

: water : brush; finally; self;
relate; follow; here; fast; writing
brush radical (no. 129)
9
haven
A brush laying in dirty water is a
haven for bacteria.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The haven for a BRUSH is in

WATER.. Otherwise they get dry
and withered and cant be used?!
328
breed, care for, shepherd, feed,

pasture
: cow : strike; hit; folding
chair radical variant (no. 66)
8
breed
Story1:
Imagine a taskmaster giving a cow

the command to "start breeding, and
start doing it now!", except that the
cow takes his advice a bit too
literally and starts chasing the
taskmaster to carry out this
command! instead of finding another
cow to breed with. Hence, you see
the taskmaster running to the right,
trying to stay ahead of the cow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hint: This is the kanji from which

taskmaster is derived. Actually, this
kanji has nothing to do with breed,
and a lot to do with pastures and
shepherds (also for cowboys,
japanese and spanish dont
differenciate between animals).
Think of a cowboy (taskmaster) who
brings his cows to the pasture.
329
aggression, attack
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

radical (no. 48) : strike; hit;
folding chair radical variant (no. 66)
7
aggression
Aggression is the craft of a good
dominatrix.
AGGRESSION is a well-honed craft
for any decent taskmaster.
330
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
failure, defeat, reversal

: shellfish : strike; hit;
11
failure
If you end up in failure, you give
money to the taskmaster to train you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The shell who was defeated before

(defeat (#63)) is being chastised by
the taskmaster for his failure to win.
331
sheet of..., counter for flat thin

objects or sheets
: tree; wood : strike; hit;
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
sheet of
The taskmaster is a strict bathroom
monitor who hands out only one
sheet of really rough, splintery toilet
paper per person. You can see the
wood fibers.
This taskmaster is the bathroom
nazi: he counts how many sheets of
toilet paper and tissue you use, and
then tells you what % of a tree you
just killed.
332
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
happenstance, especially,
intentionally, reason, cause,
circumstances, the late, therefore,
consequently
: old : strike; hit; folding
9
happenstance
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
An OLD TASKMASTER is no
happenstance (coincidence). The
older you get the more rigid in your
ways.
Need to disambiguate from enemy
(#443) as its easy to mix up antique
and old here. Lets think of an
accidental president -- he is an old
taskmaster who has managed to win
the election by happenstance .
333
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
awe, respect, honor, revere

: any; at all; in the least :
strike; hit; folding chair radical
variant (no. 66)
12
awe
The flowery phrases of the
schoolmaster held the students in
awe.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
(n) reverence; respect.

(n) honorific;
term of respect; (P) STORY: The
TASKMASTER demands
RESPECT. If you dont talk to him
in HONORIFICS and FLOWERY
PHRASES you will be sorry.
334
say
: mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
7
say
A pictogram of someone saying a
four letter word from their mouth
after the censors have gotten a hold
of it.
This is simple a pictogram of a
mouth SAYing something. The lines
are soundwaves. No need to
complicate it.
335
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
admonish, commandment
: awe; respect; honor;
revere : say
19
admonish
To admonish is to enforce awe by
means of words.
Watch in awe as mom admonishes
the rude clerk with words that
youve never heard her use before.
336
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
plot, plan, scheme, measure

: say : ten
9
plot
A plot is a summary of a book that
can be given in ten words.
Say-tens (satans) evil plot.
337
prison, jail
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: dog : say : dog

14
prison
The wild dog family visits their
cousin in prison. They exchange
words over the interphone at the
visiting booth.
The only thing keeping the new
chihuahua inmate from being
initiated by the pack of wild dogs
were his quick words in prison.
338
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
revise, correct, decide

: say : street; ward; town;
4th calendar sign
9
revise
Revise, revise and revise until you
have all the words nailed down.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Remember how Martin Luther

revised the words of the catholic
church and nailed his 95 Theses at
the door of the church in Wittenberg?
339
chastise, attack, defeat, destroy,

conquer
: say : measurement; foot/10
10
keyword:
chastise
Story1:
I said some bad words, and my

mother chastised me by washing my
mouth out with glue instead of soap!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In Colonial New England, people

who committed adultery had words
glued to them. A famous example is
the "A" worn by Hester Prynn for
committing adultery (i.e., not being
chaste). In this way, words glued to
you are supposed to chastise you and
prevent further breaches of chastity.
340
instruction, Japanese character

reading, explanation, read
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: say : curving river radical

(no.47)
10
instruction
The best type of Japanese
INSTRUCTION is full immersion,
which consists of going to Japan and
swimming in the stream of words
that surrounds you every day.
Listen carefully to the words of
instruction before you try swimming
in the river.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
341
imperial edict
: say : seduce; call; send
drink; catch (cold)
12
imperial edict
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The mnemonic "words to seduce the

masses" was just too vague and I
kept forgetting it. So now instead I
picture a seductive female reading
aloud the imperial edict to the
masses, thus "seducing" the masses.
The emperor did not need an
imperial edict; his words were more
than enough to seduce Anakin to the
dark side.
342
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
packed, close, pressed, reprove,

rebuke, blame
: say : good luck; joy;
congratulations
13
packed
WORDS of GOOD LUCK are
PACKED into fortune cookies.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Nowadays, grafitti comes prepackaged. The factory takes a bunch

of words and aerosol cans and then
makes sure the words get tightly
packed inside. All you have to do is
spray and everything takes care of
itself!
343
tale, talk
: say : tongue; reed; clapper
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
13
tale
Tales are always spoken, not written,
and because of this, words fly out of
your tongue, rather than your pen.
Tales are spoken words, passed on
from person to person, eventually
being spoken by a thousand mouths.
344
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
recitation, poem, song, composing

: say : eternity; long;
lengthy
12
recitation
Story1:
Listening to the words in a recitation

of Vogon poetry is worse than
spending an eternity in hell. [Note: I
assume those 2 reports are to warn
against possible confusion with
poem (#346) but how can you
confuse Vogon poetry with an actual
poem? Anyway, its the next frame,
so it should be easy to keep them
straight... Or maybe theres a kanji
for Vogon in RTK3?].
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
If you study some words for a

recitation, there is a good chance
they will be stuck in your memory
for all eternity.
345
poem, poetry
: say : Buddhist temple
13
poem
A poem is a temple of words.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
WORDS used in a TEMPLE must be

very well chosen. Thats why most
people will speak using a poem if
they are SAYING something in a
TEMPLE.
346
word, speech, language

: say : I; my; our; one's own
14
word
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The simplest word to say is I.

May I say a word about that?
347
read
: say : sell
14
read
Read the WORDS used to SELL
things.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
People will say () almost anything

to make a sale (); dont believe
everything you read ().
348
tune, tone, meter, key (music),

writing style, prepare, exorcise,
investigate
: say : circumference;
circuit; lap
15
tune
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
To tune an old-fashioned radio, you

turn the dial the full range of the
circumference, until you can clearly
hear whats being said.
words + circumference The most
catchy tunes are words the go round
and round the circuference of your
head and you cant get it out of your
mind.
349
discuss, talk
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: say : inflammation; flame;

blaze
15
discuss
Think of an online discussion group
where misunderstanding someones
words leads to flaming. An angry
discussion = inflamed words.
Internet discussions often involve
inflammatory words. Flame war!
350
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
consent, assent, agreement

: say : young; if; perhaps;
possibly; low number; immature
15
consent
The words of the very young are
useless without CONSENT from
their elders.
Delores might say, "Yes!", but shes
way too young give any legal
consent.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
351
rebuke, admonish, charge, warn,

persuade
: say : steal
16
rebuke
A PETA activist speaks at a meeting
of butchers to rebuke them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I imagine Socrates gate-crashing a

meeting of butchers and
REBUKING them: Youve been
killing things again; you have,
havent you? while the embarrassed
butchers blush and try to hide their
knives behind their backs and stand
in front of hanging sides of beef.
352
style, ceremony, rite, fn, method,

system, form, expr
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: piling; ceremony radical (no.

56) : craft; construction;
6
style
Each Indian tribe crafts their arrows
in a certain style..
The latest style is shirts crafted out
of arrows.
353
test, try, attempt, experiment, ordeal
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: say : style; ceremony; rite;

function; method; system; form;
expression
13
test
In an essay test, you are judged on
both your choice of words and your
writing style.
The Japanese oral exam was a test of
my speaking style.
354
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
II, two, second

piling; ceremony radical (no.
56) : two; two radical (no.2)
6
II (two)
II (older form of writing 2). After
shooting one arrow (the dash top
left), I have 2 arrows left in my
quiver (bottom left).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Once you have two old arrows left in

your quiver, you better start
running...!
355
range, region, limits, stage, level

Turkey : some; one; or;
possibly; a certain
11
range
Story1:
An astronaut lands back at the

launch range, kisses the earth
beneath him with his mouth, then
heads off to a fiesta to celebrate a
safe flight.
Story2:
heisig:
Instead of Heisigs "Fiesta" I use

"Spear". Why? A spear is just a
DROP extra on an Arrow. , range
actually means range as in
limits/boundary/border sort of
range(In a box it was the old
meaning for Country (581). Ok
way too much etymology here, but
back to story. With your SPEAR
standing in a HOLE on the FLOOR
with SOIL to its left9as you dug
some out), you can see the RANGE
356
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
burglar, rebel, traitor, robber

: shellfish : warrior; arms;
barbarian; Ainu
13
burglar
Burglars... those guys!!! Burglars
only want money (clams) so that
they can get needles (drugs) and
party (fiesta)!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
After the fiesta, we found out that

some burglar had stolen our money,
probably breaking in with a lockpick
needle...
357
plantation, planting
Turkey : halberd; arms;
festival car; float; tasselled spear
radical (no. 62) : tree; wood
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
plantation
The plantation is where we get our
Christmas trees. We pick them out at
Thanksgiving to be sure we get a
good one.
During Thanksgiving, all the trees
on the plantation celebrate the
harvest. Its a good time for them,
too.
358
load, multiplication, power, 10**44
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 62) : car
13
load
After eating a big Thanksgiving
dinner, you have to be careful in the
car ride home not to drop a load in
your pants.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
After Thanksgiving dinner, my

girlfriend gave me a BJ on the drive
back home. I blew my load and
soiled the car. But it was LOADS
of fun! Please report this story if this
makes you feel uncomfortable :).
359
overgrown, grow thick, be luxuriant

140) : 5th calendar sign
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
8
overgrown
The gay parade looks astonishing, as
if overgrown with flowers.
When your garden gets
OVERGROWN, its like the plants
are mocking you. Here, you can see
the roses actually parading around
the yard, wilfully choking out the
other, more docile plants. Then they
actually go and parade down the
street!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
360
turn into, become, get, grow, elapse,

reach
radical (no. 20) : halberd;
arms; festival car; float; tasselled
spear radical (no. 62)
6
turn into
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
It only takes a single stroke of a

dagger for a parade to TURN INTO
a bloodbath.
The gay parade suddenly TURNED
INTO a DAGGER throwing fight.
361
castle
Turkey : turn into; become;
get; grow; elapse; reach
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
castle
The sand castle is just the soil (#150)
that turns into a castle.
Someday this mound of dirt here
will turn into our CASTLE, the ants
think to themselves when scoping
out a new ant hill.
362
sincerity, admonish, warn, prohibit,

truth, fidelity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: say : turn into; become;

get; grow; elapse; reach
13
sincerity
Sincerity happens when what you
say actually turns into something.
Sincerity is turning your words into
actions.
363
intimidate, dignity, majesty, menace,

threaten
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: sign of the dog; 7-9PM; eleventh

sign of Chinese zodiac :
woman; female
9
intimidate
The march of women - against
intimidation in the workplace - is
pretty intimidating in itself!
Interesting that this kanji also has
the meanings of "dignity" and
"threaten." I can see how a march of
women in Japan would be seen as
intimidating by most men.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
364
destroy, ruin, overthrow, perish

: water : protection :
fire
13
destroy
Water flows down to destroy the
march of fire.
Story2:
heisig:
Use a water cannon to destroy a line

of marching fire monsters. I keep
mixing this one up with disaster
(#167) and demolition (#400).
Remember, you DESTROY
monsters (think of the Godzilla
movie "Destroy All Monsters!").
Fires and floods are natural
DISASTERs. And DEMOLITION is
something you carefully do while
wearing protective garments.
(vaguely based on stefanots balrog
365
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dwindle, decrease, reduce, decline,

curtail, get hungry
: water : all; same
12
dwindle
When WATER was tossed on the
PROTESTORS (a march of mouths),
the numbers began to DWINDLE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When water supplies dwindled, the

population became a horde of dry
mouths, marching to seize the water
in the neighboring kingdom.
366
scaffold, cleat, frame, jetty, bolt

(door)
: tree; wood : damage;
remain; slight
10
scaffold
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Japanese festival floats are often so

tall they need wood scaffolds to be
completed. (http://www.japanguide.com/e/e5909.html).
You need a SCAFFOLD made of
WOOD to build a FLOAT if it will
be several stories high.
367
coin, .01 yen, money

: gold : damage; remain;
slight
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
14
coin
Political hopefuls in Rome threw
gold COINS from floats when they
were campaigning for office.
Interesting fact: The Japanese one
yen coin is the only coin in the world
that can float on water.
http://www.hanamiweb.com/floating
yen.jpg.
368
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
shallow, superficial, frivolous,

wretched, shameful
: water : damage; remain;
slight
9
shallow
The water cant be too SHALLOW
if you expect to float.
The water isnt shallow enough to
ford (#372). Well have to cross by
float!
369
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stop, halt
: stop
4
stop
If you find in the ground a walking
stick with a magic wand, STOP!
Maybe its some kind of
macumba/black magic/voodoo bad
thing.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you dont remember this one from

the 10,000,000 STOP signs on roads
all over Japan, youre beyyond help!
370
walk
: stop; halt : few; little
8
walk
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When walking your pet, you must

stop a few times along the way when
nature calls.
When you learn to walk, you take
your steps a few at a time. Picture a
clumsy but happy toddler who falls
every few steps but keeps getting up
to try again.
371
ford, ferry, port
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : walk; counter for

steps
11
ford
The new Ford Jesus. It can do
everything except WALK on
WATER.
A ford is a place where one can walk
through the water, a place only a few
footsteps deep.
372
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
repeatedly, recur
: walk; counter for steps :
page; leaf
17
repeatedly
Story1:
I repeatedly walk around hoping this

kanji will come into my head. I
repeatedly walk around hoping this
kanji will come into my head.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Are you familiar with the joke about

the ditzy secretary who repeatedly
walked back and forth forcibly over
all the pages of her boss most
important letters. When confronted
she just says "Well you said they
needed to be stamped before theyre
mailed.".
373
agreement, consent, comply with

: stop; halt : month; moon
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
8
agreement
A secret agreement between a covert
govt agency and aliens states that
we will not step foot on the moon
again in return for alien technology.
NASA and Armstrong made an
agreement: Theyd never tell anyone
that no-one actually stepped foot on
the moon.
374
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
undertake, scheme, design, attempt,

plan
: person : stop; halt
6
undertake
Mary Poppins floated down with her
umbrella to undertake the job of
stopping the childrens misbehaving.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The Undertaker is an evil WWE

wrestler - he beat his opponent with
an umbrella until he stopped moving.
375
curriculum, continuation, passage of

time
(no. 27) : grove;
forest : stop; halt
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
curriculum
A CURRICULUM is a calendar that
replaces days with reasons to stop
having fun.
A little like a calendar, your CV
records your footsteps through time.
376
warrior, military, chivalry, arms
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

piling; ceremony radical (no.
56) : stop; halt
8
warrior
ONE-ARROW can STOP a warrior.
A great warrior can stop any
0pponent with one arrow.
377
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
levy, ode, prose, poem, tribute,

installment
: shellfish : warrior;
military; chivalry; arms
15
levy
A warrior stands guard at a bridge
collecting shells as a levy for any
who want to pass.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Drove my Chevy to the levy but the

levy was dry. And those good old
warrior boys, drinking whiskey and
rye, said pay up the clams or youll
die. Pay up the clams or youll die....
378
correct, justice, righteous, 10**40

stop; halt
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
correct
If you do it correct on the first
attempt you can stop.
The correct way of learning
Japanese? First, stop everything
youre doing. Then, go pick up a
copy of Heisigs book and work
from there.
379
evidence, proof, certificate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: say : correct; justice;

righteous; 10**40
12
evidence
Your words must be absolutely
correct if you plan to use them as
evidence.
If what you say is indeed correct, we
could use use your testimony as
evidence.
380
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
politics, government
: correct; justice; righteous;
10**40 : strike; hit; folding
9
politics
Those involved in politics are
always trying to elect the correct
taskmaster.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Insane political correctness on the

left, and facists taskmasters on the
right- thats politics in a nutshell right
there.
381
determine, fix, establish, decide

(no. 40) : head; counter for
animals
8
determine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In The Karate Kid, the boy must

prove his determination by
MENDING his teachers HOUSE in
various ways.
People who decide to renovate (ooh,
thats a fancy word, lets say
"mend") their houses must be very
determined DIYers. (Using DIY
helps me remember this story when I
see DEtermine).
382
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
lock, fetters, shackles

: gold : determine; fix;
establish; decide
16
lock
Even if you lock up your GOLD, a
DETERMINED thief will get it in
the end.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The best stories for this kanji tend to

have a thief in them, which always
makes me confuse them with the
kanji for burglar (357). So, lets try
this one: My girlfriend wears a metal
chastity belt with a lock but I am
determined to open it! I must get
inside!
383
run
: soil; earth; ground; Turkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
run
Hint: This kanji is NOT soil on top
of mend, as Heisig claims - that
would duplicate one of the strokes.
Instead, it is 10 on top of mend. So
my story is: If you run 10 miles, you
will need to mend your socks!
Story2:
The sports ground needs MENDING

after the game as the players have
been RUNNING around which has
caused the ground to be chopped up.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
384
transcend, super-, ultra: run : seduce; call; send

drink; catch (cold)
12
transcend
Story1:
A successful marathon runner needs

to be able to transcend seductions,
such as the possibility of rest, shelter
from the rain, or a cold beer.
Story2:
heisig:
To transcend oneself is to reach a

higher plane of reality. A head
shaven monk is telling me this. We
are in a Tibetan monastery. He was
once an athlete, a runner. He used to
run everywhere, until one day, he
saw a beautiful cheerleader along his
path. She tried very hard to seduce
him, but he forced himself to
transcend his urges. He did reach his
running goal, and he has became a
lonely monk. He wishes now he had
385
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
proceed, get, become, tend

: run : divination
9
proceed
Dont run into trouble, Dumbledore
tells Harry. "Proceed with caution
with your wand out.".
While running, my magic wand tells
me where to proceed.
386
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
surpass, cross over, move to, exceed,

Vietnam
: run : warrior; arms;
savage; Ainu
12
surpass
The person in charge of running the
parade surpassed all our
expectations (by just a extra drop...).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The parade of runners are all trying

to SURPASS each other - and they
end up running all the way to
Vietnam (note that this kanji is also
used for the country of Vietnam).
387
just so, this, right, justice

days : head; counter for
animals
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
just so
Sun Mend - It just so happens
that sunshine can mend your gloomy
spirits.
My image here is of Fabrice (the guy
who runs this website) spending all
day obsessively mending the code so
this page looks just so....
388
topic, subject
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: just so; this; right;

justice : page; leaf
18
topic
The "TOPIC" of the days
newspaper must be placed JUST SO
at the top of the PAGE to attract
attention.
You spend ALL DAY, mending
your socks JUST SO. Then you have
a look at the HEADING of the
newspaper. The topic---FREE
SOCKS TO BE GIVEN AWAY!!!!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
389
dike, bank, embankment

Turkey : just so; this; right;
justice
12
dike
Making a dike is all about arranging
the soil just so....
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The little Dutch boy has his finger

stuck in the dike, and thats the only
thing keeping his town from going
under. He really really needs to go to
the bathroom though, so he devises a
plan to carefully add a bit of dirt there, place individual bits in just so there, I think its good enough. Pull
it out -----yes! Success!
390
build
component:
strokes:
keyword:

radical (no. 129) : long stride
or stretching radical (no. 54)
9
build
Story1:
Story2:
Build is easy to remember if you can

remember that archtiechts have two
steps in building. 1. Take a brush
and brush out the blueprints. 2. Get a
visual image of the blueprints all
rolled up like they usually are. The
second step is easy, its just the
architecht stretching out the
blueprints and showing it to his
clients.
A construction workers classic
morning. Stretch, brush his teeth,
and then start to build.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
391
prolong, stretching
: correct; justice; righteous;
10**40 : long stride or
stretching radical (no. 54)
8
prolong
Stretching correctly prolongs life.
Even the top part of is stretching...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Heres a great mnemonic: "stop,

drop, and stretch (!?)." Now lets
associate it with prolong: if youre
ever in an uncomfortable spot, like
being asked tricky questions or
caught in a lie, just PROLONG the
situation - stop, drop, and stretch.
They may be confused by your odd
behaviour, but itll buy you a few
moments to think up another good
lie to get out of the sticky situation!
392
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
nativity, be born, declension, lie, be

arbitrary
: say : prolong; stretching
15
nativity
Nativity = born, being born. Think
of birth as a painful and prolonged
event. And of course, all the words
and curses being yelled at the soonto-be father for doing this to her!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When you are being born ( nativity ),

your mothers WORDS are
PROLONGED. (Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis
huuuuuuuuuuuuuurtss a lottttttttt~!!
Owwwwwww!!!).
393
cornerstone, foundation stone

: stone : whip; cane
18
cornerstone
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Features like stones and groves of

trees are the cornerstones of a happy
zoo.
A zoo which is still under
construction is already full of
animals. At the moment, only the
cornerstone has been set in place. To
temporarily keep the animals from
escaping, a closely-packed grove of
small trees is planted around the
stone. (Note that this zoo needs
some serious mending.).
394
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
bridegroom, son-in-law
: woman; female : together;
mutual; subordinate official
12
bridegroom
Story1:
Story2:
The virgin bridegroom tries to

understand the new, mysterious part
of his womans body - but with little
success. Its a zoo down there!
(primitives placement: the part of the
body is down there - the woman is
left unsatisfied).
The only reason anyone talks about a
bridegroom is if theyre about to or
have just gotten married. Of course,
then you have to go on your
honeymoon. So you take your
woman to the zoo for a month. Pretty
cool honeymoon.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
395
garment, clothes, dressing

: kettle lid radical (no. 8)
6
garment
The only garments allowed in this
club are top hat and scarf.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The garments most commonly

associated with the craft of a
magician are the top hat and the
magic wand. (Its a stretch, but the
way I remembered this kanji is
through that phrase. This way you
can remember it through using
primitives we have already learned.).
396
tailor, judge, decision, cut out

(pattern)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 62) : garment;
clothes; dressing
12
tailor
The tailor was hard at work making
sure all the pilgrims were dressed in
their best garments for thanksgiving.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The tailor worked hard after

thanksgiving to alter garments so
theyd fit people whod eaten too
much at their thanksgiving dinners.
397
attire, dress, pretend, disguise,

profess
: robust; manhood;
prosperity : garment; clothes;
dressing
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
attire
The TURTLE SAMURAI needs
special GARMENTs for his
ATTIRE since his body is much
more ROBUST than others.
The ninja turtles tried to go eat at a
fancy restaurant, but they were told
to come back after their were
dressed in proper attire. However,
its too difficult for them to find
proper garments because they bodies
are so robust! (sannomiya +
drwarrior12).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
398
back, amidst, in, reverse, inside,

palm, sole, rear, lining, wrong side
: garment; clothes;
dressing : ri; village; parent's
home; league
13
back
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The computer had carefully dressed

up in clothes to look human. It was
nt until I looked at the back and saw
the cables and stuff that I realized
what it was.
Can computers be gay? Im not sure,
but mine always wears a top hat and
scarf, and for some reason its back
door port is always open...
399
demolition, break, destroy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

Turkey : ten : net; net
or net crown radical (no.
122) : garment; clothes;
dressing
16
demolition
If you stand too close to a
DEMOLITION site, the dust might
sting you like NEEDLES in your
EYE and get your GARMENTs all
dirty.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Since that needle eye thing turns up

a lot, I turned it into Darth Vader. It
kinda looks like him to me, with the
eye being his metal mouth piece
thing. So, Darth Vader swings his
cape (his garment) demolishing a
nearby building, leaving nothing but
a pile of dirt.
400
pathetic, grief, sorrow, pathos, pity,

sympathize
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : mouth
9
pathetic
One of my friends with a crazy sense
of fashion loves to wear a tophat and
a scarf so that you cant see his
whole face but only his mouth. He
thinks its cool. I think its pathetic.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A poor, homeless child like Oliver

Twist, with a hungry open mouth, is
pathetic-- in the original sense of the
noun "pathos." The tattered tophat
and scarf he wears only adds to the
pathos.
401
distant, far
: long kimono : walk;
162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
13
distant
Keep distant from a lidded crock on
the road wrapped in a scarf. It might
be a bomb.
When traveling to a distant land,
what better way of keeping warm on
the road is there than carrying a
warm lidded crock and wearing a
scarf?
402
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
monkey
: dog : long kimono
13
monkey
The MONKEY likes to play hide
and seek with the PACK of WILD
DOGS by hiding in the LIDDED
CROCK. But he is easy to see
because the SCARF he always wears
is at the base of the LIDDED
CROCK.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To catch a monkey, chase him with

wild dogs into a lidded crock, then
tie it with a scarf.
403
first time, beginning

: garment; clothes;
dressing : sword; saber; knife
7
first time
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This is the first time weve been out

of the Shire, Mr. Frodo! Says Sam,
covering himself with his cloak and
clutching his dagger.
On his FIRST TIME, he cloaked his
dagger with a Trojan.
404
linen, cloth
: towel; hanging scroll; width;
cloth radical (no. 50)
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
linen
A matador holding his red linen by
his side.
The first rule of the Hitch-Hikers
Guide to the Universe is "DONT
PANIC!" The second rule, of course,
is to always have a towel by your
side. Personally, I prefer the linen
sort.
405
sail
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

cloth radical (no. 50) :
mediocre
6
sail
When stranded at sea, we needed a
Sail. The best we had was a
TOWEL, which was MEDICORE,
only catching a DROP of WIND.
A towel makes a mediocre sail.
406
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hanging scroll, width

cloth radical (no. 50) : to fill;
roll of cloth
12
hanging scroll
In the west, the rich use $100 bills to
light their cigars... In Japan, after
showering, when the wealthy dont
have any clean towels, they simply
grab a hanging scroll off the wall
and use it to dry off!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The towels of the wealthy: hanging

scrolls.
407
cap, headgear
cloth radical (no. 50) : risk;
face; defy; dare; damage; assume (a
name)
12
cap
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you wear a towel as a cap, you are

at risk of being seized and searched
in U.S. airports.
Originally the first cap was a turban
which was a towel wrapped around
the head to keep the sun out of the
eyes.
408
curtain, bunting, act of play
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

towel; hanging scroll; width; cloth
radical (no. 50)
13
curtain
There is a graveyard outside my
house that scares me, so I put a huge
towel over the window to serve as a
curtain so I can get a good nights
sleep.
When youre dead in the graveyard,
"its curtains for you.".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
409
canopy, awning, hood, curtain

cloth radical (no. 50) : clear
canopy
A canopy is a towel to block the
suns rays.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
From the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the

Universe: A towel is useful, among
other things, as a canopy to keep out
the suns rays from your face while
napping.
410
brocade, fine dress, honors

: gold : cloth
16
brocade
Story1:
Brocade is the art of sewing gold on

a white towel.
Story2:
Never heard of this word before

encountering it here. So it turns out
that the fanciest brocade in the world
is actually a towel used by a Turkish
monarch. Its embroidered with gold
and cocaine. Yes, cocaine - what you
thought itd be something else? That
is some true art right there. I think a
great many people would want to
own this towel.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
411
market, city, town

radical (no. 50)
5
market
My recurring nightmare: Walking
through the market, and suddenly
realizing that Im wearing only a top
hat...and a towel.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
At the MARKET you find lots of

nice TOP HATS and TOWELS.
412
elder sister
: woman; female : market;
city; town
8
elder sister
Unlike the younger sister (), who
is not yet old enough to date... the
elder sister is on the market!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Shes old enough to be allowed to go

to the market.
413
lungs
: meat : market; city; town
9
lungs
LUNGS are a PART of the BODY
that can be found at any meat
MARKET or black MARKET.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The PART OF THE BODY most

important if you work at a MARKET
is your LUNGS so that you can
shout out at the top of your voice
"IRASSHAIMASEEE" to attract
customers.
414
sash, belt, obi, zone, region
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: thirty : wa-shaped crown

radical (no. 14) : towel;
hanging scroll; width; cloth radical
(no. 50)
10
sash
Story1:
First, note that the top half of the

kanji consists of one and mountain.
Of course, the "number 1" mountain
in Japan is Mt. Fuji. The bottom
half, under Mt. Fuji, consists of
crown and towel. Now for the story.
Archaeologists digging under Mt.
Fuji (Japans #1 mountain) in an
ancient royal tomb (they know its
royal because of the crown) discover
what looks like a towel, but after
they clean it up, they see it is
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Beautiful "Miss Housewife Japan" is

on posters everywhere, cooking right
before Mt. Fuji (the number one
mountain) while wearing nothing
but her crown, and an apron tied
with a sash. (hodgepodge of
mspertus, zwarte_kat, et al, with a
jot of hadaka apron to focus the
image.).
415
stagnate, be delayed, overdue, arrears
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: water : sash; belt; obi;

zone; region
13
stagnate
Story1:
Story2:
History of the first karate blackbelts:

In those days, it was often difficult
to find fresh, clean water, so samurai
usually had to wash their sashes in
stagnant puddles. The longer one
had been studying martial arts, the
older the sash on ones karate
uniform and, therefore, the darker
the color. So why werent their
karate uniforms black too? Never
seen a ninja????
A moat is a stagnate ring of water
like an obi (sash) of water tied
around the castle.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
416
thorn, pierce, stab, prick, sting,

calling card
: thorn : sword; saber; knife
8
thorn
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A TREE with a BELT wrapped

around the middle. If you tighten the
BELT, hundreds of tiny SABERS
pop out of the tree in all directions,
looking like THORNS.
The BELT TREE has THORNS like
SABERS.
417
system, law, rule
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cow : towel; hanging

scroll; width; cloth radical (no.
8
system
The system for making leather belts
involves slicing up a cow with a
sword.
Story2:
heisig:
Why all the gore and violence? How

about a samurai cow? He doesnt
have to be a violent samurai, either.
He only wears the sword because
hes part of the bushi SYSTEM.
Actually, he studies ikebana, shodo,
and zen. Imagine him sitting crosslegged in a Zen temple (a very
Special Zen temple). The master
asks him if a dog has buddha nature
and, shifting the swords in his belt,
he calmly replies, "Moo!".
418
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
made in..., manufacture

: system; law; rule :
garment; clothes; dressing
14
made in...
Made in china - a system of
exploitation . making garments for
nothing.
A SYSTEMATICALLY made
GARMENT will no doubt have
MADE IN on the label.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
419
revolve, turn around, change

: car : say
11
revolve
The REVOLVING wheels of the car
(with REVOLVER blaring on the
stereo) kicked up RISING CLOUDS
of dust.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Just a note to remember the cloud

primative: The name of Gokus pet
cloud that he used to help him rise
(fly) in the Dragonball anime series
(and also the scientific name for a
certain type of cloud) is Nimbus.
The katakana-ization of this is
{}, so the rising cloud
primative is just an abbreviation of
that name written from top to bottom
in the old Japanese style.
420
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
technique, art, craft, performance,

acting, trick, stunt
140) : say
7
technique
Imagine an old Kung-fu movie: "Try
my rising cloud flower technique!!!"
smash pow crack!! .
One technique to smoke weed is to
vaporize it and inhale those rising
clouds to create a stronger effect.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
421
rain
: rain, rain radical (no. 173)
8
rain
From the ceiling hangs a towel
dripping four drops like RAIN.
Towel hung out on a line to ....oops,
its rain.
422
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
cloud
: rain : say
12
cloud
Every rising cloud is a potential rain
cloud. (Thanks astridtops).
Every cloud is a potential rain cloud.
423
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
cloudy weather, cloud up

days : cloud
16
cloudy weather
Cloudy weather is when a cloud
blocks the sun (up above).
In cloudy weather, the sun is still
there even if obscured by the
clouds...
424
english:
thunder, lightening bolt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: rain : rice field; rice paddy
Story1:
13
thunder
If its raining and youre standing in
the middle of a rice field, youre sure
to soon become acquainted with the
thunder up close and personal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Thunder is a sure sign of rain

coming. When you hear the thunder,
youve got time to get out of the
field before it starts raining.
425
frost
: rain : inter-; mutual;
together; each other; minister of
state; councillor; aspect; phase;
physiognomy
17
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
frost
FROST is kind of an inter-weather,
phenomenon, something between
rain, snow and freezing temps.
The freezing RAIN formed FROST
on the TREE right before your
EYES. If you want, frost-y then
think Frost Tree to get to the
mnemonic. SECOND STORY:
FROSTY the snowman? Its RAIN
that FROSTS that can then INTERact with the kids, till he melts of
course.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
426
winter
two-stroke water radical or ice
radical (no. 15)
5
winter
Dont slip off your legs in winter,
strap two skis to your feet.
In winter my walking legs feel like
blocks of ice.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
427
heavens, sky, imperial

large; big
4
heavens
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
If you think of the sky as a ceiling

above our heads, here you have the
heavens as the largest ceiling you
could ever imagine. As Heisig
pointed out, nothing comes above
the ceiling primitive thus the order
of primitives is taken care of.
The ceiling that all large dogs aspire
to go to is known as heaven. After
all, All Dogs Go to Heaven.
428
english:
bridge
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tree; wood : high; boasting
Story1:
16
bridge
The nicest bridge is not in
Hollywood or Los Angeles, but in
San Francisco.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A small 5 year old child has lost her

mother in a tragic death. Her family
tells her, "Dont worry, your mom is
an angel now, in heaven, watching
over you." The small girl takes this
very literally and is found one day,
gathering pieces of wood. Her dad
asks her, "What are you doing with
that wood?" "Im trying to build a
bridge to heaven to visit the angels.".
429
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
attractive
: woman; female : high;
boasting
attractive
The most attractive woman in the
world is obviously Angelina Jolie.
The most attractive of women are
said to resemble angels. Similarly,
angelic women tend to be attractive.
430
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
stand up
5
stand up
A vase that cant stand up wont be a
vase for long.
He was a stand up guy: hed lend
you the top hat he wears everyday if
you asked, and he will turn
everything upside down to help you
find your tools.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
431
cry, weep, moan

: water : stand up; rise; set
up; erect
8
cry
Guys have two ways of watering
when they are standing, the less
common one is crying.
She stood up to leave the room when
her eyes started to water...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
432
badge, chapter, composition, poem,

design
: sound; noise : early; fast
11
badge
In the military, badges are given out
early in the day, with everyone
standing at attention.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Ash Ketchum stood up early in the

morning, and said, "Pikachu, lets go
get us another badge!".
433
emulate, compete with, bid, sell at

auction, bout, contest, race
: stand up; rise; set up;
erect : elder brother; big
brother : stand up; rise; set
up; erect : elder brother; big
brother
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
20
vie
TWO twin BROTHERS are
competing (VYING) for the title of
who is the older BROTHER. The
game is that they must balance a
VASE on their head and the one
who drops his looses and becomes
the younger BROTHER!
Two crazy brothers vying for the
guiness records books of stupidity
by trying to stand on their heads the
longest.
heisig:
onyomi:
434
english:
sovereign, the emperor, god, creator

wa-shaped crown radical (no.
14) : towel; hanging scroll;
width; cloth radical (no. 50)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
9
sovereign
Story1:
The crazy sovereign stands up from

his throne, wearing nothing but a
crown and a towel. Thats why they
try to keep him locked up in the
castle away from the public.
Story2:
heisig:
This one is so tricky for me. The key

is to remember that the bottom
stroke on the standing element takes
those little crown "winglets" on the
right and left. The most effective
image might be of QEII (who is
quite short) using her crown as a
kind of stool. Shes standing on her
crown rummaging through a high
cupboard looking for her apron. I
guess the sovereigns servants have
the day off.
435
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
juvenile, child
erect : ri; village; parent's
home; league
12
juvenile
The juvenile stood on top of his
computer and broke it. Noob.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The movie Zoolander is a little

JUVENILE and silly, but I love it
nonetheless. Just remember Owen
Wilson standing on the desk, hitting
the computer like a monkey. (The
files are IN the computer - IN the
computer...).
436
pupil
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

juvenile; child
17
pupil
In Japanese comics, the eyes of
juvenilles all have enormouse pupils.
WARNING: This kanji only means
the pupil of the eye. It can be
confusing to use a story that has
pupil meaning student in it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
437
bell, gong, chimes

: gold : juvenile; child
20
Story1:
bell
The METAL bell rings to call the
JUVENILES to class.
Story2:
The METAL bell rings to call the

JUVENILES to COMPUTER class.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
438
make a deal, selling, dealing in,

merchant
erect : light; clear; bright
11
make a deal
Story1:
I use what I think is the real

etymology for this kanji which is so
shocking it sticks. The STANDING
member at the top is a certain part of
the body that all men have and it is
approaching the HOLE between
TWO LEGS (the HOOD) with extra
marks to show they are FLESHY - ie
a womans legs. So this shows the
oldest DEAL of all time prostitution.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Slick Willy standing on the

motorcycle helmet hes trying to sell
you to demonstrate how rugged it is.
His legs crash through the top of it
and after a moment of awkward
silence his mouth opens and says,
"hey, we can still make a deal.".
439
legitimate wife, direct descent (nonbastard)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: woman; female : kettle lid

radical (no. 8) : upside-down
box radical (no. 13) : old
14
legitimate wife
Legitmate wifes tend to be women
who are antiques in contrast to the
young bit of illigitmate fluff on the
side.
Your legitimate wife is like an
antique bong. Its not your favorite
but you still hit it sometimes...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
440
suitable, occasional, rare, qualified,

capable
upside-down box radical (no.
13) : old : walk;
162)
14
suitable
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think of the term from televison

"suitable for all audiences" to get the
sense of the word. What program
could be more suitable for the whole
family than the "antiques
road(show)".
That old thing in your attic might be
suitable to be shown on the Antiques
Roadshow.
441
drip, drop
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : kettle lid radical

(no. 8) : upside-down box
radical (no. 13) : old
14
drip
DRIPS of WATER were collected in
ANTIQUE VASES since the
museum had a leaky roof.
You must never let water drip onto
antiques.
442
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
enemy, foe, opponent

13) : old : strike; hit;
15
enemy
The taskmaster became my enemy
for life when he smashed the antique
vase holding my wifes ashes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Indiana Jones is an enemy of

taskmasters in search of antique
artifacts.
443
spoon
Story1:
Story2:
To remember the primitive meaning,

picture someone sitting on the
ground performing Seppuku...with a
spoon. http://tinyurl.com/co48k.
Not only is stroke order important,
but also be sure to note the direction
of a stroke. In both spoon and
seven, the first stroke is the
horizontal one - but here it is written
right to left in a downward flick,
while in seven it is a strong line
from left to right.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
444
north
: spoon; spoon or katakana hi
radical (no. 21)
5
north
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Warning: The left part is NOT the

primitive turtle! The stroke order is
different. Sometimes it will look
exactly the same but not always
depending on the font / style used to
draw this character. Be sure to study
the difference!
In the north, the weather is so cold
that people are often seen sitting
back to back to preserve warmth.
445
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stature, height, back, behind,

disobey, defy, go back on, rebel
: north : meat
9
stature
While japanese people are generally
small, people in the northern
contryes have taller stature because
of all the flesh they eat!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Up in the Great White North, we eat

a lot of meat - thus giving us great
STATURE. Mmmm.... baby seals.
446
compare, race, ratio, Phillipines

radical (no. 21)
4
compare
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A gay couple about to turn around to

compare which role is better...
Compare the two spoons... the one
on the left is funny-looking.
447
descendants, elder brother

days : compare; race; ratio;
Philipines
8
descendants
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Grandparent spends all DAY

COMPARING photos of their
DESCENDANTS.
Japanese people have compared
themselves as being descendants of
the sun. (Amaterasu, the sun
godesss). Sun, comparing =
descendants.
448
all, everything
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: compare; race; ratio;

Philipines : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
9
all
If you compare colors, you will find
that white is produced from the mix
of all the others.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Sometimes, Dr. Heisigs keyword

choices are really quite bizarre. This
doesnt mean all, it means
everyone!! Picture two ku klux
klansmen comparing whose skin is
whiter...finally, they agree that
everyone there is white.
449
mix, blend, confuse

: water : descendants; elder
brother; insect
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
mix
People have to mix their fluids (have
sex), in order to create descendants.
Give plants the right mix of water
and sun. Then compare the results...
450
thirst, dry up, parch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : why; how; when

11
thirst
You awaken from your siesta
because you feel extremely thirsty so
you go looking for some water.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The muchacho taking his SIESTA

cries out that he is THIRSTY. So
you pull out a bottle of WATER and
pretend youre going to give it to
him...but then you dump it all on the
ground before his eyes. HAHA,
sucked in muchacho!!
451
audience, audience (with king)

: say : why; how; when
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
audience
The talk was so boring the audience
took a siesta.
The man talking during his siesta (in
his sleep) is saying strange things
and drawing an audience.
452
brown, woollen kimono

: garment; clothes;
dressing : why; how; when
13
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
brown
Why is my package late? Imagine a
UPS driver dressed in BROWN
garments taking a siesta. What can
BROWN do for you?
Mexicans use a cloak (pancho) for
their siestas. Their color is usually
brown.
453
hoarse, scold
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: mouth : why; how; when

11
hoarse
If you have a siesta with your
mouthopen, you will wake up with a
hoarse voice.
After taking a siesta, you find that
your mouth is hoarse (after all you
ARE thirsty remember).
454
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
delicious, relish, show a liking for,

purport, will, clever, expert
6
delicious
Use a spoon to eat a DELICIOUS
hot fudge sundae. Duh..
Its sooo delicious I could spoon it
in all day.
455
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fat, grease, tallow, lard, rosin, gum,

tar
: meat : delicious; relish;
show a liking for; purport; will;
clever; expert
10
fat
Every chef will tell you, fat is what
make the meat taste delicious.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Fat is the most delicious part of the

flesh. (Note this refers to physical
fat, not the concept of obesity obese
(#494)).
456
I (one)
radical (no. 14) : spoon;
spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
7
I (one)
I am the one , says the samurai
with the crown around his waist and
a spoon up his a***.
The samurai who has been crowned
number one is so good he uses a
spoon to fight with rather than a
sword.
457
every
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

4) : do not; must not; be not;
mother radical (no. 80)
6
every
Freud believed every man wants to
lie down with his mother.
Who does every person want to lie
down with? Yo MAMA!
458
cleverness, agile, alert
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: every : strike; hit; folding

10
cleverness
Every master(or taskmaster) must
have some degree of cleverness.
Cleverness is something every
taskmaster must have. Every
taskmaster has cleverness.
459
plum
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tree; wood : every

10
plum
Story1:
Plums actually grow on every single

tree. What, you didnt know that?
They do. Orange trees, apple trees,
cantaloupe trees. Plums are simply
mutant fruits that have been installed
in the root software of every single
tree. I hear that some plum-loving
scientists are working on a way to
hack every trees genetic code so
that every tree will bear nothing
_but_ plums.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
EVERY Japanese person asks you if

you like UMEBOSHI. No I say, I
prefer to eat my PLUMS fresh from
the TREE.
460
sea, ocean
: water : every
9
sea
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Every drop of water will eventually

return to the sea.
As depicted in the classic SF film
Fantastic Voyage, every drop of
water is a sea, if you look close
enough. Imagine peering through a
microscope at a vast sea teeming
with microbial life (and perhaps a
minaturized submarine). Note: Take
care not to confuse with ocean
(#549).
461
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
beg, invite, ask

: the latter; duplicate; strange;
witty; fishhook radical (no. 5)
3
beg
Lying down, Captain Hook is
begging to be spared from the
ticking crocodile.
Men beg lying down. Women beg as
hookers.
462
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
drought, dry, dessicate, drink up,

heaven, emperor
beg; invite; ask
11
drought
During a drought, everything begs
for even a mist for relief.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Beggar has to drink mist because

there is no water in the drought. I get
this one confused with thirst 451 but
try to remember that there is no
water element beacuse it is a drought.
463
abdomen, belly, stomach

: meat : return; repeat;
repeatedly
13
keyword:
abdomen
Story1:
The only body part that doubles over.

Imagine getting punched in the
abdomen, a fairly tender part of
flesh, and instead of doubling
forward, you double back. That
would be pretty painful.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
464
duplicate, double, compound,

multiple
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : return; repeat;
repeatedly
14
duplicate
My girlfiend saw someone wearing
the exact same (duplicate) outfit at a
party, so she doubled back to change!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of

Azkaban, Hermione uses a device
called a "time-turner" to double back
in time, but this creates duplicates.
The smart thing to do would be to
combine Hermiones time-turner
with Harrys invisibility cloak. That
way, one could double back in time
without creating any visible
duplicates.
465
lack, gap, fail, yawn
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: yawn, lack, yawn radical (no. 76)

4
lack
To me, this kanji looks like a person
with two arms and two legs, but who
lacks a head.
When your body lacks oxygen you
yawn.
466
blow, breathe, puff, emit, smoke
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: mouth : lack; gap; fail;

yawning radical (no. 76)
7
blow
This is clearly a BLOWJOB, we can
see the MOUTH and the LACK OF
condom. (I am sorry for the image,
but it sticks forever in your mind).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I keep confusing this with suck

(#689). Consider someone blowing
bubbles using their chewing gum
because theyre lacking attention in
class.
467
cook, boil
: fire : lack; gap; fail;
8
cook
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Japanese cooking sometimes lacks

fire, e.g., sashimi.
This character shows the difference
between a cook and a chef: a chef
prepares food with passion and love;
a cook only stands there with a pan
over a fire, with no passion and just
yawning.
468
song, sing
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: big brother : lack; gap;

fail; yawning radical (no. 76)
14
song
Can-Can-ers lack the ability to sing a
song, so they just dance.
Can-can dancers are supposed to be
big-bosomed girls who dance. Yet
these so called can-can dancers are
flat-chested and singing a song, so
audience of men is yawning in
boredom.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
469
soft
: car : lack; gap; fail;
11
soft
Cars are rough steel things, lacking
softness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If your car has really soft seats, you

may start yawning and eventually
fall asleep at the wheel (imagine that
this seat is a huge soft beanbag that
nearly swallows the driver, and it
will be easier to remember).
470
next, order, sequence

: two-stroke water radical or ice
radical (no. 15) : lack; gap;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
6
next
Is this store lacking ice? Lets try the
next one, then.
A rapper called "Ice" went for
auditions but was told he lacked
talent. Next...
471
briar, thorn
140) : next; order; sequence
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
9
briar
To prevent animals from eating the
beautiful flowers in your garden, the
best thing to do is to plant briar
bushes immediately next to them.
The briar patch may look
unremarkable now before it blooms,
but there will be flowers next, and it
will be beautiful.
472
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
assets, resources, capital, funds,

data, be conducive to, contribute to
: next; order; sequence :
shellfish
13
assets
Assets are the next best thing to
money.
The first SHELLS you get you
obviously spend, but the NEXT
SHELLS are your ASSETS, you
should bury them in a low safe place
(placement!).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
473
figure, form, shape

woman; female
9
figure
The next woman always has a better
figure! Thinking like that, youll end
up alone in an old folks home
longing for the good old days!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Whenever I am next to a woman, I

cant help but take notice of her
figure.
474
consult with
: say : investigate
16
consult with
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Having a word with the next mouth

over, like a neighbor, is usually a
good way to consult with somebody
for cheap. Because, you know,
actual consultants charge huge sums.
Consulting with is having words
with the next mouth.
475
compensation, indemnify
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: shellfish : stand up; rise;

set up; erect : mouth
15
compensation
Compensation is money you give to
someone to shut them up (i.e.
muzzle their mouth).
Compensation is a kind of
euphemism for hush money here.
Money that muzzles.
476
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
cultivate, foster
Turkey : stand up; rise; set up;
erect : mouth
11
cultivate
To cultivate the land is to tame it,
control it. In short, you muzzle its
unruly, chaotic nature.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The illegal immigrants cultivate the

land but are socially and politically
muzzled (wear muzzles while they
work too).
477
divide
erect : mouth : sword;
saber; knife
10
divide
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When you DIVIDE someone, there

is sure to be a lot of screaming.
Thats why you should use a
MUZZLE before using the SABER.
Divide and conquer - first you cut
them up (saber) , then you shut them
up (muzzle).
478
-
sound, noise
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

erect : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
9
sound
If you were standing on the sun,
believe me, youd be making sound.
The tongue wagging in a mouth
produces a very high-pitched sound,
breaking a nearby vase.
479
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
darkness, disappear, shade, informal,

grow dark, be blinded
days : sound; noise
13
darkness
Picture the sun exploding - there
would be a gigantic noise and
then...nothing. Everything would
plunge into darkness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In places of complete darkness, such

as caves where the sun cant reach,
creatures such as bats have learned
to navigate by sound rather than
sight. The poor guys must have to
fly around screaming "Marco!" and
"Polo!" all the time.
480
rhyme, elegance, tone

: sound; noise : employee;
member; number; the one in charge
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
19
rhyme
What is a RHYME but some
SOUND that EMPLOYEES say to
get them through work.
Dr Seusss employee finally rebels
against him: "Im tired of odd
sounds all the time, I will not,
cannot, speak in RHYME!".
481
discriminating, know, write
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : sword; potter's clay;

to gather
19
discriminating
Words are difficult to
discriminate/discern from sounds in
the middle of a fiesta.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
I have discriminating taste. Id rather

listen to the words of a lecture than
attend a kazoo concert. (Picture
some snobby guy in a tweed jacket
turning up his nose at entering a
loud raucous kazoo recital).
482
mirror, speculum, barrel-head, round

rice-cake offering
: gold : end; finally
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
19
mirror
Mirror should suggest vanity.
Imagine a spoiled girl who gets her
parents to buy her a Golden mirror
so she can stand in front of it all day
vainly admiring her lovely human
legs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
metal + stand up + sun + legs

remember the legend of Amaterasu
who retired in a cave. the other Gods
brought a MIRROR made of
polished METAL at the entrance of
the cave. Amaterasu who was
STANDING UP saw her image of
the SUN and began to dance with
her LEGS.
483
boundary, border, region
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

Turkey : end; finally
14
boundary
In the dense cities of Japan even a
small garden is a luxury. In this
house, the owner has put mirrors on
the boundary of his land so it feels
much bigger.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This is an old trick to keep out

migrants. You put a bunch of dirty
mirrors on the boundary of your land
and theirs. When they approach the
boundary, what they see in the
mirror is their own land and
someone that looks like themselves,
only dirtier, so they figure your
country isnt any better than their
own and they head back home.
484
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
deceased, the late, dying, perish

box-on-side enclosure radical (no.
22)
3
deceased
The top hat hanging on a hook
belonged to the now deceased
Charlie Chaplin.
The recently DECEASED are said to
hang their hats on a hook by the
door to the afterlife.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
485
blind, blind man, ignoramus

: deceased; the late; dying;
perish : eye; class; look;
8
blind
Deceased eyes! Easy ;).
A person with deceased eyes is blind.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
486
delusion, unnecessarily, without

authority, reckless
perish : woman; female
6
delusion
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I had a problem with remembering

that "deceased" went over the
"woman". So, heres my story: The
delusional woman was carrying her
deceased husband on her back.
If you think you should perish for
that woman, you have a major
delusion.
487
laid waste, rough, rude, wild
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : deceased; the late;
dying; perish : curving river
radical (no.47)
9
laid waste
After Godzilla laid waste to the city,
the survivors put some flowers on
the bodies of the deceased and
floated their bodies down the stream.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Laying waste is just a euphamism for

flushing poop down the toilet. It
smells nothing like flowers, more
like deceased flowers, and its
flushed down into a stream of
sewage. Use "waste" to avoid
destroy (#365) demolition (#400).
488
ambition, full moon, hope, desire,

aspire to, expect
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

perish : month; moon :
jewel; ball
11
ambition
Youre dead meat, buddy, my
ambition is to be king.
The ambitions of kings often result
in dead bodies.
489
direction, person, alternative
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

4
direction
Note: The primitives are top hat and
bound up. Compare ten thousand
(#64). Story: A rich man wearing a
top hat and bound up from head to
toe hobbles up to you and asks for
directions to the nearest police
station because he just escaped from
his kidnappers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I always keep my directions bound

to the bottom of my top hat so I
wont lose them.
490
disturb, prevent, hamper, obstruct

: woman; female :
direction; person; alternative
7
disturb
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Capt. Jack Sparrows compass gets

disturbed every time a beautiful
woman walks by him (just picture
Keira Knightley in her sexy asian
outfit as Elizabeth and the image
will be fixed forever).
One way to Disturb a woman is to
give her directions while she is in
the middle of driving -- she just
cant take that kind of stress.
491
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
boy, priest's residence, priest, your,

his, or her boy
Turkey : direction; person;
alternative
7
boy
Little boys always head in the
direction of mud and dirt.
Boys thoughts often head in dirty
directions.
492
onyomi:
english:
perfume, balmy, flavorable, fragrant

140) : direction; person;
alternative
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
7
perfumed
She used a perfume so strong, that
you can track her by following the
direction of the smell of flowers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
People always seem to overdo it

with their perfume. It seems that
whenever I am at school, somebody
walks by with their cheap flowery
perfume. If I close my eyes, I can
actually use that floweriness as a
compass - it tells me which direction
theyre in.
493
obese, fat
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: meat : direction; person;

alternative
8
obese
Flesh in all directions = obese.
Yo momma so obese, she changed
the direction of the moon.
494
call on, visit, look up, offer sympathy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : direction; person;

alternative
11
call on
When you call on someone, you
point your words in their direction.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When calling on a girl, youd better

what what sweet words will turn her
fancy in your direction. (Image: last
century teenagers on a frilly couch in
the sitting room, she with her back to
him, and he fumbling for the right
words to turn her around).
495
set free, release, fire, shoot, emit,

banish, liberate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: direction; person;
alternative : strike; hit;
8
set free
Go in any direction away from your
taskmaster when you are set free.
When slaves were set free from their
masters, they set off in all
directions
496
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
violent, get excited, enraged, chafe,

incite
: water : ancient musical
instrument
16
violent
When the taskmaster found his
favorite white compas damaged by
water, he became the most violent
taskmaster there ever was.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Overnight the slave got Violent and

was Set Free. Overnight....Set Free.
497
undress, removing, escape from, get

rid of, be left out, take off
: meat : exchange
11
undress
HORNY TEENAGERS love to
UNDRESS FLESH.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Before you undress I should warn

you -- the sight of flesh brings out
the devil in me.
498
rumor, opinion, theory

: say : exchange
14
rumor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The words of a horny teenager

typically fall into one of two
categories: either rumors or
explanations.
The words of the devil incite
rumours and false explanations.
499
pointed, sharpness, edge, weapon,

sharp, violent
: gold : exchange
15
keyword:
pointed
Story1:
Pointed is the metal devils pitchfork.

The Horny teenager who worked
part time at a gold smelting plant
always had uncontrollable errections
that pointed out all the time, this is
not a good thing to have when you
work in a gold smelting plant, surely
he will one day end up with a
Goldmember!
Story2:
heisig:
500
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:

once, before, formerly, ever, never,
ex: eight; eight radical (no.
12)<div>: rice field; rice
paddy : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days</div>
11
formerly
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The Artist formerly Known as Prince

has the horniest brain around, and I
think you can imagine what his
wagging tongue is doing...
Formerly, horned animals were used
to plough the ricefield, and it took
all day. Nowadays its done by
machine.
501
increase, add, augment, gain,

promote
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

Turkey : formerly; once;
before; ever; never; ex14
increase
Prices always INCREASE for
LAND that was FORMERLY
cheaper.
Farmers work the land so they can
INCREASE their formerly puny
crop supply.
502
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
presents, send, give to, award to,

confer on, presenting something
: shellfish : formerly; once;
presents
Presents represent money that was
formerly yours.
Story2:
heisig:
Imagine if the number of presents

you get increases with each birthday.
So on your first birthday, you
receive just one shell as a present,
but the next year it increases to two
shells as presents, and so on,
increasing and increasing so by the
time youre elderly, the number of
shells youll get as presents will
have increased to an awful lot of
presents. GOT IT YET? PRESENTS
= SHELLS + INCREASE.
503
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
east
: tree; wood : day; sun;
8
east
Traditionally seen as a pictograph of
the sun rising behind a tree.
The sun pierces through the trees as
it rises in the east
504
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ridgepole, ridge
: tree; wood : east
12
ridgepole
Feng Shui states that the ridgepole
of a house should be made of wood
and face east.
Story2:
heisig:
Ok just a note to the ridgepole

facing east story im making up a
story to JUSTIFY why that is the
case. Assuming that 99% of you
guys use the age old story of a sun
rising through a tree tells you were
the east is, back in those days when
people used ridgepoles they wanted
to align their houses in such a way
that they face the rising sun, so they
wake up with a bright day, and wake
up early with the sun seeping
505
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
frozen, congeal, refrigerate

radical (no. 15) : east
10
frozen
Eastern Siberia is often frozen by
ice. According to wikipedia, Yakutia
(in Eastern Siberia) holds the record
as the coldest town on Earth. Check
it out yourself...it made it stick for
me!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The ice will stay frozen until the sun

is visible through the trees.
506
pregnancy
: woman; female : 9th
calendar sign
7
pregnancy
A pregnant woman is a porter of her
child.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The gentleman gave the woman a bit

of sperm...BAM PREGNANCY!
507
courts, imperial court, government

office
: 9th calendar sign : long
stride or stretching radical (no. 54)
7
courts
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A porter has run away from his

master. His punishment is to be
stretched out on the rack. So say the
courts in this barbaric time.
The gentleman stretched the truth a
bit in court.
508
dye, color, paint, stain, print

: water : nine : tree;
wood
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
dye
To make this dye, I used water and
the barks of nine different trees.
The baseball team hangs their
freshly dyed dripping jerseys at the
top of a tree to dry.
509
burn, blaze, glow

: fire : sort of thing; so; if
so; in that case; well
16
keyword:
burn
Story1:
Any sort of thing can burn in the fire.

Somebody from PETA is really
angry that they sell dog meat in
China, so theyve gone to burn down
the whole cart (my mnemonic for
"sort of thing" was seeing strips of
dog flesh roasting, and saying "well,
thats just the sort of thing they do
here in China).
Story2:
heisig:
510
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
V.I.P., guest
(no. 40) : few; little :
shellfish
15
V.I.P.
This house is reserved to V.I.P. only.
If you are not one of the few with
enough money to call you that way,
keep out!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The V.I.P. visits your house, but

your ceiling is too low for his
inflated head, which he bumps and
hurts. You have to give him your
few shells as compensation.
511
year-end, age, occasion, opportunity

: stop; halt : protection
13
year-end
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Santa had to put his foot down to

stop a march of little guys, namely
elves. They were protesting the
harsh treatment they get every yearend when Santa asks them to step up
toy production for the holiday
season.
At the year-end, everything seems to
come to a stop. However, theres
still enough time for a little march to
celebrate.
512
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
prefecture
experience; care; favor : little;
small
9
prefecture
Story1:
In Japanese this is
KEN, as in Barbies boyfriend. He
has lovely blue eyes, a girlfriend who
is as thin as a straightened
out <span style="font-
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
After sticking a fishhook in your

eye, the yakuza boss probably has
little more to do to convince you to
move to a different prefecture.
513
horse chestnut, (kokuji)
: tree; wood : wild goose;
trailing cliff radical (no. 27) :
ten thousand; 10,000
9
horse chestnut
Story1:
There are a bunch of HORSE

CHESTNUT TREES on top of this
CLIFF above the beach. Chestnuts
keep rolling off the cliff and falling
on peoples heads. So far TEN
THOUSAND people have been
killed by falling chestnuts, and the
Japanese government still aint did
shit about it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There is a horse chestnut tree that

has grown by a cliff for so long, it
has deposited 10,000 horse chesnuts
that lie at the bottom. Dont worry
over this one too much, youll spend
so much time trying to figure out the
right story for it, you probably wont
forget it.
514
ground, earth
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

Turkey : to be (classical)
6
ground
Picture the ground as an extent of
soil where scorpions are buried like
land mines. Imagine a sign post
saying no trespassing, scorpion
mines if that helps, and how it is
dangerous to walk there.
The soil is littered with scorpions
everywhere and no ones dares put
their foot on the ground.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
515
pond, cistern, pool, reservoir

: water : to be (classical)
6
pond
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Remember the story of the scorpion

that begged the turtle for a ride
across the pond? Halfway across the
water, the scorpion stung the turtle
on the neck and they both sank to
the bottom.
Water scorpions loves to live in the
pond.
516
insect, bug, temper

: in; inside; middle; mean; center
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
6
insect
I see the bottom of this kanji as an
arm, and the top is an insect biting
into the arm, sucking some blood.
Insect in one drop of amber. Think
Jurassic Park.
517
lightning-bug, firefly
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

14) : insect; bug; temper
11
lightning bug
Bugs have to go to school to learn
how to become lightning bugs. Only
the brightest bugs graduate to
become lightning bugs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Q: Whos the smartest insect in

school? A: The lightning-bug.
Because hes so bright! (Image:
lightning bug in school with glasses,
pocket protector, etc. Maybe even
have some cool kids teasing him).
518
snake, serpent, hard drinker

: insect; bug; temper : other
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
snake
A snake eats insects and he does that
outside, while we eat another snake
in the house and preferably with a
spoon.
Solid Snake crawled like a bug,
infiltrated my house, and took out
everyone with a spoon.
519
rainbow
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: insect; bug; temper : craft;

construction; katakana e radical (no.
48)
9
rainbow
Little is it known that a rainbow is
actually created by insects of
different colours flying in formation,
a craft they have perfected to create
the rainbows we see today.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Rainbow is of course created by

billions of colored insects (what?
you really thought it was an optical
illusion?). However I had problems
remembering that the insect
primitive goes on the left. If you
have similar difficulties, try this:
rainbow is an Insect-Craft.
Mnemonic: I.C. Rainbow (I see
rainbow).
520
butterfly
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: insect; bug; temper :

generation; world; society;
public : tree; wood
butterfly
A butterfly is an insect that appears
after spending a generation on a tree
as a cocoon.
Butterflies are insects that like to eat
just the flowers but leave the leaves
behind. (helps me to think of the
kanji for leaves, minus the flower
bit).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
521
single, alone, spontaneously,

Germany
: dog : insect; bug; temper
9
single
The bachelors apartment looked
like it had been attacked by a pack of
wild dogs. There were even insects
in the kitchen. No wonder hes
single!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A SINGLE guy is a WILD DOG

who BUGS many women.
522
silkworm
: heavens; sky; imperial :
insect; bug; temper
10
silkworm
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There are no insects in heaven well, that is, except for silkworms.
What, do you expect Jesus to import
his fancy robes from China?
In China it was believed that the
silkworms were insects sent from
heaven because of the beautiful
material they produced.
523
wind, air, style, manner
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

windy radical (no. 16) :
insect; bug; temper
9
wind
They say that when an INSECT flaps
its wings even the single DROP of
WIND that it creates is sometimes
enough to create a hurricane on the
other side of the Earth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The WIND usually carries things

around in it - drops of rain or snow,
and lots of insects.
524
self, snake, serpent

: oneself (radical no. 49)
3
self
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This kanji looks like the "s" of

"self", looking at its own reflection
in a mirror (reversed sideways), as if
pondering about his "self".
When Superman looks at himself in
the mirror, this is what he sees on his
chest.
525
rouse, wake up, get up

: run : self; snake; serpent
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
rouse
Be careful when youre RUNNING
through the jungle, because you
might step on and ROUSE a
sleeping SNAKE. Then youll have
to RUN like hell before it bites you!
Nothing will rouse you quite as
much as finding a snake in your bed.
You will run away like youve never
run before!
526
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
queen, princess
: woman; female : self;
snake; serpent
6
queen
Cleopatra.
Be careful you dont pick up a drag
queen at a club - they might look
like women, but they have a snake
down there!
527
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
reformation, change, modify, mend,

renew, examine, inspect, search
: self; snake; serpent :
variant (no. 66)
7
reformation
Story1:
Story2:
The taskmaster of Slytherin (

wizardry house symbolized by a
snake ) plans a reformation of
Hogwarts, disallowing the study of
magic to all muggle-born.
.
This is a Meiji reformation
taskmaster, trying to force usage of
the Roman alphabet in Japan in
place of Kanji. He holds a snake in
the shape of the letter S and tries to
explain how much simpler this is
(j/k).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
528
scribe, account, narrative

: say : self; snake; serpent
10
scribe
A scribe writes down the words
spoken by a snake (i.e. a lawyer).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Snakes have no hands. So, when a

snake needs to write down
something, it has to call in a
SCRIBE, who will write down all
the sayings of the snake.
529
wrap, pack up, cover, conceal

radical (no. 20) : self; snake;
serpent
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
wrap
The snake bound up its prey by
wrapping his body around it.
Imagine Jessie sending in her Ekans
(snake pokemon), and telling it to
use bind attack to wrap up pikachu.
530
placenta, sac, sheath

: meat : wrap; pack up;
cover; conceal
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
placenta
Imagine a newborn baby, fresh out
of the womb, being entirely wrapped
by the long piece of flesh, called a
placenta, that once fed him.
Placenta is flesh/part of the body
wrapped around the foetus.
531
cannon, gun
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: stone : wrap; pack up;

cover; conceal
10
cannon
Primitive cannons fired stones
wrapped with poisonous snakes.
Cannon = stone projectile wrapped
by a barrel.
532
bubbles, foam, suds, froth
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : wrap; pack up;

cover; conceal
8
bubble
When water forms a bubble, it wraps
a pocket of air.
To prevent people from popping
bubble wrap for fun, the post office
has started filling the bubbles with
water.
533
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tortoise, turtle
Japan; counter for days : day;
sun; Japan; counter for days
11
tortoise
It seems bizarre, but tortoises are a
genetic cross with the head of a fish
and the tail of an eel. Where the
shell comes from, no one knows.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A tortoise is prosperity bound up

with a tail. They are very lucky
creatures.
534
electricity
: rain : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
13
electricity
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think of a two natural sources of

electricity: electrical storms (a form
of weather) and electrical eels.
phone, call.
This kanji was invented by the first
Chinaman to discover electricity. He
was so unfortunate, he stepped on an
electric eel and got struck by
lighting at the same time.
535
dragon, imperial
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: dragon; imperial
10
dragon
Have you ever seen an asian
DRAGON? it looks like an eel, but
can stand up because it has legs.
If the poor villagers dont provide
him with a vase full of eels each day,
the dragon will lay waste to the
village.
536
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
waterfall, rapids, cascade

: water : dragon; imperial
13
waterfall
The Water Dragon dwells in the
waterfall.
Ever went under a waterfall, vase in
hand, trying to catch eels from the
water as it pours down?
537
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
pork, pig
: meat : pig; hog; pig
radical (no. 152)
11
pork
Pork comes from the flesh of a sow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
One possible pictograph for "sow"

primitive: the top line is a feeding
trough, the stroke touching it is the
head, the long curved stroke is the
body (with a little hook at the end
for the curly tail), and the four
remaining strokes are the sows legs.
538
pursue, drive away, chase,

accomplish, attain, commit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: pig; hog; pig radical (no.

152) : walk; walking; road
10
pursue
In association with consummate
(#540), our sow is on the road
pursuing a mate.
The pig is on the road in the pursue
of the turtle who is trying to escape
(#283). (See story on escape (#283)
& consummate (#540)).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
539
consummate, accomplish, attain,

commit (suicide)
: pig; hog; pig radical (no.
12
consummate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This is still Miss Piggy only shes

gotten horny (as she often does) and
now shes pursuing Kermit to help
her consummate her desires.
In association with pursue (#539),
our sow has tracked down a suitable
mate, theyve consummated their
relationship, and now the little sow
is all grown up into a boar with
horns.
540
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
house, home
(no. 40) : pig; hog; pig radical
(no. 152)
10
house
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think of "The Three Little Pigs".

There was a house made of straw,
another made of sticks, and a third
made of bricks, each occupied by a
pig. So, naturally, housetop over pig
means house, the central element of
that story.
Man, ever hear of cleaning? This
house is a pig sty.
541
marry into, bride
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: woman; female : house;

home; family; professional; expert;
performer
13
Story1:
marry into
Since the Nihonjin man is hardly
ever home, the woman feels more
like shes married into the house
than into a relationship.
Story2:
Traditionally, it was the women who

would marry into the households of
their husbands families.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
542
overpowering, great, powerful,

excelling, Australia
mouth : wa-shaped crown
radical (no. 14) : pig; hog; pig
radical (no. 152)
14
overpowering
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In Orwells Animal Farm the pigs

overpowered every other animals.
They crownded themselves as ruler
of the farm and walked tall on their
rear legs, a crime strictly forbidden
in the animal republic.
Ganon, the tall crowned pig, has
been overpowering ther land of
Hyrule for decades.
543
intestines, guts, bowels, viscera
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: meat : open; sun

13
intestines
Intestines are the part of the body
that is taken out of piglets to make
piggy banks. Just imagine factory
workers scraping out the intestines
of real piglets and packaging them
up for little children.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Taking things too literally, you used

a real piglet as a piggy bank. Now
when you smash it open to get your
coins out, you have to dig out your
coins from its intestines. ew.
544
location, place
Turkey : open; sun
12
location
Story1:
Story2:
Youre looking for a good location

to bury your piggy bank savings. It
has to be in some soft soil thats easy
to dig up, well hidden, and easy to
remember like this kanji.
Dont confuse with place (#1127).
Think of location not as a single
fixed spot, but as the act of locating.
Youve buried your piggy bank in
the dirt in your backyard, but you
cant remember where. You
frantically dig everywhere in a
process of location to find your
piggy bank.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
545
hot water, bath, hot spring

: water : open; sun
12
hot water
Story1:
Story2:
Imagine a hot water kettle for your

tea, except this one is a pink piggy
bank that pours the water from its
snout (and squeals when the water is
piping hot). Make sure to use a
potholder!
Hot water is a phrase that can mean
"getting into trouble." This kanji
pictures just one of the many
meanings of that phrase: its water
that you get into (with creditors and
the like) when your piggy bank is
empty!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
546
sheep
: sheep, sheep radical (no. 123)
6
sheep
Picture of a sheep run over by a
steam roller. Must have been a ram,
note the horns.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Our Lord and King put on ears and a

tail to become a lowly sheep for the
slaughter.
547
beauty, beautiful
: sheep : large; big
9
beauty
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I guess this kanji proves its not just

the Welsh whose idea of beauty is a
large sheep.
A Sheep on top of a dog is NOT a
beautiful thing.
548
ocean, western style

: water : sheep
9
ocean
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This kanji refers to the waters of the

Pasheephic ocean.
Remember the story of Jason and the
Argonauts from Greek myth? Jason
travelled across oceans of water in
order to recover the fleece of a
certain sheep.
549
detailed, full, minute, accurate, wellinformed

: say : sheep
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
13
detailed
Trembling from head to hoof from
such a traumatic experience, the
sheep gives a very detailed worded
account to the detective about his
wolf attack. "We need more details
Mr. Sheep. Tell us exactly where the
baaad man touched you".
Say! detailed sheep, not like that!
DE-TAILED sheep. Got it?
550
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea

: fish : sheep
17
fresh
The freshest fish is caught in the
middle of the night while most
people are "counting sheep." (If
youve ever been to Tsukiji fish
market, you know what I mean).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This ones easy to remember. The

kanji gives 2 examples of foods that
should be purchased fresh. To
remember which foods, take the first
letter of fresh, "F", to stand for fish
and the final sound of fresh, "SH", to
stand for sheep: FreSH. It even puts
the primitives in the right order.
551
accomplished, reach, arrive, attain
component:
strokes:
keyword:

Turkey : sheep : walk;
162)
12
accomplished
Story1:
Story2:
Dolly (the first cloned sheep ever)

grow tired of being a celebrity and
escaped from the labs by digging a
tunnel. She turned out to be an
ACCOMPLISHED escapist, as she
managed to dig a road under the soil.
/Imagine Dolly performing a escape,
like those movies where the main
character has to escape from jail.
The dirty sheep had come far down
this road and had accomplished
many things.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
552
envious, be jealous, covet

: sheep : water :
lack; gap; fail; yawning radical (no.
76)
13
envious
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A very thirsty sheep, who always

lacked water, spends his days
watching his fellow sheep (in the
farm next door or in another pen)
and being very envious of their
water.
Envious of the greener grass on the
other side of the fence, the sheep
looks down in disgust at his own dry
grass lacking water.
553
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
distinction, difference, variation,

discrepancy, margin, balance
: sheep : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : craft;
48)
10
distinction
This New-Zealand pro-gamer has
won many distinctions playing
WoolCraft (a massively multi-user
game in which the goal is to shear
sheep).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Noob players make no distinction

between what games they play,
whether its the geniune thing or a
bootleg fake copy. The biggest
example of course, would be the
legit World of Warcraft and the
biggest ripoff there is: World of
Wool-craft!
554
don, arrive, wear, counter for suits of

clothing
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: sheep : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : eye; class;
12
don
A pullover is donned by pulling
wool over your eyes.
Someone who is donning a disguise
does that in order to pull the wool
over your eyes.
555
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
solely, only, merely, simply

: mouth : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
11
solely
The mouth of a turkey is used solely
for saying, "Gobble." Likewise, your
mouth, full of turkey, is solely used
to gobble it up.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sadly my mouth gets to taste turkey

solely on Christmas Day.
556
char, hurry, impatient, irritate, burn,

scorch, singe
: bird; old bird radical (no.
172) : fire
12
char
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When I put the turkey over the oven

fire, it always ends up being charred
beyond recognition. Im not a very
good cook.
Char could be any meat over oven
fire. So why is it a turkey in this
kanji? Because charred turkey is
what sticks out most in your mind as
the thing that ruined Thanksgiving
dinner.
557
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
reef, sunken rock

: stone : char; hurry;
impatient; irritate; burn; scorch; singe
17
reef
Coral reefs are now dying off due to
our abuse of the environment and
now look like charred stone. For a
picture illustrating this, see
http://www.nacri.org/images/Hofdredgingfig8.jpg.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Reefs are often formed from

volcanic rock, or "rock that has been
charred".
558
gather, meet, congregate, swarm,

flock
172) : tree; wood
12
gather
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hunter-gathers, searching all along

the ground for food. They never look
up and see the Turkeys that have
gathered on top of the trees to hide.
Those were some smart turkeys!
Gather the turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Gather the trees for Christmas. In
that order...
559
quasi-, semi-, associate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

radical (no. 15) : bird; old
bird radical (no. 172)
10
quasiQuasi-modo, the famous hunchback
of Notre-Dame wasnt actually a
hunchback at all!! He used a frozen
turkey to make a hunch!
An iced turkey is only quasi-as-goodas fresh turkey.
heisig:
onyomi:
560
english:
advance, proceed, progress, promote

component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
11
advance
Why did the turkey cross the road?
To advance to the other side, of
course.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
[re: raulir] Animals on the road:

Turtles escape (#283) and Pigs
pursue (#539), while the Turkeys
advance (looking very formidable
indeed).
561
miscellaneous
: nine : tree; wood :
bird; old bird radical (no. 172)
14
miscellaneous
Story1:
Story2:
Newscast: "Among todays

miscellaneous stories, we have a
report on a baseball team that was
chased up a tree by a turkey. Stay
tuned for this and more!".
On the left we have baseball and
wood, which obviously means a
baseball bat. Instead of balls, there
are miscellaneous other objects you
may hit with it. While beating people
may be one favorite use, in this case
we see it used for making turkey
mash.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
562
feminine, female
: this; current; next; coming; last;
past : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
14
feminine
Stop | spooning | turkeys. Spoon
females.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To become feminine you must stop

using a spoon to eat turkey and use a
knife and fork like a proper lady.
563
semi-, correspond to, proportionate

to, conform, imitate
: water : falcon
13
semi-
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The anhinga, or water turkey, has a

needle-like nose, so really its only a
semi-turkey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhinga
.
At the turkey fighting semi-final,
turkeys are injected with drugs via
needles and splashed with water to
help them last the match.
564
stirred up, be invigorated, flourish
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: large; big : bird; old bird

rice paddy
16
stirred up
The St. Bernard dog pounces on a
turkey in a rice field and stirs up all
the other birds around. See them all
gobble gobbling in fear?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Gruesome, but it makes it easy to

remember. Here goes: The St.
Bernard stirred up a crowd of
turkeys and caught one. It bit the
head, brains spilling onto the rice
field.
565
rob, take by force, snatch away,

dispossess, plunder, usurp
: large; big : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172) :
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
14
rob
Remember the scene in A Christmas
Story where the big dogs robbed the
family of their Christmas turkey?
Well, the following year Ralphies
mom glued the holiday bird to the
kitchen table, just as a precaution.
Dont let the neighbors St.Bernard
rob tonights turkey....glue it to the
table if you must.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
566
assurance, firm, tight, hard, solid,

confirm, clear, evident
: stone : bird flying; high
ambition
15
assurance
To assure that no one will get into
the Turkey coop, put a huge rock in
the entrance!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Youve heard the expression "killing

two birds with one stone."
( is-seki-ni-chou). Well,
theres another one that roughly
translates as "killing an entire coop
with a giant boulder. " Thats the
method that hunters use when they
want absolute assurance of taking
home a bird.
567
noon
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

4) : dry; parch
4
noon
Noon is a good time for a ten minute
nap (using lie down as nap).
Noon is the hour of the horse.
568
permit, approve
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: say : noon; sign of the

horse; 11AM-1PM; seventh sign of
Chinese zodiac
11
permit
If horses could speak, you might
have to ask their permission before
mounting them.
Mr Ed ( a famous talking horse ) was
finally at a loss for words when told
he would need a permit for public
speaking.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
569
delight, joy
172) : lack; gap; fail; yawning
radical (no. 76)
15
delight
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Imagine a spoiled little girl. Her

delight when she gets a Pegasus for
her birthday... and then like all spoilt
little girls she gets bored of it
quickly... hence the yawn.
I would be delighted if Japanese
lacked the Pegasus kanji.
570
authority, power, rights

: tree; wood : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
15
authority
I have Eric Cartman of the South
Park animated series, wearing a cop
uniform, riding a wooden Pegasus
(such as on a funfair), and yelling
RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!!!.
No one has the authority to tie up a
pegasus to a tree!
571
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
outlook, look, appearance, condition,

view
172) : see; hopes; chances;
idea; opinion; look at; visible
18
outlook
Microsoft Outlook works about as
well as a pegasus that cant see: they
both crash all the time.
Story2:
heisig:
I used to hate birds.Theyre loud,

stupid and worst of all they shit on
your head. Used to think birds were
the most vile creatures on earth.
Then I encountered a pegasus. I was
just walking down the road, minding
my own business when I happened
to look up. I saw it there, braying
noisily, ivory wings outstretched like
an angel, back leg raised ever so
slightly. It dropped a steaming
brown load right on my face. It
572
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
feathers, counter for birds, rabbits

: feather, wing, feather radical (no.
124)
6
feathers
Pictograph. Easy enough.
These days the biggest concern in
airline safety is ICE on the WINGS
of the plane. Birds that fly long
distances also have to worry about
getting ICE on their FEATHERS.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
573
learn
: feathers; counter for birds,
rabbits : white
11
learn
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Imagine a white bird loosing a

couple feathers as it is learning to
fly. You learn a lesson as you watch
it doing so, maybe you learn that
nothing comes for free or that
one has to be prepared to loose in
order to gain...
Learning is all about adding more
feathers to your cap and the most
prestigious of all is the beautiful
pure white feather youll receive
when you have learned the kanji!
574
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
the following, next

rabbits : stand up; rise; set up;
erect
11
the following
The following segment is sponsored
by...Swiffer - who make excellent
feather dusters for cleaning your
vases.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Your feathers would also stand up if

you were a hen in a slaughter house
and you heard: "The following!".
575
weekday
days : feathers; counter for
birds, rabbits : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
18
keyword:
weekday
Story1:
Tip: feathers + turkey : This

six times in Heisig, so its
suggest "futon" (your futon is made
from turkey feathers). REF: weekday
(FRAME 576) , laundry (#577), leap
(#1285), outstanding (#2272),
twinkle (#2534), shimmering
(#2880). Story: On weekdays you
hang your futon out in the sun.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The poor farmer spends every

weekday while the sun shines,
plucking turkey feathers.
576
laundry, wash, pour on, rinse

: water : feathers; counter
for birds, rabbits : bird; old
17
laundry
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
At the laundry you stuff your large

futon (made from turkey feathers) in
the machine, thereby causing it to
break -- as shown by the water
spurting out the side.
When turkeys do the laundry, they
put their feathers in water (they
dont have clothes).
577
say, reason, pretext, history, past

: say, say radical (no. 73)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
sayeth
Sayeth?! Who the hell says
"sayeth"? Doesnt seem quite
right...just like this kanji, which is
just like "day" but doesnt seem
"quite right.".
When pent up alone, one sayeth little.
578
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
quandary, become distressed,

annoyed
box : tree; wood
7
quandary
Im supposed to make an enclosure
for my tree, but if I use its wood for
the enclosure, there wont be
anything left to be pent-in. What a
quandary!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You are pent in the garden of eden

with one tree, but outside is the
whole world to explore! What a
quandary -- should you stay in
paradise with the tree of knowledge
or should you go out into the world?
579
harden, set, clot, curdle

box : old
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
8
harden
Fossils are old things pent in that
have hardened.
Remember Metapod from Pokemon?
All it used was harden, which kept it
pent in until it grew old enough to
evolve into Butterfree..
580
country
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

box : jewel; ball
8
country
In my country (England) the crown
jewels are kept pent-in in the Tower
of London. Which happens to be
where enemies of the state were
once also pent-in (probably for
trying to steal those jewels).
Just think of Japan, a country which
is like a jewel but historically very
enclosed.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
581
group, association
box : measurement; foot/10
6
group
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When you are admitted into a group

like the Yakuza, youre well and
truly done () for. You must
stick to the group like glue, and you
will be pent-in for life, never being
able to leave.
A pent-in group will naturally be
more cohesive, or "glued together.".
582
cause, factor, be associated with,

depend on, be limited to
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

box : large; big
6
cause
We once had a dog with big paws //
and oh what great trouble hed cause
// we built a huge pen // to keep him
pent in // and stop him from
breaking more laws //.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Why is there poop on the kitchen

floor? Oh, the cause is that you kept
the dog pent in the house all day.
Next time remember to walk him.
583
matrimony, marry
: woman; female : cause;
factor; be associated with; depend
on; be limited to
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
matrimony
Matrimony is the state in which the
woman has got you pent in like a
dog so that you cannot go after other
bitches.
When the woman gets angry, she
treats her man like a pent in dog
(i.e., puts him in the doghouse). Its
a perfect metaphor for the state of
matrimony.
584
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
park, garden, yard, farm

box : long kimono
13
park
A nice picnic pent up in the park,
with your crock pot and scarf (picnic
blanket).
There was a homeless man living in
a box at the park so I gave him a
lidded crock filled with hot curry
tied with a scarf...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
585
#NAME?
box : mouth
6
#NAME?
Write mouth two -times.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Pretty much a pictograph, see book.

Keyword meanings : to turn round,
counter for number of times, counter
for rounds. Some simple compounds
using previously learned kanji :
(next time), (every time/each
round), (to wander around).
586
podium, stage, rostrum, terrace
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

Turkey : truly; wholly; cordial
16
podium
A man on the podium announce the
rules for the contest: You must fill a
top hat with dirt as many times as
you can by nightbreak.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Abraham Lincoln used a simple

mound of soil for a podium, when he
wore his top hat and gave the speech
he had practiced many times until
nightbreak. But it was so
magnificent that no one noticed.
587
store, shop
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: dotted cliff radical (no.

53) : fortune-telling; divining;
forecasting; occupy; hold; have; get;
take
8
store
Try to remember all those stores
from Zelda that were inside caves
and had fortune-teller like vendors.
The fortuneteller has a store in a
cave.
588
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
warehouse, storehouse
53) : car
10
warehouse
I think of the Batcave. Its a big cave
that Batman uses as a warehouse to
store his car, the Batmobile, and all
his cool big-boy toys.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Have you ever worked in a

warehouse? Its like a giant metal
cave. Watch out for that forklift!
589
courtyard, garden, yard

53) : courts; imperial court;
government office
10
courtyard
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When the courthouse caved in, trials

had to be held in the courtyard.
Back in caveman days, courts were
held in caves. When too many
people showed up to watch, they
spilled out into the courtyard (the
yard outside the cave court ) .
(): garden, yard, compound
(): garden, park
(): schoolyard.
590
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
government office
53) : street; ward; town;
4th calendar sign
5
government office
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Some bureaucrats at a government

office decided that the tunnels of
caves need to get street signs, which
are then nailed to the walls of the
cave.
In some of the scarier countries,
when someone is invited to visit a
"government office", its actually a
dungeon where theyre dragged into
a cave and nailed to the wall.
591
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bed, floor, padding, tatami

53) : tree; wood
7
bed
The two safe places to sleep in the
wilderness are in a tree and in a
cave. So these can be considered as
beds.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
(based on mspertus:) The two safe

places to sleep in the wilderness are
in a tree and in a cave. So to be on
the safe side it is best to put a tree in
a cave and use it as a bed.
592
hemp, flax
53) : grove; forest
11
hemp
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
(Image: while Batman is out, Robin

is smokin a huge doob in a secret
corner of the Batcave where he
nurtures his hemp grove).
Where is the best place to hid your
grove of hemp trees? In a cave, you
dope!
593
grind, polish, scour, improve, brush

(teeth)
: hemp; flax : stone
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
16
grind
If you grind the hemp you are bound
to get stoned quicker.
You must GRIND the HEMP
collected in the grove by your cave
on solid STONE to make the best
ropes.
594
heart, mind, spirit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: heart, heart radical (no. 61)

4
heart
The four chambers in the heart. In
the West, we point to our head when
asked about the mind. In the East,
they point to the heart. So then, the
radical for "state of mind"
Heart needs three drops of blood to
work.
595
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
forget
perish : heart; mind; spirit;
heart radical (no. 61)
7
forget
You only truly forget her when she
has perished in your heart.
To forget means that something
perishes from your heart.
596
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
endure, bear, put up with, conceal,

secrete, spy, sneak
: blade; sword; edge : heart;
mind; spirit; heart radical (no. 61)
7
endure
Story1:
Story2:
A ninja must be able to endure the

pain of clinging to a ceiling,
motionless, for hours at a time,
waiting for just the right moment to
drop down and thrust the blade of
his sword into the hearts of his
enemies. By the way, this character
is used in the compound
(ninja) which is why I choose to use
ninja as its primitive meaning.
Someone with a razor blade stuck in
their heart has to endure the pain
wherever they go and can tell no one
about it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
597
acknowledge, witness, discern,

recognize, appreciate, believe
: say : endure; bear; put up
with; conceal; secrete; spy; sneak
14
acknowledge
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You are given a speech about some

serious mistakes of yours, and you
have to endure the whole thing,
because all you can do is
acknowledge.
I never read the
"acknowledgements" section of
books or theses, because they are
mostly just boring words that i must
endure reading, before i can get to
the interesting part. :).
598
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mourning, abhor, detestable, death

anniversary
: self; snake; serpent :
heart; mind; spirit; heart radical (no.
61)
7
mourning
Remember the tale of Cleopatra?
She was MOURNING the loss of
her Marc Antony, so she placed the
asp SNAKE to her HEART.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You are mourning the death of a

relative, and it feels as if a snake had
bitten into your heart. -- "mourning
feels like snake-bitten heart".
599
intention, plan, resolve, aspire,

motive, hopes, shilling
Turkey : heart; mind; spirit;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
7
intention
A samurais intentions always come
from the heart.
Gentleman always have hearts full of
good intentions.
600
document, records
: say : intention; plan;
resolve; aspire; motive; hopes;
shilling
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
14
document
A will is an important document that
contains your final word on how you
intend to distribute your assets.
This is quite simple: a document is a
set of words describing your
intentions.
601
loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: in; inside; middle; mean;

center : heart; mind; spirit;
8
loyalty
Their true loyalty exists in the
middle of their hearts.
Your loyalty is to whats in your
heart.
602
shish kebab, spit, skewer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: mouth : in; inside; middle;

mean; center
7
shish kebab
Naka naka , "whos there?" shish
kebab .... "shish kebab who?".
This is a pictograph if ever I saw
one. Two chunks of meat on a
skewer.
603
afflicted, disease, suffer from, be ill
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shish kebab; spit; skewer :

61)
11
afflicted
A person who is afflicted with the
vampire disease can only be killed
with a sheesh-kebab through the
heart.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you are afflicted with severe

heartburn, eating a spicy shish kebab
will feel only slightly less painful
than having it jammed straight into
your heart.
604
think
61)
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
think
Think with your brain NOT your
heart.
To think is to use your brain over
your heart.
605
grace, kindness, goodness, favor,

mercy, blessing, benefit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cause; factor; be associated with;

depend on; be limited to :
61)
10
grace
Grace here is a favor freely
bestowed, like a good deed. So to
remember this kanji, go to the local
shelter, find a big dog pent up in a
small cage and adopt him. That will
cause a warm feeling in your heart!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This kanji tells us that wherever

heart is the cause, grace is the
consequence. Think of grace as a
graceful act: something benevolent
that comes from the heart.
606
-
apply, answer, yes, OK, reply, accept
53) : heart; mind; spirit; heart
radical (no. 61)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
7
apply
In the videogame Zelda, Link enters
a CAVE to visit a fairy that will
APPLY magic to fill his HEART
containers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
[bravo, scottamus!] To apply for the

job as a (replacement) Batman, you
have to make it to the heart of the
cave past all the traps he set up to
test you. There, you see a table with
the application form on it. Now that
you think about it, the ad in the
paper did say "Those who dont
make it to the heart of the cave need
not apply.".
607
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
idea, mind, heart, taste, thought,

desire, care, liking
: sound; noise : heart;
13
idea
When you get a good IDEA you get
excited and you can hear the
SOUND of your HEART, its
pounding so hard.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Picture someone whos just had a

great idea, but in place of a blinking
light bulb over their head, you see a
heart thumping with great noise.
Imagine the greater the idea, the
louder the sound of the beating heart.
608
concept, think, idea, thought
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: inter-; mutual; together; each

other; minister of state; councillor;
aspect; phase; physiognomy :
61)
13
concept
The concept of love is basically two
hearts inter-acting as one.
Inter-heart is a new therapy
CONCEPT that helps macho guys
share their feelings with each other.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
609
breath, respiration, son, interest (on

money)
: oneself : heart; mind;
spirit; heart radical (no. 61)
10
breath
Your breath brings oxygen in
through your nose which is then
pumped around your body by your
heart.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I think Ive met my dream girl, but

theres a problem. her breath is
horrible! So, do I listen to my nose
or my heart?
610
recess, rest, relax, repose

: tongue; reed; clapper :
breath; respiration; son; interest (on
money)
16
recess
Story1:
Story2:
Recess to me is a school break. At

recess some kiddies are comparing
their latest body piercings. Tongues
and noses are nothing special. The
new cool is to have your heart done!
Ah recess; tongues slandering, noses
being turned up, and beneath it all,
young hearts being broken.
Dominant in playgrounds is the
noise of tongues, which helps me
remember that in this kanji tongue
comes first.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
611
favor, blessing, grace, kindness

61)
10
favor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Too easy. Imagine the Wizard of

OZ. There, the three heroes asked
the Wizard for three FAVORS: the
lion wanted courage of TEN men,
the scarecrow wanted a BRAIN, and
the tin man wanted a HEART. Ok,
the lion bit is stretching but you have
it memorized now, so who cares?
Do yourself a favor and take ten
minutes to think about your decison...
612
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fear, dread, awe

mediocre : heart; mind; spirit;
10
fear
If your heart surgeon is mediocre in
his craft, you have plenty of reason
to fear. ("Oops, I think I left my
scissors in there").
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
My deep dark fear at the bottom of

my heart is that I am mediocre at my
craft.
613
beguile, delusion, perplexity

: some; one; or; possibly; a
certain : heart; mind; spirit;
12
beguile
Story1:
Story2:
She was beguiled/mislead by his

charm: at the party he kissed her on
the mouth, they did it on the floor
and thus he stole her heart. Poor girl!
The same cowboy from frame # 356
(elements mouth, floor and fiesta),
kisses the floor with his mouth, once
again, before going to the fiesta.
There, he uses his good looks to
beguile women (gets them to buy
him drinks or such), by playing with
their hearts.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
614
emotion, feeling, sensation

: all; same : heart; mind;
13
emotion
Emotion is a march of mouths inside
your heart telling you what to feel.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Strong EMOTIONS dont stay

hidden. They march right out of
ones heart (below) and out ones
mouth (shouted, snarled, or gently
whispered - depending on exactly
what kind of emotion it is!).
615
melancholy, grieve, lament, be

anxious, sad, unhappy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: hundred : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) : heart;
mind; spirit; heart radical (no.
61) : winter radical (no. 34)
15
melancholy
Story1:
Melancholy makes me think of

Hamlet cause he was so emo. In
order to play up his feelings he bares
his head and holds his crown over
his heart then walks (on walking
legs) around the palace making
everyone see how melancholy he is.
What a wuss.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This is an image of the crucifixion.

Jesus is on the cross. His crown of
thorns has slipped down and is
around his neck, right between his
head and his heart. His walking legs
can be seen dangling from the cross
as well. How MELANCHOLY!
616
widow, minority, few
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : oneself : part;
minute of time; segment; share;
degree; one's lot; duty; understand;
know; rate; 1%; chances; shaku/100
14
widow
The new widow sits in the house, her
head in her lap (the extended stroke),
her dagger in her husband.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The houses head, her husband, was

murdered with a dagger. You can
still see the drops of blood above the
dagger. She is now a widow.
617
busy, occupied, restless

: heart; mind; spirit; heart radical
(no. 61) : deceased; the late;
dying; perish
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
busy
Busy (as in "occupied") means a
state of mind where all other
thoughts are perished.
^^^Make the "state of mind"
primitive Data (from Star Trek)
instead right now and save yourself
the headache; state of mind is too
vague! (Data can stay so busy as not
to sleep without dying. Hes a robot).
618
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
ecstasy, joy, rapture

(no. 61) : exchange
10
ecstasy
ECSTASY alters our STATE OF
MIND and makes us DEVILS.
The state of mind that horny
teenagers are looking for.
619
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
constancy, always
(no. 61) : span; request
9
constancy
Constancy is holding the same state
of mind over a long span of time.
(tweaking PepeSeco and mspertus).
Data is the epitome of constancy. As
a robot, his consistency spans the
entire day.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
620
lament, grieve over

(no. 61) : eminent; table;
desk; high
11
lament
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When the worlds most eminent

magician died, everyones state of
mind became that of lamentation. He
was buried with his famous sunflower wand in his hand.
Data laments that he could never see
his eminent father, his creator, ever
again. He paints a picture of his
father, that looks like a sunflower in
the shape of a magic wand.
621
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
enlightenment, perceive, discern,

realize, understand
(no. 61) : I; my; our; one's
own
10
enlightenment
Enlightenment is a state of mind that
goes beyond the five senses.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Data finds enlightenment when he

discovers the answer to the question,
"Who am I?". (Image: Data
meditating in a sitting lotus position).
622
dreadful, be frightened, fearful

(no. 61) : linen; cloth
8
dreadful
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Someone in a dreadful state of mind

has crawled into his bed and is
hiding under the sheets (linens).
Being an android, Data is white as a
sheet. Doctor Crusher always has to
remind herself that this is perfectly
normal. From a doctors perspective,
he really does look dreadful.
623
disconcerted, be confused, lose one's

head
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 61) : laid waste; rough;
rude; wild
12
disconcerted
(re: wazzab) The state of mind of the
people of New Orleans as they
examined their citys concert hall
laid waste can best described as
disconcerted.
Story2:
heisig:
Data walks in and sees Picard

weeping. "What is the matter,
Captain?" Picard looks up, and
replies that his entire home planet
has been laid to waste. Data, the
master of tact, offers up this
consolation: "Ah. I can see how that
would be DISCONCERTing". It
turns out that the flow of tears was
really just because Picard had lost
his chance at getting at some rare
(and thus valuable) flowers on his
624
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
repent, regret
(no. 61) : every
9
repent
For all have sinned... so everyones
state of mind should be to repent.
When you repent, you heal your
state of mind by going over every
thing you regret doing.
625
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hate, detest
(no. 61) : formerly; once;
hate
Like the saying goes, Hate just
begets Hate. A state of mind that just
increases and increases until it
explodes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Datas one true emotion is hate for

Princes music. (Image: Data
hunched over hands to his ears and
screaming while Picard bobs to
Purple Rain).
626
accustomed, get used to, become

experienced
(no. 61) : pierce; 8 1/3lbs;
penetrate; brace
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
14
accustomed
It took him awhile, but Data finally
got ACCUSTOMED to his
nipple/breast piercings. They were
constantly rubbing up against his
shirt and his heart-shaped locket.
Picture Data, shirtless, squeezing his
nipples in front of Picard and saying
"Yes, at first they were a bit shelly,
but Ive grown quite
ACCUSTOMED to them". That last
bit should do it for you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Some hardcore monks have a state

of mind that has become accustomed
to their self-torture through piercing
themselves.
627
pleasure, happy, rejoice

(no. 61) : steal
12
pleasure
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
At the meeting of butchers, in their

narrow state of mind, they throw
lame jokes around like, Oh hello,
its a pleasure to meat you, and find
this rather pleasing.
Image : Data attending a meeting of
the butchers union. As a joke to
begin his speech he says, Its a
pleasure to MEAT you all. (thanx to
Shibo & nestOr).
628
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
lazy, laziness
(no. 61) : left : month;
moon
12
lazy
When I am in a LAZY state of mind
I use my left hand to play with my
meat...it feels like someone else is
doing it, which is good cause Im to
lazy to get a date.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When in a lazy state of mind, the

things you need to do are left for
next month.
629
humility, be careful, discrete, prudent

(no. 61) : true; reality;
Buddhist sect
13
humility
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Humility is the state of mind of

accepting the truth about yourself both favorable and unfavorable.
(tweaked version of Raichus).
Humility is a state of mind when you
consider yourself in accordance with
the truth (you neither boast nor
demean yourself).
630
remorse, regret, be sorry
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

(no. 61) : emotion; feeling;
sensation
16
remorse
Remorse is the state of mind where I
feel bad for what I did while I was
tired and emotional!
Tip: If you are confusing this
keyword, remorse, with repent
(#625) and regret/resentment
(#1460), then note that rEMOrse
contains EMOtion.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
631
recollection, think, remember

(no. 61) : idea; mind; heart;
taste; thought; desire; care; liking
16
recollection
Recollection is about bringing ideas
back to your mind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Datas recollection powers are

unparalled. He never loses a single
idea.
632
pining, yearn for, love dearly, adore

61)
14
pining
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Pining, yearn for... etc. Presumably

for lost love. An easy one here,
someone standing in the graveyard,
placing an old valentine card amonst
all the existing tributes.
Morticia and Gomez (of the
Addams Family) are spending
their Valentines Day at the
graveyard, pining for each others
affection.
633
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
annexed, accompany, marry, suit,

meet, satisfy, attach, append,
garnish, imitate
: water : grateful;
indebted : heart; mind; spirit;
11
annexed
Story1:
Story2:
Hawaii is a little drop of heaven

nestled in the waters of the Pacific,
most often visited by honeymooners
and valentines. It was annexed to the
U.S.A. in 1959, and more recently to
Japan as well-- albeit only
unofficially, and through private
commercial holdings.
Annexed to the U.S.A. in 1898,
Hawaii is nestled in the waters of the
Pacific, a little drop of heaven, often
visited on Valentines.. (from Ihatobu
with the date corrected. Hawaii
became a state in 1959)...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
634
invariably, certain, inevitable

(no. 61) : katakana no radical
(no. 4)
5
invariably
You swear youll be in love forever,
but invariably there comes a time
when your heart is divided.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
For this kanji I invariably got the

stroke order wrong. I nearly lost
heart, but decided to stick (pun) to it.
Then I noticed the order is 1)
katakana (altered slightly); 2)
fishhook; 3) two drops. Now I
invariably get it right.
635
ooze, flow, soak in, penetrate, secrete

: water : invariably; certain;
inevitable
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
8
ooze
Anything full of water will
invariably begin to ooze.
When you pierce a heart with a
stake, it invariably oozes blood.
636
hand
: hand, hand radical (no. 64)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
hand
This pictograph actually really
works if you look at it as a hand with
fingers spread and middle finger
pointing down. see the very top
stroke as the edge of a shirt cuff, and
it will all come together.
A hand is useful for (1001)
things.
637
watch over, see
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : eye; class; look;

9
watch over
Its a hot day of summer with a clear
sky, youre sitting outside a cafe (or
maybe on a reclining chair in the
garden), and you watch over the kids
with a hand covering your eyes from
the sunlight (next time, dont forget
the sunglasses).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Think of the monster from Pans

Labrynth, that watched over the poor
girl with eyes in the palm of his
hands.
638
chafe, rub, polish, grind, scrape

: hemp; flax : hand
15
chafe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
If you grind the hemp without a

stone but use your hand instead it
will chafe. (Image: "Robin, why are
your hands all chafed?" Uh... (Ive
been grinding hemp all day)).
When the feds came to bust your
little hemp grove, you jumped out
the back side of the cave and tried to
repel down with a hemp rope.
Unfortunately, the rope chafed your
hands and you fell .. ouch!
639
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ego, I, selfish, our, oneself

4) : halberd; arms; festival
car; float; tasselled spear radical (no.
62) : feathered stick; barb
radical (no. 6)
7
ego
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Someone with a huge EGO is too

good for any romantic partner and as
such has nothing but personal "hand
fiestas" with himself every night.
Did you hear about the guy who had
such a big EGO that he threw a
fiesta for his left hand?
640
righteousness, justice, morality,

honor, loyalty, meaning
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: sheep : ego; I; selfish;

our; oneself
13
righteousness
Righteous Christians are sheep with
egos (reworked from raulir, fixes
word order to match radical order).
On the other hand, Woman tend to
have too much self-righteousness to
allow any man to touch their wooly
black sheep this results in similar
hand fiestas.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
641
deliberation, consultation, debate,

consideration
: say : righteousness;
justice; morality; honor; loyalty;
meaning
20
deliberation
Careful deliberation produces words
of righteousness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
At the worst of times, a jurys

deliberation descends into a war of
words between competing selfrighteous, power-tripping bastards.
642
sacrifice
: cow : righteousness;
meaning
17
sacrifice
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A cow that is righteous sacrifices her

milk for the human race.
Cows are truly righteous animals.
They SACRIFICE their milk so that
we can have some. And if they dont
have any left, they give a sheep a
hand fiesta (good lord this is going
too far) and give us that instead.
What righteous cows.
643
rub, paint, erase
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : end; close; tip;

powder; posterity
8
rub
I like to RUB my FINGERS over my
EXTREMITIES ....like my extremityly long, umm, hair.... This has been
edited in response to being reported
...you can change "hair" to whatever
extremity-ly long body part you like.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When youre cold, your RUB your

FINGERS over your
EXTREMITIES vigorously to warm
up a bit. Id still rather go in for a
warm fire and some hot cocoa,
though.
644
embrace, hug, hold in arms

: hand : wrap; pack up;
cover; conceal
8
keyword:
Story1:
embrace
When embracing someone, wrap
your fingers around her butt for
added effect. You may think of
"bound with snakes" as a description
of the fingers slithering around the
buttocks, if you want a particularly
graphic image.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Here, Im picturing that scene from

ET (the extra terrestrial), where ET
hugs Elliot before leaving. You see
that EMBRACE is ETs long
FINGERS that WRAP around Elliot.
645
board, load (a vehicle), ride

: hand : adzuki beans; thick
12
keyword:
board
Story1:
Ok, this is a little wierd, but i took

this back to the kanji for pagoda
(#254). I think it helps simplify the
image, and also helps anchor the
pagoda kanji in memory better as an
added bonus. say this aloud once,
and i think it will bring out a vivid
image very quickly: "Now boarding
the pagoda ride. Please keep your
fingers inside at all times...".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you board the ship on the way

out from Hawaii a beautiful
crewmember takes her fingers and
fits a lei around you ....a lei is
flowers fitted together with your
fingers.
646
extract, selection, summary, copy,

spread thin
: hand : few; little
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
extract
You can extract her juices by
inserting a few fingers.
The mafia want to extract
information from you. You dont say
a word, so out comes the knife. They
cut of your fingers until you only
have a few left and then you speak.
647
confront, resist, defy, oppose
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: hand : high spirits

7
confront
Gandalf confronts the evil beast,
shouting "you shall not pass!". He
holds up a single finger and sends
forth a whirlwind.
Imagine a thumb war. A
confrontation of fingers in a
whirlwind.
648
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
criticism, strike
: hand : compare; race;
ratio; Philipines
7
criticism
Think of the two most famous
critics, Ebert and Roeper. On their
show, they compare thumbs (which
are technically fingers) with each
other before dispensing criticism.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
My criticism earned me the FINGER

when I COMPARED her cooking to
my mothers.
649
beckon, invite, summon, engage

: hand : seduce; call; send
drink; catch (cold)
8
beckon
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A Geisha beckons you with her

index finger, and as you approach
she runs her fingers all over her
body in an attempt to seduce you.
Keyword meaning : invite.
I bet you all know the Maneki Neko,
or beckoning cat, who with its raised
fingers tries to seduce all good
things (success, happiness and
harmony) to its owner.
650
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clear (the land), open, break up (land)

: hand : stone
8
clear the land
A huge index finger coming down
from the sky is kicking boulders of
rock, clearing the land. Maybe its
the finger of God preparing a place
for his little people to live.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I imagine clearing the land in order

to set up your tent after a long day of
backpacking. Using your fingers,
you pick up all of the rocks and get
them out of the way so that you can
get a comfortable night sleep. If you
dont clear the land you can just
picture the rock sticking into your
back as you toss and turn all night
long.
651
clap, beat (music)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: hand : white
8
clap
(Image: the most snooty prim and
proper English Lord with white
gloves clapping only with his
fingers. "Oh bravo old chap.
Bravo...").
I clapped so hard, my fingers
became white.
652
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
strike, hit, knock, pound, dozen

: hand : street; ward; town;
4th calendar sign
5
strike
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Youre using a hammer to drive a

nail into a plank, but you miss and
strike your fingers, ouch ! PS: the
character does not mean "to go on
strike", it will be very helpful in the
long run to create images that
convey the proper sense of the
character!
My teacher used to strike my fingers
with a street sign.
653
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
arrest, seize, concerned, adhere to,

despite
: hand : phrase; clause;
sentence; passage; paragraph;
counter for haiku
8
arrest
You approach the thief from behind,
stick your finger at his back to fake a
gun, and say the phrase "Youre
under arrest".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Giving the police the finger and a

colorful phrase is a surefire way to
get arrested.
654
discard, throw away, abandon,

resign, reject, sacrifice
: hand : cottage; inn; hut;
house; mansion
11
discard
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Someone stuck their fingers in my

cottage cheese! Im going to have to
discard the lot!
The wicked witch from Hansel and
Gretel only likes the meaty parts of
kids. Outside her candy cottage, you
can see a pile of discarded fingers.
655
kidnap, falsify
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : mouth :
sword; saber; knife
8
kidnap
Wrap your FINGERS around
someones MOUTH to keep them
quiet, then put the KNIFE to their
throat to ensure their cooperation.
This is the best way to KIDNAP
someone.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
After you beckon (#650) someone

by seducing them, you kidnap them
and hang them upside down (the
reversed positions of seduce).
656
pinch, pick, pluck, trim, clip,

summarize
: hand : kettle lid radical
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
pinch
My grandma always pinched me
with her fingers when i was playing
with her antiques. Imagine her
fingers, also quite antique, thin,
bony and hard, pinching at your
hand. "Keep your fingers away from
my antiques!!".
>_< Dont you hate when your aunt
(who is an antique) PINCHES your
cheeks with her antique fingers?
657
onyomi:
english:
challenge, contend for, make love to

: hand : portent; 10**12;
trillion; sign; omen; symptoms
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
9
challenge
Here comes a new challenge, try to
kill Bowser, the giant Turtle using
jut on finger.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You are sure to take a challenge

because your victory was portended.
So you stand self-confident before
your foe, point a finger at him and
say "I will prevail, as was long
portended!".
658
finger, point to, indicate, put into,

play (chess), measure (ruler)
: hand : delicious; relish;
clever; expert
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
9
finger
Finger lickin delicious.
I remember this not as finger which
has too many uses elsewhere but as
"fingering" then its easy: fingering
some delicious...
659
hold, have
: hand : Buddhist temple
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
9
hold
At the BUDDHIST TEMPLE youll
see wonderous things, such as the
priest that can HOLD himself upside
down with just a FINGER.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In Kyaiktiyo, there is rocking stone

which sits on the edge of a cliff, and
there is a Buddhist temple built on
the top of it. You can rock the stone
by pushing it with your finger, but it
still holds in place. Its true, see
here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyaiktiy
o.
660
fasten, tie up, arrest, constrict
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : tongue; reed;

clapper
9
fasten
Teacher was always telling us to
fasten our lips by pulling a zipper
shut with our fingers. It always
frightened me because I imagined
getting my tongue stuck in the zipper.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
On the plane, you refuse to FASTEN

your seatbelt and even go so far as to
give the stewardess the finger and
stick out your tongue at her. The
crew comes and pins you down and
forces you to FASTEN it.
661
brandish, wave, wag, swing, shake

: hand : army; force;
troops; war; battle
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
12
brandish
A military leader in his chariot is
brandishing his finger at the enemy,
crying "chaaaaaaaaarrrgggeeee!".
Think of the movie Gladiator but
instead Maximus is brandishing a
giant foam brand name (nike, rebok,
adidas, whatever) finger like you see
at a baseball game. Hes riding in a
chariot using the foam finger to kill
his enemy.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
662
conjecture, infer, guess, suppose,

support
: hand : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
11
conjecture
Story1:
In mathematics, a conjecture is a
mathematical statement which has
been proposed as a true statement,
but which no one has yet been able
to prove or disprove. Have you
heard of the Finger-Turkey
conjecture ? It states that if turkeys
had fingers, they would be able to
count. Be sure to imagine a turkey
with fingers at the tip of its wings,
counting from one to ten.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In the midst of conjecture on

whether it was done or not, mom
stuck her fingers in the turkey to
check.
663
hoist, fry in deep fat

: hand : open; sun
12
hoist
Story1:
My piggy bank is so heavy that I

cannot HOIST it using just my
fingers.
Story2:
heisig:
Picture a major robbery where some

dudes are breaking into a bank to
steal their money. They get their
man in the vault through the ceiling now hes hanging from a rope a few
feet from the ground (like in the
movies, dodging laser beams). He
reports back that he has found the
loot, and its all in a large piggy bank
in the center of the vault. The alarm
sounds and hes got to think fast. He
jams the four fingers of his right
664
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
propose, take along, carry in hand

: hand : just so; this; right;
justice
12
propose
When a man PROPOSES to a lady,
he takes her FINGER and places the
ring on it JUST SO, and the moment
sweeps her away.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I tried to propose to my girlfriend,

but the ring was too small to fit her
finger. Instead of saying yes, she just
uttered an annoyed sigh. So I rushed
to the jeweler where he made it
bigger. But now it was too big, so I
rushed back to make it smaller. This
spiel kept going on until the ring
was finally just so. Her eyes lit up
and she said yes.
665
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
damage, loss, disadvantage, hurt,

injure
: hand : employee; member;
number; the one in charge
13
Story1:
damage
Boss yells, "Who damaged the
Xerox machine?!" fingers of
employees point at one another.
Story2:
If you finger your employee, you

risk incurring many damages from a
possible sexual harassment lawsuit.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
666
pick up, gather, find, go on foot

: hand : fit; suit; join; 0.1
9
pick up
I tried to PICK UP the bowling
ball...but my FINGERS didnt FIT in
the holes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Try PICKING UP a girl by trying to

FIT your FINGER in you know
what... let me know how that works.
667
shouldering, carry, raise, bear

: hand : daybreak; dawn;
morning
8
shouldering
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
One of Hercules labors was to hold

the world in his fingers for Atlas and
not move until nightbreak,
shouldering the considerable burden.
One of the classic stories of
shouldering a heavy burden is that of
the kid who had to stick his finger
on a dam until nightbreak to prevent
it from breaking down.
668
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
foothold, based on, follow, therefore

: hand : dispose; manage;
deal with; sentence; condemn; act;
behave; place
8
foothold
When rockclimbing, when your
weight disposes of the valuble
foothold, all thats left is your
fingers keeping you from death.
Meanwhile, your walking legs are
left dangling in the wind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Once you have a good foothold, you

can dispose of your fingerhold.
669
sketch, compose, write, draw, paint

: hand : seedling; sapling;
shoot
11
sketch
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A sketch is a seedling (#234) of

things to come. Before the assault,
the sergeant draws a sketch of the
attack with his fingers in the sand.
Im bad at drawing, so when I try to
sketch the kanji for cat, you can sort
of recognize it, but I dont get the
curve of the "wild dogs" just right.
670
maneuver, manipulate, operate,

steer, chastity, virginity, fidelity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: hand : goods; refinement;

dignity; article; counter for meal
courses : tree; wood
16
maneuver
Story1:
Tip: goods + wood/tree : This

four times in Heisig, so its
suggest "furniture" (a common type
of wooden goods). REF: parch
(#215) , maneuver (FRAME 671),
winding (#1369), seaweed (#2035).
Story: Using just a finger you are
trying to maneuver your furniture
round your room.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Luke skywalker points his fingers

and uses the force to maneuver the
goods through the tree branches and
up over the tree.
671
touch, contact, adjoin, piece together

: hand : concubine
11
touch
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A pervert meets a woman. The

pervert tries to touch the women
with his lustful fingers. The woman
takes a vase, lifts it over her head
and smashes it on the perverts
head...
CHIKAN!! These are the perverts
who use their fingers to touch
standing women on crowded trains.
672
put up (a notice), put up, hoist,

display, hang out, publish, describe
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: hand : why; how; when

11
put up a notice
Story1:
A muchacho puts up a notice that

says NO FINGER SNAPPING
ALLOWED. MUCHACHOS ON
SIESTA. The muchachos are
sleeping soundly, completely
oblivious to the sound of dogs
barking, guitar playing and even gun
shots. Now imagine one tourist
passing by and snapping his fingers
and waking up all the muchachos at
once.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Just as I was finished putting up a

"no siestas" notice on my property, a
muchacho gave me the finger, sat
down, and promptly fell asleep.
673
hang, suspend, depend, arrive at, tax

: hand : a divination sign
11
hang
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Think RPG. The wizard points his

finger to the guard and the ivy he has
just animated with his magic wand
climbs down the wall to hang the
poor guy, opening the way for the
adventurers into the dungeon.
3 ways you could hang something:
1) the normal way, with your finger
putting something on a hook or
whatever, 2) hanging from a vine the
natural way, or 3) by means of the
magic of the wand.
674
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
polish, study of, sharpen

: stone : put together
9
polish
My stones are so huge that it takes
two hands to polish them!
You use two hands to polish a stone:
one to hold it and the other to rub it.
675
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
commandment
: halberd; arms; festival car; float;
tasselled spear radical (no.
7
commandment
Story1:
Story2:
Two hands, fiesta.....when moses

received the ten commandments
with two hands, he went back down
the mountain and threw a fiesta with
the jews, celebrating the arrival of
the commandments.
When Moses returned with the
commandments in his hands he saw
that his people were throwing a
fiesta. At first he was excited. Then
he looked around and got pissed.
"Awww, cmon guys. Golden idols?
Really?".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
676
contraption, fetter, machine,

instrument
: tree; wood :
commandment
11
contraption
The ten commandments were heavy.
So to help carry them, Moses made a
wooden contraption; the ark of the
covenant.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Think of a complex wooden

contraption capable of giving you a
two-handed fiesta.
677
nose, snout
: oneself : to give
14
nose
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
An Egyptian embalmer reaching

both hands into the dead pharaohs
nose and yanking out handfuls of
brain.
I sneezed so hard that through my
NOSE I blew out my BRAINS into
BOTH HANDS.
678
punish, penalty, sentence,

punishment
: put together : sword;
saber; knife
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
6
punish
This kanji is for severe punishment.
A man has his shackled hands placed
on a wood block and theyre
chopped off with a saber. No more
stealing bread in the Middle East...
In Arab countries they punish
theives by cutting off BOTH
HANDS with a SABRE.
679
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
mould, type, model

: punish; penalty; sentence;
punishment : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
9
mould
Story1:
Story2:
A famous ninja once pressed his two

hands and saber into the soil of his
temple, before going onto a mission
from which he never came back.
Think of some sort of signature that
he left behind him. The mould of his
two hands and saber has since
become a popular attraction in the
area.
As a PUNISHMENT they made me
lay face down in the DIRT leaving a
nice imprinted MOULD of my
whole BODY.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
680
genius, years old

: hand
3
genius
Spinal tap: "Every other bands
amps go to ten. But you see my extra
stroke of genius - these go to
eleven.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A TEN year old had a STROKE of

GENIUS and wrote this joke:
.
681
property, money, wealth, assets

: shellfish : genius; years
old; cubic shaku
10
property
Story1:
Story2:
If youre a money genius, you can

afford a lot of property.
The keyword refers to property in
the sense of money or funds rather
than of buildings or real estate. Keep
this one distinct from frame 193
(wealth) and frame 473 (assets).
Here we have a genie, gulping down
oysters. Someone tries to grab an
oyster and the genie puts his big
arms around his oysters and states
his right of ownership : Theyre
mines, my property!.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
682
lumber, log, timber, wood, talent

: tree; wood : genius; years
old; cubic shaku
7
lumber
A TREE GENIUS is a LUMBER
jack. Duh.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Just when the were about to turn the

last tree into lumber, the Lorax (the
tree-genie) jumps out and puts a stop
to the whole affair.
683
suppose, be aware of, believe, feel

: person : child; sign of the
Chinese zodiac
6
suppose
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
How do you suppose they manage to

cram a genie inside a bottle? Well, I
suppose they put him in there while
hes still a little child...
Villagers on a little remote island
one day find a bottle washed out by
the sea onto the beach. After wiping
the bottle and taking a closer look,
they are amazed to see a (very small)
child in it. The villagers suppose that
the child is a genie in a bottle.
684
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
exist, outskirts, suburbs, located in

: person : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
6
exist
Genie in the bottle does exist but
you need to dig deep into the soil to
find one.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You wipe the soil from the bottle,

only to have a genie float out above
you, saying: I am the genie in a
bottle, what is your wish? So now
you know that they do exist.
685
from, possessive particle,

whereupon, accordingly
: katakana no radical (no. 4)
from
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
FROM a pictograph of a thumbs up.

Thats how it also gets the primitive
meaning of fist.
Think Charlton Heston: "From my
cold, dead fists". Speech given to the
National Boxing Association, in
response to stricter control on
boxing gloves.
686
portable, carry (in hand), armed

with, bring along
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: hand : superior;
outstanding; talented
13
portable
Story1:
Story2:
This character is the "kei" in "keitai"

(cell phone), a word you will no
doubt hear often in Japan, since
everyone has one. Imagine youve
just arrived in Japan, but dont have
a cell phone yet, so instead youre
carrying around a portable turkey
you can hold in your fist. To dial a
number, just poke it with your
fingers.
Because they have no fingers,
turkeys must use their fists when
dialing on a portable phone.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
687
reach out, exert, exercise, cause

4) : or again; furthermore; on
the other hand
3
reach out
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I like to think of this as a fist with

with brass knuckles because of the
extra line. An old school thug
reaches out to help you up but then
with his other hand ( with the brass
knuckles) punches you.
Reach out and fist someone (Do you
see the person primitive?).
688
suck, imbibe, inhale, sip
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mouth : reach out; exert;

exercise; cause
6
suck
Imagine a baby reaching out and
holding moms breast as if it were
bottle, and sucking on it to get some
milk.
An open mouth and reaching hands :
a baby wants to suck at his mothers
breast.
689
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
handle, entertain, thresh, strip

: hand : reach out; exert;
exercise; cause
6
handle
See suck (#689): if its too big to
handle, just use your fingers instead...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
One of the first thing a baby can do

with his hand is to reach out and
grab your finger as if it was a little
handle.
690
length, 10feet, measure, Mr., Ms.,

height, stature, all (one has), only,
that's all, merely
mow; cut grass; subdue
3
keyword:
Story1:
length
Both a meter and a yard are about
one arm-length.
Story2:
heisig:
This kanji reminds me of the kanji

for big (I think it looks the same
kinda of except for the last stroke).
Maybe this works for guys, but when
you were growing up you would
compare "length" with your friends
trying to show how BIG you were.
You wouldnt show "it" but you
would spread your arms out as wide
as possible to exaggerate your
length. Maybe even so wide that you
trip (I the 3rd stroke getting pushed
691
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
history, chronicle
: mouth : mow; cut grass;
subdue
5
history
I sleep in history class with my
mouth tucked under my arm.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
History students usually going to

school with a history book tucked
under their arm. But now instead of
a book, you have a small talking
mouth that tell you about history.
"When I was young, I used to walk 5
miles everyday.....".
692
officer, an official
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: length; 10feet; measure; Mr.;

Ms.; height; stature; all (one has);
only; that's all; merely : mouth
6
officer
One officer can change the course of
history.
One officer, namely Napoleon,
changed the course of history.
(Thanks, ayoung24). Napoleon is
also my primitive meaning.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
693
grow late, night watch, sit up late, of

course
day; sun; Japan; counter for
days : mow; cut grass; subdue
7
grow late
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
At nightbreak (#30) the sun rises

above the floor, so it is logical that
when it is growing late, the sun
would rise to the ceiling. Time to
pack up your things and take your
belongings under your arm.
Its starting to GROW LATE, so
God will take the SUN, and TUCK
IT UNDER HIS ARM, and walk
away. In the morning, hell bring it
back, so dont worry.
694
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stiff, hard
: stone : grow late; night
watch; sit up late; of course; renew;
renovate; again; more and more;
further
12
stiff
A stiff drink on the ROCKs after it
GROWS LATE is a way to unwind
after a long day...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Stones are so stiff that even if you

spent all day straining trying to
change their shape, it would grow
late far before you ever
accomplished your task.
695
or again, furthermore, on the other

hand
: again, right hand, right hand
radical (no. 29)
2
keyword:
Story1:
or again
After her boyfriends crotch has
been satisfied, a woman might
suggest they cuddle. The boyfriend,
on the other hand, might say, "Or
again, we could fool around . . . ".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This keyword should really be

"again" not "or again" Here is some
context: think of the phrase "Jya
mata" "" which is a farewell
similar to "then again". Also "Mata
ne" "" and mata ashita (again
tomorrow) "" Note this
kanji is rarely used, most of the time
JP people spell it out "mata" except
for in the last example: .
696
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
pair, set, comparison, no. of pairs

: or again; furthermore; on the
other hand : or again;
furthermore; on the other hand
4
pair
Crotch to crotch is how many pairs
spend their private time together. . .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The animals boarding Noahs Ark all

came in pairs but Noah had to
carefully check the two crotches in
each pair to ensure that the animals
were of different sexes and thus able
to further their species after the
flood.
697
mulberry
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

other hand : or again;
furthermore; on the other
hand : or again; furthermore;
on the other hand : tree; wood
10
mulberry
Children going around the mulberry
tree singing "This is the way we
wash our crotch, wash our crotch,
wash our crotch...".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Imagine kids all over the top of a

mulberry tree, sitting astride limbs
so that their weight is on their
crotches. (Mulberry trees have big
sprawling limbs that run horizontally
or at shallow angles making them
easy to climb and sit in. I have an
old mulberry in my yard, and my
kids are in it constantly).
698
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vessels, no. of ships, fish, birds,

arrows, one of a pair
172) : or again; furthermore;
on the other hand
10
vessels
On Vessels that travel long
distances, sailors often get quite
lonely. They keep TURKEYS on the
VESSELS, but not for use as food.
The lonely sailors take turns
enjoying the turkeys CROTCH.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Donald Duck is a big bird that does

not wear pants. Its good to use him
as a mnemonic because he is a
sailor, and this kanji is used to count
vessels.
699
safeguard, protect
: say : grass; plants; grass
radical (no. 140) : vessels;
counter for ships; fish; birds; arrows;
one of a pair
strokes:
keyword:
20
safeguard
Story1:
Think of the flower-vessels as a the

Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise,
only instead of a rainbow there is a
big flower painted on the hull (this
will come back in seize (#701) and
harvest (#908)). Think of flowerpower and of the peace in
Greenpeace and it will make some
sense hopefully. -- In this kanji, we
see an inauguration speech being
given before the Greenpeace vessel
is set afloat and sent to safeguard our
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(With sarcasm) A Bush speech

telling how all the US vessels are
always welcomed, covered with
flowers and words of gratitude for
safeguarding democracy from the
evil doers.
700
seize, get, find, earn, acquire, can,

may, able to
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: dog : grass; plants; grass

one of a pair
16
seize
A pack of genetically-modified wild
dogs is seized by a group of
Greenpeace activists and taken
onboard the Greenpeace vessel (the
flower vessel, see safeguard (#700)).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Customs just seized a crate of

poppies (flowers) detected by trained
wild dogs who inspected the vessel.
701
guy, slave, manservant, fellow

: woman; female : or again;
5
guy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
That GUY stole my WOMAN so I

kicked him in the CROTCH. (This
story helps keep the word "GUY" as
someone you hold in contempt).
Guys only care about 2 things:
women and their crotch (preferably
at the same time).
702
angry, be offended
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: guy; slave; manservant;

fellow : heart; mind; spirit;
9
angry
This woman is angry because of the
guys in the previous frame who pay
more attention to her crotch than her
heart. I prefer to decompose the
kanji in three elements here because
it is easier to read like a mnemonic.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
WOMEN get very ANGRY over the

thought that GUYS are more
interested in her CROTCH than her
HEART.
703
friend
other hand
4
friend
Story1:
A good friend is always at your side.

---- I teach at a Japanese High
School, and I often see chummy
male students grabbing each others
crotches in a joking manner. Its still
weird to me, but apparently reaching
to your side and grabbing you
neighbors crotch is a great way to
express friendship.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Think of a sex friend (a fuck buddy

if you will). The benefit of such a
relationship is that there will always
be a crotch by your side. (the
Japanese refer to such a friend as
, just as we do).
704
slip out, extract, pull out, pilfer,

quote, remove, omit
: hand : friend
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
slip out
Dont let good friends slip out
between your fingers.
Imagine a clich Hollywood
situation: one person is lying on the
edge of the abyss and another
(presumably his friend) is hanging,
only thing holding him is the grip of
their hands. Then fingers slip out of
the grip and he falls in said abyss.
705
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
throw, discard, abandon, launch into,

join, invest in, hurl, give up, sell at a
loss
: hand : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
7
throw
Story1:
Well, you usually use your fingers to

throw objects used as missile
weapons. Easy. By the way, for
those of you looking for a less
anachronistic image for the missile
primitive as a modern rocket, try a
slingshot. its a crotch (originally a
tree branch) that sends missile
projectiles flying into/like the wind.
And for this present kanji, it is
something you naturally use with
your fingers...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you use the primitive "semen"

(flying in the wind from your crotch)
instead of missile then all kanjis
with this primitive will hilariously
create a perfect story.
706
drown, sink, hide, fall into,

disappear, die
: water : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
drown
(Note: this kanji is more
collapse/cave-in/sink (#1888) than
humans drowning) A water missile?
A torpedo! And when it hits its
target? The ship collapses then sinks
and everyone drowns!
The submarines hull was breached
after being struck by a torpedo
("water missile"), causing the entire
crew to drown.
707
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
establishment, provision, prepare

: say : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
11
establishment
Establishment can be attacked by
words or by missiles. Writers will
use words, whereas militars will use
missiles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
When you attack the establishment

with words, it fights back with
missiles.
708
beat, attack, defeat, conquer

: car : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79) : hand
15
beat
Your car has missles?! That beats
mine, hands down.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Think 3 methods of attack all

combined into 1 kanji: 1. Vehicle to
transport troops 2. Once troops have
disembarked they have their missiles
3. If they run out of missiles they
resort to hand to hand combat to beat
the enemy.
709
husk, nut shell

: casing; shell; husk : pike;
windy-again radical (no. 79)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
11
husk
Samurais husk/shell/armour is
superflous to missile attacks
.
husk or shell. Japans recent history
in a nutshell: first the samurai
became superfluous and then the
Americans started to throw missiles
and bombs during WWII.
710
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
branch, support, sustain

: ten : or again;
4
branch
Picture sliding down the branch of a
tree (in this case a pine tree or any
tree with needles) and getting a
bunch of needles stuck in your
crotch--ouch!!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A special branch of the military

called the Needle Crotch Unit. Their
only weapon is the needle embedded
in their crotches, and theyre quite
adept at using them.
711
skill, art, craft, ability, feat,

performance, vocation, arts
: hand : branch; support;
sustain; branch radical (no. 65)
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
skill
(Adapted from darg_samas)
Balancing a branch on your finger is
the prototypical example of a skill
that is nothing more than a skill (i.e.,
it is completely useless).
I think of a guy balancing a branch
on his finger, which definitely takes
some minimal amount of skill.
712
bough, branch, twig, limb
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : branch;

support; sustain; branch radical (no.
65)
8
bough
The trees primary branch is known
as the bough.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Differentiate between BOUGH and

branch (#711): branch is smaller,
and can also refer to the branch of a
store (), which has nothing to
do with a tree. But a BOUGH is a
main part of a tree, perhaps where
the trunk splits into several large
boughs, and so it logically utilizes
the radical.
713
limb, arms & legs
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: meat : branch; support;

8
Story1:
limb
The limbs that this kanji represents
are parts of the body that are
connected to the trunk, like the main
branches to a tree (arms and legs is
the second meaning of this kanji). In
other words, limbs are "flesh
branches".
Story2:
Limbs are body parts that branch off.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
714
stalk, stem
140) : holy; sacred
8
stalk
Story1:
Suggestion: Replace "spool" with

"toilet paper/roll". Reasons: (1)
Toilet paper/roll usually comes on a
spool. (2) Toilet paper is used to
clean the soil off your crotch. Story:
Just get a flower and carefully wrap
some toilet paper around its stalk.
Spool also appears in suspicious
(#716), lightly (#717), diameter
(#882), sutra (#1360).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
PRIMITIVE: soiled crotch = soiled

underwear. To precent anyone from
picking the beautiful flower, the
gardner hung soiled underwear on
the stalk.
715
suspicious, mystery, apparition

(no. 61) : holy; sacred
8
suspicious
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When youre suspicious, your state

of mind twists round and round like
a spool of thread.
Imagine a loud farting sound on The
Enterprise (sorry). Everyone looks
around trying to find who did it. The
one looking most suspicious is Data.
His soiled crotch gives him away.
716
lightly, trifling, unimportant
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: car : holy; sacred

12
lightly
Fact: this kanji is used to denote a
certain class of vehicles in Japan
whose engines are under a certain
size (less than 750cc I think) and are
called light vehicles here. Imagine a
so-called light vehicle or a lighttruck with a load of spools driving
down a road ever so lightly, careful
not to let any of the spools roll out
onto the street.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I want to tread lightly on the

environment.... Thats why I CARSPOOL to work everyday.... I know,
lame.
717
uncle, youth
: above; up : little;
small : or again; furthermore;
on the other hand
8
uncle
Story1:
Oh come on people - say what weve

all been thinking: the uncle is that
creepy guy towering above a little
ones crotch.
Story2:
heisig:
Four straight kanji here with in it,

so lets make one story: Your
UNCLE was full of loneliness
(#720) (), and he lived by himself.
He was naturally graceful (#721)
() in the water, and you knew he
was once on the Olympic
synchronized swimming team). You
knew that there was something
different about him, but you joined
his youth team and he watched over
you carefully as coach (#719) (). It
718
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
coach, command, urge, lead,

supervise
: uncle; youth : eye; class;
13
coach
Creepy uncle volunteers as
gymnastics coach so he can eye the
team from below.
Story2:
heisig:

synchronized swimming team. You
719
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
loneliness, quietly, mellow, mature,

death of a priest
(no. 40) : uncle; youth
11
loneliness
The unmarried uncles house is the
picture of lonlieness.
Story2:
heisig:

720
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
graceful, gentle, pure

: water : uncle; youth
11
graceful
Uncle (the one who is lonely and
coaches kids in his spare time) is
actually a graceful guy once he hits
the water, as he used to be part of the
swimming team in his youth.
Story2:
heisig:

721
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
anti: wild goose; trailing cliff radical

(no. 27) : or again;
4
anti-
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I think of an anti-hero (Dirty Harry

etc.) for this primitive, whose
trademark for disposing of villians is
not an honorable fight, but a kick in
the crotch and then a shove off a
cliff (perhaps whilst the villains
back is turned).
Many cultures are so anti-sex youd
think they just want people to throw
their crotches over a cliff.
722
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
slope, incline, hill

Turkey : anti7
slope
As the villain (pushed off by the antihero) is tumbling down the slope, he
activates gadget skis to escape,
spraying soil everywhere as he flies
down the slope.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This kanji depicts a classic

enviornmental problem: erosion.
Erosion occurs when all of the soil
washes of the side of the cliff,
eventually causing the cliff to
disappear, leaving a slope (an anticliff if you will) in its place.
723
plank, board, plate, stage

: tree; wood : anti8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
plank
Of course, trees are anti-plank.
Wouldnt you be if you were a tree?
Trees are naturally opposed to, or
anti, the making of planks.
724
return, answer, fade, repay

: anti- : walk; walking; road
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
return
Pretty obvious: to return is to turn
back on the road youre on and go
the opposite way.
In "The Return of the anti-hero",
Clint Eastwood kicks the villain in
the crotch, pushes them off the cliff
and onto a busy highway. A tiring
movie franchise to say the least....
725
marketing, sell, trade
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: shellfish : anti11
marketing
Story1:
The goal of marketing is to get

people who are naturally anti-buying
to spend their shells (money).
Story2:
MARKETING: MONEY,
ANTI The wide presence of
MARKETING in our society has led
people to become ANTI-MONEY.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
726
claw, nail, talon

: katakana no radical (no. 4)
4
claw
A pictograph of Wolverines
adamantium claws.
Story2:
heisig:
Pictograph, see book. * I prefer the

primitive meaning of an eagle rather
than vulture. Somehow vulture
makes me think more about meat
and dead corpses than claws. An
eagle however immediately brings to
my mind the image of an eagle
plunging into a stream catching fish
in his claws, or that of the great
eagles rescuing Bilbo and his party
in Jrr Tolkiens novel Bilbo the
Hobbit.
727
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
gentle, peace, depravity

: claw; nail; talon : woman;
female
7
gentle
Overly gentle women are vultures
who want to marry you and steal
your money - not true but an easy
mnemonic!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
An eagle must be extra gentle to

pick up a dainty woman in its sharp
claws.
728
milk, breasts
: sincere; nourish; encase :
the latter; duplicate; strange; witty;
8
milk
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A fledgling is being nursed at a zoo,

it is fed milk through a small tube
that is bent in the shape of a hook
(so that it fits inside its beak). The
fledgling soon becomes addicted to
milk, giving us this very catchy
mnemonic: fledgling hooked on
milk.
Drinking milk not only reduces
cavity (#96)s but also strengthens
nails (claws) thanks astgtciv.
729
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
floating, float, rise to surface

: water : sincere; nourish;
encase
10
floating
Floating rubber ducky!!!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A nest of fledglings somehow fell

into the water (maybe it was perched
on a tree bending over the river), but
they are safe for now as the nest is
floating. The fledglings are enjoying
the cruise but they are soon coming
to a great waterfall... ( a little drama
to help us remember the story).
730
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
leader, commander, general, admiral,

or, and again, soon, from now on,
just about
91) : claw; nail; talon :
10
leader
The leader in this race is the turtle! It
appears he has covered the vultures
feet in glue, so that the vulture
cannot get off the starting block.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
X-men and TMNT join forces: Their

new leader is an awsome asshole. He
is simply Wolverine and Raphael
glued together back to back (the
biggest assholes from both groups
combined).
731
exhort, urge, encourage
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: leader; commander; general;

admiral; or; and again; soon; from
now on; just about : large; big
13
exhort
Its easy to picture a LEADER that
uses a BIG dog to EXHORT his
people to do more.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Here we have a St.Bernard exhorting

the vulture to become the leader in
the race against the turtle, but he
cant because of the glue. see leader
(#731).
732
pick, take, fetch, take up

: hand : dice; form;
appearance; take; coloring
11
pick
Story1:
Story2:
You pick cheries with your fingers,

then along comes a giant vulture and
picks up the whole tree with its
claws.
Tip: vulture + tree : Heisig later
combines these into a single kanji
called grab (#2090). Story: As you
go to pick your nose, your parent
grabs your finger and pulls it away
(& gives you a lecture on social
etiquette). REF: "grab" also appears
in vegetable (#734), coloring
(#1714).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
733
vegetable, side dish, greens

140) : dice; form; appearance;
take; coloring
11
vegetable
A vegetarian vulture is munching on
a flower, perched on a tree, patiently
waiting for a patch of vegetables to
grow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Wolverine is turning into total

hippie. He said he only eats
vegetables now and last time I saw
him sitting in a tree with flowers in
his hair.
734
accept, undergo, answer (phone),

take, get, catch, receive
: claw; nail; talon : washaped crown radical (no.
on the other hand
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
8
accept
The bird house is the brothel
(someone else said so) and of course
everyone is welcome - thay accept
any crotch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A birdhouse is a whorehouse that

will accept any crotch even those
with STDs. (Image: a birdhouse
whorehouse with every kind of bird
coming and going. Some old madam
at the front hole accepts everyone,
even the nasty old crows).
735
impart, instruct, grant, confer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : accept; undergo;

answer (phone); take; get; catch;
receive
11
impart
Please accept this finger, you say,
imparting it to your yakuza boss.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This character depicts a student and

teacher. The teacher imparts his
knowledge on the student, pointing
the way and guiding with the finger.
Meanwhile, the student sits there
passively accepting the tutelage of
his superior.
736
love, affection, favourite
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 61) : winter
radical (no. 34)
13
love
If you really love someone, you
wont keep them in a cage-like bird
house relationship, but rather open
the door and let their heart walk
around freely. Think less about "I"
() and more about "we".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The man is about to enter the

birdhouse (brothel) when he
remembers his true love at home,
and, following his heart, uses his
walking legs to go straight home.
737
pay, clear out, prune, banish, dispose

of
: hand : I; myself; katakana
mu radical (no. 28)
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
pay
Youre at a restaurant and raise your
finger to indicate to the waiter that
you want to pay. Your friend elbows
you in the ribs -- its his shout, and
he insists on taking care of the bill.
You are walking out of the
restaurant when the waiter uses his
FINGERS to grab you at the
ELBOW and says, "excuse me sir,
didnt you forget to PAY?".
738
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
wide, broad, spacious

53) : I; myself; katakana mu
radical (no. 28)
5
wide
The Batcave is very wide and has a
lot of elbow room for Batman to do
his yoga.
A wide cave has a lot of "elbow
room".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
739
broaden, extend, expand, enlarge

: hand : wide; broad;
spacious
8
broaden
Japanese girls are tight and may
require fingers inserted to broaden
them and make them wide enough
before you can...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Spread your fingers wide to broaden

your hand.
740
mineral, ore
: gold : wide; broad;
spacious
13
mineral
Elbonium: a new mineral found in
wide caves shaped like elbows and
made of metal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A wide range of metals are classed

as minerals.
741
valve, petal, braid, speech, dialect,

discrimination, dispose of,
distinguish
: I; myself; katakana mu radical
(no. 28) : twenty; 20; twenty
or letter H radical (no. 55)
5
valve
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Opening a stuck valve requires 2

hands and a lot of elbow grease.
The cubans build a pipe to flood the
USA. Castro just has to turn the
valve on it, and USA is flooded.
Suddenly, CIA agents tackle him
from behind, grabbing both his arms.
But Castro manages to open the
valve with his elbow, by raising the
elbow above his head. Success! USA
is no more...
742
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
masculine, male, hero, leader,

superiority, excellence
: the fore-arm; the upper-arm;
round : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
12
masculine
Men walk with their elbows out
from their sides in a weird turkey
trot when they try to appear very
MASCULINE. Think of a 70s pimp
walk.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Masculine duties are to offer your

elbow to the lady by your left side
and to cut the turkey on special
meals.
743
pedestal, a stand, counter for

machines and vehicles
(no. 28) : mouth
5
pedestal
Story1:
When someones elbow is above

your mouth he/she is probably
standing on a pedestal.
Story2:
heisig:
After training your whole life, you

manage to get a bronze medal in the
Olympics. Youre extremely proud
of your accomplishment as you step
up to receive your medal. The guy in
first place is up on a pedestal,
towering above you, his elbow level
with your mouth. Being a smug
bastard, he "accidentally" knocks his
elbow into your mouth, causing you
to bleed and lose a tooth. Just cause
he won the gold doesnt mean he can
744
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
neglect, laziness
: pedestal; a stand; counter for
machines and vehicles : heart;
9
neglect
While standing on the pedestal at the
award ceremony, the recipient
heartlessly neglected to mention the
people that got him there.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Someone you put on a pedestal will

NEGLECT your heart.
745
reign, be at peace, calm down,

subdue, quell, govt, cure, heal, rule,
conserve
: water : pedestal; a stand;
counter for machines and vehicles
8
reign
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Build a moat around your pedestal to

protect your reign of power.
From his water pedestal Neptune
reigns over his Sea Empire.
746
commence, begin
: woman; female : pedestal;
a stand; counter for machines and
vehicles
8
commence
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Many men, before they commence

their relationship with the woman of
their desires, place her on something
of a pedestal, which often leads to
disappointment later on.
If you want to commence a
relationship, just put a woman on a
pedestal and shell love ya forever.
747
womb, uterus
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: meat : pedestal; a stand;

9
womb
The body part feminists like to put
on a pedestal is the womb, especially
when they hear a man complain
about some responsibility. "We give
birth, so its your duty to do so-andso".
If any body part deserves to be put
on a pedestal, it is the womb from
which new life springs forth.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
748
window, pane
: hole; aperture; slit; cave;
den : I; myself; katakana mu
radical (no. 28) : heart; mind;
11
window
Story1:
The top primitive is similar to hole

(#1316). A window is a hole (#1316)
in your house that you occassionally
sit next to while leaning on your
ELBOW and gazing out, a picture of
a lonely HEARTedness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Anna stood inside the house on

her human legs enjoying some
private time, looking out the
window and communing with the
feelings that were in her heart .
The first five strokes are actually
, "hole," introduced later.
, window;
, ticket window;
, car window.
749
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
gone, past, quit, leave, elapse,

eliminate, divorce
Turkey : I; myself; katakana
mu radical (no. 28)
5
gone
Going, going, GONE!, said the
gravedigger as he shoveled soil onto
the bodys protruding elbow (the last
bit left to cover).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you want the soil stains gone from

your clothes, then youll need to put
some elbow grease into cleaning
them.
750
method, law, rule, principle, model,

system
: water : gone; past; quit;
leave; elapse; eliminate; divorce
8
method
Story1:
Story2:
This kanji shows up in a lot of words

related to the legal process. Try this
image: using a very outdated judicial
method, the people of Salem dunked
accused witches in the water until
they were all gone.
There already was a system (#418)
for butchering cows, a technique
(#421) for turning smoke into
flowers - why cant there be a
method of about the same relevance
for making water gone? Evaporation
anyone?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
751
meeting, meet, party, association,

interview, join
: person : say
6
meeting
Story1:
Story2:
At the local company they have a

very gory way of getting rid of
incompetent personnel : they arrange
a business meeting in a very special
room where the walls are ... meeting.
Not surprisingly the boss is never
present at these meetings, hes the
one who pushes the button that sets
the walls in motion.
The only thing created in most
meetings is a lot of hot air. Imagine a
cloud of it rising to the roof.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
752
climax, arrive, proceed, reach, attain,

result in
Turkey
6
climax
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Sexual climaxes dont always

happen on the bed; they sometimes
happen against a wall or on the
ground!
The climax of the Berlin Wall affair
was the tearing of it to ground.
753
room, apartment, chamber,

greenhouse, cellar
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

(no. 40) : climax; arrive;
proceed; reach; attain; result in
9
room
You book a room in a love hotel
called "Climax House".
A simple room is made up of a roof,
some walls, and a dirt floor.
754
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
arrival, proceed, reach, attain, result

in
: climax; arrive; proceed; reach;
attain; result in : sword; saber;
knife
8
arrival
Http://img168.imageshack.us/img168
/7731/karatesd3.jpg Just look at this
image...
Just as we were about to climax her
father arrived with a sword.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
755
doth, do, send, forward, cause, exert,

incur, engage
: climax; arrive; proceed; reach;
attain; result in : strike; hit;
10
doth
To reach climax I doth the bidding
of my dominatrix taskmaster.
Story2:
heisig:
This character is used in two very

high-frequency words: "you are
welcome" () and
the honorific form of onegaishimasu
(;
). Cant you
just picture this ridiculously polite
S&M picture? A businessman, who
DOTH the bidding of his
taskmistress, is climaxing and
yelling out "" while
she whips and says
756
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mutually, reciprocally, together

pig's head radical variant (no. 58)
4
mutually
The 69 position allows both parties
to mutually give themselves pleasure.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you can combined your walls with

another houses walls, both houses
would mutually benefit, by the
increase in size....
757
abandon, throw away, discard,

resign, reject, sacrifice
: a cup with pendants; a pennant;
wild; barren; uncultivated :
tree; wood
13
keyword:
Story1:
abandon
Think of a really loud and annoying
baby, you want to abandon it but it
keeps coming back...so you take of
your belt by the buckle, and buckle
the baby to a tree!
Story2:
As in sash (#415), I treat the one

mountain in the middle to mean Mt.
Fuji (Japans ichiban mountain).
Now we see an infant being
abandoned on top of Mt. Fuji well
above the tree line to die of exposure.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
758
bring up, grow up, raise, rear

I; myself; katakana mu radical (no.
28) : month; moon
8
bring up
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Bringing up your offspring means

raising them from infant until they
are meat ready to be harvested.
What, cannibalism is in poor taste?
Forget I ever brought it up. But
bring up will forver be infant meat to
me. I want my baby back baby back
baby back ribs!
I will bring up my infants to eat
meat. Ill not endure any vegetarian
children in my house!
759
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
remove, withdraw, disarm,

dismantle, reject, exclude
: hand : bring up; grow up;
raise; rear : strike; hit; folding
15
remove
Dont lay a finger on him, a
concerned mother says as the state
REMOVES her child away for
upbringing by a taskmaster foster
home.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A terrible yakuza taskmaster is

bringing up his infant. Every time
the infant does something wrong...
well, you know what happens to
yakuzas when they do something
wrong.
760
allot, fill
license; sincerity; permit
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
allot
Scene at the baby factory: Manager:
"Good news! Your infant has been
allotted human legs". Parent to be:
"Thanks a lot!".
In China, to prevent too many
human legs walking around, couples
are alloted only one infant
761
gun, arms
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: gold : allot; fill

14
gun
Story1:
Everyone is allotted a metal gun (US

constitution according to the NRA).
Story2:
What is a gun but a device for

allotting pieces of metal? One for
you - BANG!...One for you BANG!...One for you BANG!...One for you - BANG!...etc.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
762
sulphur
: stone : a cup with
pendants; a pennant; wild; barren;
uncultivated
12
sulfur
Sulphur is like a rock, but it can
stink like a stream of infant doodie.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Infants are baptised in streams

inorder to prevent their descent into
a place of sulphur and brimstone.
763
current, a sink, flow, forfeit

: water : a cup with
uncultivated
10
current
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
INFANT Moses placed in the

WATER and sent down the current
of the STREAM.
A water-breathing infant (genetically
modified?) is caught in a flood, and
drifts with the current, apparently
enjoying himself in the process.
764
license, sincerity, permit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 28) : legs radical (no. 10)
license
In some Asian kung-fu version of
James Bond, the main protagonist
has a License To Kill with his
deadly elbows and human legs. His
suit is always stained of red blood at
the elbows and lower legs (this to
help create an image that distinguish
the two elements).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A midget driver trying to pass the

road test to get their drivers license.
Their elbows are too short to turn the
wheel and their legs are too short to
reach the gas and breaks.
765
tempt, seduce, instigate, promote

: mouth : None
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
tempt
I named the right part legal
prostitute has it represents a walker
[walking legs] with the license. Its
easy to imagine a legal prostitute
tempting a man with her mouth.
Prostitutes in Amsterdam have a
license to show off their walking
legs and tempt customers with their
mouths.
766
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
exit, leave
: mountain : open box
enclosure; open box radical (no. 17)
5
exit
Suddenly, a cactus comes out of the
ground with a sign that reads: exit.
Now you can leave the desert!
(Note: giving this primitive the
meaning cactus can be useful later).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The exit lays between these two

mountains.
767
mountain
: mountain, mountain radical (no.
46)
3
mountain
Story1:
Story2:
Pictograph, see book. * As a

primitive this element appears
equally as well at the top or bottom
of the kanjis (besides appearing to
the left). Since a mountain often
brings to mind towering peaks, I will
consider it implied that the element
is placed at the top of the kanji.
When this primitive appears at the
bottom, I will arrange my story in a
way that other elements are said to
be at the very top of the mountain
YOU CANT POSSIBLY NEED A
MNEMONIC FOR THIS!!!!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
768
bungling, clumsy, unskillful

: hand : exit; leave; go out;
come out; put out; protrude
8
bungling
With fingers fumbling around trying
to get the key in the door so he could
exit, the bungling husband woke his
wife as he tried to leave for a
rendezvous with his mistress.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Horror movie cliche 769: Bungling

victims fingers fumble & bungle
trying to open the exit door.
769
boulder, rock, cliff

: mountain : stone
8
boulder
A mountain-sized stone is known as
a boulder.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Here we see mountain rocks rolling

down the mountain, gathering into a
single monstrous boulder crushing
everything in its path. Think
snowball effect, even if it wouldnt
work with rocks.
770
charcoal, coal
: mountain : ashes; puckery
juice; cremate
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
charcoal
Burn enough charcoal and youll
have a mountain of ash.
You get charcoal from volcano ("fire
mountain", ) ashes.
771
branch off, fork in road, scene,

arena, theater
: mountain : branch;
65)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
7
branch off
On the left, there are three
mountains. The road branches off to
each of them. (Note: This kanji is
mostly used for branches in the road).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In a lot of Super Nintendo-era RPGs,

there are mountain levels to get
through. You view them from
overhead, so you can see a mazelike
path with many branches. Picture
your sprite characters at one such
fork in the mountain path, as it
branches off in two directions.
772
mountain peak, mountain pass,
climax, crest, (kokuji)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: mountain : above;
up : below; down; descend;
give; low; inferior
9
mountain peak
Heisig mentions at kanjiclinic.com
that he wishes hed chosen mountain
pass for this keyword as its closer to
what the word means. If we do this,
the kanji makes complete sense
because a mountain pass is just
below the mountain top.
Story2:
heisig:
To the north of Lorien lies the Misty

Mountains, and below their towering
peaks are the Mines of Moria. The
Fellowship of the Ring first tried for
the MOUNTAIN PASS that goes
above, but were halted by the
wizardry of Saruman at Caradhras,
and so are forced to take the
MOUNTAIN PASS that goes below,
through the mountain - a path long
feared by Gandalf for the ancient
evil that lurks there. Note : the kanji
773
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
crumble, die, demolish, level

: mountain : companion;
friend
11
crumble
Sam and Frodo were steadfast
companions even as Mount Doom
crumbled above them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
September 11. [lol it also has 11

strokes], whoever reported this story
is a loser, get alife. This is the best
story on the website.
774
english:
secrecy, density (pop), minuteness,

carefulness
component:

(no. 40) : invariably; certain;
inevitable : mountain
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
11
secrecy
To maintain secrecy, secret societies
invariably have to house themselves
in the moutains.
To maintain secrecy, secret societies
invariably have to house themselves
on top of the moutains. (Slight tweak
of chamchams story, using
fuaburisas idea for remembering
where to put the mountain
primitive.).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
775
honey, nectar, molasses

(no. 40) : invariably; certain;
inevitable : insect; bug; temper
14
honey
When I think of honey, I think of a
bee hive, which is a HOUSE that
INVARIABLY has INSECTS.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A house with a lot of honey will

invariably attract many insects.
776
storm, tempest
: mountain : wind; air;
style; manner
12
storm
Storm is a full-blown wind that rips
the mountains off the ground (you
see one flying here).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Winds are gathering at the base of

the mountain (note the hint to
primitive placement), going up, and
turning into a huge mountain storm.
777
promontory, cape, spit

: mountain : strange;
11
promontory
Story1:
Story2:
This is Cape Strange from

FRAME 153, only with mountain in
place of soil. Interestingly, there is
also which is made of the
primitives stone and strange. The
three kanjis , and all have
the same meanings and
pronunciations. They have very little
uses other than names, for which
promontory is the clear winner with
over 2300 uses in place and people
names, while the other two kanjis
A promontory is a small, strange
mountain that juts out into the sea.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
778
enter, insert
: enter, enter radical (no. 11)
2
enter
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Pictograph, see book. * As a

primitive, using the image of going
through a door, even one that stands
alone with the frame and no wall
around, helps flesh out the primitive
enter.
Person enters stage left
779
crowded, mixture, in bulk, included,
(kokuji)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: enter; insert : walk;

162)
5
crowded
During a traffic jam it is impossible
to get your car to enter the roadway
as it is crowded with cars. Think of a
grid lock so bad cars are litterally
scraping up against each other like
people on a Japanese train during
rush hour.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Everybody tries to enter the road

during rush hour. Thats why its so
crowded.
780
part, minute of time, segment, share,

degree, one's lot, duty, understand,
know, rate, 1%, chances, shaku/10
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
part
When something is entered by a
dagger, it ends up being cut in
several parts.
(This kanji also has the meanings of
"understand" and "minute"). Its
important to understand that were
you to enter an hour with a dagger
and cut it into parts, those parts
would be minutes.
781
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
poverty, poor
: part; minute of time; segment;
share; degree; one's lot; duty;
understand; know; rate; 1%;
chances; shaku/100 : shellfish
11
poverty
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In the case of true poverty, not

having money is only part of the
problem. There are other
components as well, like lack of
education, class structuring, etc., but
that doesnt really matter. Just
remember that the money is only
part of it, not the whole.
Parting with your money will lead to
poverty.
782
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
partition, understand
chances; shaku/100 : page;
leaf
13
partition
The PART of my HEAD where I
remember the KANJI is in the kanji
PARTITION.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The last time I tried to partition a

hard drive under Linux, I got a
severe migraine that parted my head.
783
public, prince, official, governmental

radical (no. 28)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
public
I always open the doors to the public
restrooms with my elbows because I
dont want to touch the door with my
hands.
I always enter the doors to the public
restrooms with my elbows because I
dont want to touch the door with my
hands.
784
pine tree
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tree; wood : public;

prince; official; governmental
8
pine tree
Following up with the "entering
public restrooms" story for the righthand primitive: public restrooms
always reek of pine tree scented
disinfectant.
A pine tree is a public tree: they are
frequently planted in public squares,
in commemoration of the respect
Conficius held for them.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
785
venerable old man

: public; prince; official;
governmental : feathers;
counter for birds, rabbits
10
venerable old man
Story1:
The venerable old man is the public

figure head of the Native American
Village, answering all questions and
solving all problems. The higher in
rank you get in this tribe, the more
feathers decorate you. Imagine this
old man covered in beautiful
feathers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The venerable old man is using the

public restroom in the park where he
feeds the pigeons. But, alas, there is
no toilet paper! So, hes caught a
pigeon and is using it to wipe his
bottom. (note the feathers on the
bottom of the kanji, this helps
remember placement). Can you see
the feathers flying everywhere?
786
sue, accuse
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : public; prince;

official; governmental
11
sue
Take care what words you say in
public lest you be sued.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
[+radical_tyro] Socrates was giving

a speech in public. Things were
going rather well, until his robe
opened a bit and people saw his,
well, not-public area. He was
promptly sued for public indecency.
Certain things shouldnt be made
public in public, you know?
787
valley
: mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
7
valley
This could be seen as a very accurate
pictograph of another type of valley:
a valley mouth open under the
umbrella of inner labia, with the
outer labia parted above. There are
even more connections to be made
among the primitive keywords and
the visuals, but i will enter no
further...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Think of the classic anime

(Nausicaa of the
Valley of the Wind). We see
Nausicaa entering the valley mouth
gliding on an umbrella.
788
bathe, be favored with, bask in

: water : valley
10
bathe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This story is quite lascivious, sorry...

Now, imagine you are at a
[two kanjis
we now know] Onsen (), and
you are watching a woman bathe.
Just picture the water dripping down
her cleavage (that valley in between
her breasts). Note: cleavage in
Japanese is .
The mountain man uses the water
from the valley to bathe.
789
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
contain, form, looks

(no. 40) : valley
10
contain
Imagine a house big enough to
contain an entire valley. might want
to live there. And now imagine
cleaning it. . . . Maybe not . . .
Biodome.
790
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
melt, dissolve, thaw

: water : contain; form;
looks
13
melt
Think of what happens when the
snow on top of the mountains melts:
it turns into water and flows down
onto the rooftops of all the houses in
the valley below.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
[melt; dissolve; thaw] An ice cube is

melting, loosing the water it
contained.
791
longing, covetousness, greed,

passion, desire, craving
: valley : lack; gap; fail;
11
longing
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Guess what? Japanese has dirty

words too! (In fact, a lot of them) A
sexual story is NOT inappropriate
here, as this kanji is very sexual,
such as in ; lust. As for a story:
the lack of contact with a womans
valley will leave a man LONGING
for love.
The valley has something my life is
lacking.... something Ive been
longing for.. peace and quiet.
792
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
abundant, rich, fertile

: garment; clothes;
dressing : valley
12
abundant
Story1:
Again using the fact that cleavage in

Japanese is called "valley of the
chest": a woman with abundant
cleavage tightly wraps up her bosom
in a form-fitting cloak, but leaving
her valley exposed. Another
unforgettable image (thank you,
thank you, Ill be here all week).
Story2:
Welcome to cloak-valley, the valley

where everyone wears cloaks and
every shop sells cloaks. Mnemonic :
cloaks are abundant in the valley.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
793
lead
: gold : a marsh at the foot
of the hills; name of a river
13
lead (metal)
Picture the molten lead (the heavy
metal) being discreetly drained out
of the factory into a gully behind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Lead -> Dental fillings -> Metal that

enters the mouth to fill a hole in a
tooth.
794
run alongside, follow along, run

along, lie along
: water : a marsh at the foot
of the hills; name of a river
8
run alongside
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Water in a gully runs alongside the

path.
Picture one of those idiots that run
alongside the bicyclists in the Tour
de France trying to give them water.
Watch as the cyclist shoves the
person into a gully that runs
alongside the road.
795
prize, reward, praise
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: esteem; furthermore; still;

yet : shellfish
15
prize
This is a bit silly.. or maybe not only
a bit, but.. You know some
foodstuffs (cereals come to mind)
sometimes have prizes mixed in
them? Well, in this case, the prize
was a shell (money, remember) and
you only notice in the outhouse...
(see also secret (#904)).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
As a prize for being the 1,000,000th

person to use the restaurants
outhouse, I got all the clams I could
eat.
796
party, faction, clique

yet : elder brother; big brother
10
party
Story1:
Every major political party, if

personified, would look like a giant
outhouse walking around with
human legs spewing out a constant
stream of bullshit.
Story2:
heisig:
Every political party is full of shit.

But nobody ever says how they get
that way. Well, heres your answer a political party memer is in the
outhouse, greedily chowing down on
the contents inside. Hes grown so
accustomed to the taste that hes in
all the way, and all you can see are
his legs through the window. Hell
come inside later to the auditorium
to make a speech and spew
everything out.
797
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
public chamber, hall

yet : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
11
public chamber
There is a secret hall buried in the
soil underneath the outhouse.
In most communities you will be
hauled into city hall if you use the
ground as an outhouse.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
798
usual, ordinary, normal, regular

yet : suspend; hang; wear
(sword)
11
usual
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Its usual to take your towel with

you when you go to the outhouse at
the onsen (hot springs bath in Japan)
so everybody doesnt see your stuff.
In the outhouse toilet youd usually
hope to find toilet paper to wipe
your ass. If its already gone, which
is usually the case, simply use the
towel.
799
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
skirt
yet : garment; clothes;
dressing
skirt
Story1:
Compared to pants, a SKIRT is the

GARMENT to be wearing when you
want to use one of those Japanese
toilets. It makes it so much easier:
you just walk in the OUTHOUSE
hike it up, and do your business.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Havent you ever noticed that the

men / women signs on the front of
outhouses are sometimes very
similar? The silhouettes are usually
the same, but one will decidedly be
wearing a garment in the shape of a
SKIRT. Also, weve already learned
the kanji for "woman", so if the
signs are only in kanji you have no
right to wander in and claim
ignorance, perv!
800
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
manipulate, rule, administer,

conduct, palm of hand
yet : hand
12
manipulate
If youre going to manipulate your
body with your hand, then go do it in
an outhouse, at least!
Instead of magazines, we keep a
Rubiks Cube in the outhouse to
manipulate with your hands while
you do your business.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
801
pelt, skin, hide, leather

: skin, skin radical (no. 107)
5
pelt
Story1:
Story2:
A pelt is hooked on a branch. A

small tent is made with a pelt and a
branch planted in the ground. The
mnemonic hints at the first stroke
(the hanging pelt) and the hook at
the end of the second stroke. This is
chinese radical #107 meaning skin.
To be honest, this is one of those
cases where I have found it easier to
"just remember it" as a radical, as it
occurs so frequently:
him waveand so on.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
802
waves, billows, Poland

: water : pelt; skin; hide;
leather; skin radical (no. 107)
8
waves
Waves are the oceans pelt (skin).
The Inuit used water-proof seal pelts
for their kayaks, to travel the waves.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
803
old woman, grandma, wet nurse

: waves; billows; Poland :
woman; female
11
old woman
An old woman is seen here as a
woman with waves (i.e. wrinkles,
creases).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You know "The Old Man and the

Sea." Well, this is the sequel, "The
Old Woman and the Sea Waves.".
804
expose, open
: hand : pelt; skin; hide;
8
expose
Story1:
Story2:
You expose holes in a pelt by

passing your fingers through them
and wiggling them on the other side.
The sense of the kanji here is to
reveal something that was hidden, to
make known, to open your heart
(thus revealing it, exposing it to
others), express your opinion, etc.
Think of it in this vulgar way. You
really want her to expose her
beaver pelt, so you have to
encourage her with your fingers to
expose it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
805
rend, rip, tear, break, destroy, defeat,

frustrate
: stone : pelt; skin; hide;
10
rend
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Before the invention of scissors or

knives, sharp STONES were used to
REND PELTs, so that caveman
designers could complete new styles
for the upcoming year.
Rend is a violent, primitive kind of
word. (Image: cavemen rending pelts
right off live animals with stone
tools).
806
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
incur, cover, veil, brood over,

shelter, wear, put on, be exposed
(film), receiving
: garment; clothes;
dressing : pelt; skin; hide;
10
incur
If you wear a coat of fur (pelt) you
are sure to incur the wrath of animal
rights extremists.
A cloak of fur (pelt) will incur the
wrath of animal lovers.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
807
remainder, leftover, balance

: bare bone; bad; wrong; death
radical (n. 78) : damage;
remain; slight
10
remainder
The remainder of the bones have
been thrown from the float (for the
dogs maybe, at the end of the
parade).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Throwing all those coins (see coin

(#368)) was a really bad idea; people
got mad with greed. The only
remainders left were the bones of
those that was on the float.
808
martyrdom, follow by resigning

radical (n. 78) : decameron;
10-day period; season (for specific
products)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
10
martyrdom
Think of the early Christian martyrs
who suffered martyrdom because of
their faith. See them held in cells for
10 days (a decameron) before being
fed to the lions. They appear before
the chanting Roman crowds as bones
to be devoured. Think of what was
leftover after the lions finished them
off....nothing, not even a pile of
bones to bury.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The boney man martyred himself

during his 10 day hunger-strike.
809
particularly, especially, exceptionally

radical (n. 78) : vermilion;
10
particularly
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A t-bone steak is vermilion particularly if served rare.

Castlevania -- The vermillion
skeletons (bones) are particularly
hard because they just keep
regenerating.
810
augment, increase, multiply, raise
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (n. 78) : straightaway;
12
augment
Advertisement for Breast Implants -Tired of nights all alone? Want to
get boned straightaway?
AUGMENT your breasts and all
your troubles will be solved!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In the movie Gattaca, Vincent

Freeman (played by Ethan Hawke)
augments his size by straightening
his bones (his legs), in order to
match up with the genetically
perfect population, and reach his
goal of travelling in space. The
stretching of his lower leg bones
involved multiplying the bone cells,
another sense of this key word.
811
file, row, rank, tier, column
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

radical (n. 78) : sword; saber;
knife
6
file
A line of skeletal warriors, all armed
with sabers.
Skeleton army rank and file. Dudes
made of bones carrying sabres.
812
split, rend, tear
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: file; row; rank; tier;

column : garment; clothes;
dressing
12
split
They tried issuing the skeleton
warriors with proper garments to
wear, but they kept getting split by
the sharp bones or by their sabres. In
the end, it was decided they look
scarier naked anyway.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Someone takes a sword made of

bone to split the garment right down
the middle. Very effective.
813
ardent, violent, vehement, furious,

severe, extreme
: file; row; rank; tier;
column : fire
10
ardent
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The nazis were ardent believers in

the master arian race, see them
marching everyone else into the
oven fires, single file.
The undead, marching single file,
prove how ardent they are be
walking across a field of flame. Fun
fact, ardent used to mean to burn.
814
death, die
component:
strokes:
keyword:

radical (n. 78) : spoon; spoon
or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
6
death
Story1:
Ok, this is where knowing some

Eastern culture comes in handy! In
Japanese society, when someone
dies they creamate the body and pick
out the remaining bones with special
chopsticks. In this case, theyre out
of chopsticks so they decide to use
(gasp!) a spoon instead.
Story2:
Imagine the grim reaper (the bringer

of death), carrying a spoon made of
human bones instead of a scythe.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
815
interment, bury, shelve

140) : death; die :
twenty; 20; twenty or letter H radical
(no. 55)
12
interment
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I imagine an interment as a funeral.

At this funeral its an open casket,
and the dead body (death) is holding
flowers with both of its hands.
During the interment ceremony, the
grandchildren placed flowers over
the dead body while the widow sat
praying with two hands.
816
wink, blink, twinkle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

experience; care; favor : type
of morning glory; rose of Sharon;
althea
18
wink
Imagine Snoopy winking with his
big eyes (and a happy smile)
standing next to Woodstocks
Birdhouse, woodstock being so cool
that he wears little sunglasses.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
What a dilemna, you wore

SUNGLASSES over your EYES
when you went to the BIRDHOUSE
so you wouldnt be recognized - but
now you cant WINK at the girl you
want!
817
ear
: ear, ear radical (no. 128)
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
ear
Your ear is like the eye on the side
of your head for seeing things, but
there is hair around it that creates
jagged lines.
Pictograph, see book. * The
primitive meaning can easily be
extended to ear plugs.
818
take, fetch, take up
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: ear : or again;
8
take
You put your ear next to a womans
crotch...and somehow, from it, you
hear the words "Take me....".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Fuaburisus with a twist: You know

that classic trick where someone
pretends to take something out of an
someone elses ear (such as a coin).
Instead of a cigarette or a pen he
pulls the persons crotch out of their
ear. Very painful!
819
gist, proceed to, tend, become

: run : take; fetch; take up
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
gist
The gist of it is this: We take the
money and run!
Pickpocket advice: Its simple,
FIRST run, then take. Yeah, thats
the gist of it!
820
utmost, most, extreme

days : take; fetch; take up
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
utmost
TAKE the UTMOST care when you
SUN bath all DAY, or youll get
burned from your EARS to your
CROTCH.
Do your utmost - seize(take) the day.
821
snapshot, take pictures

: hand : utmost; most;
extreme
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
15
snapshot
Take the utmost care that you dont
have your finger in the way when
you take a snapshot.
When I learned photography from
my dad as a little girl, he explained
the basics to me: "when you take a
snapshot, be careful not to put your
fingers before the lens, and dont
look towards the sun (this was in the
days that photographs would be
spoiled by direct sunlight).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
822
shame, dishonor
: ear : heart; mind; spirit;
10
shame
Amelia Ear-Heart (sic) brought
shame to those who said women
couldnt fly.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Vincent Van Goghs greatest shame

was cutting off his ear to win the
heart of a woman.
823
post, employment, work

: ear : sword; potter's clay;
to gather
18
post
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Worst post in history: quality

checker at the kazoo factory.
Imagine the toll on your ears!
Buckingham Palace guards are
famous for staying at their post no
matter what, even if you blow a
kazoo in their ear!
824
holy, saint, sage, master, priest

: ear : mouth : jewel;
ball
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
13
holy
The trick for me is to remember that
the is to the left of the .
However, this is easy because a true
holy man uses his ear to listen (i.e.,
to God or his supplicant) before he
opens his mouth to speak, unlike a
charlatan who just makes something
up. Of course, kings are often true
holy men and prophets (e.g., King
David in the bible).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A holy man hears with his ears

before he speaks with his mouth,
which places him higher than a king
in peoples esteem.
825
daring, sad, tragic, pitiful, frail,

feeble
: ear : strike; hit; folding
chair radical (no. 66)
12
daring
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Only a truly daring Japanese student

would wear a spike in his ear under
the gaze of the Japanese teacher
taskmasters!
See that ear nailed over there ? Its
the ear of the last person who was
too daring with the taskmistress.
826
listen, headstrong, naughty, careful

inquiry
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: ear : ten : net; net

122) : heart; mind; spirit;
17
listen
I promise to use my ear to do
nothing but listen ... stick a needle in
my eye, cross my heart and hope to
die! (Intentionally said backwards to
get the order of the primitives
correct).
Story2:
heisig:
Listening to others is different from

hearing [1626] with the ear. One
must allow the words to pierce
through the eyes (the window of the
soul) and reach deep into the
heart...a symbol of thinking about
and contemplating on what was said,
not just the sounds of words spoken.
A married man while reading his
newspaper, his wife going on about
something suddenly, says, "Youre
not listening to me, are you?" He
827
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
pocket, feelings, heart, yearn, miss

someone, become attached to,
bosom, breast
(no. 61) : ten : net; net
122) : garment; clothes;
dressing
16
pocket
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
(re: taijuando) When you are in New

York City you have to be alert, i.e. in
the "New York State of Mind": you
need ten eyes to make sure no one
will go through your garments and
pick your pockets.
Imagine Darth Vaders state of mind
when he discovers his garment has
not pockets. " D O NOT WANT!".
828
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ridicule, laziness
(no. 61) : wide; beautiful
14
ridicule
Story1:
Story2:
Ill focus on the mandala primitive

here. I guess Heisig chose this
keyword for phonetic reasons and as
a character its the "man" in
mandara/mandala (). A
mandala is a graphic representation
of the universe, here split in 3 planes
of existance, the sun representing the
cosmos, the eye represents the
human observer, the crotch
represents the animal instincts.
He s often ridiculed for having his
eye on crotches all day.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
829
cartoon, involuntarily, in spite of

oneself, corrupt
: water : wide; beautiful
14
loose
Story1:
One obscure Tibetan sect-- the

Otaku cult-- has an unusually loose
interpretation of mandala drawing
practice. Instead of traditional
mandalas they draw mangas ().
They then pour water on the image
to wash it away, and begin anew.
Story2:
Even NELSON MANDALA dreams

of drops of WATER glistening on
comic book/ anime girls with
LOOSE morals. (This story has been
edited in response reports).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
830
buy
: net; net or net crown radical (no.
122) : shellfish
12
buy
When something catches my eye, I
take out a few clams and buy before
anybody else does.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Rules to Buying: 1. Youve had your

eye on it for a while. 2. You have
enough shells to afford it.
831
placement, put, set, deposit, leave

behind, keep, employ, pawn
122) : straightaway; honesty;
frankness; fix; repair
13
placement
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
On the JET Programme, many

people have their eye on a placement
in Tokyo, Osaka or another big city,
and write it on their application
form. They are usually sent to the
countryside straightaway.
Working in retail you learn the
placement of any item should be at
eye level so its seen straightaway.
832
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
penalty, punishment
122) : say : sword;
saber; knife
14
penalty
Story1:
For Japanese, when the minds eye

(the sideways eye) feels guilty for
something bad that the body has
done, there are two penaltys to
choose from. One, you can say Im
sorry. Two, you can commit suicide
by sabre. Why, oh why, do so many
Japanese executives commit suicide
at the first sign of scandal when all
the have to do is say Im sorry to get
off the hook. (on yomi: , ).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There is a 3-way masterplan for

every goalkeeper to prevent a goal at
penalty shootout: 1. Look directly
into the eyes of the player --- 2.
Confuse him by screaming senseless
words --- 3. Pull out you your saber
and ... (thats up to you).
833
rather, preferably
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: used as a term of
comparison : street; ward;
town; counter for guns, tools, leaves
or cakes of something; even number;
4th calendar sign
14
rather
Story1:
Story2:
A pretty tough kanji. Think of

elegant old housewives with English
accents dining together at a HOUSE
party. The hostess brings out a dish
of hors doeuvres: a SPIKE of metal
with an EYEBALL and a HEART
skewered on it. Upon being offered
this treat, one of the housewives says
in her English accent, "Id RATHER
not.".
Rather a house with a heart than an
eye with a spike.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
834
voiced, uncleanness, wrong, nigori,

impurity
: water : green caterpillar;
Szechwan
16
voiced
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The fly is wrapped in a spiderweb

voicing "Help me, Help Me" under
the watchful eye of the spider whos
venom is dripping like water from
her fangs.
Pour water over the eyes of a bound
up insect if you want to hear a pitiful
buzz that is very similar to a
VOICED consanant.
835
ring, circle, link, wheel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: jewel; ball : round; stare

17
ring
Story1:
Together with the next kanji, the

keywords spell send back the ring.
First we have a jewel. Next we have
the great eye of Sauron searching for
the fellowship hiding under the
many ceilings during their journey.
The fourth and fifth primitives are
the mouth of Gollum always
mumbling My preciousss; and
Pippins scarf! Placement: the eye
appears at the top similarly to how
the Great Eye of Sauron is perched
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In conjunction with send back

(#837)....... When I tried to give her
the jewel ring, she eyed me, threw it
to the floor, opened her mouth and
tried to speak, she said nothing. She
grabbed her scarf and left.
836
send back, return

: round; stare : walk;
162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
16
send back
Youve probably guessed it by now,
this is the road that Sam and Frodo
take to send back the ring to Mount
Doom! (see previous frame, the
jewel is replaced by the road).
Continued from ring (#836)....... So
Im on the road going to send back
the ring minus the jewel, the hit to
the floor knocked it out.
837
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
husband, man
: large; big
4
husband
Even though it is argued size is not
important, Im sure most women
would like their husband to have a
big one.
Homer Simpson, as a primitive.
838
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
aid, help, assist

: hand : husband; man
7
aid
Using his finger the husband
sometimes is an erotic aid to his
partner.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
In Homer Simpsons house, the first

aid kit is usually used for when he
smashes his fingers trying to build
something (there are countless
Simpsons episodes you can draw
from for this).
839
mountain stream, valley

: water : servant; what; why
11
keyword:
Story1:
mountain stream
The Simpsons are on vacation.
Homer stops to take a leak in a
mountain stream but gets snatched
by an eagle. Hear his scream?
Story2:
heisig:
A husband who went fishing at the

mountain stream to feed his family,
fell in the rapids (well assume this
is a large mountain stream). He is
saved from the waters by a great
eagle. He comes back home with
nothing to feed the family, his
clothes still dripping wet as he tells
his wife of how he was saved by a
great eagle, and of course she does
not believe him. The story continues
in chicken (#1947).
840
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
standard, measure
: husband; man : see;
hopes; chances; idea; opinion; look
at; visible
11
standard
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the male-dominated world of

yesterday, the husbands way of
seeing things was considered the
standard point of view. Women who
dared to disagree were frowned upon.
Unfortunately, Homer Simpson is
the standard model of a husband in
American society. (Placement: You
have to look in the RIGHT places to
find one that doesnt fit that mold.).
841
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
exchange, spare, substitute, per: husband; man : husband;

man : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
12
exchange
A show like "Trading Spouses"
called "exchanging husbands" where
2 husbands are exchanged for a day
(thanks dingomick).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Marges dream: to exchange Homer

for another husband for just one day.
842
approve, praise, title or inscription

on picture, assist, agree with
: husband; man : husband;
man : shellfish
15
approve
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Out of two potential husbands,

which would you approve of? Well,
the one with shells (money) of
course!!!
Bushs campaign- "John Kerry
approves using taxpayers money to
support gay marriage. I dont." "I
approve this message".
843
submerge, conceal, hide, lower

(voice), hush
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : exchange; spare;

substitute; per15
submerge
When a submarine or similar vessel
SUBMERGES an EXCHANGE of
air for WATER takes place in
special compartments.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The two husbands exchange for a

day on the reality TV show (see
exchange (#842)) finally goes
underway. One of the two husbands
first job is to fix the water faucet in
his new familys apartment.
Unfortunately, he isnt very good at
fixing things and after a few failed
attempts the entire apartment is
submerged in water.
844
lose, error, fault, disadvantage, loss
component:
strokes:
keyword:

4) : husband; man
5
Story1:
lose
The drop falling here is the
husbands toupee... hes already lost
his hair once, now hes losing it
again. Such is life, I suppose.
Story2:
Note: Heisigs stroke order is wrong.

Its the same as vermilion, drop first.
Homer loses/drops his wedding ring.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
845
iron
: gold : lose; error; fault;
disadvantage; loss
13
iron
Iron is a metal that gradually
becomes lost due to oxidation and
rust.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Compare with pig-iron (#270). In

moving from pig-iron to iron, some
of the metals maleability is LOST.
(The only difference between the
two kanji is that IRON has kneeless, unbending legs, while PIGIRON (270) has very supple,
bendable legs.).
846
transfer, alternation
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: lose; error; fault; disadvantage;

loss : walk; walking; road
8
alternate
When you get lost, you just take an
alternate road to get back on track.
When you lose your way, you can
always try to tell the wife that you
merely took an alternate road. To
save time you know. Im not LOST,
Im just taking an alternate road.
Ahem.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
847
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: minister, official (radical no. 131)
Story1:
retainer, subject
7
retainer
Its a pictograph of a teeth with a
retainer in the middle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Retainer = A slave (for the purposes

of this kanji.) This is a pictograph of
a slave collar with two handcuffs
dangling from it.
848
princess
: woman; female : retainer;
subject
10
princess
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Princess Leia becomes Jabbas slave

(princess Leia is a woman slave).
Cinderella: A woman who was a
slave who became a princess.
849
storehouse, hide, own, have, possess
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : wild goose; trailing
cliff radical (no. 27) : halberd;
15
storehouse
The storehouse is overgrown with
slaves. The slaves are to be sold in
the store, to differentiate from a
warehouse, which doesnt have the
word "store" in it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Slaves moved flowers from the

storehouse in preparation for the
parade.
850
entrails, viscera, bowels

: meat : storehouse; hide;
own; have; possess
19
entrails
Story1:
Story2:
You signed your organ donor card,

right? So, when you die, your
entrails and other body parts will be
placed in a storehouse.
Again with the Pyramids, each
Pharaoh had their entrails taken out
and put into little jars that were
shaped in the forms of their Gods
and entombed along with the
preserved body. So, the entrails are
the parts of the body that are placed
in the storehouse along with the
Pharaoh! Damnit, why cant they
always be this easy? :(.
heisig:
onyomi:
851
english:
intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness

: retainer; subject : or
again; furthermore; on the other
hand : shellfish
component:
strokes:
keyword:
16
intelligent
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
An intelligent man is neither slave to

his crotch nor to money. But an
intelligent slave will know how to
use his/her crotch to make money.
Every intelligent man is a slave to
two things, his: 1) crotch, and 2)
money.
852
strict, hard, solid, tough, tight,

reliable
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hand : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
12
strict
The strict parent thinks adolescent
kids are "slaves to their crotch" (=
cant control their hormones), so he
grounds them. Permanently!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Im very strict about not just

sleeping with anyone. People who
are slaves to their crotches often end
up with dirty genitalia and I dont
want to get their VD. (on
yomi=).
853
look to, face, meet, confront, attend,

call on
: retainer; subject : goods;
refinement; dignity; article; counter
for meal courses
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
18
look to
The slave is look to the future, "One
day" he thinks "I will be able to
recline with all my goods, a tv,
stereo and washing machine, and
when that day comes I shall be truly
happy" he sighs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Imagine a slave(or in this case, a

female porn star) looking to her new
gangbang film where she reclines
and gets all 3 holes filled at the
same...........OK. Very vulgar, but I
was inspired by raulirs clever use of
"3 holes".........
854
perusal, see
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: retainer; subject : see;

at; visible
17
perusal
The slave reclines on the floor at
night to watch the stars. Since thats
the only thing the slave is allowed to
read, he does so very thoroughly
and diligently, hence perusal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[+scottamus] "Please, come in and

peruse this fine selection of slaves,
all reclining here on the floor for
your perusal. Have a look here":
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi
a/commons/thumb/0/09/Slave_ship_
diagram.png/440pxSlave_ship_diagram.png.
855
gigantic, big, large, great
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: box-on-side enclosure radical

(no. 22) : two; two radical
(no.2)
5
gigantic
This is actually the top view of a
porn star with a gigantic erect penis.
The top and bottom are his arms and
the middle is his penis. Imagine him
making the pumping motion while
hes banging some chick. The arms
move in, the penis moves out and
vice versa.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The letter E, with a GIGANTIC

middle stroke.
856
repel, refuse, reject, decline

: hand : gigantic; big; large;
great
8
repel
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A woman might be REPELLED by a

porn stars GIGANTIC penis, so he
kindly offers to use his FINGERS
instead.
Having gigantic fingers is useful to
repel insects. You can swat them
away a lot easier!
857
power, strong, strain, bear up, exert

: power, force, katakana ka radical
(no. 19)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
2
power
I always refer to the power of the
KATAKANA "KA".
I have a very powerful muscle in
my driveway!
858
male
power; strength; strong; strain; bear
up; exert
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
7
male
Male is seen here as muscles
working in the field, in other words
working in the rice fields is the work
of the male who are usually stronger.
This is more or less the meaning of
the original Chinese character.
When it comes to choosing a MAN,
I prefer brains over muscles.
859
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
labor, thank for, reward for, toil,

trouble
14) : power; strength; strong;
strain; bear up; exert
7
labor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Those jocks who always tried to

show their muscles in the
schoolhouse are now the ones out
there doing manual labor jobs while
we sit here and learn Japanese. Ha!
At the schoolhouse, the
administration develops the
childrens muscles by making them
do manual labour.
860
recruit, campaign, gather

(contributions), enlist, grow violent
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

up; exert
12
recruit
The necromancer hangs out at the
local graveyard and uses his dark
powers to recruit an army of undead.
Emphasize the verb form to keep
distinct from the noun cadet (#1173).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
WANTED: Hardworking
GRAVEYARD diggers. Must have 6
months experience with
POWERFUL muscles as will be
working in South Africa burying
deceased elephants.
861
inferiority, be inferior to, be worse

: few; little : power;
strength; strong; strain; bear up; exert
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
6
inferiority
I have an inferiority complex
because I have fewer muscles than
everyone else at the gym. They all
look like Macho Man Randy Savage
(power) to me.
I had trouble remembering the
relative position of the components,
so now I use this story: Even
muscular men have inferiority if they
have few things above their muscles
(i.e., brain cells).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
862
achievement, merits, success, honor,

credit
radical (no. 48) : power;
5
achievement
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The great achievements of

humankind, were crafts completed
by muscle power: the pyramids, the
Eiffel tower, etc.
All of Arnold Schwarzeneggers
achievements started with him
crafting his muscles.
863
persuade, recommend, advise,

encourage, offer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

172) : power; strength;
strong; strain; bear up; exert
13
persuade
Mnemonic "pegasus persuasion
power". I think of the hippogriff
from Harry Potter as being like a
pegasus. To befriend a hippogriff,
you have to persuade it you mean no
harm, you can do this if you have
"pegasus persuasion power".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
It would take a powerful argument to

persuade me Pegasus was real
864
toil, diligent, as much as possible

: guy; slave; manservant;
fellow : power; strength;
7
toil
GUY POWER!!! Body builders
toiling in the gym all day....
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Guy + Power: To reach a position of

power in the company, the average
guy has to toil very hard for many
years.
865
encourage, be diligent, inspire

(no. 27) : ten thousand;
10,000 : power; strength;
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
encourage
10,000 Persians are at the base of the
cliff, but the leader of the 300
Spartans just flexes his huge muscles
and encourages his men by shouting
that they have the power to fight
them all.
People encourage you, giving you
the power so you can dive off the
10,000m high cliff into the sea.
866
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
add, addition, increase, join, include,

Canada
: power; strength; strong; strain;
bear up; exert : mouth
5
add
If you eat anymore, you will be
adding more ries. (katakana
karo).
This is Power Mouth, the most
annoying neighbour in the world
who always has something to add.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
867
congratulations, joy
: add; addition; increase; join;
include; Canada : shellfish
12
congratulations
When someone at work gets married,
you pass around an envelope to
which you add some money and a
card which you sign with your
congratulations.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Congratulations are so much better

when you add money to them.
868
erect, frame, mount, support, shelf,

construct
include; Canada : tree; wood
9
erect
Instant wood. Just add Viagra.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Im not sure I know about erector

sets or tinker toys but I do know
about jenga. You play by taking
wooden pieces from the middle of a
wooden tower and adding them to
the top. In this way you erect a very
unstable structure.
869
armpit, the other way, another place,

flank, supporting role
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: meat : power; strength;

strong; strain; bear up; exert :
up; exert : power; strength;
10
armpit
What part of the body has a very,
very, very powerful smell? The
armpit, of course!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(no important on yomi) The part of

Conans body that is three times
more effective at defeating foes than
his muscles are his stinky ARMPITs.
[Note: Typically, when the flesh
primitive is on the left side it refers
to a body part - this helps distinguish
in from threaten (#871)].
870
threaten, coerce
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: power; strength; strong; strain;

bear up; exert : power;
strength; strong; strain; bear up;
exert : power; strength;
month; moon
10
threaten
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Compare the primitive positions of

armpit (#870) and threaten (#871).
When your triceps rest alongside
your body, they fit snugly against
your armpit. When you hold them
above your body, however, your
posture becomes quite threatening.
Dont threaten a warewolf. Hes
three times as powerful ON a full
moon.
871
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
co-, cooperation
: ten : power; strength;
up; exert : power; strength;
8
co-
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The nurse says : If you co-operate,

that needle (syringe) in your triceps
wont hurt. Note: both co- and
cooperate are meanings for this kanji.
Co-operation: 3 persons can have the
power of ten if they co-operate.
872
going, journey
: stop; linger; loiter; going man
radical (no. 60)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
6
going
I use The Flash for for this primitive;
a superhero who is always going
very fast.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To me, this looks like a bridge going

over a body of water, being
supported by columns underneath it.
Being that I live near the ocean, I see
tourists and vacationers coming and
going constantly on the bridge.
Because the bridge is so long, it
forms an arc to support the structural
integrity. You can see that arc here.
873
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rhythm, law, regulation, gauge,

control
radical (no. 60) : brush;
finally; self; relate; follow; here;
fast; writing brush radical (no. 129)
9
rhythm
The calligraphers brush is moving
down a column of a script, in rhythm
with his meditation.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The army COLUMN walked to the

RHYTHM made by the drummer
using a cool BRUSH like drum
stick. Picturing the brush as a drum
stick is not difficult if youve seen
such a thing in jazz videos.
874
restore, return to, revert, resume

radical (no. 60) : return;
repeat; repeatedly
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
12
restore
Before going all the way to the Boss
in a Final Fantasy game, you should
probably double back to save at a
restore point.
The column of soldiers has to double
back to restore the peace in the
village they just left.
875
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
gain, get, find, earn, acquire, can,

may, able to, profit, advantage,
benefit
radical (no. 60) : daybreak;
dawn; morning :
11
gain
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To gain more knowledge of whats

goin on in the world Im reading
column after column of articles in
the newspapers, and it takes so much
time Im glued to it till nightbreak.
Imagine fat people......they avoid
going outside to exercise and stay
glued to their TV set until
nightbreak....so of course they gain
weight.
876
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
accompany, obey, submit to,

comply, follow, secondary,
incidental, subordinate
radical (no. 60) : head;
counter for animals
10
accompany
The line of viking soldiers is always
accompanied by a horn mending
specialist.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Im going to accompany the horny

girl to her room so I can "mend" her.
877
junior, emptiness, vanity, futility,

uselessness, ephemeral thing, gang,
set, party, people
radical (no. 60) : run
10
junior
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Junior is GOING to RUN the family

business one day...
The junior employee is always
RUNNING around GOING here and
there for his superiors.
878
wait, depend on
radical (no. 60) : Buddhist
temple
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
wait
A line queued up outside the
Buddhist temple, waiting to see the
shrine on New Years Day.
The COLUMNS of this TEMPLE
are a well-know meeting spot. You
can always see someone WAITING
there.
879
journey, chase away, let go, going,

travel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 60) : lord; chief;
8
journey
In Medieval Japan, going to see your
lord was often a long journey.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The fellowship of the ring is on a

long journey through the depths of
Khaz Modan. Imagine they walk
through the hall of pillars, with only
light being from their own
candlesticks that. Soon they will
meet much more light than they
would ever want to...
880
subjugate, attack the rebellious,

collect taxes
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

radical (no. 60) : correct;
justice; righteous; 10**40
8
subjugate
America seeks to GO and
CORRECT other nations. But really
what they do is subjugate them...
To subjugate is to have somebody
stand still and stiff as a column and
behave one hundred percent
correctly.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
881
diameter, path, method

radical (no. 60) : holy; sacred
8
diameter
Story1:
Scientists recently measured the

diameter of Earth by drilling a deep
hole and dropping a line of thread
off a humongous spool until it got to
the other side.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Suggestion: Replace "spool" with

"toilet paper/roll". Reasons: (1)
Toilet paper/roll usually comes on a
spool. (2) Toilet paper is used to
clean the soil off your crotch. Story:
Measure the diameter of a column
(maybe Nelsons Column in
London?) using a roll of toilet paper.
Spool also appears in stalk (#715),
suspicious (#716), lightly (#717),
sutra (#1360).
882
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
he, that, the

radical (no. 60) : pelt; skin;
hide; leather; skin radical (no. 107)
8
he
Whats the main difference between
a he and a she? The he has a column
covered in a pelt... a penis. Badumching.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The ultimate he-man is the

Neanderthal cave man. His club is as
big as a pillar (column), and he
wears a ragged pelt as his only
clothing. To remember the column,
imagine the cave man resting the
club vertically like a column when
not in use.
883
duty, war, campaign, drafted labor,

office, service, role
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 60) : pike; windyagain radical (no. 79)
7
duty
Japanese kamikaze pilots (and the
American from Dr. Strangelove) are
so devoted to their duty that they go
with their missiles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Imagine those poor saps in charge of

nuclear silos, responsible for
ICBMS, those towering column
missiles. When the order comes they
must decide whether to obey their
concience or do their duty and damn
the world to atomic annihilation.
884
benevolence, virtue, goodness,

commanding respect
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 60) : ten :
net; net or net crown radical (no.
14
benevolence
Hearkening back to the kanji for
LISTEN... Benevolence is a good
listener who is willing to go the
distance to help.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In a rare act of benevolence, the

Sparten column removes the needle
from the cyclopss eye, and he
repays them by eating their hearts.
885
penetrate, clear, pierce, strike home,

sit up (all night)
radical (no. 60) : bring up;
grow up; raise; rear : strike;
hit; folding chair radical variant (no.
66)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
15
penetrate
The taskmistress in a moment of
weakness allowed the mans column
to penetrate her. As punishment he
was made to bring up their infant.
Ha! In this frame, a bunch of
taskmasters are lined up to penetrate
the kids they raise/bring up! Im
thinking of some priests and choir
boys.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
886
indications, sign, omen, symptom,

collect, seek, refer to, question
mountain : jewel; ball :
variant (no. 66)
14
indications
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you see a column of kings being

marched up the mountain under a
taskmasters whip... indications are,
there has been a coup.
All indications are that the
taskmasters son is going to be king
of the mountain soon
887
penal, chastise, punish, discipline
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: indications; sign; omen;

symptom; collect; seek; refer to;
question : heart; mind; spirit;
18
penal
Story1:
Penal servitude is served until

indications show that one has had a
change of heart (learned ones
lesson). Easily confused with punish
(#679) and penalty (#833).
Concentrate on the reasons behind
the penal system ("changing
peoples hearts" here), instead of the
penalty itself or the punishment
(revenge) aspect. It may help to note
that theres no sword, but a heart :-)
(Note: = learn from ones
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Judge: You will serve a penal

sentence until indications show you
have a heart.
888
delicate, minuteness, insignificance

mountain : high & level;
lofty; bald; dangerous : strike;
hit; folding chair radical variant (no.
66)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
13
delicate
The Column of 300 spartans were in
a delicate situation. They had
travelled in one line (using only their
legs) to the mountain pass to face the
fierce Persian task master.
Telling your taskmistress (wife) why
you are going mountain climbing
without her is a delicate situation...
"For one thing you have such
beautiful legs and I dont want to
risk injuring them honey"...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
889
boulevard, street, town

: going; journey : square
jewel; corner; angle; edge
12
boulevard
The boulevard of boulevards, the
Champs Elyses, with the Arc de
Triomphe covered in ivy to give the
champions a heroes welcome.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Specifically... ivy boulevard... think

hollywood & vine.
890
equilibrium, measuring rod, scale

: going; journey : fish
16
equilibrium
Story1:
To maintain the social equilibrium in

a future dystopian society, the brains
of citizens are bound up
(hypnotized). The government is
using mental wave emitting statues
shaped like St. Bernards dogs put
alongside the boulevards.
Story2:
heisig:
I think BALANCE is an easier

keyword. I was walking down a busy
French boulevard when between the
rushing traffic I saw the wierdest
thing. BALANCING on the central
crash barrier was a St. Bernard dog,
BALANCING a fish on its nose. As
I looked closer, I realised it was a
trick; it was holding the fishs tail in
its teeth, and only pretending to
BALANCE it. (keeps the position of
the elements!).
891
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
draft, copy, manuscript, straw

: 2-branch tree radical (no.
115) : tall; high; expensive
15
draft
The first DRAFT of catcher in the
rye was actually called "catcher in
the TALL WHEAT"...good thing
they changed it. I read it in .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Aliens often draft their plans for

invasion by cutting designs among
the tall wheat.
892
earnings, work, earn money

115) : house; home; family;
professional; expert; performer
15
earnings
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Your earnings allow you to bring

home your daily bread (made of
wheat, naturally).
Hmm, EARNINGS. Think of the
popular saying "Bringing HOME the
bacon". Here, EARNINGS is the
picture "Bringing HOME the
bread(WHEAT) and the bacon (PIG).
893
extent, degree, law, formula,

distance, limits, amount
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : display; offer; present;
send; exhibit
12
extent
The extent to which some people
will go to create wheat displays, or
as some call them crop circles, is
truly amazing.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The wheat crop has come in, and the

mouth of the king is gobbling it all
up. Everyone is waiting to see... to
what extent will the king manage to
eat it this year?
894
tax, duty
115) : exchange
12
tax
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Nobody likes the tax man, so here it

is only fitting that the person who
comes over to take some of your
wheat is depicted here as a devil.
Keep in mind that in feudal societies
there was no kind of money to speak
of, so taxes were paid by serfs in
wheat to the devils who came over
to keep them poor.
This is an easy one. Taxes is like the
devil taking away your hard earned
wheat.
895
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
immature, young
115) : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
13
immature
I cant believe I brought you to the
fanciest restaurant in town and you
asked for turkey on wheat...how
immature is that?!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Immature turkeys are stuffed with

wheat to make it look bigger.
896
harmony, Japanese style, peace,

soften, Japan
115) : mouth
8
harmony
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The first step to harmony is having

enough wheat to feed every mouth in
the world. Once we are all fed it is
easier to get a long in harmony.
People who live in harmony with
nature live in the country. they are
yokels or hillbillys. See Billy-bob
sitting on the porch in their denhim
dungarees a sheaf of wheat, sticking
from their mouth.
897
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shift, move, change, drift, catch

(cold, fire), pass into
115) : many; frequent; much
11
shift
Picture the WHEAT field, filled with
MANY, MANY stalks of WHEAT.
Notice how they SHIFT like waves
in the slightest breeze. When you
hear SHIFT, just picture that scene.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Many people are making the shift

from white to whole wheat bread.
898
second (1/60 minute)

115) : few; little
9
second
An hourglass filled with wheat
counts time. A few wheat seeds drop
every second.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Ill be with you soon... please wheat

a few seconds.
899
autumn
115) : fire
9
autumn
In AUTUMN, the WHEAT looks the
color of FIRE, meaning its time to
harvest it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Every autumn the wheat is set on fire

to clear the way for next years
crop...
900
distress, grieve, lament, be anxious

: autumn : heart; mind;
13
distress
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In AUTUMN, the farmers HEART

is in DISTRESS as to if he has
enough crops. Even better, the
farmer will experience great
DISTRESS in his HEART if his
WHEAT catches FIRE!
Here we have distressed (think
"gloomy") people with "seasonal
mood disorder" during the autumn
season. Hence "autumn heart" is
distressed (gloomy).
901
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
private, I, me
radical (no. 28)
7
private
Warning sign: "Private wheat,
trespassers will be elbowed".
I already know this as watashi, or
"I". In order to associate the
keyword of private, Ill think of this
one as "Private I", like a detective.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
902
regularity, salary, order

115) : lose; error; fault;
disadvantage; loss
10
regularity
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think of REGULARITY in terms of

bowel movements. Enough WHEAT
in your diet will help your DROPS
with improved REGULARITY.
Eating plenty of wheat will improve
regularity and help you lose weight.
903
secret, conceal
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : invariably; certain;
inevitable
10
secret
The prize at the bottom of a cereal
box is invariably a secret decoder
ring.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A young couple meets in secret in

the wheat field because their
families are enemies. They cross
their hearts and swear eternal - even
if secret - love. Do not confuse with
secrecy (#775).
904
appellation, praise, admire, name,

title, fame
115) : you; that
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
10
appellation
Taking appellation to mean the act
of naming, we have the little baby
superman reclining in the space craft
that landed in a wheat field. Mr. and
Mrs. Kent look down and decide to
call him Clark. (I also thought of
Jesus but he was born in a barn full
of hay not wheat).
WHEAT that is RECLINING and
LITTLE (small) cant get the
APPELLATION "quality wheat".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
905
profit, advantage, benefit

7
profit
In the middle ages there where only
2 ways for peasantry to make a
profit. one by being a farmer, 2 to be
a mercenary and live by the way of
the sword.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1. Steal a bunch of wheat from a

wheat field by cutting it down with
your saber. 2. ????? 3. Profit!
906
pear tree
: profit; advantage;
benefit : tree; wood
11
pear tree
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The Japanese pear tree is the most

profitable in the world, because it
produces its fruit in pairs [sorry for
the awful pun].
And a profit in a pear tree...12 days
of christmas.
907
harvest, reap
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : grass; plants; grass
one of a pair
18
harvest
The harvest of genetically modified
crops is taken onboard the
Greenpeace vessel (see the flower
vessel in safeguard (#700)).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Wheat is harvested; the grain

(flower) is put into vessels for
shipping.
908
ear, ear (grain), head, crest (wave)

115) : favor; blessing; grace;
kindness
15
ear of a plant
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The pilgrims only had wheat, so they

asked the Indians to do them a favor
and trade them for some ears of corn.
The "ear of a plant" is the seedbearing spike of a cereal plant, such
as corn. In other words, it is the part
which feeds us. Hence -- "the ear (of
a plant) is the favor of the wheat".
909
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rice plant
115) : claw; nail;
talon : old times; old things;
old friend; former; ex14
rice plant
The rice plant is common in Japan
because all the wheat was eaten by
vultures in the olden times.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
It used to be that wheat was grown

in Japan. However, this was often
stolen by vultures, so in olden times,
the gods gave the Japanese the rice
plant.
910
incense, smell, perfume

115) : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
incense
If you focus the suns though a
magnifying glass on to the bottom of
a stalk of wheat it will start to
smoulder and burn like a stick of
incense. The weird thing is that it
burns from the bottom upwards,
hanging in the air as if my magic.
Try it and see!
When the sun burns the wheat a
smell of incense remains in the air.
911
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
seasons
115) : child; sign of the rat;
zodiac
8
seasons
Theres a season for planting wheat
and theres mating season for having
children.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Look at this adorable child with a

bale of wheat on his head! Hes
playing Autumn in his school play
the "Four Seasons". Aww...too cute!
Perhaps we should light the wheat
on fire to complete his Autumn
costume. (I know, twisted...but I
kept forgetting what was on his
head).
912
committee, entrust to, leave to,

devote, discard
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

115) : woman; female
8
committee
Female WHEAT farmers decide to
create a COMMITTEE, which they
fittingly name The WHEAT
WOMEN COMMITTEE..
At committe meetings, Japanese
bureaucrats slurp ramen noodles off
of naked women.
913
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
excel, excellence, beauty, surpass

115) : from; possessive
particle; whereupon; accordingly
7
excel
You spend three hours putting all of
your wheat sale transaction records
into Microsoft Excel, when suddenly
it crashes, so you put your fist
through the monitor.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A soviet-era poster for the 5-year

plan shouts "Excel" and shows a fist
clenching a sheaf of wheat.
Wheat/Fist.
914
transparent, permeate, filter,

penetrate
: excel; excellence; beauty;
surpass : walk; walking; road
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
transparent
If you excel in the Mario Kart road,
your movements are saved and you
can race against yourself as a
transparent racer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X
e8CkcrL-k4.
If you want to excel at driving in the
roadway, its better if your windows
and windshield are transparent.
Picture the drivers with opaque
windshields all wrecked on the side
of the road.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
915
entice, lead, tempt, invite, ask, call

for, seduce, allure
: say : excel; excellence;
beauty; surpass
14
entice
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think of the smooth talker who

EXCELS at using WORDS to entice
women (including married women if
it makes it easier to remember).
Word and Excel somehow manage
to entice people to use them, despite
their plethora of bugs.
916
cereals, grain
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: gentleman; samurai; samurai

radical (no. 33) : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) : 2branch tree radical (no. 115) :
pike; windy-again radical (no. 79)
14
cereals
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There are different cereals in

different parts of the world. Japan
has samurai cereal. Great Britain has
Crowned Wheat ... the United States
and Russia have Missile cereals.
The samurai crowns wheat as the
best cereal, and blows all others up
with missiles (hes a cereal killer).
917
germ, fungus, bacteria
component:
strokes:
keyword:

140) : box or enclosure
radical (no. 31); box : 2branch tree radical (no. 115)
11
germ
Story1:
Can also mean bacteria.....imagine

the wheat pent in your fridge
growing to the point where they
resemble flowers.......I actually had
something similar happen to
onions...they grew footlong legs
after about 2 or 3 years......OR just
think of that Cowboy Bebop episode
with the lobster in the fridge... :-).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Actually it means germs as in

microorganisms. So for example,
you have to keep wheat enclosed so
it isnt exposed to other plants. That
way it cant catch any germs (like
fungi) from them.
918
rice, USA
: rice, rice radical (no. 119)
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
rice
Stroke order: I like to think of the
first two strokes as chop sticks
with which one eats the rice. The
rest then is the tree meaning
plant in this contexct. also: USA.
Two drops of rice in a tree, simple.
919
flour, powder, dust
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: rice; USA; metre : part;

minute of time; segment; share;
degree; one's lot; duty; understand;
know; rate; 1%; chances; shaku/100
10
flour
Parts of parts of parts of parts of
rice... is flour. (Image: geishas
patting their face with RICE flour to
make it white. Not wheat flour...).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In the United States, part of every

meal is made from flour.
920
sticky, glutinous, greasy, persevere

: rice; USA; metre : fortunetelling; divining; forecasting;
occupy; hold; have; get; take
11
sticky
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This is another way of fortune telling

-- throw sticky rice against the wall,
and look for the message in
whatever sticks.
CONDI RICE was told by the
FORTUNE TELLER that she will
get STICKY...
921
grains, drop, counter for tiny

particles
: rice; USA; metre : stand
up; rise; set up; erect
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
grains
A sage is using rice to fill up a vase,
but as an exercise in patience, hes
doing it grain by grain.
Theres a contest...whoever guesses
the number of grains of rice in a vase
wins.
922
cosmetics, adorn (ones person)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: rice; USA; metre : level

12
cosmetics
Condy Rice is actually white, but
she uses special cosmetics made
from dirt she found in a cave to
appear black - its better for the
political situation.
Modern cosmetics are just the
descendants of the old RICE flour
and CAVE DIRT (cause its darker)
used in the past.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
923
astray, be perplexed, in doubt, lost,

err, illusion
: rice; USA; metre : walk;
162)
9
astray
The road that the USA is heading
down is, well... lets just say that
theyre astray...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you go astray, just follow the rice

you dropped along the road to find
your way back.
924
chic, style, purity, essence, pith,

cream, elite, choice
: rice; USA; metre : soldier;
private; die
10
chic
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In extremely chic restaurants, you

have to pay 90 bucks for a bowl of
rice.
Americans think that tattoos with
Chinese characters are chic, but nine
out of ten times they end up with
something trivial tattooed on their
arm, like rice.
925
provisions, food, bread
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: rice; USA; metre :

quantity; measure; weight; amount;
consider; estimate; surmise
18
provisions
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Imagine Japanese army provisions

like obentou boxes, always
containing the same quantity of rice.
(thanks darg_sama, emphasizing
quantity and the nuance of food
"rations", "food supply": the kanji
also appears in "military provisions"
and "army rice").
All Japanese provisions contain a
certain quantity of rice... they eat it
with just about every meal!
926
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
chrysanthemum
140) : wrapping enclosure;
wrapping radical (no. 20) :
rice; USA; metre
11
chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum flower consists of
many tiny petals, just like many rice
grains bound up together.
Story2:
heisig:
[+astgt] Chrysanthemum is a
terrorist orginization whose sole
objective is to tie up Condi Rice.
One day, Condi Rice is standing
outside when a group of
chrysanthemum agents swoop in
from the sides, bound her up with
chrysanthemum rope, and dash off.
They leave a lone yellow
chrysanthemum flower on top of the
bound Condi Rice as a sign to let her
discoverers know who committed
927
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
heart, interior
4) : upside-down box radical
(no. 13) : rice; USA;
metre : large; big
12
core
Story1:
In the core of a nuclear reactor,

scientists have discovered a way to
get power from rice, by penting it in
under high pressure. Its very
dangerous, so theyve trained a st.
bernard dog to run things, hes
adding more drops of rice as
necessary.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
) is a common
way to say "wife". In the innermost
core of the house, the bored pent up
housewife drops her chores and
consumes so much rice she becomes
a very large housewife.
928
number, strength, fate, law, figures
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

woman; female : strike; hit;
13
number
Young taskmaster is learning
numbers by watching women haul
sacks of rice past him. "One... two...
four! No, wrong! Go back, go back!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Women toil in the rice fields

carrying heavy sacks of rice to be
numbered and counted by the
taskmaster.
929
watchtower, lookout, high building

: tree; wood : frequently; tie
13
watchtower
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The young taskmaster (see number

(#929)) uses a tree as a watchtower
to get a better view of his ricecarrying women. "I can seeeee you!
One! Two! Three!".
On the top of the woodmade
watchtower we look for our enemies,
who will come to steal our rice and
our women.
930
sort, kind, variety, class, genus
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: rice; USA; metre : large;

big : page; leaf
18
sort
Note this character means sort in the
sense of what kind, I believe a better
keyword would be "variety" and this
character does appear in some
dictionaries with the primary
meaning as variety, my story: Im in
a Chinese restaurant and the waiter
says "What sort of rice would you
like with your dog head?".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Condi Rice is the SORT of person

that would give HEADaches to a
BIG DOG.....This story has been
edited because of people reporting it.
I like it better without "aches", but
whatever works for you!
931
lacquer, varnish
: water : None
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
lacquer
LACQUER is a type of WATERY
type of liquid used to protect items
made from TREES, sort of an
UMBRELLA of protection. So
protective, you can carry around
RICE in the LACQUERED,
WOODEN product.
Water is falling from a tree onto the
umbrella underneath which is
protecting the rice underneath it. But
its completely dry since the
umbrella is lacquered.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
932
Esq., way, manner, situation, polite

suffix
: tree; wood : sheep :
water
14
Esq.
Story1:
Story2:
Here we have the requirements to be

counted among the ranks of the
noble Esq. You must posses a
forested estate, herds of sheep, and
granary full of grains of rice.
This is -Sama, a generic high term of
respect for someone in an unusual
profession. If you met a person that
created a wooden sheep that was
squeezing a single grain of rice out
of its ass, youd definitely call that
person -sama. Because that is
impressive.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
933
request, want, wish for, require,

demand
: water : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
7
request
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Enemy: "Any final requests?" //

MacGyver: "Just an arrowhead and
some grains of rice." (MacGyver
then throws the grains of rice at the
enemy and uses the arrowhead to cut
his hands free from the rope.).
Robin Hood holds his rich victim at
arrowpoint and kindly requests that
he hands over his grains of rice.
934
ball, sphere
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: jewel; ball : request; want;

wish for; require; demand
11
ball
Someone files a request to see the
family jewels and, to their surprise,
you show them your balls!
The KING REQUESTS your
presence at the ball ... game.
935
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
salvation, save, help, rescue, reclaim

: request; want; wish for; require;
demand : strike; hit; folding
11
salvation
Like in the biblical sense, someone
looks skyward and makes a request
for salvation from this horrible
taskmaster...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
For salvation you have to request

forgiveness from God (the ultimate
taskmaster).
936
bamboo
: bamboo, bamboo radical (no.
118)
6
bamboo
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Pandas like to eat bamboo. Im using

panda as the primitive name when it
fits the story. ^__^.
Two reclining victims impaled on
bamboo spheres...
937
laugh
: bamboo : early death;
calamity
10
laugh
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When the people tried to build a

tower of bamboo to reach the
heavens, the gods just laughed and
laughed.
That Panda is in bamboo heaven!
Just look at him laugh!
938
bamboo hat, one's influence

: bamboo : stand up; rise;
set up; erect
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
bamboo hat
The bamboo vase was beautifully
crafted, but the tourist didnt know
what it was and wore it as a little
bamboo hat.
The bamboo part is easy. Just
remember that this kanji refers to
those particular bamboo hats that are
worn primarily by Buddhist monks,
who always seem to stand outside of
train stations, collecting alms.
939
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bamboo grass
: bamboo : generation;
world; society; public
bamboo grass
The bamboo generation smokes
bamboo grass.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
One of the most attractive aspects

of bamboo is that it is a renewable
resource; it takes less than a year for
a stalk to reach maturity, compared
to the decades for most trees,
whether needle or broadleaf. -Mnemonic : "bamboo grass is the
next bamboo generation".
940
muscle, sinew, tendon, fiber, plot,

plan, descent
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: bamboo : rib
12
muscle
Muscle is part of the body that gives
strength, and can be both supple and
tense like the bamboo.
Lifting BAMBOO STICKS is an old
way for your BODY to put on lots of
MUSCLE.
941
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
box, chest, case, bin, railway car

: bamboo : inter-; mutual;
together; each other; minister of
state; councillor; aspect; phase;
physiognomy
15
box
The best kind of BOX is made from
BAMBOO sticks that are INTERlaced to make it air tight. Just picture
such a box and youve mastered this
kanji.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I think of a box made of interlocking of bamboo strips.

942
writing brush, writing, painting

brush, handwriting
: bamboo : brush; finally;
self; relate; follow; here; fast;
writing brush radical (no. 129)
12
writing brush
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Bamboo is the best material from

which to make a brush if you want it
to be a writing brush.
Bamboo would make an excellent
writing brush as the ink could flow
through the hollow center like an ink
pen...
943
cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel,

sleeve
: bamboo : same; agree;
equal
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
12
cylinder
Seriously, all BAMBOO sticks look
the SAME, just long CYLINDERS.
Should the story be more
complicated?
Fully-grown bamboo consists of a
number of cylinder-like sections, all
exactly the same.
944
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
etc., and so forth, class (1st), quality,

equal, similar
: bamboo : Buddhist temple
12
etc.
The Bamboo Buddhist Temple has
bamboo buddhas, bamboo buildings,
bamboo benches, bamboo beds,
bamboo bowls, etc. etc. etc.
So whatd you see in Japan? "Bamboo, temples...etc.".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
945
calculate, divining, number, abacus,

probability
: bamboo : eye; class; look;
insight; experience; care;
favor : twenty; 20; twenty or
14
calculate
Story1:
Before the time of digital

calculators, people used old school
calculators made of bamboo
(abacus). Its not as easy as a
calculator, but you dont need any
batteries either. All you need are
your eyes and your two hands.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Tip : you may see this as an Abacus,

which is used to calculate. This
particular ancient chinese Abacus
has eyeballs in place of beads, and
its frame is made of bamboo. Youd
be amazed at how fast people can
calculate with this, especially if they
can use both hands at once to move
the ... eyeballs.
946
solution, answer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: bamboo : fit; suit; join; 0.1

12
solution
The solution to this puzzle is, like
the match stick game, to make the
bamboo pieces fit together.
For the frustrated housewife the
solution came in form of a
BAMBOO stick that FITS her well.
947
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
scheme, plan, policy, step, means

: bamboo : thorn
12
scheme
(Elaboration of jameserbs story:) A
clever scheme from Wile E Coyote -he ties one of those rubber belts to
some trees and uses it to launch a
bamboo spear at the roadrunner...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The temples in kyoto belt bamboo

around trees in a scheme to protect
them from the huge number of
tourists. (true story)----------measure,
countermeasure.
948
register, record book

: bamboo : far and wide
19
keyword:
Story1:
register
Note : the keyword is not a verb,
think of a record book. This
acupuncturist who uses bamboo in
place of flowers to dilute water into
his patients (see frame 227),
managed somehow to appear on the
register of acupuncturists. Chances
are, he wont stay on the register for
long. My image is close to that of
gorgons story.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This doctor dilutes (see 227) his

patients with bamboo stalks rather
than the flowers of a standard
diluting acupuncturist hence he
needs to be on the Bamboo
Accumpunturist Diltuers (BAD)
register. Pumping that much water
into a body can be dangerous; see
the huge bamboo stems with gallons
of water sloshing in and out of the
patient.
949
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fabricate, build, construct

: an ancient musical
instrument : tree; wood
16
fabricate
Bamboo crafting is a mediocre
substitute for wood when you are
building or fabricating a house.
While it may look good and might
attract a chick () or two, the
kidsll () just tear it to pieces as
its not sturdy enough.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A bamboo fabrication is a mediocre

substitute for wood.
950
person
: human, human radical (no. 9)
2
person
Story1:
Behold Mister T (of "A-Team"

fame)! I chose Mr.T because hes
sure to make amusing stories. He is a
very versatile character since hes
both the big, tough guy and the
moralistic person, telling kids not
to do drugs or alcohol. He is easy
to imagine, the heavy gold chains
are probably the most prominent
feature of the character. And last but
not least you can always pepper your
story with the famous line I pity da
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
[I appreciate some peoples

occasional habit of using P for
person in shared stories. That makes
it easier to substitute Mr. T, Captain
Picard, or whomever else a student
is using as person.].
951
assistant, help
: person : left
7
keyword:
assistant
Story1:
Mr Ts assistant is on his left. Why?

Because Mr T has this bad habit of
suddenly extending his right arm
(what with all the boxing that he
did), and his assistant got
inadvertently punched in the face
more than once (ouch). So now his
assistant is always to his left side,
much safer - "Stay on my left, foo!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
On your right is your "right-hand

man" that you credit for all your
success....on the left...... is your
assistant who does all the grunt work
and gets no credit for anything...
952
however, but
: person : daybreak; dawn;
morning
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
however
However drunk Mr T is when he
comes back to his place, he always
get up at nightbreak. I pity da foo
who gets up after nightbreak !, says
Mr. T.
MR.T leads a busy life, however he
always makes sure to be in bed by
NIGHTBREAK, however much he
might want to stay up watching ATeam re-runs.
953
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dwell, reside, live, inhabit

: person : lord; chief;
7
dwell
When Mr T shows people round his
dwelling he takes a big candlestick
(with a candle in it!) so that the light
shows off his collection of bling
bling jewellery.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mister T dwells in a big brass

candlestick, the flame of which
serves as a beacon for the boats in
the nearby harbour. Sometimes in
the morning, Mister T has to clear
the wax that has landed and
solidified in front of the door.
954
rank, grade, throne, crown, about,

some
: person : stand up; rise; set
up; erect
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
7
rank
Mr T ranks first position in the standup competition (doing knee
flexions). Just picture him doing
hundreds of these while the rest of
the participants are already
completely exhausted after a mere
hundred.
Rank A persons standing.
955
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
go-between, relationship
: person : in; inside;
middle; mean; center
6
go-between
When negotiating a hostage
situation, Mr. T acted as the gobetween, or person in the middle, for
law enforcement and the terrorist.
Go-between The person in the
middle.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
956
body, substance, object, reality,

counter for images
: person : book; present;
main; origin; true; real; counter for
long cylindrical things
7
body
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mister T works out his body (bodybuilding), using two piles of books
(i.e. an exercise that can be done at
home with two chairs, similar to
push-ups but working mostly the
shoulders, trapezius and triceps).
Mr. T works out his body then rips a
book apart to test is body. His
favorite to destroy is Dianetics.
957
permanence, distant, long time,

leisure
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: relaxed; at ease; place :

61)
11
remote
Mr. T ventured out into a remote
area to visit with his wise, old
taskmaster who must use a walking
stick to get around and originally
gave Mr. T the heart to fight crime
for the good of the community.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Yoda, the Jedi with the walking stick

who was a hard taskmaster for Luke
but who had a big heart, was
permanently exiled on the remote
planet Dagobah.
958
affair, case, matter, item

: person : cow
6
affair
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Note: this kanji refers to event or

case. Current Affair headline: Mr. T
has affair with cow. "Its only animal
man enough for me".
Im having a hard time keep straight
just which animal Mr. T is having an
affair with. chamchams story made
me realize that Mr. T is not having
an "affair", hes having an "heifair."
Get it?
959
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
attend, doing, official, serve

: person : gentleman;
samurai; samurai radical (no. 33)
5
attend
Back in the day, a person who stands
beside a samurai is usually attending
to them or working for them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
[+fuaburisu] Mr T attends to Tom

Cruise in the Last Samurai, who is
doing hara-kiri. Imagine Tom Cruise
outside in the final scene, stabbing
his knife into his stomach, while Mr
T looks patiently on. "I pity da
foo....no, really.".
960
other, another, the others

: person : to be (classical)
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
other
Old latin saying: homo hominis
scorpio (people are scorpions to
other people).
Its one or the other: fight Mr. T, or
be thrown into the scorpion pit.
961
prostrated, bend down, bow, cover,

lay (pipes)
: person : dog
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
prostrated
Dont need a silly story for this one:
prostration is when a person puts
themselves in a low position like a
dog, as an extreme gesture of
humility.
Mr T has beaten up the chihuahua,
who lies prostrated in front of him.
"Now," Mr T says, "I quiero some
Taco Bell!".
962
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
transmit, go along, walk along,

follow, report, communicate, legend,
tradition
: person : say
6
transmit
Mister T transmits a message with
rising clouds (smoke) signals, to a
nearby American Indian tribe. The
smoke signals spell : "I p-i-t-y y-o-u
f-o-o !".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hanging one-handed under Cloud

City, the Jedi-in-training Luke, uses
the force to transmit his distress to
Leia.
963
Buddha, the dead, France

: person : I; myself;
katakana mu radical (no. 28)
4
Buddha
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr. T says, "I aint afraid o no foo!

Ill give anyone an elbow to the face,
I dont care if its Buddha himself!".
Buddha is a person who always
seems to have his elbows bent.
964
rest, day off, retire, sleep

: person : tree; wood
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
rest
Mr T resting by a tree.
Chuck norris rests againsts the tree,
but wait, no... the tree rests and
stands against him.
965
sham, temporary, interim, assumed

(name), informal
: person : anti6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
provisional
Mr. T was offered a job in the Iraq
Provisional Authority, but he turned
it down, because hes anti-war. "I
pity da fool thinks this sand pit
worth invadin when our schools be
in such sad shape!".
Mr. T is anti anything provisional. "I
pity da foo whos so indecisive that
he cant make nothin permanent".
966
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
chief, count, earl, uncle, Brazil

: person : white
7
chief
If Mr T was white I am sure he
would have been commander in
chief of the USA, he just the sort of
clown Americans love to vote for.
(NB: I tried with the indian chief
motif but kept adding feathers by
mistake).
Story2:
heisig:
Mr T was originally supposed to be

the chief of the A-Team, but then the
producers realized that America
didnt want to see a Black guy as the
chief of a prime-time TV show. So
here, we see Mr T doing a bunch of
cocaine, and then spreading it all
over his face to look white, and
trying out for the part of Hannibal.
The directors were so impressed that
they let him stunt double for
Hannibal in a few episodes. OR, Mr
967
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vulgar, customs, manners,

worldliness, mundane things
: person : valley
9
vulgar
Mr. T says, "Dont be like them
valley girls, always speaking vulgar
language and acting all vulgar! They
aint nothing but foos!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr T meets the vulgar (common)

people of the valley and participates
in the vulgar customs (folkways).
Looking at the vulgar (common)
people, Mr T says - I pity you foo!.
968
faith, truth, fidelity, trust

: person : say
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
faith
Mr. T has faith in the Word of God.
(Image: Mr. T kneeling and
prayering in front of a bible. "Pity
me, fool.").
Faith is believing that a person will
be true to his word.
969
excellent, beautiful, good, pleasing,

skilled
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : square jewel;

corner; angle; edge
8
excellent
Mr T wants to go to an excellent
school, so he enrolls in Harvard, an
ivy-league school.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Bill and Ted are walking through

medieval Europe when they see a
humongous square jewel.
"Excellent!" they both yell. But only
after grabbing it do they realize it is
chained to the neck of Mr. T, who
grimaces angrily at them. "Bogus!"
they cry, and totally run away.
970
reliant, depend on, consequently,

therefore, due to
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : garment; clothes;

dressing
8
reliant
Mr T is reliant (depends on) on his
garment (the gold chains).
Mr. T. is so self-reliant he even
makes his own garments.
971
example, custom, usage, precedent
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: person : file; row; rank;

tier; column
8
Story1:
example
Mr T shows the example to the kids,
and stays in the file (at supermarket,
...). I pity da foo who does not
follow my example !.
Story2:
When Mr. T. wants to make an

example out of a group of people, he
lines them up all single file and
knocks them all out with one punch!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
972
individual, counter for articles and

ilitary units
: person : harden; set; clot;
curdle
10
individual
Story1:
This keyword gave me trouble, I

could write the kanji from memory
but could not remember the keyword
the other way around. In such case
the dictionary definition can be
helpful : "Middle English, single,
indivisible". Here we have Mr. T.
who is so hardened (all the body
workout hes had) that he became individual, that is, in-divisible. "I pity
da foo who can be divided into
smaller units.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr. T insists that people be

individual. He appears on television,
saying, "Being an individual is hard!
But you gotta do it! Harden yourself,
and be individual!".
973
healthy, health, strength, persistence

: person : build
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
healthy
Mr. T in a public service
announcement yells, "Im healthy
because every day I build a food
pyramid, foo!".
Mr.T, sir, how do you stay so
healthy? I asked. "Simple, foo," he
answered, "you gotta build the body
up by bodybuilding!".
974
side, lean, oppose, regret
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
: person : rule; follow;

based on; model after
11
side
Mr. T rulezzz! I am on his side!
Chuck Norriss rules are easy to live
by, just be on his side.
975
waiter, samurai, wait upon, serve

: person : Buddhist temple
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
8
waiter
Mr. T infiltrates the secret samurai
Buddhist temple as a waiter with a
tray of green tea. (Careful: attend
(#960)).
Remember the kanji for wait, .
Well, now we have a waiter, and
hes dropped a dish. See: !
crash .
976
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
halt, stopping
: person : pavilion;
restaurant; mansion; arbor; cottage;
vaudeville; music hall; stage name
11
halt
Halt fool - Mr T acting as a bouncer
at the pavillion.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mister T makes a halt at the African

pavilion at the Worlds Fair. He eats
all the snacks on offer, and chats up
the ladies - "I pity da foo who does
not halt by your pavilion, its the
best !".
977
price, cost, value

: person : straightaway;
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
price
Mr. T (person) tells the used car
salesman to tell him the real price
straight away, and when he doesnt
he throws him through the
windshield.
Mr. T is shopping for new chains.
He knows what he wants and money
isnt an issue. "Cut the jibba-jabba,
tell me the price, straightaway!".
978
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
emulate, imitate
: person : set free; release;
fire; shoot; emit; banish; liberate
10
emulate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Mr T downloads an emulator so that

he can play his favorite game,
Pokemon. He plays for a different
reason, though - he hates to see them
poor little foos in the ball so he
spends his entire time setting them
free.
The black slave who was set free
(#496) decides to emulate Mr. T, his
role model. He uses his compass to
head to Cali to start anew.
979
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
overthrow, fall, collapse, drop, break

down
: person : arrival; proceed;
reach; attain; result in
10
overthrow
The A-Team are planning to
overthrow the government.
However, they cant do a damn thing
until Mr T arrives.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In Return of the Jedi, after a

climactic light sabre battle, Luke and
Vader overthrow the emporer
(literally throwing him over the
balcony).
980
spy
: person : upright; chastity;
constancy; righteousness
11
spy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mr. T is a terrible spy. He walks

around upright. "Why should I
hide?! Ive got nothing to be
ashamed of!".
NOTE: The second primitive is
upright, not eminent. There is an
error in the book.
981
Buddhist priest, monk

: person : formerly; once;
before; ever; never; ex-
strokes:
keyword:
13
Story1:
Buddhist priest
While a waiter at the Buddhist
temple (see FRAME 976), Mr T
increases in wisdom and becomes a
Buddhist priest.
Story2:
Mr. T and the artist formerly known

as Prince, who by the way is a
buddhist, want to form a new heavy
metal band. Instead of "Judas Priest"
they will be called "Buddhist Priest".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
982
hundred million, 10**8

: person : idea; mind; heart;
15
hundred million
Mr. T has an clear idea of what he
would do if he ever got hundred
million dollar. (I guess it would be a
enormous gold chain !).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr. Ts bright idea is to get a

hundred million kids to vow not to
use drugs. "Cmon, foo! Sign the
paper!".
983
ceremony, rule, affair, case, a matter

: person : righteousness;
meaning
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
ceremony
Mr. T is the master of ceremonies
because he is a righteous dude.
Mr. T was briefly a rapper, that is an
M.C., that is a master of
CEREMONIES (the origin of the
phrase). But he sang only
RIGHTEOUS songs, no cursing or
anything like that. (all true:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7
_rBidCkJxo ).
984
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
reparation, make up for, recompense,

redeem
: person : prize; reward;
praise
17
reparation
Mr. T says, "This aint no prize, foo!
This is reparations for slavery!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
NOTE: do not confuse with

compensation (#476). However,
is always used in conjunction
... But is used in various
other compounds. Mr. T sold all his
jewelry to give as reparations to
slave families. The governent tried
to honor his charity by giving him a
prize, but it was a shitty outhouse
filled with clams.
985
hermit, wizard, cent
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: person : mountain
5
hermit
A HERMIT is a PERSON who lives
in the MOUNTAINS.
After living as an hermit (recluse)
for a while in the mountains, Mister
T becomes an immortal mountain
fairy ("fairy" is another meaning of
this kanji).
986
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sponsor, hold (a meeting), give (a

dinner)
: person : cliff; bluff;
precipice
13
sponsor
And now a word from our sponsor.
We see Mr. T, doing a sort of
George Foreman thing, grilling
Mountain Turkeys. "I pity da foo
who dont have a Mr. T grill!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mister T sponsors a meeting in the

mountains (hes an hermit), talking
over a megaphone I pity da foo who
does not come to my event !. The
old turkey comes, and Mister T
catches it and cooks it for dinner,
muahaha.
987
humanity, virtue, benevolence,

charity, man, kernel
: person : two; two radical
(no.2)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
4
humanity
The beginning of humanity required
at least TWO people. Mr. T and Mrs.
T!
Mr. T shows his humanity by giving
two bucks to every homeless person
he sees.
988
scorn, despise, make light of,

contempt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : every
8
scorn
Mr. T has scorn for every fool.
People full of scorn tend to hate
every person (including themselves).
989
use
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : officer; an official

8
use
Of course Mr. T will tell a police
officer if he catches someone using
drugs, foo!
Mr. T uses the officer as a punching
bag.
990
convenience
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : grow late; night

watch; sit up late; of course; renew;
renovate; again; more and more;
further
9
convenience
Mr. T loves the convenience of the
new konbini. Not only does it stay
open even if it grows late, they have
brand new toilets, and a Post Office!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T takes a dump on the floor of a

convenience store. Well, it was
growing late and he couldnt wait.
He pities the fool who will have to
clean it up!
991
double, twice, times, fold

: person : stand up; rise; set
up; erect : mouth
10
double
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Mr. T keeps his double muzzled ...

he wants all the glory.
Mr T, like many holywood stars, has
a butt double who is used only for
scenes where Ts buttocks are
exposed (he has issues with bearing
his behind). The butt double has no
speaking parts - he is muzzled. Of
course T himself isnt hes rambling
on about pity and foo.
992
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
tenderness, excel, surpass, actor,

superiority, gentleness
: person : melancholy;
grieve; lament; be anxious; sad;
unhappy
17
tenderness
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The A-Team is on a mission to help

Hamlet. With uncharacteristic
tenderness, Mr. T consoles the
melancholy Hamlet. "No, I really
DO pity the poor foo. There, there
little guy...take my hanky". (Careful:
benevolence (#885).
Someone cant be melancholy for
long if just one person treats them
with a little tenderness.
993
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
fell, strike, attack, punish

: person : halberd; arms;
radical (no. 62)
6
fell
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
At a fiesta, Mr. T tries to knock

down a large pinata, but in his overly
enthusiastic swings to get "the
sucka," he actually FELLS the tree
the piata is hanging from, crushing
some party goers. I pity da fools
who got crushed by my FELLED
tree!.
Mr T at the fiesta fell over blind
drunk.
994
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
inn, lodging, relay station, dwell,

lodge, be pregnant, home, dwelling
(no. 40) : 100; hundred;
leader of 100 men; east-west path
between paddies
11
inn
The Toyoko Inn can house 100
people or 1 Mr. T.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The inn is like a big house that can

addomodate a hundred persons.
Only this time, theres just Mister T
and hes booked all the rooms!
995
wound, hurt, injure, impair, pain,

injury, cut, gash, scar, weak point
: person : open; sun
13
wound
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If someone doesn't have a fat piggy

bank to cover their medical costs and
happen to get wounded somewhere,
they'll be reclining there forever.
Mr. T gets wounded by reclining on
his piggy bank.
996
protect, guarantee, keep, preserve,

sustain, support
: person : be amazed;
disgusted; shocked
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
9
protect
Mr. T opens his mouth from the top
of the tree saying "I pitty da foo who
dont protect the trees!".
Tip: Heisig later combines mouth
and tree into dumbfounded
(#2181). Story: Your person (Mr. T.
or whoever) is dumbfounded when
told to protect the bad guys rather
than fight them.
997
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
praise, extol
: garment; clothes;
dressing : protect; guarantee;
keep; preserve; sustain; support
15
praise
Mr. T is praised for his protecting of
the trees by being given a top hat
and scarf which he wears over his
mohawk and chains, respectively.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
An old lady puts a top hat and scarf

on her poodle and praises him for
how cute he is. The dog thinks,
"Someone protect me from this
psycho!"...
998
greatness, excellence
: person : measuring box
13
greatness
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
My wise person says greatness does

not come from wearing shades
(sunglasses) but from planting trees
to shade everyone.
Mr T stands in front of you, his
greatness radiating out from him so
brightly. You need to put on your
sunglasses and hide behind a tree to
even talk to the guy. "Recognise,
foo!".
999
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
adhere, attach, refer to, append

: person : measurement;
foot/10
5
adhere
TO EVERYONE WHO MADE
IT TO kanji!! Remember, after
this, youll be ing japanese novels,
the news, and the internet like a
native. to ALL of you in your
amazing japanese . :).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If a PERSON ADHERES to
something, they stick to it like
GLUE.
1000
token, sign, mark, tally, charm

: bamboo : adhere; attach;
refer to; append
11
token
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I dropped my token down the drain,

so I used a piece of bamboo with
chewing gum on the end to retrieve
it.
At the arcade, Mr. T adheres a
bamboo rod to his token so that he
can put it in the machine and pull it
out repeatedly.
1001
borough, urban prefecture, govt

office, representative body,
storehouse
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

53) : adhere; attach; refer to;
append
8
municipality
A municipality, like any type of
government, adheres to having caves
for offices (see government office
(#591)).
Even if a municipality is in a cave,
you have to adhere to its policies.
1002
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
responsibility, duty, term, entrust to,

appoint
: person : 9th calendar sign
6
responsibility
It is always Mr. Ts responsibility to
be the porter and carry around
everyones luggage because hes so
strong.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In pregnancy (#507), the woman was

the porter for the first nine months.
Now, as a new father, Mr.T is
assuming all the
RESPONSIBILITIES that comes
with it. Cant you just see him here
as the new porter, wearing a harness
with a his little dude (who already
has a little matching mohawk)?
1003
fare, fee, hire, rent, wages, charge
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: responsibility; duty; term;

entrust to; appoint : shellfish
13
fare
Its your own responsibility to pay
the bus fare with the correct number
of shells/money.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In Japan they have automatic ticket

gates so you cant easily cheat on
your train fare. In England however
the ticket gates are fairly open. It is a
different kind of system. In England
you are given the
RESPONSIBILITY to put in the
right amount of MONEY, but if you
are caught cheating, the fines are
stiff and you feel like a real
CHINCHIN. "un.CHIN".
1004
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
substitute, change, convert, replace,

period, age, generation, charge, rate,
fee
: person : piling; ceremony
radical (no. 56)
5
substitute
Story1:
Story2:
Mister T substitutes an arrow for a

toothpick -- The keyword meaning is
to replace something with something
else, to act for another, to represent.
Its best to stick to the first meaning,
because the last two are very close to
"mediator" which will come in frame
1761. The idea here is that the arrow
is not a toothpick, neither it is
changed into one, but it can
substitute for one.
Mr. T shot the substitute teacher
with an arrow.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1005
sack, bag, pouch

: substitute; change; convert;
replace; period; age; counter for
decades of ages, eras, etc.;
generation; charge; rate; fee :
11
sack
Story1:
Story2:
A sack is an easy substitute for a

garment.
A worker who was recently sacked
from his job, is wearing a sack of
potatoes as a substitute garment
(naked otherwise), in some kind of
protest. The kanji is close to frame
1547 "bag", and although the later
really refers to a "straw sack", I use
the image of a sack of potatoes here,
and that of a "plastic bag" for frame
1547. The keywords would have
been better swapped in my opinion,
but the relevancy is not so important
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1006
lend
shellfish
12
lend
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In order for the bank to lend you

money, you need to put up some sort
of collateral as a substitute for the
money.
The poor substitute teacher asks the
class to lend him some money for
the bus fare home.
1007
change, take the form of, influence,

enchant, delude, -ization
: person : spoon; spoon or
katakana hi radical (no. 21)
strokes:
keyword:
4
change
Story1:
Referring to a scene in the movie

"The Matrix" where a girl bends a
spoon with the power of her mind
alone, I imagine Mister T who
changes a spoon into something else
(maybe the waiter forgot to bring
knives or forks). Note: as a
primitive, it can help to use the
image of "spare change", this can
help you keep it distinct from other
similar kanji such as "shape" or "turn
into".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T reaches into his wallet for

some spare change but it has all
changed into spoons.
1008
flower
140) : change; take the form
of; influence; enchant; delude; ization
7
flower
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The flowers change with the seasons.

The flower is the essence of
transience. So, the conceptual flower
involves both the concept of flower
plus change.
1009
freight, goods, property

: change; take the form of;
influence; enchant; delude; ization : shellfish
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
11
freight
Freight is the shells (money) paid to
change the location of something
big. Dont confuse with the similar
fare (#1004).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This is a freight train that runs on

spare change. Imagine getting on the
freight train with a bunch of spare
change. You put in some change and
it starts up...goes for a few minutes,
then starts to slow down. You look
at the slot..theres actually a slot for
spare change and one for regular
shells. Your call, but it seems to
prefer spare change over shells.
1010
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
lean, incline, tilt, trend, wane, sink,

ruin, bias
: person : time; about;
toward
13
lean
Mr. T gave a girl some change to
lean over and give him head.
Leaning over changes the position of
the head...
1011
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
what
: person : can; passable;
7
what
What can Mr T do? You mean:
what cant MR T do, you fool.
What cant Mr. T not do?
1012
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a

burden), shoulder (a gun), load,
cargo, freight
140) : what
10
baggage
TSA guard: Whats in the baggage?!
Its just flowers, I swear!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Your girlfriend arrives at the airport.

You give her flowers, but she
brushes you off and says "here, carry
my BAGGAGE." Dumbfounded at
her rudeness, you say, "what?".
1013
sagacious, genius, excellence

: person : None
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
sagacious
The entire town wants to get rid of
legal prostitutes, but the sagacious
Mr T realizes that they are a benefit
to the economy and society. So he
lets the sa-geishas stay.
(re: sweetneet) Since he is not very
sagacious, Mr. T failed his drivers
license and now needs to resort to
his walking legs to get around.
1014
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bystander, side, besides, while,

nearby, 3rd person
: person : RHS of
character; at same time
12
bystander
In Japan, the emperor is a bystander he stands on his crown but cant
really affect the direction of the
country. (thx shimouma).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T is in the street, standing up,

wearing an golden crown and a
compass in his hand... hes asking
the bystander if they know how to
get to buckingham palace (!).
1015
long time, old story

radical (no. 20)
3
long time
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Note: this is the in

. Long time no see mummy! (A
bound up person).
This is a picture of a person bowing
"long time no see!".
1016
furrow, 30 tsubo, ridge, rib

rice field; rice paddy : long
time; old story
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
furrow
Using a TOP HAT to make
FURROWS in the RICE FIELD
takes a LONG TIME!
A mummy tries to furrow his brow
but realizes that hes got no head just a brain with a top-hat on it. So
he furrows his brain. [trigger: furrow
your brain].
1017
captured, criminal, arrest, catch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

box : person
5
captured
A person pent in is obviously
captured. Imagine a man put inside a
wooden box, his evil capturers
waiting for ransom money.
Mr. T cant be captured. This kanji is
lying.
1018
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
inside, within, between, among,

house, home
13) : person
4
inside
Mr. Ts new belt is huge! When hes
inside it, his feet no longer touch the
ground!
How is a person ever supposed to
get inside that girl when shes
wearing such a huge chastity belt? I
guess thats kinda the point, eh?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1019
third class, 3rd, 3rd calendar sign

inside; within; between; among;
house; home
5
third class
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In this third class flight, the seatbelts

are so bad that with the slightest
turbulence all the persons hit the
ceiling. (its almost pictographic
here!).
But third class is so small Mr. Ts
head hits the celing.
1020
design, pattern, build, nature, handle,

crank, grip, knob, shaft
: tree; wood : third class;
3rd; 3rd calendar sign
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
design
This is a "design" as in a "pattern",
not a verb as in "to design". The tree
grain design was too expensive for
the third class airline to use for the
panelling. They just painted it.
Half Way!!!!
1021
meat
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: meat, meat radical (no. 130)

6
meat
Here we are looking at an x-ray of a
cannibal whose insides are full on
people-meat.
A persons inside - fleshy, raw, pink,
meat.
1022
rot, decay, sour
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: borough; urban prefecture; govt

office; representative body;
storehouse : meat
14
rot
The rotting meat adheres to the cave
walls.
Smaller municipalities are well
known for filling their budgets with
pork (meat). Thats why they are also
well known for being rotten.
1023
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
squat, seat, cushion, gathering, sit

53) : sit
10
sit
CONGRATULATIONS YOURE
HALFWAY THERE!!!! =).
Coal mine (cave); tea break time; the
assembly line stops and everyone sit
or squat on the dirt floor, in a long
line, to rest.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1024
graduate, soldier, private, die

two people : ten
8
graduate
Ph.D graduation for assembly line of
doctors(needles) with the cap and
tassel(top hat). It took them 10 years
(Bachelors, Masters, PhD) to get
there.... :-p.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you graduate, you wear a hat

and graduate in an assembly line
while your parents sit on pins and
needles because it will take ten years
to pay off those loans.
1025
umbrella
: person : two
people : two people :
ten
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
umbrella
FOUR PERSONS can fit under this
UMBRELLA if they are thin as a
NEEDLE.
There are two assembly lines at the
umbrella factory. One is responsible
for making the top of the umbrella,
and the other for making the handle.
The two lines cross at the end, where
one man tries frantically to jam the
sets of parts together.
1026
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 20) : mow; cut
grass; subdue
monme
Dude! What happened to your arm!
Its all bound up! "Yeah man, its a
bummer... with my arm like this I
can only lift one monme!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Dude! What happened to your arm!

Its all bound up! "Yeah man, its a
bummer... with my arm like this I
can only lift one monme!" "Youll
never be able to use your dagger
now!" (adapted from ergerg).
1027
by means of, because, in view of,

compared with
3) : person
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
5
by means of
A man earns his living by means of
the plow. I imagine a sweating man
dragging a bronze-age "ard" behind
him as he plows his field himself,
too poor to afford an ox.
Mr T now makes a living by means
of a plow/hoe and the sweat he puts
into it.
1028
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
becoming, resemble, counterfeit,

imitate, suitable
: person : by means of;
because; in view of; compared with
7
similar
Mr. T finds that living by means of
dragging a plow is similar to slavery.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A Mr T impersonator is becoming
similarer (more like) by means of
plastic surgery. The process is
painful and his face is all bound up
in bandages as the surgery heals.
1029
join, get together, unite, collective

: person : put together
8
join
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mr. T furiously works a puzzle in an

attempt to join Mensa, the high-IQ
society.
Why do I gotta join these two puzzle
pieces? I aint got time for joining
no jigsaw-jabba! Mr. T apparently
gets a severe case of crankypants
when doing puzzles.
1030
tile, gram
: dot; tick or dot radical (no. 3)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tile
Horror scene: Hanging from the
ceiling, a plough and fishhook
dripping with blood down onto the
tiled bathroom floor.
Story2:
[true stroke order] First draw T for

Tile, which then becomes I. Then
draw an L fish hook with a dash in
the middle to make a mediocre e
that few can see.// wa3 (wa).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1031
flower pot, bottle, vial, jar, jug, vat,

urn
: put together : tile; gram
11
flower pot
A flower pot that has been dropped
on the floor is like a puzzle of
ceramic tiles to glue together.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To solve this puzzle all you need is

to put the flower pot on top of the
proper tile. (cue secrets tune from
Zelda).
1032
Shinto shrine, constellations, palace,

princess
(no. 40) : spine; backbone
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Shinto shrine
This Shinto shrine is built with
human spines. Have you ever seen
the ossuary in Sedlec, near Kutna
Hora in Czech Republic ? It is a
small church entirely decorated with
human bones. Do a web search for
"sedlec ossuary", its quite a sight.
A friend of mine made up a rhyme
for this one: "house with a spine,
Shinto shrine"!
1033
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
occupation, camp, perform, build,

conduct (business)
14) : spine; backbone
12
occupation
The schoolhouse is the backbone of
a foundation that will allow you to
find a good occupation.
Story2:
heisig:
During the German occupation, this

Nazi officers occupation was to
manage schools that were
requisitioned for training the
children of the Aryan race to stand
proud with an erect spine (mnemonic
: "the occupations spine schools").
Kanji meanings : to manage, to
conduct (business), and also
"barracks; camp; encapment". This
story should help avoid confusion
with post (#824) and employ
1034
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
virtuous, good, goodness

: sheep : mouth
12
virtuous
Imagine a priests teaching: "To
achieve virtue one must first submit
himself as a sheep to Gods flock,
rejecting the horns of Satan and
resisting the mouth of Hell.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To be virtuous, a good rule to follow

is to put your sheepishness
(discretion) over your horns (anger)
before using your mouth. In other
words, "discretion is the better part
of virtue".
1035
year
4) : dry; parch
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
year
A horse wears a pair of sunglasses
with one lens popped out after a
particularly raucous celebration to
ring in the New Year.
A horse wears a monocle for New
Years to appear dignified for the
year of the horse. one lens =
monocle, you will encounter this
again in kanji like descend (#1308).
1036
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
night, evening
person : evening
8
night
Story1:
Actually, the lower-right primitive

isnt quite "walking legs." Its a little
more like "evening" with an extra
stroke across it (look up the stroke
order). So, it helps me to see this
kanji for night as: evening plus an
extra stroke representing the tuxedo
tails to match the top hat which my
special person is wearing out on the
town...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Here we have Mister T

sleepwalking, wearing a top hat as if
he was the ambassador of the night,
walking, and walking and walking
on his tired walking legs, until he
drops (back into his bed).
1037
fluid, liquid, juice, sap, secretion

: water : night; evening
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
fluid
A wet dream........water fluid that
comes out at night....
I imagined some kind of liquid
(water) that was discovered on
another planet. It solidifes during the
day, and becomes fluid only at night,
in the absence of light. The question
is, could any lifeforms thrive in there
?
1038
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hillock, mound
Turkey : mound; hillock
12
hillock
Theres already King of the Hill.
This is Queen of the Hillock. Its
Ms. Piggy sitting on top of a mound
of soil in her crown.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The crowned sow (we met her in

overpowering) is standing atop her
little mound of earth - hillock - the
undisputed champeen of all the
pigsty.
1039
cash, bad habit, humble prefix, gift,

Shinto offerings of cloth, rope, cut
paper
: be worn-out; be dilapidated; be
defeated : towel; hanging
scroll; width; cloth radical (no. 50)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
15
cash
A counterfeiter is using a shredder to
shred a towel in order to print up
some cash (he needs some rag paper)
.
In order to create some cash, first
you feed a towel through a shredder
to get the raw materials. ("Paper"
money isnt plain paper; its mostly
linen.).
1040
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
abuse, evil, vice, breakage

defeated : twenty; 20; twenty
or letter H radical (no. 55)
15
abuse
The Bush administration taskmasters
hid their abuse of power by
shredding documents as fast as they
could using both hands....
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Youve heard of Edward Scissor

hands? Well this is Medward
Shredder Hands. Instead of nicely
trimming your shrubs, he uses his
TWO SHREDDER equipped
HANDS to ABUSE your plants by
shredding them into wood chips.
1041
yell, cry, scream

: mouth : clear; bright
12
keyword:
Story1:
yell
Think yelp when you hear yell to
help dinstinguish this from shout
(1508). I think of the sounds that
would come from the mouths of the
4 dogs if they were bound up
together. Im imagining lots of
yelping.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Yell? You mean, Old Yeller. Here,

we see four St Bernard dogs all
yelling for a chance to play a part in
Old Yeller. Theyre so loud that you
have to bound them, and their
mouths, up.
1042
interchange, period, charge, change?

: hand : clear; bright
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
interchange
After months of practice, you finally
managed to teach a nice trick to your
sled-pulling four bound up St.
Bernard dogs: one snap of your
fingers and they interchange their
positions.
On the snap of your fingers, the four
St. Bernard dogs bound up
interchange places.
1043
english:
dissolve, melt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tripod : insect; bug; temper

16
dissolve
Story1:
I have created the element "old

camera" out of the left side of the
kanji: from the subjects point of
view, the light is captured by one
mouth (the lens). The photographer
is under a big hood, we only see his
legs, and he is holding a spike in his
right hand, which is the shutter
release. Now, at the time the
photographer takes the photo, a little
insect is flying near the flash. The
flash is so powerful that the insect is
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Ive seen this crazy thing with only

one mouth that can dissolve up to 4
nails and an insect at the same time.
Sweet! (Its a venus flytrap, btw).
1044
alms, apply bandages, admin 1st aid

alternative : to be (classical)
9
alms
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Under their banner, volunteers are

requesting alms for scorpion sting
victims.
ALMS for the poor cries the beggar
under his tattered BANNER. An evil
bastard instead drops a SCORPION
into his begging bowl.
1045
rotation, go around
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
alternative : head; counter for
animals
11
rotation
A merry-go-round with a big banner
on top and below a veritable zoo of
bakelite animals on poles in
perpertual rotation accompanied by
silly music. Giraffes, elephants,
zebras, rhinos...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Dont confuse with revolve or axis!

Think of rotation as a rotation of
animals in the zoo - some are on
display (in rotation), some are in
cages in the back (out of rotation).
The ones currently in rotation (on
display) are advertised with a large
banner.
1046
play
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: to swim; to move freely; to

rove : walk; walking; road
12
Story1:
play
The BANNER warns that
CHILDREN PLAY on the ROAD.
Story2:
There is always a stupid banner

talking about children at play near
the road. They mean "drive slowly",
but it sounds like its slow(stupid)
children that are at play.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1047
trip, travel
alternative : person
10
trip
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The boat starts to leave on its trip

across the Atlantic. Underneath a
huge banner that spans the width of
the ship and says "Bon Voyage", the
people wave their rags signalling a
safe journey for all on board the
Titanic.
After a long long trip, what once was
a proud beautiful banner, we had
nothing more than a simple rag
remaining.
1048
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
not, must not, do not, be not

radical (no. 20) : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : katakana no
radical (no. 4)
not
This kanji is NOT a piglett.
The butcher is standing over the
piglet. "This is a piglet...(cuts of
head)...NOT!".
1049
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
thing, object, matter

: cow : not; must not; do
not; be not
8
thing
The cows "thing" is tied in a knot!
ouch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A cow is not a thing. Its an animal. If

you study japanese you know that
living beings and things are
discerned from each other with the
verbs iru and aru.
1050
easy, fortune-telling, ready to,

simple, divination
days : not; must not; do not;
be not
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The sun is not an easy place to get to.

Under the sun, it is easy to untie a
knot. Under a pitch-dark sky, it is
knot so easy.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
easy
1051
grant, gift, boon, results

: shellfish : easy; ready to;
simple; fortune-telling; divination
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
15
grant
A grant is easy money.
Do you want free shells from the
government? Its easy with my new
book, "How to Get a Free Grant
from the Government!" Call today!
1052
urine
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: corpse; remains; flag radical (no.

44) : water
7
urine
Animals use their urine to mark their
territory. So for them, their body
water works as a flag denoting their
"country" (why bother? we all know
which story you are going to pick).
Someone is pissing on the American
flag, but since the urine is clear it
looks like water.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1053
nun
44) : spoon; spoon or
5
nun
Red cross nuns sit in a tent under the
red cross flag, spooning out food to
the hungry.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A nun sits in protests under an

American flag.
1054
mud, mire, adhere to, be attached to

: water : nun
8
mud
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
TV gets weirder and weirder... Now

theyre doing mud wrestling shows
with nuns splashing around in the
water. What will they think of next?
Water monks live in a den, but water
nuns live in the MUD.
1055
fence, also N1103, wall

Turkey : wall; fence
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
fence
[fence; wall; (kokuji)] A fence
separates one soil from the other. On
a large scale, large pieces of soils in
the world have a virtual fence called
nation. Picture a world map where
all countries have their soil with one
color, their national flag as the
legend and a fence on the borders...
dont you think it looks like a giant
puzzle?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Why the Earth has to be fenced off

and flags used to represent each
"country" is a puzzle to me - were
all just monkeys on a big rock
spinning round the Sun!
1056
footgear, shoes, boots, put on (the

feet
44) : restore; return to; revert;
resume
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
15
footgear
NOTE: The most common use is in
, meaning to put on footgear,
rather than actual footgear itself.
STORY: You are asleep in camp
when you are woken up with news
that the FLAG has fallen to the
enemy. You quickly PUT ON
YOUR FOOTGEAR and run off to
RESTORE the FLAG.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You should never use a flag as a

shoeshine cloth to restore your
footgear.
1057
roof, house, shop, dealer, seller

44) : climax; arrive; proceed;
9
roof
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Flag at the climax (highest point) of

a castle roof.
A couple climaxing on the roof,
draped in the American flag. The
neighbors are mortified and call the
landlady...
1058
grip, hold, mould sushi, bribe

: hand : roof; house; shop;
dealer; seller
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
grip
Fingers gripping the roof as your
about to fall to your death. Think of
an action scene in some movie.
(This is the of sushi). A sushi
chef climaxes into a rice ball, wraps
it in an American flag, and grips is
firm with his fingers to form the
"Fuck You America Onigiri.".
1059
yield, bend, flinch, submit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

44) : exit; leave; go out; come
out; put out; protrude
8
yield
When yielding, soldiers raise the
white flag before exiting from the
trenches.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you live in Japan, you are only too

familiar with the helpful little man
who assists you in getting out of
every parking lot or parking garage,
standing at the exit, waving his flag
to make traffic yield to you.
1060
dig, delve, excavate

: hand : yield; bend; flinch;
submit
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
dig
If you dig with your fingers hard
enough, soil eventually yields.
When you dig, youd better hope
that whatever youre digging into
yields to your fingers. If not, youre
bound to lose some nails.
1061
ditch, moat, canal
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

Turkey : yield; bend; flinch;
submit
11
ditch
(See dig (#1061)). When soil finally
yielded thanks to your digging
efforts, what you have is a ditch.
Ditch / trench. The yielding army
abandons its patch of soil, leaving
behind a landscape of ditchs and
trenches. Trench warfare.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1062
reside, to be, exist, live with

44) : old
8
reside
A humongous American flag in
Florida marks the place where all the
old people reside.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
It is an old tradition that people plant

a flag on places where decide to
reside; this tradition still goes on:
Antarctica, the moon: flags all over
the place! cf. set (#1064).
1063
set, lay a foundation, install, equip,

squat down, sit down
: hand : reside; to be; exist;
live with
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
set
The man set his finger firmly on the
map and said "Here is where they
reside, I am certain of it".
Cf. reside (#1063): you set the flag
with your fingers on the place where
you reside: an old tradition.
1064
stratum, social class, layer, story,

floor
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

44) : formerly; once; before;
ever; never; ex14
stratum
The strata have piled up in an ever
increasing pile of dirt. As the
geologists go down the rocks, they
flag each stratum with the name of
the corresponding era.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Archaeologists at a dig site place

small flags marking layers or strata
of rock. Each of these layers was
formerly the top layer. (This is not
increase! Hseige keeps messing up).
1065
bureau, board, office, affair,

conclusion, court lady, lady-inwaiting, her apartment
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

44) : phrase; clause; sentence;
passage; paragraph; counter for haiku
7
bureau
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
has email scanners that flag certain
phrases.
They do nothing at the bureau other
than repeating the stupid catchphrase
they have on their flag.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1066
slow, late, back, later

44) : sheep : walk;
162)
12
slow
A sheep crossing guard waves a
SLOW flag for his fellow sheep
crossing the road.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Road sign (flag): "Sheep on

highway! Drive slowly.".
1067
leak, escape, time

: water : corpse; remains;
flag radical (no. 44) : rain
14
leak
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
WATER always LEAKED in the

spot left by the FLAG planted in the
roof everytime it RAINED. Not too
hard to picture a hole left in the
ceiling from a flag, now leaking
water.
Mark the holes where rain water can
leak through with little flags.
1068
printing, print
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

width; cloth radical (no. 50) :
sword; saber; knife
8
printing
We printed a japanese flag on his
white towel by stabbing him with a
saber while he was wearing it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The image that keeps coming to me

is of the giant mechanical printing
presses. The cloth-based material is
coming off the roll like a flag and
then, after printing, gets cut into
sheets by saber-like cutting tools.
1069
shaku, Japanese foot, measure, scale,

rule
44) : eight; eight radical (no.
12)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
4
shaku
Slang for blowjob and thats
priceless for stories...but also the
character looks like the letter R
which I think of as standing for
RULER (12 inches) other meanings
include: rule, measure, length.
Since this is SLANG for BLOW
JOB and since it looks like an "R",
lets have the primitive be the R in
BROW JOB. :).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1070
exhaust, use up, run out of, befriend,

serve
: shaku; Japanese foot; measure;
scale; rule : two-stroke water
radical or ice radical (no. 15)
6
exhaust
A women is so exhausted by her
"shakuhachi" that see needs to ice
her jaw.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Thats not ice...its my last drops and

Im exhausted! ;).
1071
swamp
: water : shaku; Japanese
foot; measure; scale; rule
7
swamp
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Youre hiding from the enemy

underwater in a swamp. To breathe,
you have your shakuhachi flute
poking up through the surface of the
water.
Sirens in the swamp play eerie music
on their shakuhachi flutes to lure
you in - you follow the enchanting
music then its too late as you get
trapped in the swamp!
1072
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
translate, reason, circumstance, case

: say : shaku; Japanese
11
translate
You cannot pretend to translate into
words the melody of the shakuhachi!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You all know that shakuhachi is a

slang word for blowjob, right? In
this kanji you got a job as a
TRANSLATOR for Japanese porno
movies. So you sit there all day
translating dirty WORDS and
watching girls perform
SHAKUHACHI. This is the life!
1073
choose, select, elect, prefer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: hand : shaku; Japanese

7
choose
Hand job or "shakuhachi", choose.
Depending on where you choose to
put your fingers, the shakuhachi will
produce a different note.
1074
daytime, noon
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shaku; Japanese foot; measure;

scale; rule : daybreak; dawn;
morning
9
daytime
Roosters in Japan are very civilised,
they play the shakuhachi at
nightbreak to signify the beginning
of daytime.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In a Zelda game, you can warp to the

daytime if you play your shakuhachi
to bring about nightbreak... or your
ocarina if you dont have a
shakuhachi.
1075
door
: door, house, door radical (no. 63)
4
door
Story1:
Story2:
Traditional Japanese storefront doors

have several flags, known as
"noren," hanging down from a
curtain rod in front of them. I see
this as a pseudo-pictograph, and use
the horizontal line across the top to
represent the curtain rod, since noren
dont usually hang from the ceiling.
A Japanese door has a noren, a flag
hanging from a rod. (I give this
primitive the meaning of a norencovered door).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1076
shoulder
: door; counter for houses; door
radical (no. 63) : month; moon
8
shoulder
The shoulder is the best part of the
body to bash a door open with
(Dont ever try this. Use your foot).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The shoulder is part of the body you

use to push through the noren in a
doorway. I was having trouble with
positioning of the primitives until I
tweaked shaydwyrms story slightly.
If you think of pushing through a
noren, this makes sense as a
pictograph. The noren hangs from
above, and you push through it from
below.
1077
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tassel, tuft, fringe, bunch, lock

(hair), segment (orange), house, room
radical (no. 63) : direction;
person; alternative
8
tassel
Explanation here:
http://forum.koohii.com/viewtopic.ph
p?pid=14684#p14684.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you graduate from a school,

after they gave you your tassel, they
shove you to the door and give you a
compass saying "Sayonara & Good
Luck out there!" ().
1078
fan, folding fan

radical (no. 63) : feathers;
counter for birds, rabbits
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
fan
Its insanely hot today! Im standing
in the doorway, fanning myself with
feathers.
I am a fan of the Doors but I also
like the Wings. I have a fan that I
take to rock concerts with the picture
of each band on the sides.
1079
hearth, furnace, kiln, reactor
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: fire : door; counter for

houses; door radical (no. 63)
8
hearth
This hearth is equipped with a fireproof door. On the kanji you can see
somewhat pictographically the fireproof door keeping the fire behind,
and nothing comes under the door
primitive, where you would have
expected to see another primitive.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
-"Honey? Do we have any wood left

for the hearth?" -"Aagh, just use the
frickin door!".
1080
re-, return, revert, resume, restore,

go backwards
radical (no. 63) : large; big
7
re-
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The St. Bernard dog whining at the

door of his masters house in order
to re-enter / re-turn inside.
Think about hachiko, the dog
waiting at the door of the station,
waiting for his master to re-turn.
1081
tears, sympathy
: water : re-; return; revert;
resume; restore; go backwards
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
10
tears
I see the story of Hachiko: the
faithfull dog who still waited for his
master to return long after he had
died. Brings a tear to the eye.
Tears are watery (water + re).
1082
employ, hire
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 63) : bird; old
12
employ
Our company has no standards.
Well employ any turkey who walks
in the door.
Story2:
heisig:
Comedy. An executive is having an

argument with a cocky, but skilled,
employee: "Damn it, you might be
good. But that dont account for
your behavior. You keep this up and
Ill fire your ass." "No, you wont."
"What damn it, Ill fire you your ass
so fast you wont...know..."-. "And
what will you do after you fire me,
employ the next turkey that walks
through that door?" A turkey then
walks through the door and hands
1083
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
look back, review, examine oneself,

turn around
: employ; hire : page; leaf
21
look back
I was EMPLOYED to give
HEAD...when I look back, maybe
that was not a wise career move.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The people we employ are always

turning their heads to look back.
They dont want to be caught
playing solitare on company time.
1084
disclose, open, say

folding chair radical variant (no.
66) : mouth
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
disclose
Behind closed DOORS, the
TASKMASTER tortures to get
prisoners to open their MOUTHS
and DISCLOSE information.
You signed a non-disclosure
agreement with the taskmaster but
you opened your mouth as soon as
you got out the door!
1085
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
show, indicate, point out, express,

display
: altar, display (radical no. 113)
5
Story1:
show
A boy made an altar, but hes afraid
to show it to God because he thinks
its two little.
Story2:
Ill SHOW you mine if you show me

yours!, she said. I did & she scoffed
because it was TWO LITTLE.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1086
salute, bow, ceremony, thanks,

remuneration
: show; indicate; point out;
express; display : the latter;
duplicate; strange; witty; fishhook
radical (no. 5)
5
salutation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Indy, my friend, you must be very

careful! If you approach the altar and
do not give the proper salutation a
large fishhook will rip you away.
You should fish hook (bend/bow)
your body before an altar as a form
of salutation to God/gods.
1087
auspicious, happiness, good omen
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

express; display : sheep
10
auspicious
Bringing a sheep to sacrifice on the
altar was a sign of an auspicious life.
The poor could only afford a pigeon,
the more auspicious an expensive
sheep for an offering.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
On this ewe-spicious occasion, you

sacrifice a sheep at the altar.
Sorry, but I really need more than
generic altar sacrifices to connect
keywords to stories. Sometimes an
egregious pun is the only way.
1088
celebrate, congratulate
express; display : elder
brother; big brother
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
9
celebrate
Its a Bar Mitzvah. At the altar, the
teenager is singing in his awful, midpuberty voice. Well all celebrate
when that part is over!
When Japanese people turn 20 they
usually visit the altar at their local
shrine and celebrate no longer being
a teenager.
1089
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
blessing, fortune, luck, wealth

express; display : to fill; roll
of cloth
13
blessing
Story1:
This recalls the selling of

indulgences in the history of the
Church (As an aside, Protestantism
began as a protest of this practice).
Basically, one gave wealth to the
altar (i.e. priest) and received a
blessing. If you prefer a Jewish
version, think of the donation
(wealth) that is expected when
youre called to the ark (altar in the
kanji) to give a blessing over the
torah.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Put all your wealth on the church

altar and receive one blessing. (You
stand up out of your wheelchair or
something.).
1090
welfare, happiness
express; display : stop; halt
8
welfare
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
And in front of every altar, she

stopped to pray for the welfare of the
others.
Religious Republicans regularly go
to the altar to pray for a stop to
welfare.
1091
company, firm, office, association,

shrine
express; display : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
company
When you enter a Japanese company
its like you join a cult... your
workdesk becomes your altar and
you worship the very soil the office
is built on.
Story2:
Some Japanese companies, including

Toyota, have a Shinto shrine on their
grounds to bring luck and prosperity
to the company and its employees.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1092
inspection, regard as, see, look at

express; display : see; hopes;
visible
11
inspection
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The beaurocracy in Japan is such

that even altars need to be inspection
approved. A little man with glasses
comes once a year to give the altar a
"visual once over" as he calls it
(perhaps checking for unauthorised
symbology?).
[inspection; regard as; see; look at]
Inspection: you show (#1086)
and someone else see (#57).
1093
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Nara, what?
: large; big : show;
indicate; point out; express; display
8
Nara
Its beautiful place, but the dark side
of Nara is that they sacrifice St.
Bernards on evil altars every night
after the tourists leave!
Nara is just a big show for tourists.
1094
onyomi:
english:
military officer, jailer, old man, rank

44) : show; indicate; point
out; express; display :
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
11
military officer
Of course it had to be the military
officers idea to glue a national flag
to the altar hes stationed at.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Perhaps you have heard about

Koizumis controversial visits at the
Yasukuni war memorial shrine. It is
the japanese flag waving above a
small stone altar. A military officer
keeps watch here night and day, to
honor the dead war heroes, as if he is
glued to the ground.
1095
consolation, amusement, seduce,

cheer, make sport of, comfort,
console
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: military officer; jailer; old man;

rank : heart; mind; spirit;
15
consolation
A military officer must offer
consolation to the hearts of the
families of his fallen men.
Story2:
heisig:
This Kanji appears in the word

, which was what
the infamous WW II "comfort
women" were called in Japanese.
The story goes something like this:
As a way of providing consolation to
battle-weary, heartsick military
officers and soldiers, the Japanese
set up comfort stations (brothels) for
their servicemen. (Just to be clear:
this is not an endorsement of the
practice, just a way to remember the
1096
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
goodwill, article, section, friendship,

collusion
radical (no. 33) : show;
indicate; point out; express;
display : lack; gap; fail;
12
goodwill
Story1:
Story2:
Samuari, altar, yawn The samurai is

on the altar, preaching about
goodwill. The audience just yawns
however, they want to see the man
fight!
For better remembering the
placement of the eleements: The
samurai kneels before the altar at his
wedding ceremony, when some of
the attendants lets out a big yawn.
He is a kind man and for the day his
goodwill benefits everyone. No
beheadings.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1097
prohibition, ban, forbid

: grove; forest : show;
13
prohibition
Story1:
Similar to radical tyros story. If you

live in Japan, your main exposure to
this kanji is probably "no smoking"
signs. So I imagine the government
enacting a prohibition of tobacco,
and burning whole groves of tobacco
plants on an altar (the altar of public
health, or self-righteousness, if you
will).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hidden in a grove was a church with

a secret altar that was stocked full of
prohibited alcohol during the
American prohibition period of 19201933. A local registered himself as a
mininster of this altar so he could
stock prohibited alcohol "for
sacremental purposes" and share it
with his kin ().
1098
collar, neck, lapel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : prohibition; ban;
forbid
18
collar
A collar is the part of your cloak
that, if tightened too tight, will
prohibit breathing.
Collars are prohibited from
wizarding cloaks. Blood purists say
theyre too muggle.
1099
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
religion, sect, denomination, main

point, origin, essence
(no. 40) : show; indicate;
point out; express; display
8
religion
I never really did figure out what
religion my host family was - all I
knew was that they kept an altar in
their home.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
All the RELIGIONS have their own

temples, which are houses where
they place their altars.
1100
adore, respect, revere, worship

: mountain : religion; sect;
denomination; main point; origin;
essence
11
adore
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In ancient Greece, it was the religion

of the time to adore the gods who
live on Mount Olympus.
I would adore the religious people if
they just went and threw themselves
off a mountain top.
1101
ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify,

enshrine, worship
: month; moon : show;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
11
ritual
A ritual such as a circumcision: a
small piece of flesh from the crotch
is left on the altar.
There are many famous penis
matsuris(festivals) in Japan. The
rituals of these festivals involve
placing the flesh of the crotch on an
altar.
1102
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
guess, presume, surmise, judge,

understand
(no. 40) : ritual; offer prayers;
celebrate; deify; enshrine; worship
14
guess
I have an informed guess about
whose house the dark rituals are
performet at.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Its anyones guess whos house she

will wake up in the morning after the
festival (-matsuri)
1103
grate, rub, scratch, scrape, chafe,

scour
: hand : guess; presume;
surmise; judge; understand
17
grate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you mis-guess the cheese youll

grate your fingers on the cheesegrater (happens to me all the time).
Ouch! Guess how many fingers I
just grated in the grater? (Edit: OR:
Ouch! Guess what I just grated in
the grater? -- my finger!).
1104
wherefore, a reason
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

number one; line; rod radical (no. 2)
5
wherefore
Wherefore art thou, Sprouteo?
(Juliet has fallen in love with a
brussel sprout) (OR: A brussel
sprout has fallen from Juliets dinner
plate and rolled off).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Cogito ergo sum. Wherefore is a bad

choice here for two reasons. For one,
its often mistranslated as "where"
when in fact its an urge to know a
cause or reason; and two, because
this kanji represents the reason, not
the urge. [A thought sprouts from
my brain. I think, therefore I am.].
1105
pluck, pull, extract, excel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: hand : wherefore; a reason

8
pluck
[When I see the word pluck, I think
eyebrows, not vegetables. So, to
avoid confusing with pick (#733):]
Each time this singular, long, wiry
black hair starts to sprout out of my
chin again, I pluck it with my fingers.
If you pluck your fingers, new ones
will sprout in their place. (try it ;).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
1106
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: water : wherefore; a reason
Story1:
oil, fat
8
oil
The liquid oil that sprouts from an
oil field.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In a rather surprising scientific

breakthrough, genetically modified
Brussel sprouts (which have become
extremely absorbative), are thrown
in the water to suck up oil spills.
1107
english:
sleeve, wing (building), extension,

give cold shoulder
component:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : wherefore; a reason
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
10
sleeve
Imagine some magic cloak, that
when worn, has little green sprouts
appearing on the sides that grow into
sleeves.
The bad magician says, "As you can
see, theres nothing up my sleeves!"
Then he trips over his cloak and
brussel sprouts fall everywhere.
1108
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mid-air, air, space, sky,

memorization, interval of time
(no. 40) : wherefore; a reason
8
mid-air
Jacks beanstalk sprouted up, pushed
at the roof and lifted the house so
that it hangs in mid-air suspended on
the SPROUT.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hahaha, the image of walking into a

house and finding a sea of brussel
sprouts floating mid-air is enough
for me to remember. Maybe theres a
magician in the kitchen shouting a
reassuring "Dont mind the sprouts!".
1109
deliver, reach, arrive, report, notify,

forward
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

44) : wherefore; a reason
8
deliver
In the US, when the mail is
delivered, a flag sprouts up on your
mailbox. (We dont have that in
Australia.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A Japanese man ordered some

Brussel sprouts from Belgium. They
are delivered with a little Belgian
flag (as seen sometimes in shops,
little flags indicating the provenance
and authenticity of the food like
cheese and meat).
1110
flute, clarinet, pipe, whistle, bagpipe,

piccolo
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: bamboo : rice field; rice

paddy : number one; line; rod
radical (no. 2)
11
flute
Flute is made of bamboo sprout.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You pick up your bamboo flute, and

recoil in shock as out comes not the
dulcet melody you had hoped to
play, but rather a Brussels sprout!
You play again, and again a Brussels
sprout. A bamboo flute that plays
sprouts! Fabulous! Puts that golden
egg laying goose in its place.
1111
axis, pivot, stem, stalk, counter for

book scrolls
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: car : wherefore; a reason

12
axis
The Germans manufactured so many
cars during World War II that it was
almost as if they were sprouting
from the factories of the Axis.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
An absurd image, but what the heck worked for me. Imagine a car going
across a plain at a fast speed.
Suddenly a single sprout (the only
one to be seen) gets stuck to the
cars wheels, causing the car to fly
around its axis.
1112
armor, high (voice), A grade, 1st

class, former, instep, carapace
component:
strokes:
keyword:

5
armor
Story1:
Story2:
Funny.. this appeared to me as a

pictograph of a samurais armor.
Then I looked up images of the
samurai armor and it is not even
remotely similar. Then I realised it
looks in fact like the belly of the
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
which I somehow associated with
the samurai armor because of the
"turtle samurai" that appeared
earlier. Fits me. The bit that pokes
down is to protect the genitals, I
It looks like a birds eye view of a
tank (modern armor).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1113
push, stop, check, subdue, attach,

seize, weight, shove, press, seal, do
in spite of
: hand : armor; high
(voice); A grade; first class; former;
instep; carapace
8
push
Push the roots down, instead of
plucking the seedling.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Use your fingers to make sure the

roots of your plant are deep
underground by pushing them down,
down, down.
1114
headland, cape, spit, promontory

: mountain : armor; high
(voice); A grade; first class; former;
instep; carapace
8
headland
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A headland is a mountain that is

firmly rooted despite being
surrounded on 3 sides by water. (Just
like your head is a mountain
surrounded by air on 3 sides, a
headland!).
Headlands are natural forts; in fact,
once men build castles on them, they
become armoured mountains.
(Gibralter, for example, is basically
an armoured mountain).
1115
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
insert, put in, graft, wear (sword)

: hand : thousand :
ten : day; sun; Japan; counter
for days
10
insert
A rice farmers delicate fingers have
inserted 1,000 rooted seedlings into
his field.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Imagine a crazy japanese hentai:

multiple fingers and thousand of
root-like tentacles are inserting
themselves in... well, I think you can
fill the rest.
1116
english:
speak, have the honor to, monkey

(zodiac sign)
component:

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
5
speaketh
I imagine thomeone who can not
pronounth the "s" and speaketh like
thith becauth they have a cane in
their mouth.
I had persistent trouble confusing
this one with sayeth (#578). The
way I keep it sorted out is that this
one is used in "moshi moshi" when
answering the phone, similar to the
way an American would say "hello,
this is X speaking.".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1117
expand, stretch, extend, lengthen,

increase
: person : have the honor
to; sign of the monkey; 3-5PM; ninth
7
expand
Here we see Mr. T. expanding his
gang with some trained fighter
monkeys.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A person expands into an ape man. I

swear this is the only time I'll use
Dragon Ball, but think of Goku
expanding into that Saiyajin giant
ape beast.
1118
gods, mind, soul

express; display : have the
honor to; sign of the monkey; 35PM; ninth sign of Chinese zodiac
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
9
gods
The Gods are gathered around
debating Zeus latest purchase for
Mount Olympus. A huge and
extremely kitsch gilded altar in the
shape of giant "speak no evil"
monkey. Hera decides she will never
let him go shopping alone again .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hinduism has many gods, not just

one God. One of the most famous of
these gods is Hanuman the monkey.
Many altars are dedicated to him.
1119
search, look for, locate

: hand : old person
10
search
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The monkey searches around with

his fingers for his crotch.
If you are familiar with the Monkey
legends ( Journey to the
West) there is a good image for this
character: While searching for the
end of the universe, monkey reaches
to his crotch and urinates on
Buddhas fingers. (Update: new link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R
YXFppaKLL4).
1120
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
fruit, reward, carry out, achieve,

complete, end, finish, succeed
tree; wood
8
fruit
If only Eve had used her brains and
not taken the forbidden fruit from
the tree.
Eve ate fruit from the tree and
knowledge filled her brain.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1121
candy, cakes, fruit

140) : fruit; reward; carry out;
achieve; complete; end; finish;
succeed
11
candy
This candy is made in the shape of a
flower, each petal with the taste of a
different fruit.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Candy is coloured like flowers and

flavoured like fruit.
1122
chapter, lesson, section, department,

division, counter for chapters (of a
book)
: say : fruit; reward; carry
out; achieve; complete; end; finish;
succeed
15
chapter
Story1:
After I finish each chapter of RTK, I

eat a piece of fruit to celebrate all the
new words Ive learned. (Thanks
Misha!).
Story2:
heisig:
Words signify the written words in a

book. The fruit represents something
whole, complete. A chapter in a
book often offers a complete idea,
setting, or account. Its good to
disambiguate the keyword from
paragraph (#82). To reinforce the
kanji, imagine eating a fruit at the
end of each chapter of Tolstoys
"War and Peace" to reward yourself.
(If you ate a fruit at the end of each
paragraph, youd very quickly run
1123
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
naked, nude, uncovered, partially

clothed
: garment; clothes;
dressing : fruit; reward; carry
succeed
13
naked
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Here we have Adam and Eve eating

of the forbidden fruit and realizing
they were naked, and so clothing
themselves in a cloak.
Hey honey, Im naked underneath
this cloak. Ive got some nice melons
and a fresh peach waiting for you.
Dont you want to taste my
forbidden fruits...?
1124
axe, 1.32 lb, catty, counter for loaves

of bread, axe radical (no. 69)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: axe, axe radical (no. 69)

4
ax
Errata: stroke order in 4th edition is
wrong. Top stroke is first.
The axe-wielding maniac nails a
poor victim, right under a cliff.
Blood everywhere! (thanks
scottamus!).
1125
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
chop, divide, tear, analyze

: tree; wood : axe; 1.32 lb;
catty; counter for loaves of bread;
axe radical (no. 69)
8
chop
We chop down trees with axes to
analyze their rings.
Wood + axe = chop? how much
more simple can it get?
1126
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
place
radical (no. 63) : axe; 1.32 lb;
catty; counter for loaves of bread;
8
place
You outsiders better learn your
place! An axe stuck in the door
when you get home is a pretty good
indicator that this might not be the
best place for you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A place for everything and

everything in its place. To the right
of the door is the standard place for
the axe.
1127
pray, wish
express; display : axe; 1.32
lb; catty; counter for loaves of bread;
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
pray
Religious freedom has not always
been respected throughout history,
and nobody knew how to force
religion on an indigenous people
like the Spanish missionaries. They
posted conquistadors at either side
of the altars at the local missions,
and if anybody refused to pray, they
would get the axe.
A warrior prays for victory before
the battle. He kneels at the altar, his
battle axe at the ready.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1128
near, early, akin, tantamount

: axe; 1.32 lb; catty; counter for
loaves of bread; axe radical (no.
7
near
The end is near. The axe-murderer is
waiting for you on the road...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
An absurd image, but working for

me: two points A and B are
separated by a long road. To make A
and B near, take an ax, cut a big
chunk of road, and the work is done.
1129
fold, break, fracture, bend, yield,

submit
: hand : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
counter for loaves of bread; axe
radical (no. 69)
strokes:
keyword:
7
fold
Story1:
Its the latest Japanese game show:

Forudo! Contestants are given a
sheet of paper and are told to fold it
into a complex origami shape. If
theyre not done in 60 seconds, a
huge axe descends from the ceiling
and chops their work in half.
Contestants know to recoil their
hands from the falling axe, but some
have been so absorbed in folding,
they ignore the buzzer and get their
fingers chopped off.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Fold some origami into the shape of

an axe with your fingers. Its even as
sharp, so watch out for paper cuts!
1130
philosophy, clear
: fold; break; fracture; bend; yield;
submit : mouth
10
philosophy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A two-hour lesson of philosophy in

high school. All the students, bored
to death, are folding sheets of paper
into planes, love notes or whatever,
while the mouth of the teacher is
talking about Platon, Kierkegaard
and many other notorious
philosophers.
I fold my mouth, therefore I am.
1131
departed, die
component:
strokes:
keyword:

submit : walk; walking; road
10
departed
Story1:
One of the dearest of Japans dearly

departed is Sasaki Sadako, who
developed Leukemia after the
bombing of Hiroshima, and became
famous for folding more than a
thousand paper cranes, never giving
up hope. To this day, people in
Hiroshima still fold origami cranes
in her memory. For this character, let
us imagine a parade in her honor, the
entire road lined with folded cranes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The BIG ONE hits Tokyo. You see a

news report of the recently departed
victims who died when the roads
folded (from the earthquake).
1132
vow, swear, pledge

submit : say
14
vow
Story1:
This Japanese couple wrote the vows

that they had made to each other
onto a piece of paper and then folded
it into an origami, and put it
somewhere in their appartment. To
everybody else it is an origami, but
to them it is also a symbol of their
vows. -- "the folded words are
vows". Note : in this story and a few
others I use the image of an origami
for the primitive "fold".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A Japanese wedding tradition is to

present each other with origami
cranes with their vows written on the
BOTTOM.
1133
temporarily, a while, moment, long

time
: beheading; kill; murder :
15
temporarily
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Your car has been savagely (see

steadily) attacked by an ax. It will be
some days before your car is fixed.
So you are temporarily without car.
Today is Car Axe Day. The day
where you can temporarily (today
only) attack cars using an axe
without punishment.
1134
steadily, gradually advancing,

finally, barely
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: water : beheading; kill;

murder
14
steadily
I imagine firemen working steadily
to rescue a man from a crashed car.
First, they spray it with water; then,
they use an axe to break through the
window.
Water + Car + Axe: The steadily
rising water was filling the car, but
the firefighters took their axe and
broke the window, getting me out.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1135
severance, decline, refuse,

apologize, warn, dismiss, prohibit,
decision, judgement, cutting
: rice; USA; metre : axe;
1.32 lb; catty; counter for loaves of
bread; axe radical (no. 69)
11
severance
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[Based on fuaburisus] A man puts

some rice on a fishhook as bait, but
catches a fish so strong, he needs to
take out his axe and sever the line
lest he be dragged into the depths.
When you get the ax at work, use
your severance pay to buy fishhooks
and rice. At least that way you can
eat sushi.
1136
substance, quality, matter,

temperament
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

69) : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
15
substance
What is this substance on this clam?
Ive already broken 2 axes on it!
(Good question...).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Another keyword that I do not like

by Heisig. (n,n-suf)
quality. Story: Your at a local ax
dealer and you have TWO AXES
which you are testing for QUALITY
by trying to split CLAMS right
down the opening. Picture yourself
succeeding with one AX and then
some weird SUBSTANCE comes
out of the shell...eww (I dont like
clams).
1137
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
reject, retreat, recede, withdraw,

repel, repulse
69) : dot; tick or dot radical
(no. 3)
5
reject
The kids at school used to reject me..
Made me feel really bad till I
brought my axe to school. See the
drop of blood on it?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The quality expectations are very

high in our axe manufacturing
facility. If theres one drop of rust on
any axe, it gets rejected.
1138
accusation, sue, complain of pain,

appeal to
: say : reject; retreat;
recede; withdraw; repel; repulse
12
accusation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I strongly reject the accusation

implicit in your words.
Words that make you feel rejected.
1139
yesterday, previous
days : though;
notwithstanding; while; during;
both; all
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
yesterday
One can use a simple word play to
remember this character - the day
that I saw before today was
yesterday.
Yester-DAY, all my troubles seemed
SAW far away...
1140
lie, falsehood, deceive, pretend
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: say : though;
both; all
12
lie
Pinnochio gets frustrated that every
time he utters a word of a lie, his
nose grows and he has to get the saw
out again.
Her lies are words that cut not like a
knife, no not cleanly, but savagely
like a saw.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1141
make, production, prepare, build

: person : though;
both; all
7
make
Mr T.s favorite magazine is Make.
He loves to make things. But hes a
purist: he only uses saws, no power
tools.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the A-Team crash lands on a

deserted island, Mr. T salvages a
saw from the wreckage and says, "I
dont know about yall foos, but Im
gonna make a raft.".
1142
snow
: rain : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58)
11
snow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
SNOW isnt all that different from

RAIN, except it can be removed
with a BROOM because it only
forms in freezing temperatures.
Rain just soaks into the soil. Snow
has to be swept away with a broom...
1143
record
: gold : to carve wood
16
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
record
A monk won a gold metal for
breaking the current record for most
swept rice in one minute.
This character is about a recording
for a music box. The tines of the
mechanism are like a metal broom
and the little pins on the cylinder are
like metal grains of rice.
1144
inquire, fathom, look for
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: pig's head radical variant (no.

58) : craft; construction;
katakana e radical (no. 48) :
mouth : measurement; foot/10
12
inquire
The policed inquired into the erotica
scandal. They tried to sweep away
the evidence, but some of it stuck.
(Note: katakana ero in the
middle of this kanji is the Japanese
word for erotica.).
Story2:
heisig:
As a verb this means, this means "to

ask; to enquire; to search; to look
for; to look into; to investigate;".
Imagine the police inquiring in an indepth investigation. They are
interrogating a suspect. But the
suspect has a crafty mouth and is
very sly. He/she also knows when to
keep their mouth shut(glued) at the
right moments to avoid selfincrimination. As a final measure,
the police torture the suspect by
1145
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
hurry, emergency, sudden, steep

radical (no. 20) : pig's head
radical variant (no. 58) :
61)
9
hurry
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
She was always bound to a broom,

her heart pounding in a hurry to
finish before she was punished for
being slow.
Fantasia: Bound up brooms out of
control send Mickeys heart racing-he has to hurry and figure out how to
stop them before the magician
returns!
1146
calm, quiet, moderation
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : claw; nail;
talon : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58) : heart; mind;
16
calm
The farmer is calm knowing that his
wheat fields are protected from
vultures by his strawman with a
heart (all the better to do the job
properly).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This whole kanji is a picture of

calmness. The wheat has been
harvested and even the vultures sit
calmly watching the humans sweep
and clean-up after the harvest is
over. Hearts are peaceful and calm at
this time of the year. Even the days
are calm without storm.
1147
encroach, invade, raid, trespass,

violate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : pig's head radical

variant (no. 58) : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) : or
again; furthermore; on the other hand
9
encroach
The parson ENCROACHES on the
French maid; driven wild by her
little broom, dainty tiara and sinfully
short skirt showing her knickers
(crotch)!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mr T. hits a condom salesman

(broom + crown + crotch) over the
head with a broom because the dude
ENCROACHed Mr. Ts privates
area during the sale.
1148
immersed, soak, dip, steep, moisten,

wet, dunk
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : pig's head radical

10
immersed
The French maid draws a bath for
her amorous master, but slips and
falls in - getting immersed. (thanks
to Nukemarine for the French maid
image!).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
After being hit in the head with the

broom, the condom salesman
IMMERSED his head in some water.
1149
lie down, sleep, rest, bed, remain

unsold
component:
strokes:
keyword:

(no. 40) : left-side kata radical
(no. 91) : pig's head radical
13
lie down
Story1:
After work, the French maid goes

home and lies down with a turtle.
Turtle? Well, hes sloooow and
always hard... (thanks to
Nukemarine and Wakela!).
Story2:
After being hit on the head encroach

(#1148), the condom salesman goes
back to his house to lie down. He
hasnt made a single sale today, so
he doesnt have enough money to
buy a pillow. He lies down on his
pet turtle and cries himself to sleep.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1150
lady, woman, wife, bride

: woman; female : broom
11
lady
In high society, a lady is a woman
who never touches a broom or an
apron.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The LADY of the house is nothing

more than a WOMAN whos a
HOUSEWIFE (BROOM and
APRON anyone?).
1151
sweep, brush
: hand : broom
11
sweep
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Whether I SWEEP something away

with my FINGERS or my BROOM,
I should always wear my APRON.
FINGERS of the HOUSEWIFE (in
itself, holding a BROOM, with an
APRON) busily SWEEP the floor.
1152
hit, right, appropriate, himself

: little; small : pig's head
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
6
hit
Some mothers use a small broom to
hit their children when they
misbehave.
Here is a weird carnival game where
you hold a broom like a javelin and
throw it, trying to hit the center of a
very small target. The target is so
small, in fact, that if someone does
manage to hit it, the operator turns in
surprise and says, "Whoa, really?!
(?!)".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1153
contend, dispute, argue

feathered stick; barb radical (no. 6)
6
contend
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
This can be seen as a Retarius, a

roman gladiator. The Retiarius
always fought with a net to bound up
his opponents, and with a trident,
which was able to pierce enemies
after tying them. They were terrific
contenders, so they were only paired
with gladiators specially equipped to
fight them.
A boxing ring is bound up by the
ropes. The contender is cheating and
using a rake.
1154
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clean, purify, cleanse, exorcise,

Manchu Dynasty
: water : contend; dispute;
argue
9
clean
Bottled water marketers contend to
make their version of tap water
sound the cleanest.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The water contends against the dirt

in the ultimate battle for cleaninless.
1155
matter, thing, fact, business, reason,

possibly
: mouth : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58) : feathered
stick; barb radical (no. 6)
8
matter
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I had to take one day off from work

due to personal matters after
stepping on a rake and having the
handle snap up and smack me across
the mouth. I certainly wasnt going
to tell anyone about it.
Just one word about this matter from
your mouth and you will find this
rake across it.
1156
T'ang, China
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

53) : pig's head radical variant
(no. 58) : mouth
10
T'ang
Two archeologists are in a cave
looking at Chinese artifacts from
various eras. One picks up a rake
and says, "What about this Tang,
do you think?" The second puts the
rake in his mouth and answers, "Yes,
it does tang a bit".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Screw it, this character refers to the

drink. The powdery orange
substance is actually found on the
floor of tropical caves, where trained
aboriginal peoples use wooden rakes
to rake the Tang into a pile before
putting a bit of it in their mouths to
see if its tasty or not.
1157
sugar
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: rice; USA; metre : T'ang;

China
16
sugar
Sugar made from rice has a tangy
flavour.
The Tang are the ones who began
using sugar in China--of course, the
first thing they tried it on was rice.
1158
ease, peace
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

53) : extend; give; cast; slave
radical (no. 171)
11
sane
A psychiatric hospital is located in a
CAVE. To determine, which patients
are sane and can be released, they
are given a SIEVE and asked to
empty a bathtub (the sane ones take
out the plug and get the water out
with ease).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
People on the cave age became more

sane after they started using sieves
to avoid eating harmful things with
their grains. (This kanji is almost
exclusively used to write ,
health).
1159
apprehend, chase
: extend; give; cast; slave radical
(no. 171) : walk; walking;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
11
apprehend
Think police roadblocks. They act
like road sieves, letting good people
through but apprehending criminals.
In Space Balls, they were combing
the desert in order to apprehend
Lone Star. Picture Dark Helmet
saying "Combing the desert failed,
we must now sieve the road!".
1160
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Italy, that one

: person : an official rank
Story1:
Italy
The "boot" of Italy has gotten
Europe all muddy. Who else could
mop it up but Mr T?
Story2:
Here I have Mister T cleaning up

with a mop, a real mess of spaghetti,
in front of the Piza (in Italy).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1161
old boy, name-suffix

: an official rank : mouth
7
old boy
Story1:
Story2:
Theres a tendancy in Japan to make

the younger members (kouhai) clean
up after the older members (senpai)
of a group, which results in a lot of
grumbling and whining. "Well old
boy," a senpai might say, "If you did
as much work with the mop as you
do with your mouth, you would have
been done an hour ago".
The Beatles, english old boys, had
hairs like mop and a good singing
mouth.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1162
flock, group, crowd, herd, swarm,

cluster
: mister; you; ruler; male name
suffix : sheep
13
flock
Good ol boys are like sheep; they
tend to flock together.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A little girl herder calls out,

"" to the sheeps and
they flock to her at once.
1163
#NAME?
: rake : measurement;
foot/10
9
#NAME?
Story1:
Story2:
[akrodha] My comb is rust-proof,

water-proof, and fire-proof. But
unfortunately it is not idiot-proof-and I glued it to myself.
I spent $100 recently on this
excellent rust-proof, water-proof,
fire-proof comb. But two days after
having bought it, I left it in my back
pocket and sat down, snapping this
expensive comb in half! I glued it
back together, but now every time I
try to comb through my thick hair, it
just breaks apart again. I guess my
comb is also glue-proof.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1164
demand, request, need

: rain : rake
14
demand
Supply and demand is a simple
concept: when it rains, the demand
for combs goes up to deal with wet
hair.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
If its raining combs, then the

demand for them sure does drop.
1165
Confucian
: person : demand; request;
need
16
Confucian
No more Confucian jibba-jabba! I
demand you tell me why its raining
combs!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
One day, Mr. T started reading the

little proverbs he found in fortune
cookies, and with this newfound
wisdom he became a Confucian
scholar. He was suddenly in high
demand as people came from all
over to ask for his sage advice,
immensely satisfied with
suggestions such as, "You will find
happiness with a new love".
1166
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
edge, origin, end, point, border,

verge, cape
erect : specialized;
concentrated
14
edge
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Have you ever seen those shots in

movies where the hero is standing at
the edge of a sheer mountain face,
hair blowing in the wind? It
probably wouldnt seem so heroic if
you saw him ten minutes earlier,
when a crew of stylists was carefully
combing his hair so it would fall
perfectly.
When you stand a comb on its edge,
it looks like the mountain (#768)
kanji.
1167
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
both, old Japanese coin, no. of

vehicles, two
13) : mountain
6
both
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Primatives celing; belt; mountain as

per Cumulative Errata. See volfy
post for link. Both effective ways to
commit suicide, hang your self from
the celing with your belt or jump off
a mountain.
Both of Tiger Woods initials is the
logo on his belt...
1168
full, enough, pride, satisfy

: water : twenty; 20
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
12
full
Add water THEN the flowers. With
both the vase will be full.
I was thirsty so I gulped down the
water. Then I realized I was also
hungry. So I ate the flowers. Yes, I
am responsible for both the missing
water and the missing flowers. Yes,
Im afraid both. Am I still hungry or
thirsty? Thank you for asking! How
kind! But no, I feel quite full now.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1169
brush-stroke, picture
wherefore; a reason : open
box enclosure; open box radical (no.
17)
8
brush stroke
Story1:
You decide one day to paint a kanji

on your ceiling. Unfortunately, you
dont have a brush, so, being
innovative, you use a sprout.
Knowing it could be messy, you
search for a drop-cloth, but cant
find one. Instead, you put a shovel
down on the floor to catch any drips
resulting from the BRUSHSTROKEs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To paint a kanji in your ceiling with

only natural materials, you use a
sprout as a brush and shovel some
dirt to use as paint for your strokes.
[modified from johnskbs].
1170
tooth, cog
: stop; halt : rice; USA;
metre : open box enclosure;
open box radical (no. 17)
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
tooth
Stop shoveling rice into your mouth,
youll hurt a tooth! Use chopsticks
instead.
My dentist used his foot and a
shovel to dislodge the rice stuck
between my teeth.
1171
bend, music, melody, composition,

pleasure, injustice, fault, curve,
crooked, perverse, lean
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say; reason; pretext; history;

past; flat sun radical (no. 73) :
(no. 55)
6
bend
It looks like the mouth of Bender the
robot, from Matt Groenings
animated series "Futurama". Thus, I
use the character Bender the robot as
a primitive.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Also means "melody". Think of it as

a pictogram of a guitar where you
have to bend the strings to make a
melody.
1172
cadet, friend
: bend; music; melody;
composition; pleasure; injustice;
fault; curve; crooked; perverse;
lean : day; sun; Japan; counter
for days
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
cadet
A space cadet eager to make one
bend around the sun. (a dangerous
maneuver).
Bender lasted just one day in the
space cadets.
1173
encounter, meet, party, association,

interview, join
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cadet; friend : walk;

162)
14
encounter
Close encounters of the third kind.
The space cadet encounters aliens on
the road.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Bender the cadet (see frame 1172)

has an "encounter of the third kind"
on the road. Reference to Steven
Spielbergs 1977 movie "Close
Encounters of the Third Kind". Also
a reference to popular stories of
people reportedly chased by UFOs
while driving on the road.
1174
rowing, skull, paddle

: water : cadet; friend
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
rowing
Bender the cadet (see frame 1172) is
rowing, during some army exercise,
and hes very afraid of water
(Bender is a robot).
The space cadet is in training,
rowing in the water (see it splash).
1175
vat, tub, tank
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : cadet; friend

15
vat
Also as part of some army survival
exercise, the cadets (including
Bender see frame 1172) are sent into
the woods to build a vat (for
collecting water for example).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Bender the Cadet (kudos to

Fuaburisu) is found on an army
training exercise, hiding behind a
tree, getting drunk on the famous
scotch whiskey Vat 69.
1176
Big Dipper, 10 sho (vol), sake dipper

: dot; tick or dot radical (no. 3)
4
Big Dipper
Story1:
Story2:
Since the meaning of "big dipper" is

rather specific and the sense of
measurement seems to be a more
common usage, I concentrate on the
primative meaning of measuring
cup. This is a pictograph, with the
first two strokes representing the
measuring ticks on the side of the
cup.
Is it just me, or do all of these
traditional kanji pictographs look
like they were drawn by a retarded
bunny rabbit?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1177
fee, materials
: rice; USA; metre : Big
Dipper; 10 sho (vol); sake dipper;
dots and cross radical (no. 68)
10
fee
When buying rice, the fee is
calculated by the cup. Naturally we
dont just use any cup; it has to be a
proper measuring cup.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Samurai(s) once received their fee in

the form of rice that had been
carefully weighed in a measuring
cup beforehand.
1178
department, course, section

115) : Big Dipper; 10 sho
(vol); sake dipper; dots and cross
radical (no. 68)
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
department
The national DEPARTMENT of
WHEATS and MEASURES. Get it?
This one was hard until I came up
with this.
Agriculture/astronomy departments...
1179
map, drawing, plan, unexpected,

accidentally
component:
strokes:
keyword:

box : mow; cut grass; subdue
7
map
Story1:
Cant see direct relation to Big

Dipper (#1177) since its writing
order is completely different. As
raulir noted, its written as
overlapping at the last stroke of
and the first of . I take it as a
pictograph or treasure map. Two
dots represent big trees and the cross
(marking the treasure) is placed
relative to them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A pictograph of a treasure map. Two

steps east then X marks the spot.
attempt, deceive;
map;
make a goal, intend to do.
1180
utilize, business, service, use, employ

: use (radical no. 101)
5
keyword:
Story1:
utilize
To tenderize meat in an emergency
wilderness situation, just utilize your
walking stick!
Story2:
heisig:
Ill confuse this with use (#990), so

build a distinction right from the
start. For me, "utilize" has an
artificial, business-speak
connotation; you only utilize
"utilize" when youre trying to puff
up what youre saying and sound
important. So: "BioTools Inc
introduces the FG2000 screwdriver,
utilizing the our latest FleshGrip(tm)
technology!" Im seeing this as a
picture of a stubby screwdriver with
1181
onyomi:
english:
commonplace, ordinary, employment

(no. 58) : utilize; business;
service; use; employ
component:
strokes:
keyword:
11
comfortable
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To live a comfortable life, single

men need only a cave for living, a
rake for cleaning and a screwdriver
for fixing.
When I first moved in to my new
cave, all I had was a bed (see bed
(#592)). But now Ive settled in, got
myself a few handy things like a
rake and a screwdriver, and made
myself more comfortable.
1182
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
equip, provision, preparation

: person : grass; plants;
grass radical (no. 140) : wild
goose; trailing cliff radical (no.
27) : utilize; business;
service; use; employ
12
equip
Story1:
Mr. T wants to climb up and pick the

flowers at the top of the cliff. He
equips himself with screwdrivers to
use as climbing spikes to reach the
top of the cliff. Imagine a large
AMMO belt full of philips
screwdrivers instead of bullets.
Story2:
heisig:
An RPG where youre using Mr T as

a character. Before you enter a
battle, you equip the flower cliff
screwdriver. This is a small
screwdriver obtained at the bottom
of a cliff that, when used in battle,
shoots out pink flowers. When they
touch the ground in front of the
enemy, they create a massive cliff,
and the ground under the enemy falls
away into the sea. Picture being at
the item select menu and EQUIPping
1183
onyomi:
english:
once upon a time, antiquity, old times

: twenty; 20; twenty or letter H
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
8
once upon a time
Once upon a time, the children were
forced to eat their salad every day.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For those who dont know the

expression, "salad days" means the
time of ones youth. (originally from
Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra
- see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad_d
ays). I suspect Heisig chose "salad"
as the name for the radical just for
this phrase...
1184
confused, mix, be in disorder
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: gold : once upon a time;

antiquity; old times
16
confused
A long time ago, people of the world
got confused because there were so
many kinds of Metal coins. today we
only have the euro.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Once upon a time, it was thought

that the ancient "art" of alchemy
could transform anything into gold.
At that time, people were obviously
confused about the difference
between reality and myth. (Arguably
people are still as confused as ever,
just about different things now.).
1185
borrow, rent
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: person : once upon a time;

10
borrow
Once upon a time I let Mr T borrow
my salad bowl, but he wont give it
back. "This be mine now, foo!".
Mr. T borrowed a copy of Cinderella
and wont give it back. He keeps
watching it over and over again,
trying to figure out how the Fairy
Godmother does her magic.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1186
pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy,

regret
(no. 61) : once upon a time;
11
pity
What a pity! My state of mind when
i think of the opportunities I missed
from once upon a time.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Data says "What a pity" when he

hears that once upon a time there
were no robots.
1187
set aside, give up, suspend,

discontinue, lay aside, except
: hand : once upon a time;
11
set aside
Story1:
Long ago our ancestors set aside the

use of fingers and began to use
cutlery. (Raichu,11-7-2006) The way
I remember its once upon a time
(#1184) rather than olden times
(#35) is that they began to use
cutlery to eat salad. (I also think
about how when you visit the
Medieval Times theme park, which
is set in Once upon a time, their
gimmick is that you eat with your
fingers.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Once upon a time... Oh hell, youre

just too old for this. You close your
fairy tale book and set it aside,
pushing it away with your fingers.
1188
scatter, disperse, spend, squander

: month; moon : strike; hit;
12
scatter
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The taskmaster is dissatisfied with

the meal shes served, and scatters
the salad & meat across the floor for
the servants to clean up.
Perhaps youve heard of Nyotaimori
or Nantaimori
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyotai
mori) in which sushi is ate from the
flesh of a naked person, the story
comes easily. Scatter salad over the
flesh of the taskmaster in preperation
for some nantaimori :).
1189
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
twenty, 20
: twenty; 20; twenty or letter H
radical (no. 55)
twenty
A generation is 30, one stroke less is
twenty.
Ten plus ten is twenty (see
generation (#28)).
1190
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
commoner, all, bastard

53) : twenty; 20 : fire
11
commoner
Commoners have to huddle in
caverns around a campfire, while
higher class people get heating and
central air conditioning in a hotel.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you are so poor that you are a

commoner, you will have to live
twenty commoners to a cavern, with
only one fire for everyone to share.
1191
intercept, interrupt, obstruct

: commoner; all; bastard :
(no. 162)
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
intercept
The commoners are revolting! We
must intercept them on the road
before they reach the castle!
If dont want your secret message to
be intercepted, make sure your
deliveryman is dressed as a
commoner while traveling on the
road.
1192
seat, mat, occasion, place
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

53) : twenty; 20 :
radical (no. 50)
10
seat
Remember those poor commoners
huddled in groups of 20 in a cave?
The only thing they had for a seat
was some old toweling (while their
lords could recline on luxurious
couches).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Youre tired from walking the tour at

this cavern and theres no benches to
sit down on, so you take a towel and
sling it up into a hammock-like seat
using the stalagmites. (Big no-no).
1193
degrees, occurrence, time, counter

for occurrences
component:
strokes:
keyword:

53) : twenty; 20 : or
9
degrees
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The cavern refugees are so poor that

they cant afford thermometers. So,
the menfolk expose their crotches
inside the cavern, and approximate
the temperature in degrees from how
shrivelled everything looks
downstairs...
The cave is twenty degrees cooler
than the outdoors. Twenty male
crotches experience shrinkage.
1194
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
transit, ford, ferry, cross, import,

deliver, diameter, migrate
: water : degrees;
occurrence; time; counter for
occurrences
12
transit
This particular form of transit is a
ferry (one of the actual meanings of
this character). Naturally it can only
cross the water if its not frozen, so
the temperature must be above 0
degrees.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The transit system in Tokyo is one of

the best in the wrold, but why is it
that when it is 35 degrees outside, it
is about 2 degrees on the train? Or
when it is 2 degrees outside, it is 35
degrees inside the train. This degree
of difference means I am always
sweating then getting the chills! I
think I caught a fever!
1195
bustle, run
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: large; big : grass

8
bustle
Hustle and bustle = a big St. Bernard
dog frisking about in a haystack,
knocking it down and spreading the
hay about, after the field hands just
stacked it up.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A bustle is also the name for the big

wire-framed skirts that women used
to wear. Heres a St. Bernard dog
jammed ass-first into the top of a
haystack, looking like some kind of
proper Victorian-era lady as he
struggles to get out.
1196
erupt, spout, emit, flush out

: mouth : decorate
15
keyword:
erupt
Story1:
History of Pompei: An unexpect

eruption and from the mouths of the
volcano come lava that threatens the
farmers collecting haystacks in the
fields and the fisherman catching
shells on the coast.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A bit nasty (but makes the whole

thing much easier to remember) is to
take the right side and call it a
bearded clam. For erupt, you can
make your own story about the
mouth/opening on the left.
1197
tomb, mound
Turkey : decorate
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
tomb
After the eruption all is a tomb. The
soil has covered the remains of the
farmers gathering haystacks and of
the fisherman collecting shells.
Using soil and hay to make bricks,
the Egyptians built the pyramids to
entomb the Pharaohs along with all
of their money.
1198
aroused, resent, be indignant, anger
component:
strokes:
keyword:

(no. 61) : decorate
15
aroused
Story1:
Note: this word in Japanese has the

idea of "indignant". So aroused here
refers to being aroused because of
anger over some unjust or wrong act,
unfairness etc. It doesnt seem to
carry a meaning associated with
arousal in the sense of sex or
pleasure. So, my story: think of the
angry state of mind aroused at
finding all your clams buried under
your haystack stolen, gone!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Data was aroused/indignant when he

saw what the volcano had done to
the farmers building their haystacks
and the fishermen collecting their
shells . The tragedy of it all aroused
him so much he didnt even notice
he was feeling emotion.
1199
bake, burning
: fire : high; far
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
12
bake
Ah, theres no better way to bake a
pizza than an oven fueled by a
burning strawman. And if you listen
carefully, there are stifled strawman
screams coming from the kitchen.
Too lofty (#2095) a career choice
for the strawman becoming a baker.
He was fired soon after starting his
first shift. Literally!...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1200
daybreak, dawn, in the event

days : high; far
12
daybreak
The sun rising beside a straw man in
a corn field is a classic cartoon
depiction of daybreak.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The first person to see the sun at

daybreak is of course the straw man
who stands outside all day.
1201
half, middle, odd number, semi-,

part: dot; tick or dot radical (no.
3) : two; two radical
(no.2) : ten
5
half
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Imagine karate chopping the number

three in half with a WALKING
STICK and pausing the picture just
as the first "board" breaks.
I think of this as a pictograph, there
are three boards to cut, the first one
is already in half and there are still
two more to go.
1202
consort, accompany, bring with,

companion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : half; middle; odd

number; semi-; part7
consort
The person who is your consort is
most commonly "your other half".
Mr. T wants to splits himself in half
so he can be his own CONSORT.
1203
paddy-ridge, levee
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

half; middle; odd number; semi-;
part10
paddy ridge
A PADDY-RIDGE divides the RICE
FIELD in HALF.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think about a large rice field as a

big square. Then you draw a line
down the middle, halving it into two.
Then you draw a line across the
middle, halving it again into four...
These halvings are paddy-ridges that
separate the rice field into separate
sections. I dunno the reason why, but
thats how its done.
1204
judgement, signature, stamp, seal
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: half; middle; odd number; semi-;

part- : sword; saber; knife
7
judgment
In the bible, King Solomons
JUDGMENT was admired not by
saying to cut the baby in HALF with
the SWORD, but that it revealed
who the true mother was.
It takes good judgement to cut things
in exactly half with a saber.
1205
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ticket
: None : sword; saber; knife
8
ticket
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Entering the movie, the dude asks

for your ticket, so he can tear it in
half. He looks at you funny when
you hand him a ticket already torn in
half. He quietly tears the stub into
quarters after you show him your
dagger with a smile.
In Japan, the JR railway ju-hachikippu seasonal discount ticket can
be cut into quarters with a dagger
and shared with your friends. (its
actually sort-of true).
1206
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
scroll, volume, book, part, roll up,

wind up, tie, coil, counter for texts
(on book scrolls)
: None : self; snake; serpent
9
scroll
Story1:
At a mysterious bazaar, you happen

to come across something
interesting: a rolled-up scroll for
only 25. You buy it up impulsively
until you realize that the powerful
spell contained within is cursed by a
poisonous snake. If you try to cast
this spell, the snake will pop out of
nowhere and bite you! Hrmph. No
wonder it was so cheap...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
How to make snake maki: Take a

snake. Roll it up in rice and nori
(seaweed paper) like a scroll. Cut
into quarters and serve on a wooden
geta with ginger and wasabi.
1207
sphere, circle, radius, range
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

box : scroll; volume; book;
part; roll up; wind up; tie; coil;
counter for texts (or book scrolls)
12
sphere
I assosiate scrolls with spell casting,
the efect of this spell is pent in a
certain sphere of influence, outside it
no damage is done.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
[RPG] Youre fighting a powerful

enemy. Your mage uses a
scroll/quartersnake of protection,
and hes pent in a sphere of
protection.
1208
victory, win, prevail, excel

: meat : become fatigued;
stop
12
victory
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
After your VICTORY cut your

enemys FLESH into QUARTERs to
show your POWER.
After Englands victory over
Scottish rebel William Wallace, they
had his flesh drawn and quartered
and then sent around Britain to
demonstrate their power.
1209
wistaria
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : rising water
18
wisteria
According to legend, the great Ogaki
wisteria tree grew and flowered from
magical rice grains that were planted
under the quarter moon.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The wisteria is a type of hanging

vine covered with flowers. By the
light of the quarter moon, the
flowers look like clusters of rice
grains.
1210
mimeograph, copy
: majestic plural; imperial
we : say
17
facsimilie
Story1:
Sending a facsimile to the moon can

be problematic only a quarter of the
words actually get there.
Story2:
As a prank, a guy sits with his butt

flesh on the facsimile machine,
inserts a quarter, and tries to fax it to
his boss. However the facsimile
machine has pattern recognition
technology and instead of an image
of his flesh, it just transmits the word
"asshole". Dont forget its flesh, not
words, on the left side; the flesh
image gets transformed into words.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1211
one-sided, leaf, sheet

: (a) slice, slice radical (no. 91)
4
one-sided
Fuaburisus pictograph of a man
kneeling and presenting the ring to
his future wife is a one-sided version
of the story. Others say he was
giving her the finger.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Taking the keyword in the sense of

only one part of a whole, I see this as
a pictograph of a man kneeling and
presenting the ring to his future wife
(I couldnt see any trees or branches
in there).
1212
english:
printing block, printing plate,

edition, impression, label
component:
: one-sided; leaf; sheet; right-side

kata radical (no. 91) : anti-
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
8
printing block
Before the advent of printers in
Japan, typewriters couldnt be built
as they were in the west due to how
many kanji there are. Lots of small
printing blocks had to be used
instead. One side of the printing
block would have a mirrored (anti)
image of the kanji. This is true.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Nazi propaganda. Picture the

printing blocks producing very onesided (Aryan), anti-Jewish
propaganda spreading posters to
hang around town.
1213
of, this
of
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Of all the kanji, this is the only one

orro can write.
The Z of Zorro (and yes he has a hat).
1214
destitution, scarce, limited

4) : of; this
4
destitution
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Children in complete destitution

have no hope of ever getting toys to
play with, so when they find even a
tiny drop of a building block they
are overjoyed.
Just one drop (of alcohol) and he
starts walking in zig-zags no
wonder Zorros living in destitution.
(Note: As a primitive let be Zorro
or Zig-Zag: its pictographic).
1215
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
turf, lawn
140) : of; this
6
turf
Artificial turf made easy: flowers
stuck on top of building blocks that
you can place anywhere.
Zorro, with a flower between his
teeth for the ladies, defends his turf
against evildoers. "This is my turf!
And this...is for the lady.".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1216
negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy

katakana no radical (no. 4) :
4
negative
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[Smithsonian] Scene: Mr. T hanging

from the ceiling being tortured. He is
asked if he is going to talk. Spitting
(a drop of saliva) in the torturers
face, he says "Negative".
One below zero is a negative number.
1217
negate, no, noes, refuse, decline,

deny
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: negative; non-; bad; ugly;

clumsy : mouth
7
negate
To distinguish between negate,
and negative (#1217): Note that
negate contains , which is a kind
of gate.
Negative mouths negate everything.
1218
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
cupfuls, wine glass, glass, toast

: tree; wood : negative; non; bad; ugly; clumsy
8
cupfuls
The maple tree is very negative
about it, but the farmer still collects
cupfuls of maple syrup from it.
A few cupfuls of sake can create a
very negative situation. Like
smashing into that tree...
1219
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
dart, arrow
: heavens; sky; imperial
5
dart
Zeus ran out of lightning bolts and
has to drop darts from the heavens.
Do not mistake with LOSE .
1220
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rectify, straighten, correct, reform,

cure, control, pretend, falsify
: dart; arrow : high;
boasting
17
rectify
Angels have now been given a
powerful tool to rectify human
behavior instantly, without delay they have been allowed to drop darts
on those who misbehave... spare the
dart and spoil the man...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The darts of the angel Cupid are

supposed to bring people joy, but
usually just make things a lot worse.
Here we see another angel flying
around shooting people with the antidarts (antidote), to rectify the
situation.
1221
tribe, family
alternative : dart; arrow
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
11
tribe
With a banner declaring "Keep Out!"
and blow darts to back it up, the
Amazon tribe is not that friendly.
Once tribes shot darts under their
war banners, now they are putting
banner ads on the internet for betting
on dart-games at their casinos :(.
1222
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
know, wisdom
: dart; arrow : mouth
8
know
I should know. After all, I did
graduate from Dartmouth!
[know; wisdom] [An arrow like
mouth ] If you know the answers,
they will fly like darts from your
mouth.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
1223
wisdom, intellect, reason

: know; wisdom : day; sun;
wisdom
Wisdom is knowing everything
OVER the sun (fools assume
everything UNDER).
Knowing more each day, brings
wisdom.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1224
halberd, arms, festival float

: beforehand; previous; myself;
I : katakana no radical (no. 4)
5
halberd
Zedong always carried a
halberd.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Make the halberd a heroic warrior

(perhaps of scandinavian origin)
who weilds this polearm - the most
effective, brutal and vicious one with great skill. He can use it to
hook, pierce and chop (the three
strokes).
1225
tender, weakness, gentleness,

softness
: halberd; arms; festival
float : tree; wood
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
9
tender
[tender; weakness; gentleness;
softness] Love me tender, Love me
perfect, Never cheat on me. Or Ill
impale you on my Halberd, And
hang ya atop a tree...
Use a halberd to tenderize a tree:
halberds can chop, poke, and slash,
so its all good!
1226
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
task, duties
: halberd; arms; festival
float : strike; hit; folding chair
up; exert
11
task
It is with the halberd he holds that
the taskmaster exerts his power over
those actually performing the task.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
So many video games have a "boss"

stage you must pass in order to
advance to the next level. Here, your
task is to use your halberd to beat
the taskmaster with the huge,
bulging muscles.
1227
fog, mist
: rain : task; duties
19
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
fog
This fog is the perfect weather for us
to perform our task undetected.
FOG is easy to associate with the
RAIN primitive. So think of FOG as
a type of RAIN that is slow at the
TASK of getting the place wet.
1228
squad, corps, unit, group

: jewel; ball : sword; saber;
knife : jewel; ball
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
10
squad
Am I the only one who took this as
penis and balls? In order to be in the
man-squad, naturally you need to
have two balls with your "spear" in
the middle there.
Here we have two kings trying out
for the cheer-leading squad. A spear
on the floor separates their dancing
areas.
1229
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
homecoming, arrive at, lead to,

result in
broom
10
homecoming
Story1:
A female warrior returns home from

battle. Her husband takes away her
spear to symbolize the end of
fighting and gives her a broom and
an apron. Boy, this is some kind of
HOMECOMING, thinks the
veteran. (Adapted from johnskb).
Story2:
Well, the boss man warrior upon his

homecoming has set aside his spear.
Remember the lady (#1151) (who
put aside her broom and apron)? I
wonder what theyre doing now?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1230
bow, bow (archery, violin)

: bow, bow radical (no. 57)
3
bow
My personification for this primative
is Legolas from the Lord of the
Rings: a master at the bow. I
suppose robin hood etc would work
too.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I have a BOW made from a SNAKE

that I BOUND UP. He sure wasnt
happy!
1231
pull, tug, jerk, admit, install, quote,

refer to
: bow; bow (archery,
violin) : number one; line; rod
radical (no. 2)
4
pull
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Put a walking stick in the bow and

pull it back, ready to fire at the
geezer.
This is actually a bow and an arrow.
(Real origin of this kanji). Pull and
release to fire!
1232
condolences, mourning, funeral

violin) : number one; line; rod
radical (no. 2)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
4
condolences
Perhaps a pictograph of a soldiers
weapons--his sword and bow-placed
ceremonially over his body before
burial, while people offer their
condolences.
Send your condolences to the old
geezer whom you shot the walking
stick into with your bow. (see pull
(#1232)).
1233
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vast, broad, wide

violin) : I; myself; katakana
mu radical (no. 28)
vast
If you pull the bow back with your
elbow, you can shoot a vast distance.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The valley was so vast that if you

yelled elbow! you could hear it echo
bow, bow, bow.
1234
strong
violin) : I; myself; katakana
mu radical (no. 28) : insect;
bug; temper
11
strong
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
An insect who can fly vast distances

is strong.
Legolas is so strong that he can even
shoot down vast numbers of tiny
insects at vast distances with ease.
1235
weak, frail
component:
strokes:
keyword:

violin) : two-stroke water
radical or ice radical (no. 15) :
bow; bow (archery, violin) :
radical (no. 15)
10
weak
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Two weak archers agree on a duel to

the death. They constantly shoot at
each other but never manage to hit
their target. But what they lack in
skill they make up in determination,
and they keep shooting for hours,
and days, and months, until its
wintertime and their bows are coated
in ice.
BOWS with ICE on them are brittle
and WEAK.
1236
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
seethe, boil, ferment, uproar, breed

: water : dollar
8
seethe
Re CharleyGarrett: This liquid looks
like ordinary water, but it will
instantly seethe when it comes in
contact with counterfeit dollar bills.
The inventor must be rich (and
probably has dollar signs in his eyes).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When his daughter used a lot of

water for her shower, the father
could practically see the dollar signs,
so he was seething with anger.
1237
expense, cost, spend, consume, waste

: dollar : shellfish
12
expense
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
An expense is an expense, whether

you put it in dollars or in local
money.
A dollar sign next to an amount of
money denotes an expense.
1238
No., residence
: bamboo : condolences;
mourning; funeral : katakana
no radical (no. 4)
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
No.
The No. 1 currency in the world is
the dollar. But, the Asian nations are
fast catching up and may in reality
have already surpassed it. So, let the
bamboo represent the No. 2
currencies (the yen, etc.). The
reverse order (bamboo on top and
the dollar on the bottom) is really a
look at the future.
Bamboo bling is the newest Asian
Rapper, No. 1 on the charts right
now.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1239
younger brother, faitherful service to

elders
12) : condolences; mourning;
funeral : katakana no radical
(no. 4)
7
younger brother
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Younger brothers are always more

prone to mischief. Mine, you can
almost see the little horns on him
and the dollar signs on his eyes
when he comes up with a moneymaking scheme.
The younger brother was a horny
dollar -chasing bastard.
1240
adroit, skilled, ingenuity
component:
strokes:
keyword:

radical (no. 48) : obstruction
of breath (qi) as it seeks release;
variant of other characters
5
adroit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Adroit: dextrous, deft, skillful. Snare

is a little generic so Ill use BEAR
TRAP, with huge teeth cartoon style
that snares you around the ankle. In
the crafting of a bear trap, one must
be particularly adroit. Otherwise
they will become the victim of their
down device.
To be adroit one must have mastered
the crafting of snares.
1241
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
nickname, number, item, title,

pseudonym, name, call
: mouth : one; one radical
(no.1)
5
nickname
My nickname is "No Lips". Yep, I
shouldnt have put my mouth on that
bear trap...
When certain nickname snares to
peoples mouths, they will call you
that way forever.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1242
decay, rot, remain in seclusion

: tree; wood : obstruction of
breath (qi) as it seeks release; variant
of other characters
6
decay
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This snare isnt terribly effective,

because its swinging from a
decaying tree. Imagine the tree as
being so decayed that when an
animal gets caught in the snare, its
struggles cause the tree to collapse
into a putrid mess.
wither The decay of an animal in
the TREE was from something
caught in a SNARE.
1243
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
boast, be proud, pride, triumphantly

: say : boast
13
boast
The hunters boast: I say, it was a
"big one", but the snare broke and it
got away. (credit to many others
before).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A dog owner boasts about how

obedient, not how smart, his Saint
Bernard dog is. "Why, my dog will
even walk right into a trap if I tell
him to. Watch!" With a single word,
"go!", his dog obediently runs into a
snare trap hanging from the ceiling.
In a flash, the dog is netted tightly
and swinging from the ceiling. Dont
forget the ceiling!
1244
dirty, pollute, disgrace, rape, defile
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : two; two radical

(no.2)
6
dirty
A hunter Washes, with WATER, his
TWO SNAREs, because they are
dirty.
Washing your dirty snare in water,
the extra line represents the water
level as you submerge the snare.
1245
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bestow, participate in, give, award,

impart, provide, cause, gift, godsend
3
bestow
David went to battle with a slingshot
and it only took him one shot to slay
Goliath. Partly because of this, the
prophet Nathan was later instructed
to bestow upon David the throne of
all Israel.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
In The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of

Time, one of the first weapons
bestowed on Link was the slingshot.
1246
copy, be photographed, describe

14) : bestow; participate in;
give; award; impart; provide; cause;
gift; godsend
5
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
copy
A crown was bestowed to the British
royalty museum, but it was only a
copy.
True fact: in the UK the right to print
a copy of the KJV Bible is bestowed
by the crown -- there are only a few
authorised bible printers.
1247
body, somebody, person, one's

station in life
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: body, body radical (no. 158)

7
somebody
Somebody was just looking for you.
He had a longnose that reaches down
below his mouth, and a long jaw that
sticks out past his nose, and a scar
across his face. (greenapple,16-32006) The way to remember that this
is somebody rather than someone
(#1256) is that the story is full of
body descriptions.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Somebody was just looking for you.

He had a long nose that reaches
down below his mouth, and a long
jaw that sticks out past his nose, and
a scar across his face.
1248
shoot, shine into, onto, archery

: somebody; person; one's station
in life : measurement; foot/10
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
shoot
You SHOOT SOMEBODY with a
GLUE-gun.
The aim of shooting is to end up
with a bullet stuck in someones
body.
1249
apologize, thank, refuse

: say : shoot; shine into;
onto; archery
17
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
apologize
Dick Cheney...
The famous speech by the man that
Dick Cheney shot in the face: "Im
sorry for the trouble I have caused
the Vice President".
1250
old man, old age, grow old

: old man; old age; grow
old : spoon; spoon or
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
6
old man
An old man, wondering what its
like in a grave, sits in a freshly dug
plot. When a gravekeeper mistakes
him for dead and begins burying him
with soil, the old man saves himself
by flailing his walking stick in the
air.
Old man sits in the dirt, having a
stroke.
1251
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
consider, think over

old : obstruction of breath (qi)
as it seeks release; variant of other
characters
6
consider
Before shooting an old man with a
slingshot, one shold carefully
consider the possible consequences.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Even though he had the old man Mr.

Wilson within the sights of his
slingshot, Dennis the Menace
considered what he was doing and
stopped.
1252
filial piety, child's respect

old : child; sign of the rat;
zodiac
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
7
filial piety
This child has taken filial piety to
the next level. He is actually
carrying the old man on his
shoulders.
+dilandau23: This child has taken
filial piety to the next level. He is
actually carrying the old man on his
shoulders. There is a picture of a
statue depicting this here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_pi
ety.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1253
teach, faith, doctrine

: filial piety; child's
respect : strike; hit; folding
11
teach
In early Japan, filial piety was the
cornerstone of education, and harsh
taskmasters were employed to teach
it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You could say that the taskmistress

is teaching you filial piety when she
whips you and asks, "Whos your
daddy?!".
1254
torture, beat
: hand : consider; think over
9
torture
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In Torture 101 class they teach you

to Consider the Fingers as the first
part to inflict pain to. Then you can
move on to other parts (like feet,
groin, head, etc. etc. ; ) ).
Aaaargh, stop! cries the victim of
torture, his fingers being squeezed
by the thumb screws. "Ill consider
it," the torturer says coolly, "if you
tell me the names of all the agents in
your organization.".
1255
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
someone, person
old : day; sun; Japan; counter
for days
8
someone
Story1:
Story2:
I find the best way of memorizing

this kanji is in conjunction with the
Japanese compound for ninja: -i.e. someone who endures (see
FRAME 597 for the kanji ). A
is not just a (somebody), its
who can great !
Back in the day, the old man used to
be someone. His name was in the
papers and all that. I use CHUCKY
from the movie Childs Play as my
major alternate meaning for this
primitive.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1256
boil, cook
: someone; person : fire
12
boil
Story1:
Story2:
I had a hard time with the next

several frame numbers trying to use
"puppet." So i thought of "voodoo
doll" but then found "love doll"
(which is just a special type of
puppet) fit well with these 8 frames.
Observe: Here I am boiling my love
doll over the flames to warm her up
a bit...
There is a lesser known voodoo
practice of boiling a puppet over an
oven fire, to really make your victim
feel the heat!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1257
renowned, publish, write,

remarkable, phenomenal, put on,
don, wear, arrival, finish (race),
counter for suits of clothing, literary
work
140) : someone; person
11
renowned
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Here I am, putting a wreath of

flowers on my love dolls head and
pretending she is someone of great
renowned.
This someone is so renowned they
are covered with flowers every time
they perform on stage.
1258
signature, govt office, police station

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
13
signature
Before giving your SIGNATURE to
accept the LOVEDOLL, you should
EYE over the LOVEDOLL for any
damages, then give your
SIGNATURE.
The ninjas signature move was to
paralyse people just by looking in
their eyes.
1259
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sultry, hot, summer heat

days : someone; person
12
sultry
Ahh, a fine sultry day with my love
doll under the hot sun. I think shes
getting a tan!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[from decamer0n] This is the kanji

for atsui () as in hot. If youve
ever been in Japan in the summer no
doubt you have heard hoards of
people bellowing "Atsui! Atsui!"
Here you are laying with your love
doll under the hot sun. Luckily the
manufacturers were smart and when
the doll got to hot it would bellow
"Atsui! Its so sultry!".
1260
various, many, several, together
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : someone; person

15
various
Because i get tired of saying the
same old thing, I have lately been
trying to use various terms of
endearment to my love doll. I think
she appreciates it too.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you pull the string at the back

of Chucky, he will say various
things. "Hidey-ho! Ha ha ha!" "Hi,
Im Chucky. Wanna play?" "Im
going to eat your liver, bitch!".
1261
boar
: dog : someone; person
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
boar
My love doll is made of special
pheremone impregnated vinyl.
Unfortunately, a pack of wild dogs
mistook her for a wild boar and tore
her to pieces. Oh dear!
(Image: a pack of wild dogs chasing
Pinocchio whos trying to escape by
riding on the back of a boar. See him
bouncing around as they race
along?).
1262
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
strand, beach, shore

: water : someone; person
strand
I was stranded on a desert island
surrounded by water for hundreds of
miles on end. I wasnt upset though I had my love doll! What a great
strand of sand to be stranded on just me and my love doll!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A lovely romantic walk on the

strand, splashing in the water with
my love doll.
1263
gamble, wager, bet

: shellfish : someone;
person
16
gamble
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When we gamble at the shell game, I

always win against my love doll.
People who gamble compulsively
are like puppets controlled by money.
1264
gorge, ravine
: mountain : insert between
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
gorge
A gorge is where God has cut into a
mountain with a pair of scissors.
(synewave,6-10-2006)
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/19
7361.html.
A kid cuts a gorge into a paper
mountain, with a pair of scissors.
1265
cramped, narrow, contract, tight

: dog : insert between
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
9
cramped
A pack of wild dogs, waiting in a
very cramped waiting room, to get
their hair cut by Edward Scissors
Hands, who is very popular.
In a CRAMPED space, a brave man
holds off PACK OF WILD DOGS
with only a pair of SCISSORS.
1266
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
pinch, between
: hand : insert between
9
sandwiched
Story1:
Story2:
(v5r,vi) to
get between; to be caught in; (P)
Story: You know how in tokyo there
are those really packed trains where
train staff in gloves shove people in?
Well imagine being sandwiched in
so tight, that when the doors close,
only your FINGERS are sticking
out. The train staff have no choice...
they must cut them off with
SCISSORS =( snip snip..
Fingers sandwiched between a pair
of scissors. Dont move or else!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1267
chase, drive away, follow, pursue,

meanwhile
: None : walk; walking;
9
chase
Maestro, coattails flapping wildly, is
being chased down the road by his
fans.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Maestro primative = James Bond.

Here he gives chase down the road
to the bad guys. Im thinking of the
car chase in The Man with the
Golden Gun - NOT pursue (#539). I
think about Race N Chase (a
scalextric type toy)...there were no
pigs in Race N Chase, only cars.
1268
expert, teacher, master, army, war
component:
strokes:
keyword:

4) : number one; line; rod
radical (no. 2) : towel;
(no. 50)
10
expert
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A maestro in a large auditorium with

high ceilings is conducting his
orchestra of expert musicians at a
fever-pitch, sweat pouring out of
him. When the piece is over he
reaches for his towel to wipe his
brow.
Maestro is such as expert, he can
conduct even with a towel hanging
from the ceiling in front of him.
1269
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
commander, leading troops, governor

width; cloth radical (no. 50)
9
commander
The COMMANDER is a military
MAESTRO who never throws in the
TOWEL.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The greatest of them all;

Commander James Bond, 007. Here
he is the maestro of undressing
women, removing the towel from
some bond girl. Of course the towel
symbolises her last vestige of
resistance.
1270
bureaucrat, the government

(no. 40) : mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
8
bureaucrat
No one likes classical music
anymore. Our Maestro is here at
home without his baton sighing
sadly before he heads off for another
day as his new job as a bureaucrat.
Bureaucrat, def: The maestro
without a baton, the one who
orchestrates oppressive rules,
regulations and taxes on every
household.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1271
coffin, casket
: tree; wood : bureaucrat;
the government
12
coffin
The maestro at home was sick of
being a bureaucrat, so he got some
wood and built himself a coffin and
got in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
An excellent use of wood is to make

coffins for bureaucrats.
1272
pipe, tube, wind instrument, drunken

talk
: bamboo : bureaucrat; the
government
14
pipe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Japanese bureaucrats send all their

messages through an inter-office
bamboo pipe system.
The Japanese internet is a series of
bamboo pipes said one ignorant
bureaucrat trying to draft Internet
legislation.
1273
father
: father, father radical (no. 88)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
father
Luke, I am your father. Darth Vader
(really surprised nobody put this one
up before: 2 laserswords).
Not to confuse anyone, but I think if
you put your mind to it, you can see
the image of a father here. The first
two strokes take on the form of his
eye brows, and the third and fourth
stroke make up the nose and
mustache.
1274
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
mingle, mixing, association, coming

& going
father
6
mingle
Story1:
Even though your FATHER is an

old man, he cant give up his party
lifestyle. Once a week he still dons
his cool TOP HAT (well, it was cool
40 years ago) and goes out on the
town to MINGLE with the ladies.
This is a pretty common thing in
Japan, where old motherfuckers still
think they can pick up 19 year old
girls.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Darth Vader tries to mingle with his

troops. He even weares one of the
helmets of the stromtroopers. (one of
them laughs: white helmet, black
suit. Darth Vader thereby slashes
him in 2).
1275
merit, efficacy, efficiency, benefit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mingle; mixing; association;

coming & going : power;
8
merit
Mingling with the powerful can
bring you success, bypassing the
need for any merit.
There is great merit in mingling with
the powerful.
1276
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
contrast, compare
: car : mingle; mixing;
association; coming & going
13
contrast
Story1:
The people I had invited to the party

were mingling quite well with one
another, until they all suddenly
started talking about the cars they
own. Pretty soon the crowd divided
itself into distinct, contrasting
crowds: rich snobs with fancy cars,
soccer moms with minivans, and
hippies with bicycles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Our world of today, cars mingling on

busy streets, is in stark contrast to
the one of yesteryear, where it was
people who would mingle on the
streets.
1277
english:
exam, school, printing, proof,

correction
component:
: tree; wood : mingle;

mixing; association; coming & going
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
10
exam
With the exam scores posted on a
TREE, the students MINGLED
around looking at the results. test. .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Note: this Kanji does not mean

exam. It means school. I find this
keyword an choice odd as school by
itself is not used elsewhere.
Examples: is principal (lit.
school chief); is junior high
school (lit. middle study/knowledge
school).
1278
leg, foot, be sufficient

: mouth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
7
leg
Captain Ahab lost his leg to the great
white whales mouth and had to
mend it with a peg leg.
Ill use my mouth to mend your leg,
Ill kiss it all better :).
1279
stimulate, urge, press, demand, incite
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: person : leg; foot; be

sufficient; counter for pairs of
footwear
9
stimulate
Mr T, ever the optimist, is trying to
stimulate Capt Ahabs wooden leg
by rubbing it down. Capt Ahab
normally wouldnt let anyone do
that, but he appreciates Mr Ts
stimulating conversation.
You stimulate a person by giving
him a kick.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
1280
long-distance
: leg; foot; be sufficient; counter
for pairs of footwear :
gigantic; big; large; great
12
long-distance
You can step a long-distance if you
have a leg thats gigantic!
You can step a long-distance if you
have gigantic wooden legs (stilts).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1281
path, route, road, distance

for pairs of footwear : each;
every; either
13
path
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When pirates try to hide, its always

easy to find them. Their wooden legs
leave distinctive prints, showing
where each is hiding and the exact
path he took.
I have a wooden leg for each type of
path. One with a rubber stopper at
the end for absorbing shocks on
paved paths, and one with a wide
foot to distribute weight better on
mud paths.
1282
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
dew, tears, mortality, flimsiness

: rain : path; route; road;
distance
21
dew
After the rain the path was covered
with dew.
Dew forms on the path least
weathered.
1283
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
hop, leap up, spring, jerk, prance,

buck, splash, sputter, snap
for pairs of footwear : portent;
10**12; trillion; sign; omen;
symptoms
13
hop
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A girl with a wooden leg always

wanted to play hopscotch with the
other girls, but every time she tried
to hop shed lose her balance and
injure another girl. Thats why the
other girls make fun of her and see
her presence as a portent to injury.
A turtle with a wooden leg needs to
hop to get around.
1284
leap, dance, skip
component:
strokes:
keyword:

feathers; counter for birds,
rabbits : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
21
leap
Story1:
Story2:
Well, there are weekdays weekday

(#576) and there are laundry days
laundry (#577), and on February
29th leap day, the manufacturer
recommends servicing or replacing
your peg leg because they tend to
wear out every 4 years.
[Story for people following katsuo in
making feathers+turkey a futon
primitive] If youre going to leap
from a high place, better hope
theres a futon below -- otherwise
youre going to break your leg at the
very least...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1285
tread, step on, trample, practice,

carry through
damage; remain; slight
13
tread
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The pirate with the wooden leg

chased after the parade float and was
run over by the next one, leaving
tread marks all over him and his leg.
Pirates must tread carefully when
walking on parade floats, so as not
to break through the weak plaster
with their wooden legs.
1286
step, trample, carry through,

appraise, evade payment
component:
strokes:
keyword:

for pairs of footwear : shoes;
boots
15
Story1:
step
You have to watch your step when
moving your leg on a watery day.
Story2:
So, weve walked on the moon, but

its going to take a pirate with a
wooden leg, with a huge supply of
cooling water to land on the sun and
take that "one small step for a man".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1287
skeleton, bone, remains, frame

: month; moon
10
skeleton
Your body meat is attached to the
bone joints of your skeleton.
Story2:
heisig:
The top box is the skull and the

brain has shriveled to the size of
marble (but following kanji
convention it is depicted as a square)
and rolled into the bottom right hand
corner. With all the hair and flesh
gone the crown has slipped down to
the shoulders like a necklace.
represents the rest of the body of the
skeleton. [Idea for position of crown
thanks to n1williams].
1288
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
slippery, slide, slip, flunk

: water : skeleton; bone;
remains; frame
13
slippery
Dont give water to a skeleton.
When he drinks it, itll sluice right
through his bones, forcing you to put
one of those "Caution - Slippery
Floor" signs up on the resultant
puddle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Slippery surfaces are very dangerous

for skeletons, since their bone feet
slip easily... a few drops of water,
and zweep! A large mess of bones to
pick up and reassemble!
1289
marrow, pith
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: skeleton; bone; remains;

frame : possess; have; exist;
happen; occur; approx : walk;
162)
19
marrow
Story1:
Story2:
A skeleton is shuffling along the

shoulder of the road, so you pull up
next to him and ask where he is
going. He says hes going to donate
his marrow to the hospital because
he got into some financial trouble
and lost everything; his marrow is
the only thing he still possesses.
A skeleton by the side of the road,
holding a sign "Possess marrow, will
travel". Yeah, it makes no sense but
I dont foget the kanji.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1290
calamity, misfortune, evil, curse

express; display : crooked
mouth; evil; dishonest
13
calamity
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Continued from auspicious (#1088).

Once a year, the people pray for a
sign from the gods. But if the gods
are feeling particularly mischievous,
theyll send down a jawbone to the
altar. The people see this as a sign of
calamity to come. The gods think of
it as an amusing prank.
Calamity Jane went to the altar to
confess her sins and the priests
jawbone fell to the floor...
1291
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
whirlpool, eddy, vortex

: water : crooked mouth;
evil; dishonest
12
whirlpool
Grampas flushing the toilet, when
his denture (Jawbone) pops out and
gets sucked down the whirlpool!
A whirlpool is water opening its
jaws to swallow anything whole.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1292
overdo, exceed, go beyond, error

: crooked mouth; evil;
dishonest : walk; walking;
12
overdo
Jaws XII~! Jaws strikes the
highway! Man, theyre really
overdoing it now.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In American History X Edward

Nortons character overdoes it when
he makes the dude that tried to steal
his car lie face down with his
jawbone open over the pavement of
the roadway and then stamps on the
back of his head. My teeth still
tingle when I think of that!
1293
heights, slope
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: hill; mound; left village radical

(no. 170) : anti7
Heights
Story1:
If youre scared of Heights, you

dont want to stay at The Pinnacle;
you are anti- The Pinnacle.
Primitive: The Pinnacle is a dreamlike gated community at the top of a
mount. This allows for innumerable
stories for all the kanji with this
primitive since you have a whole
city to work with. Also prevents
confusion with "mountain".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
People are being displaced in

to make room for a new
development, Osaka Heights, the
pinnacle of modern Japanese
housing. An angry mob of protestors
are outside with Anti-Osaka Heights
signs.
1294
Africa, flatter, fawn upon, corner,

nook, recess
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

(no. 170) : can; passable;
Africa
Can you see Africa from The
Pinnacle? I can! I can!
A kinda pictogram: BoT, the first 3
letters in Botswana an African
country.
1295
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
occasion, side, edge, verge,

dangerous, adventurous, indecent,
time, when
(no. 170) : ritual; offer
prayers; celebrate; deify; enshrine;
worship
14
occasion
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Many rituals are practiced every day

(blessing before meals, evening
prayer, etc.) Only the peak rituals
(wedding, Bar Mitzvah, etc.) qualify
to be called an occasion.
On occasian, rituals are held at the
very tip of The Pinnacle.
1296
hinder, hurt, harm
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : badge; chapter;
composition; poem; design
14
hinder
The officer at the gate to The
Pinnacle with a giant badge sewn to
his chest hinders all visitors. But not
the handicapped. Theyre hindered
enough already. Theyre given a
badge and can pass right into The
Pinnacle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The pinnacle of racism was that of

the Nazis. They made the Jews wear
a badge on their clothes to identify
them. They hindered their every
movement. Moreover the peaceloving Dutch all wore the badges so
that the Jews would be
unidentifiable. Effectively hindering
the Nazi plot.
1297
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
follow, though, notwithstanding,

while, during, both, all, obey, submit
to, comply, at the mercy of (the
waves)
: melon; wrap : walk;
162)
12
follow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
[Image: Follow the Yellow-Brick

Road to success] The pinnacle
signifies your personal goal and
destination. What youre seeking to
possess lies at the end of the yellowbrick road. You must follow the road
to get what you want.
I fled to The Pinnacle for safety, but
the demon followed me right up the
road!
1298
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
obeisance, follow, accompany,

attend on
(no. 170) : stand up; rise; set
up; erect : mouth
11
auxiliary
In case of emergency, The Pinnacle
has auxiliary guard dogs, but they
keep them muzzeled until theyre
needed.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When you climb the pinnacle youll

need to take a muzzle of auxiliary
oxygen.
1299
sunshine, yang principle, positive,

male, heaven, daytime
(no. 170) : open; sun
12
sunshine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A kid is perched on a pinnacle with

his piggy bank. He uses the coins to
catch the sunshine, and redirect it
into peoples eyes, far below.
The Pinnacle is environmentally
friendly. They collect solar power
through sunshine on their piggybank
shaped solar arrays.
1300
exhibit, state, relate, explain
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : east
11
line up
Every morning at The Pinnacle, the
residents line upon the East side for
morning stretches and leisure.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Hikers line up to get to the top of

that great pinnacle of the East...
Mount Fuji. Seriously, they really
do! ...probably the only mountain in
the world with a queue at the top.
1301
ward off, defend, protect, resist

(no. 170) : direction; person;
alternative
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
7
ward off
A giant compass is The Pinnacles
self-defense system. It points in the
direction of any invaders so the city
is prepared well ahead to ward off
the intruders.
To ward off enemies, the ancient
Greece kept watch from the
Acropolis, where they had a clear
view in all directions.
1302
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
affixed, attach, refer to, append

(no. 170) : adhere; attach;
refer to; append
8
affixed
A sign was AFFIXED on the
PINNACLE of the Acropolis so that
tourists would ADHERE to the rules.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The Pinnacle is firmly affixed to the

top of the mount with bubble gum.
(adhere (#1000)).
1303
Inst., institution, temple, mansion,

school
(no. 170) : perfect;
completion; end
10
Inst.
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The Institution of The Pinnacle is

perfect in every way. It is the new
House of God, his chosen city.
To reach the pinnacle of kanji
perfect you need to attend the Heisig
Inst.
1304
camp, battle array, ranks, position

(no. 170) : car
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
camp
Paparazzi make camp outside of The
Pinnacle in their cars, waiting for the
celebs to come out.
Note: This kanji is most often used
in a military context. Story: Here we
see an encampment of military
vehicles laying siege to The
Pinnacle. With other countries being
envious of the perfect life they lead
there that makes sense. Fortunately,
the pinnacle knows how to ward off
(#1302) enemies.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1305
regiment, party, company, squad

(no. 170) : pig; hog; pig
radical (no. 152)
12
regiment
Every regiment of The Pinnacles
army is lead by a Miss Piggy with a
viking helmet on.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Every regiment of The Pinnacles

army has an animal name. This
regiment is called "Horned Pig
Regiment". Theyre wearing Wiking
helms and are usually cowered in
mud.
1306
crash, fall (down)

: regiment; party; company;
squad : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
15
crash
One of the members of our air force
regiment has been shot down; he
managed to safely eject, but his
plane crashed into the ground.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The regiment led by horny Miss

Piggy wearing a viking helmet
accidently falls off The Pinnacle and
crashes into the ground below. // old
story with wrong meaning of
regiment: Kermit is so frustrated
with horny Miss Piggys regimented
sex schedule, he throws her off The
Pinnacle and she crashes into the
ground.
1307
descend, precipitate, fall, surrender
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : to descend; to
come down from heaven; to send
down
10
descend
Sunglasses-missing-one-lens is
obviously the monocle. The proper,
high-class way to descend The
Pinnacle is wearing a monocle with
your walking legs splayed to a full
gentlemanly stride.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
After a cool, hip businessman

angered the executives at The
Pinnacle, they beat him up, popping
out a lens from his sunglasses, and
tossed out the window, head first,
walking legs second. One executive
later commented, "It was like he was
descending into Hell from Heaven!".
1308
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
storey, stair, counter for storeys of a

building
(no. 170) : all; everything
12
story
All buildings of The Pinnacle are
multi-storey. They dont have much
room, so they have to build up. It
sucks when someone presses all the
buttons on the elevator! You have to
stop at each storey!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Some stupid kid has pushed all the

buttons in the elevator. As it stops at
all storeys you reach a pinnacle of
impatience. Finally you reach your
storey, the last one, at the pinnacle
of the building.
1309
highness, steps (of throne)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : compare; race;
ratio; Philipines : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
10
highness
Your highness is the pinnacle of
finesse compared to all of us
commoners who are but like dirt on
the ground.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
His Highness, the main man at the

Pinnacle, often compares those who
live outside the citys walls to dirt.
1310
neighboring
metre : dancing radical (no.
136)
16
keyword:
Story1:
neighboring
America thinks it is the pinnacle of
the world, looking down on all
neighboring countries through its
mirrored, aviator sunglasses.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
All the neighboring communities to

the Pinnacle have a major problem.
The kids at the Pinnacle have a habit
of throwing down rice from the city
walls in all directions, so people in
neighboring communities are forced
to wear sunglasses all the time in
order to avoid getting rice in their
eyes.
1311
isolate, alternate, distance, separate,

gulf
component:
strokes:
keyword:

(no. 170) : tripod
13
isolate
Story1:
Story2:
The Pinnacle, to me, is a city that

makes itself out to be perfect but is
filled with dirty secrets that
photographers are always trying to
reveal (see dissolve (#1044) The
citys councilmen have isolated all
professional photographers to make
sure they dont photograph these
"dirty secrets". (which are up to your
imagination).
The people of the pinnacle isolate
themselves, dissolving any outside
friendships.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1312
conceal, hide, cover

(no. 170) : claw; nail;
talon : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58) : heart; mind;
14
conceal
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The wheat farmers heart is calm

(#1147) about the eagle not stealing
his crops because of the broom
scarecrow. But he still conceals all
his wheat at The Pinnacle in case
anyone else trys to steal it.
Move the broom with a vulture
perched on top, and youll find the
concealed entrance to the heart of
The Pinnacle.
1313
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
degenerate, descend to, lapse into

: melon; wrap : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
12
degenerate
Any attempt to possess the pinnacle
will degenerate into a land
("ground") war.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A degenerate doctor at The Pinnacle

is doing illegal abortions. Hes so
sick he just throws the aborted
fetuses onto the ground far below.
And like a possess demon, he keeps
some tied to his side on a belt as
trophies.
1314
collapse, fall into, cave in, fall

(castle), slide into
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : wrapping
20) : old times; old things; old
friend; former; ex10
collapse
The Pinnacle is actually bound up by
supports from olden times.
Eventually, they give out, and the
whole thing starts to collapse.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The Pinnacle is supported by pilings

which were bound up in olden times.
One day when the bindings rot away,
the whole thing will collapse.
(tweaking dihutensoas story to work
a little better for me).
1315
hole, aperture, slit, cave, den
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : eight; eight radical
(no. 12)
5
hole
A black hole is a "House of
Infinity". Infinity is of course
represented by a sideways "8", but
here we have a Japanese "8" instead.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Billiards anyone? House rules here

state that the first person to pot the
eight ball into the hole wins the
game.
1316
empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum

den : craft; construction;
8
empty
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The craft of creating a black hole is

in creating an emptiness which can
attract things.
Hole-craft is the way of making
empty spaces, like the sky.
1317
withdraw, draw in, hold back, refrain

from, be moderate
: hand : empty; sky; void;
vacant; vacuum
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
withdraw
With my fingers, I punch in my bank
code and withdraw some money
from my account. And now its
empty again, as usual!
If you find yourself in a fight with a
karate master with no weapons or
martial art skills, just your empty
fingers, you should withdraw
because (karate="empty hand")
is more powerful than (="empty
fingers").
1318
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stab, protruding, thrusting, thrust,

pierce, prick
den : large; big
8
stab
When you stab something you often
leave a big hole.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The police have recruited a special

breed of St. Bernard that can lick the
wounds of a stabbing victim. The
bleeding will stop instantly, saving
the victims life. One quirky sideeffect, however, is that this treatment
leaves behind a rather large hole...
1319
research, study
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

den : nine
7
research
Most research scientists have 9
holes.....two nostrils, two ears, a
mouth, and four eyes...... :-).
Scientiest are researching , and have
already found nine black holes !
1320
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
plug up, obstruct

den : climax; arrive; proceed;
11
plug up
Sticking a plug up your hole will
lead to stronger climaxes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Here we have a Hole and Climax to

mean PLUG UP. This is so buttf**king easy, pun intended. If you
PLUG UP her Hole, she will Climax.
1321
stealth, steal, secret, private, hushed

den : cut; cutoff; be sharp
9
stealth
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This more commonly means "steal",

like how a thief cuts a hole to steal
the jewels.
Stealth bombers cut holes through
the enemy radar.
1322
depression, cave in, sink, become

hollow
den : water : square
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
depression
A depression is a hole in the ground.
Water naturally collects there which
provides moisture for vines to grow.
The depression in the ground
become a trap: the hole was filled
with water and covered with ivy.
1323
squeeze
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : narrow; fold; furl;

shrug; pucker; shut; close
13
squeeze
You have trouble squeezing your
hand through the hole so you use a
saw to enlarge it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(Thanks DrJones) You squeeze the

teats of the cow with your fingers
but its your first try and you dont
have any milk come through the
holes, so you take a saw and cut the
teats to make bigger holes. Poor
cow, this story squeezes my heart.
1324
kiln, oven, furnace
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

den : lamb
15
kiln
Be sure to put a hole in that ceramic
sheep before you put it over the fire.
Otherwise, itll just explode in the
kiln. (If youve never done ceramics
before, its important that the object
have a hole in it, or this really will
happen.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You put the sheep in the hole of the

kiln and turn on the flames.
1325
hard up, destitute, suffer, perplexed,

cornered
den : body; self
15
hard up
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Hard up = nothing but your body,

living in a hole, with just a bow to
hunt for your food.
Somebody so hard up for cash, the
volunteered to explore a black hole
with nothing but a bow.
1326
grope, search, look for

: hand : a net; net-like;
radical 122 : tree; wood
11
keyword:
grope
Story1:
A pictograph of a japanese
schoolgirl getting groped by perverts
on the train. The fingers of course, a
crown (her too short skirt) and her
legs below (which to be honest are
pretty thick like tree trunks).
Story2:
heisig:
Note: The combination "crown

+human legs" appears seven times in
Heisig. In four cases (nos. 323,
1327, 1328, 2920) the crown is
above the human legs, and in the
other three cases (1888, 2472, 2679)
one leg passes through the crown.
The naming is inconsistent, so I call
the first pattern "Miss World" (who
is wearing a crown she won due to
her attractive human legs) and the
second "garter" (one human leg
1327
onyomi:
english:
deep, heighten, intensify, strengthen

: water : a net; net-like;
radical 122 : tree; wood
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
11
deep
If the gropers "tree" goes up the
girls miniskirt too deep, hell
ejaculate fluid. (Sorry its kinda
coarse but it works.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Thrown in deep water, the Japanese

School girl tries to reach a floating
tree to save herself.
1328
hill, knoll
69) : one; one radical (no.1)
5
hill
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Excalibur is the sword planted in a

rock. Lesser known
AXCAHILLBUR is the axe planted
on top of a hill.
At Capitol Hill proposals get axed
on the floor.
1329
point, peak, mountain

: hill; knoll : mountain
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
Point
A point is a extra little hill at the top
of a mountain. Well call it
Firemans Point.
This actually means a high
mountain. So, to cater to the
keyword, its surely obvious (ahem)
that if something gets such a fine
title as Point, it must be more
magnificent than the average
mountain. Its as if there was a hill
on top of an average mountain,
adding to its height.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1330
soldier, private, troops, army,

warfare, strategy, tactics
: hill; knoll : eight; eight
radical (no. 12)
7
soldier
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Listen up soldiers! Were going to

take that hill. You are no longer men
with human legs. You are voracious
animals, with animal legs! Got it?
Animal legs! Now take that hill!
The hill is so steep that you almost
have to have animal legs to walk on
it. However, the soldiers have no
problem because theyve been
trained to march there.
1331
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
seacoast, beach, seashore

: water : soldier; private;
troops; army; warfare; strategy;
tactics
10
seacoast
Seacoast -> Coast Guard -> "water
soldiers" lined up on the seacoast
defending our shores.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Imagine Normandy after the strikes

on the beach. The water of the entire
seacoast dyed red with the blood of
thousands of soldiers.
1332
thread
: thread, string, thread radical (no.
120)
6
thread
Story1:
Story2:
I also went with Spiderman.

However, in the cases where this
primitive appears under other
primitives, as opposed to on the left
(I think there are ~5 times in this
chapter) Ive opted to use a similar
character: Venom. This helps keep
the positioning clear, especially on
such characters as dainty (#1363)
and accumulate (#1364).
Youll be seeing this one a lot.
Seriously.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1333
weave, fabric
: thread : sword; potter's
clay; to gather
18
weave
Spiderman weaves his way through
the skyline while listening to his
theme song on his ipod. It is played,
of course, by kazoos.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Play the kazoo magically and the

thread will weave itself.
1334
darning, repair, mend, trim, tidy up,

adjust
: thread : virtuous; good;
goodness
18
darning
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
After a day being virtuouos and

keeping the city safe, Spidermans
outfit is in need of some repair.
Luckily, as he can shoot out threads
darning is very easy for him to do.
Darning is too obscure a word for
me, I prefer to just think of it as
repair. And obviously, repairing
someones broken cloth things is a
virtuous thing to do, and you need
thread to do it.
1335
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
shrink, contract, shrivel, wrinkle,

reduce
: thread : inn; lodging;
relay station; dwell; lodge; be
pregnant; home; dwelling
17
shrink
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
After spending the night at an inn,

spider man discovered to his dismay
that his costume had shrunk in the
wash, and no longer fit!
Dont let the Inn wash your threads,
they will shrink them!
1336
luxuriant, thick, overgrown,

frequency, complexity, trouble
: cleverness; agile; alert :
thread
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
16
luxuriant
Important: Luxuriant does NOT
mean luxurious, as the other stories
indicate. Definition: abundant or
lush in growth, as vegetation. When
Venom realized he couldnt beat
Spider-Man in a fair fight, he
showed his cleverness by spraying
venom all over Spider-Mans
luxuriant garden.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Venom is covered in a luxuriant and

surprisingly clever symbiotic suit,
but its also the taskmaster for his
every evil act.
1337
vertical, length, height, selfindulgent, wayward

: thread : accompany; obey;
submit to; comply; follow;
secondary; incidental; subordinate
16
keyword:
vertical
Story1:
When Spider-man does his amazing

vertical wall climbing, a throng of
photographers accompanies him to
get a good shot of the action.
True vertical can be found by
hanging a plumb line - a thread
accompanied by a weight.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
1338
line, track
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: thread : spring; fountain

15
line
This kanji is used for train lines.
Spiderman does a hot spring tour of
Japan using the train lines. You can
see the Spidey costume hanging on
the washing line as he enjoys the
onsen.
Japans train lines are like threads
that spring from Tokyo station.
1339
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
tighten, tie, shut, lock, fasten

: thread : sovereign; the
emperor; god; creator
15
tighten
Story1:
The sovereign appears to be ruling,

but in reality someone behind him
(for instance his wife) has a thread
around his throat, and if he dares to
make a decision she doesnt like, she
starts pulling the thread and tightens
it around his throat.
Story2:
heisig:
(astridtops) Spiderman managed to

get behind the sovereign. (pick your
favourite nowadays country ruler
who isnt doing a good job). Spidey
has tightend a web around the
sovereings throat. As long as the
sovereign says what spidey
whispers, he will be fine. Sovereign
yelping : we will draw are troops
back! and we will spend more
money on healthcare, schools and
less on wars! Spidey whispering:
1340
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fiber, tie, rope

: thread : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
14
fiber
Hey, Spidey! Eat that turkey if you
want, but make sure you eat some
fibers: you want spidey threads,
dont ya?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you want to increase your fiber

intake, just leave on those threads
that are used to sew up the stuffed
turkey and eat them too.
1341
gauze, thin silk, Rome

122) : fiber; tie; rope
19
gauze
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Lots of girls in Japan wear gauze

patches over one eye made of course
white fibers. They think it is cute,
and I must admit, I have come to
think so too.
Rocky won the match but left with a
nasty eye injury, and needs some
gauze for it. I use a modified version
of the Rocky theme song to
remember this one -- "the eye and
the fiber".
1342
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
practice, gloss, train, drill, polish,

refine
: thread : east
14
practice
You practice your Japanese skills in
a discussion thread with lots of
people from the Far East (since
many of the people who are
interested in studying Japanese are
Asian).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spidey stays on the east side of the

city to practice. The West Side is too
dangerous.
1343
thong, beginning, inception, end,

cord, strap
: thread : someone; person
14
thong
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spiderman has a secret fetish, he

likes nothing better than to dress his
lovedoll in a thong. Wierd, eh!
A thread is just the right size for a
puppets thong.
1344
continue, series, sequel

: thread : sell
13
continue
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you attach strings to the things

you sell, you will be able to continue
making profit from them even after
the fact.
Even though Peter Parker has
become Spiderman, he continues to
sell pictures that he takes as a
photographer.
1345
picture, drawing, painting, sketch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: thread : meeting; meet;

party; association; interview; join
12
picture
Theres never a picture of Spiderman
meeting Peter Parker... I wonder
why?
When all the Threads finally Meet
the Picture will emerge...
1346
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
overall, relationship, ruling,

governing
: thread : allot; fill
12
overall
Spidey is alloted the biggest crime
fighter jurisdiction in NYC because
his OVERALL arrest record is the
best.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
According to Greek mythology,

theres a thread alloted to everyone,
and its length is the overall
determinant of your fate.
1347
strangle, constrict, wring

: thread : mingle; mixing;
12
strangle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Spiderman hates going to parties and

having to mingle. He wants to
strangle someone after just a little
small talk.
At the elegant cocktail party of
VIP's, the spy, dressed like everyone
else in formal evening wear, sneaks
in and strangles his victim with a
very thin wire - a thread. Afterwards
he mingles in with the crowd and
disappears.
1348
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
salary, wage, gift, allow, grant,

bestow on
: thread : fit; suit; join; 0.1
12
salary
If your threads don't fit right
you're not going to be able to get a
job with a decent salary.
Spiderman has so little free time in
his schedule that he is unable to fit
in a job with a good salary.
1349
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: thread : each; every; either
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
entwine, coil around, get caught in
12
entwine
When threads become entwined,
each thread is tangled to another.
Spiderman entwines each villain in a
tangled mess of spidersilk.
1350
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
tie, bind, contract, join, organize, do

up hair, fasten
: thread : good luck; joy;
congratulations
12
tie
Story1:
Ok, here, you have to think of the

phrase "TIE the knot" , which means
a wedding (this kanji is used in the
marriage compound
). Now, at US weddings, it ends with
the couple driving away with cans
being dragged behind the car. So
here, think of SPIDERMAN, who
will TIE the knot with Mary Jane. At
his wedding, Spider THREAD
attached (or TIED) to SPRAYCANS
are being drug behind the limo as
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Spiderman and a fan have a

competition to see who can tie up
the most enemies fastest. Spideys
using his webs and the fan is using
an aerosol can of silly string. So far
they are tied.
1351
end, finish
: thread : winter
11
keyword:
end
Story1:
This winter is so cold that

spidermans web gets brittle! Could
this be the end of spiderman?
The thread of life begins with the
spring and ends with the winter.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
1352
class, rank, grade

: thread : reach out; exert;
exercise; cause
strokes:
keyword:
9
class
Story1:
This Kanji is the same ones used in

the Japanese Language proficiency
tests; i.e. ikkyuu () The Kanji
doesnt describe class as in a "class
of students" or "classroom," but
rather a grade of quality or ability. --------- Spiderman is taking the JLPT
Level 1. In desperation he
REACHES OUT to grab his friends
answer sheet next to him, who seems
to be doing well. The other test
takers are obviously a class above
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
We can almost see the outstreched

hands of the lower classes wearing
just a few threads in this kanji.
1353
chronicle, account, narrative,

history, annals, geologic period
: thread : self; snake;
serpent
9
chronicle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In a CHRONICLE the THREAD of

the story can twist and turn like a
SNAKE.
Worst fan fiction
ever....SPIDERMAN joins the
CHRONICLES of narnia to battle a
big SNAKE!!
1354
crimson, deep red
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: thread : craft;
48)
9
crimson
After Spider-Man is whacked in the
head with a I-beam, crimson blood
flows from the wound.
A person's first piece of thread craft
is often stained crimson due to
bleeding from the needle wounds
sustained in the process.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1355
settlement, obtain, reap, pay, supply,

store
: thread : inside; within;
between; among; house; home
10
settlement
Story1:
Have you heard about patients who

have surgery and the doctor
mistakenly leaves a medical
instrument INSIDE the patients
body and proceeds to stitch up the
patients incisions with stitching
THREAD? Can you say
malpractice SETTLEMENT?.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Spider-Man was working as a

surgeons assistant. By accident, he
threw his spider webs inside the
patient, causing his death.
Fortunately, the hospital reached an
out-of-court settlement with the
victims family.
1356
spinning
: thread : direction; person;
alternative
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
10
spinning
Spiderman can spin his webs in any
direction.
You keep me spinning right round,
baby right round, like a compass
baby. Spidey is making a retro 80s
music video, spinning right round on
his giant compass, singing his
favourite song.
1357
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
distract, be mistaken for, go astray,

divert
: thread : part; minute of
time; segment; share; degree; one's
lot; duty; understand; know; rate;
1%; chances; shaku/100
10
distract
It is easy for arguments to get
distracted from the main thread by a
tendency to part threads (splitting
hairs).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Spiderman got distracted when

someone yelled, "Spiderman, wait a
minute." He turned around and flew
into a building. ("part" also means
"minute").
1358
introduce, inherit, help

: thread : seduce; call; send
drink; catch (cold)
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
introduce
Spiderman seduces all the girls hes
introduced to.
You only get one chance to make a
first impression, so make sure you're
wearing nice threads when you get
introduced to a girl. Otherwise you
might have trouble seducing her.
1359
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sutra, longitude, pass thru, expire,

warp
: thread : holy; sacred
11
sutra
The word sutra literally means a
rope or thread that holds things
together. Here we see that it is a
spool that is holding the threads
together.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Spiderman is intriqued by some of

the positions of the karma sutra, but
reluctant to take part in an sutra orgy
as hed have to reveal his soiled
underwear.
1360
sire, good belt, gentleman

: thread : have the honor to;
sign of the monkey; 3-5PM; ninth
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
sire
Monkeys are very adept at swinging
around trees. But when they met
Spiderman, who could swing around
even better than they could, they all
quickly addressed him as sire.
From the fairy tale emperors new
clothes. sire, i know you say it's
made of the finest threads, but im
afraid someone has made a monkey
of you.
1361
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
promise, approximately, shrink

: thread : ladle; one tenth of
a go; dip
9
promise
He tied a thread around the ladle as a
reminder of his promise to do more
house work.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Spiderman promised to get Aunt

Maes ladle back. He started to do a
blood oath by spilling drops of blood
but Aunt Mae stopped him and
bound up the wound. "Its only a
ladle Peter".
1362
dainty, get thin, taper, slender,

narrow
: thread : rice field; rice
paddy
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
dainty
Dainty women would always rather
work with thread than in a field.
Spider-Man used to just be a dainty,
brainy nerd.
1363
accumulate, involvement, trouble, tie

up, continually
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

thread
11
accumulate
When you accumulate knowledge in
your brain, neural pathways are
constructed. All those pathways end
up like a huge ball of thread tangled
together. The more knowledge you
accumulate the more threads you
throw into the mix!!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(dingomick) Venom is upset because

Spidey is just that much brainier
than he is! He chooses to accumulate
as many brains as he can, snatching
them out of peoples heads and
storing them on top of his own, till
theres just one massive brain on top
of his head!
1364
cord, rope
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: ten : wa-shaped crown

radical (no. 14) : thread
10
cord
A coaxial cord has a needle-like pin,
a crown cap for screwing it in, and
insulation made of thread.
Spiderman has been captured and
given the ultimate torture: they
forced a crown of needles on his
head and attached it to an electrical
cord, which they are about to plug
into an outlet...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1365
general, whole, all, full, total

: thread : rush; hurry; be
flustered
14
general
Spiderman could not achieve general
acceptance by the media even after
winning the publics heart.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
General or universal refers to the

common thread running through the
public's heart.
1366
cotton
: thread : cloth
14
cotton
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Spidermans polyethylene suit starts

to ride up after a while, so he always
looks forward to the white cotton
towels he wears while lounging
around his apartment.
Cotton is the preferred thread for
making white towels.
1367
silk
: thread : a small worm; to
twist; to surround; empty
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
13
silk
Silk threads are coming out of the
caterpillar's mouth to cover its flesh
while it transforms into a cocoon.
Spider-man loves to run his mouth
all over Mary Janes silky flesh.
1368
winding, reel, spin, turn (pages),

look up, refer to
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: thread : goods;
refinement; dignity; article; counter
for meal courses : tree; wood
19
winding
Winding thread around wooden
goods (paper) to ready them for safe
transport.
After stopping a bank heist,
Spiderman is seen winding his
webbing around the stolen goods to
trap them in a tree until the police
arrive to take them back.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1369
inherit, succeed, patch, graft (tree)

: thread : rice; USA; metre
13
inherit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A poor chinese fisherman could

expect to inherit: the thread for his
pole, a hook for catching something
to eat, and some rice to live off of.
(not concentrating on stroke order,
sorry if that throws anyone off).
(Adapted from bigloui,12-4-2006).
Spider-Man is hooked on rice--its
all he inherited from his Uncle Ben.
(thanks Nukemarine).
1370
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
green
: thread : to carve wood
14
green
When you attend a green tea
(=) ceremony, you
can cherish the threadwork on the
kimonos people don, the broom-like
whisk ( =) you use to
grind up your tea, and the delicious
rice cakes you eat with your tea!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In summer, all of Japan turns green

with the green threads that fan out
like brooms to later produce grains
of rice. An easy image if you have
ever looked out the window of the
train to see all the summer rice
paddies...
1371
-
affinity, relation, connection, edge,
border, verge, brink
: thread : divination
strokes:
keyword:
15
affinity
Story1:
There once was a lonely little pig

that constantly followed Spiderman,
always nuzzling his leg and oinking
tenderly. Spiderman finally caved in
and decided to keep the little pig
under one condition: the pig was to
take a broom and sweep up all of
Spidermans leftover threads after
having fought crime. The pig felt
such affinity for Spiderman, he
happily acceptedand did a good
job too.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Certain people have an affinity for

romantic partners who are handy
with thread and a broom - it is of no
consequence if they look like pigs.
hmm...
1372
netting, network
: thread : net
14
netting
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Spiderman traps The Rhino under

the hood of his famous netting,
where even Rhinos horns can not
break free, in fact if the netting did
not dissappear after a few hours then
Rhino might even perish in there.
You use a to make a net shaped
like a hood. A stray animal got
caught in it by its horns and perished.
1373
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
tense, solid, hard, reliable, tight

hand : thread
15
tense
Whenever Venom is tense, he loses
control of his sex drive and becomes
a slave to his crotch.
Youd be tense too if you were a
slave and your owner removed the
threads covering your crotch.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1374
purple, violet
past : thread
12
purple
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Stop sitting for so long - or else

you'll get those purple threads
(veins) on your legs from bad
circulation. [link purple with those
huge purple, bulging, crawling,
worm-like varicose veins .....].
Why is your ass purple? Well, I
stopped and sat for a bit on a pile of
thread... (I guess it was freshly dyed).
1375
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
truss, arrest, bind, tie, restrain

: thread : to state to; to
announce
16
truss
Spidey received good word that the
acupuncturist working down the
road was actually the evil Doctor
Octopus! Spidey headed over to the
clinic, and trussed the acupuncturist
Doc Oc up using the maniacs own
metal limbs!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Because people are so afraid of the

procedure, string has to be used by
the acunpunturist to truss up his
victims, er, patients.
1376
straw rope, cord

: thread : day; sun; Japan;
15
straw rope
Story1:
The tortoise has escaped! We tied it

up with a straw rope, but all thats
left of the rope are some torn
threads, and the unbound tortoise is
nowhere to be found. (Note that the
right half here is not "eels". This is
(in my opinion) a mistake in the
RTK book, as we already decided in
waterfall (#537) to refer to the
simplified form of dragon as "eels".
It is much better to call the right half
of this character an "unbound
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When Spiderman fights the giant

tortoise, he grabs a straw rope from
the edges of the sumo ring and
swings it at his head. However, the
tortoise quickly tucks his head back
into his shell to avoid the blow
(hence no head on the tortoise).
1377
infancy, childhood
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: short thread radical (no.

52) : power; strength; strong;
strain; bear up; exert
5
infancy
In its infancy, a butterfly is protected
by a cocoon, as it doesnt yet have
any power of its own.
During their infancy, children are
often wrapped up tight like a cocoon
(i.e. in those Snugli carriers) and
supported by the muscle of their
parents.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1378
behind, back, later

radical (no. 60) : short thread
radical (no. 34)
9
behind
Column of walking legs (caterpillar)
getting into a cocoon, about to leave
its past self behind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
after a grub goes through the cocoon

stage, it leaves its walking legs
behind for a life of flight.
1379
seclude, confine to a room

: mountain : short thread
radical (no. 52) : short thread
radical (no. 52)
9
faint
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The villagers havent the faintest

idea that giant coccoons resting in
the mountain are soon to hatch.
Frodo and Sam fainted in the
mountains and the spider wrapped
them in cacoons.
1380
how many, how much, how far, how

long
component:
strokes:
keyword:

52) : short thread radical (no.
52) : sign of the dog; 7-9PM;
eleventh sign of Chinese zodiac
12
how many
Story1:
Story2:
It is a little awkward when you are at

a fiesta and the host serves some rare
delicacy, like moth cocoons, the
guests must decide how many it
would be polite to eat. You do the
math in your head and it comes out
to two cocoons per person. This is
why the horizontal line is a fraction
bar with two cocoons on the top, and
one person the bottom.
How many went to the party? Two
aliens and one person (I feel sorry
for that person).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1381
mechanism, opportunity, occasion,

machine, airplane
: tree; wood : how many;
how much; how far; how long;
some; several
16
mechanism
An abacus is a mechanism made of
wood used to calculate how many
anythings.
Story2:
heisig:
To avoid confusing with contraption

(#677), focus on the "ism" of
mechanism. For example, fetishism
refers to having a fetish; mechanism
here refers to having a mecha-like
property, where mecha is a type of
anime robot that can transform itself.
Imagine a mecha that can transform
itself between two forms: a huge
immovable tree (as a form of
defense) and a gigantic marching
abacus that smashes enemies
1382
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mysterious, occultness
short thread radical (no. 52)
5
mysterious
What could be more mysterious than
a cocoon in a top hat trying to sneak
in...? (Pimitive: GANDALF).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The invisible man in his top hat and

cocoon of white bandages is the
most mysterious man in the world.
1383
livestock, domestic fowl and animals

: mysterious; occultness :
rice field; rice paddy
10
livestock
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The livestock are disappearing! Ive

placed Gandalf over the rice field to
protect them.
This mysterious rice field grows not
only rice, but livestock too! Picture
little pigs and chickens growing
right out of the ground, among the
rice plants. How bizarre!
1384
amass, keeping a concubine,

phonograph
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : livestock; domestic
fowl and animals
13
amass
One sneaky farmer wanted to amass
a large collection of livestock. We
all know that cows like to eat
flowers, so he planted lines of
flowers leading to his own fields.
The livestock followed the lines,
eating the flowers one by one, and
amassed in his field.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Kobe beef. The Japanese amass a

fortune pampering livestock feeding
them flowers, offering beer, playing
music and giving them massages
1385
bowstring, chord, hypotenuse

violin) : mysterious;
occultness
8
keyword:
bowstring
Story1:
A magic bow that only Gandalf can

yield: there is no bowstring on it,
and he uses his magic to fire arrows.
A bow with a mysterious invisible
bowstring.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
1386
hug, embrace, possess, protect, lead

: hand : softening;
mitigation
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
16
hug
A mysterious turkey with human
fingers wants to hug me... I will
never go to Tokyo Disneyland again!
Imagine Gandalf hugging a
turkey....ouch! It bit off his finger!
1387
nourishing, more & more, be

luxuriant, planting, turbidity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : here
12
nourishing
Water is doubly mysterious. Its in
all our nourishment...and yet, its
really not nourishing at all.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Going off the idea of the right side

meaning rapid growth/increase of
small objects, Ive decided to make
the right side be Gremlins, those
little mysterious creatures that
double rapidly. Gremlins find water
a little too nourishing, as it makes
them instantly multiply.
1388
mercy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: here : heart; mind; spirit;

13
mercy
Here we see the DOUBLEMYSTERIOUS Siamese twins
again, at the MERCY of the
machines that pump blood through
their veins, since the single HEART
they share won't do the job...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Here we see the DOUBLEMYSTERIOUS Siamese twins

again, at the MERCY of the
machines that pump blood through
their veins, since the single HEART
they share wont do the job...
1389
magnet, porcelain
: stone : here
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
magnet
A magnet is a rock with two sides;
one that mysteriously pushes and
one that pulls; doubly mysterious.
(see astridtops story).
I found some stones on the siamese
twins. Turns out the stones were
magnetic, and they werent siamese
twins at all!
1390
lineage, system
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

4) : thread
7
lineage
A single drop of your blood holds
the proof of the unbroken thread of
your lineage.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Spidermans lineage (who his family

is etc...) can be found in his DNA in
a drop of blood. The villain that gets
blood of Spidey will be able to find
out who is family and lineage is. be
carfefull spidey...
1391
person in charge, connection, duty,

concern oneself
: person : lineage; system
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
person in charge
Mister T gets a DNA test, and
discovers that he was meant to be
the person in charge after all.
The person in charge usually must
come from a long standing lineage
of persons in charge.
1392
grandchild, descendants
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

zodiac : lineage; system
10
grandchild
Your grandchild is the child of your
DNA.
Your child continues the family
lineage by passing on your DNA,
giving you a grandchild.
1393
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
suspend, hang, 10%, install, depend,

consult
: county; district;
subdivision : heart; mind;
20
suspend
The prefecture has suspended all
DNA research for heart disease
because of corruption. All involved
will be suspended by their wrists.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
There's a suspension bridge

connecting one of the prefectures to
the Japanese heartland. The
supporting cables of the bridge
actually look like DNA doublehelices. That's Japan for you!
1394
instead, on the contrary, rather

: gone; past; quit; leave; elapse;
eliminate; divorce : seal
radical (no. 26)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
7
instead
[instead; on the contrary; rather]
Gone is the time for stamps - use email instead.
If you tried to attach money to an
envelope to pay for postage it would
be GONE before it arrived at the
post office. Thats why we use
STAMPS instead.
1395
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
skids, leg, undercarriage

: meat : instead; on the
contrary; rather
11
shins
Shins are the part of the body that
one uses instead of ones eyes, for
finding furniture in the dark. (Ouch!).
Shins are the part of the body that
Japanese traditionally sit on instead
of their asses.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1396
wholesale
: noon; sign of the horse; 11AM1PM; seventh sign of Chinese
zodiac : correct; justice;
righteous; 10**40 : seal
radical (no. 26)
9
wholesale
Story1:
Wholesale refers to the sale of goods

in quantity to retailers for resale.
When this kanji was invented, large
loads of goods needed to be
transported by horses who left steep
footprints because of the weight they
carried. The wholesale goods needed
a special stamp to indicate that they
were legal for resale.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you need horseshoes (shoes that

fit your horses footprint), buy them
at the wholesale shop. They lick and
paste stamps in your membership
card so you can get free merchandise
later.
1397
honorable, manipulate, govern

radical (no. 60) : wholesale
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
honorable
An honorable man will not try to cut
in front of the line at the wholesale
stamp store. (Imagine just how much
honor it takes facing those long lines
at the post office!).
If a trader has an honorable
reputation- then people will line up
to buy his wholesale goods.
1398
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clothing, admit, obey, discharge

: meat : seal radical (no.
on the other hand
8
clothing
Its customary to cover the flesh
with clothing, but some designs are
so outrageous theyre not bigger
than a stamp that just covers your
crotch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Modern clothing shows a lot of flesh

-- some is practically no more than a
postage stamp covering your crotch!
1399
fate, command, decree, destiny, life,

appoint
(no.1) : mouth : seal
radical (no. 26)
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
fate
When youre born, your fate is
measured, fitted, and stamped onto
your soul. Good luck defying it.
Your ability to resist FATE can be
fit on a postage stamp.
1400
orders, ancient laws, command,

decree
(no.1) : None
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
5
orders
(re: dingomick) "These are your
orders," declares the general while
passing out documents at the
meeting. As everyone started to
leave, the general exclaims "Oh
wait! I need to certify these orders!"
and went around stamping each
paper with his personal chop-seal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
These are your orders, declares the

general at the meeting as he stamps
them with his chop-seal. (Primitive:
chop-seal imaged as a papal ring, the
ones they would press into wax as
their official seal. Also a cattle
brand.).
1401
zero, spill, overflow, nothing, cipher

: rain : orders; ancient laws;
command; decree
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
13
zero
The amount of people that can order
the rain to rain.
Despite the rain, the zero pilot flies
on. He has kamikaze orders.
1402
age
: tooth; cog : orders;
ancient laws; command; decree
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
17
age
You know you are fast approaching
a ripe old AGE when you get
ORDERS from the dentist to get
new TEETH.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This has the nuance of a life

milestone. Here it's represented by
the life-cycle of teeth: In childhood,
your teeth give the orders, growing
whenever they want. As a teenager,
we give orders to the teeth, by
putting braces on them. In old age,
we order new teeth!
1403
cool, cold (beer, person), chill
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

radical (no. 15) : orders;
7
cool
To keep your water cool, just order
some ice.
The Japanese boss gives an order at
the meeting: eat ice to stay cool
(since they wont be running the air
conditioning anymore).
1404
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
jurisdiction, dominion, territory, fief,

reign
: orders; ancient laws; command;
decree : page; leaf
14
jurisdiction
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Two cowboys are crossing a state

limit. One says to him Did you
know that in this Jurisdiction there
are Orders to get your head?, so he
takes out his gun and shoots him. He
claims the reward afterwards.
(Thanks Fuaburisu).
Orders are given by the head person
in any jurisdiction.
1405
small bell, buzzer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gold : orders; ancient

laws; command; decree
13
small bell
Some restaurants have a small gold
bell to call someone to take
customers orders.
In high society, people ring a small
golden bell to call their servants and
give their orders.
1406
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
courage, cheer up, be in high spirits,

bravery, heroism
: None : male
9
courage
I imagined some kind of initiation
rite in old China, where every young
man has to show his courage. They
then receive a chopseal which is a
mark of their courage.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Re: fuaburisu - The initiation rite in

question is actually a reverse elbow
chop to the brain, and you receive
the chop seal if you have the power
to withstand it. This initial imagery
helps me with the altered chop seal
and vertical placement.
1407
traffic, pass through, avenue,

commute, counter for letters
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: road with walls on both

sides : walk; walking; road
10
traffic
Story1:
I bounce down the road on my pogo

stick, easily getting through the
dense traffic. (Note: New primitive:
chop-seal + utilize = pogo stick.
Because a chop-seal is long and thin
with a rubbery bit at the end. If it
were big enough, you could utilize it
as a pogo stick). [Edit: pogo stick
also appears in 1409, 1690, 2530].
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Building on gorgons story I now

change mine to a much more silly
and rememberable one. The Chinese
police is using a helicopter to check
and regulate the traffic. Hanging
from the helicopter is a huge
chopseal that they utilize to mark
some of the cars that are causing
trouble on the road.
1408
jump, dance, leap, skip
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

for pairs of footwear : road
with walls on both sides
14
jump
The winner of the long jump
competition was disqualified when
they found he used a pogo stick tied
to his leg to jump further.
Story2:
heisig:
The high jumper has his wooden leg

fitted with a pogo stick, and can now
jump even higher. (See my note at
traffic (#1408) for pogo stick). EDIT
(2 years later): Keyword "jump"
leads to confusion later on (see
cjon256s post), "Dancing" would be
better (but be sure to keep it distinct
from dance (#1774)). New Story: I
was no good at dancing due to my
wooden leg... until I had it fitted
with a pogo stick!
1409
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
doubt, distrust, be suspicious,

question
radical (no. 21) : dart;
arrow : None : head;
counter for animals
14
doubt
Story1:
(Katsuo) You come at the zoo

entrance. Here sir, a spoon to feed
the animals. cool and a dart(gun) in
case stuff go wrong .... please chopseal (sign) here for in case of
accidents the zoo is not responsible.
lion feeding time is. bla bla You
are having serious doubts about if
you still want to go into this zoo.
Story2:
heisig:
A very doubtful story: At the

entrance to my local zoo they issue
you with a special spoon (to feed the
animals) and a dart gun (to defend
yourself in case of animal attack).
You must then hanko (seal) a
document to say youve received
both these items, only after which
will they let you enter the zoo. (Oh,
and if you forget your hanko, I doubt
theyll let you in).
1410
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mimic, aim (a gun) at, nominate,

imitate
: hand : doubt; distrust; be
suspicious; question
17
mimic
Ask a MIMIC to give an impression
of DOUBT, and he will no DOUBT
scratch his head with his FINGER.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
I doubt you can mimic all these

animals with just your fingers:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%
22Raymond+Crowe%22+Letterman
(shadow puppets -- youll love it!).
1411
congeal, freeze, stiff, be absorbed in

radical (no. 15) : doubt;
distrust; be suspicious; question
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
16
congeal
I doubt that the jello would congeal
sitting on the counter, so I placed it
in the icebox.
Is there any doubt that ice is
congealed stuff?
1412
pattern, example, model

: bamboo : car : seal
radical (no. 26)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
15
pattern
This pattern made of bamboo is for a
new model of car designed to leave
as small an ecological fingerprint as
possible.
I just had a new bamboo-leaf pattern
spray-painted on my car. Don't touch
it, you'll leave fingerprints!
1413
english:
crime, sin, offense
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: dog : seal radical (no. 26)
Story1:
Story2:
5
crime
Crimes can often be solved using the
tools of dogs and fingerprints.
This crime gang has yet to be caught
because their pack of wild dogs
takes care of licking off the
fingerprints from all the crime
scenes.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1414
unlucky, misfortune, bad luck,

disaster
(no. 27) : seal radical (no. 26)
4
unlucky
Seeing some finger prints at the edge
of a cliff, I wondered who that
unlucky person was.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sherlock Holmes is very unlucky: he

just fell off a cliff while he was
looking around for fingerprints.
1415
dangerous, fear, uneasy

radical (no. 20) : unlucky;
misfortune; bad luck; disaster
6
dangerous
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you live a dangerous life,

eventually you're bound to get
unlucky.
While rock climbing you are bound
to the cliff by just your fingerprints,
which is why its so dangerous.
1416
address, just like, fortunately
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : evening : seal
radical (no. 26)
8
address
Your address should be displayed on
your house and mailbox.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
For the primitive: This is a hi-tech

Japanese mailbox, it automatically
lights up in the evening, and has a
biometric fingerprint scanner. --Each houses address, even if its
hard to see in the evening, is like its
own unique fingerprint.
1417
arm, ability, talent

: meat : address; just like;
fortunately
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
12
arm
Like in Memento, I tattoo my
address on my forearm flesh so I
dont forget it.
In Iraq people are having their
addresses tattooed on their bodies,
usually their arms, so they can be
identified if they are killed. (true
story).
1418
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
garden, farm, park

140) : evening : seal
radical (no. 26)
garden
Japanese "gardens" arent anything
more than a pot of flowers on top of
the mailbox.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
My mailbox is actually right in the

middle of my garden, which kind of
sucks since the mailman has to
trample all my flowers to get to it.
1419
grudge, show resentment, be jealous

: evening : seal radical (no.
radical (no. 61)
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
grudge
I couldnt drop my grudge against
him. So I put a severed pigs heart in
his mailbox. He got the message.
To hold a grudge is actually the act
of keeping negative feelings you
received in the mailbox of your heart.
1420
willow
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : sign of the

hare or rabbit; 5-7AM; fourth sign of
Chinese zodiac; east
9
willow
Having decided to use SIGN OF
THE HARE rather than RECEIPT
and STAMP my mnemonic goes as
follows: The WILLOW is the TREE
that droops likes a HAREs ears.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A strange thing about the japanese

willow tree is, it grows eggs... but
the eggs have no yokes. weird eh?
1421
egg, ovum, spawn, roe

: sign of the hare or rabbit; 57AM; fourth sign of Chinese zodiac;
east
7
egg
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The Easter Bunny dropped an egg on

my desk and got yolk all over my
receipts and stamps.
The sign of the hare (#2041) hides
eggs in his ears for Easter...
1422
detain, fasten, halt, stop

east : rice field; rice paddy
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
10
detain
The use of RANSOM NOTE (think
of a receipt with a dagger through it
on a door) works great with
DETAIN. Here the RANSOM
NOTE says that the girl has been
DETAINED in an undisclosed
location. To get her back take the
RANSOM to a empty FIELD.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Got a receipt for that dagger, son? If

not, were going to detain you and
send you to work in the rice fields.
1423
trade, exchange
east : shellfish
12
trade
Story1:
Theres a buyback program where

you can trade in your dagger for
money. But its quite ineffective,
since only registered dagger-owners
with the original receipts can
participate, and not criminals with
illegally-purchased daggers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The new RANSOM note (a receipt

stuck to a door with a dagger) from
DETAIN (1423) appears again
(probably after you went to the field
as instructed) now gives instruction
to TRADE the victim for
CURRENCY you were told to bring.
1424
stamp, seal, mark, imprint, symbol,

emblem, trademark, evidence,
souvenir, India
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

radical (no. 2) : seal radical
(no. 26)
6
stamp
Before sticky backs, they had to
staple stamps to letters.
Aaaagh, this old stamp doesnt stick!
Okay Ill just staple it.
1425
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
entertain, revive, retrieve, interest,

pleasure
: mortar : same; agree;
equal : eight; eight radical
(no. 12)
16
entertain
Story1:
Story2:
To me, this looks like a pictograph

of a road leading to the big city (see
the buildings?) where there are
plenty of places to be entertained.
Unfortunately in this city, every
store is the same: staples. What
tools! [ayoung24].
Photographically, this kanji simply
looks like a set of two speakers (the
staples primitives) between the subwoofer (primitive for same) -- all
this as a tool to entertain a group of
drunks at a club.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1426
sign of the bird, west (sake rad)

: cover; place on top of; west
one; one radical (no.1)
sign of the bird
The sign of the bird on this whiskey
bottle is of course the Famous
Grouse blended Scotch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Normally birds fly south, but one

bird flew west. People were worried
about it and kept asking "Is there any
sign of the bird you know, the one
that flew west?".
1427
sake, alcohol
: water : west; bird; sign of
the bird; 5-7PM; tenth sign of
Chinese zodiac; sake radical (no.
164)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
10
sake
Sake is just watered down whisky.
Sake is the generic term for alcohol
(not just japanese rice wine). And a
very popular alcoholic drink in
Japan is whiskey and water.
1428
bartending, serving sake, the host,

draw (water), ladle, scoop, pump
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: west; bird; sign of the bird; 57PM; tenth sign of Chinese zodiac;
sake radical (no. 164) : ladle;
one tenth of a go; dip
10
bartending
At the local pub, their bartending
practises are unusual. They serve the
whiskey by pouring it from a ladle,
like one would from the punch bowl.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Ever seen the anime Bartender?

Bartending isnt just about bottles of
whiskey, its about ladling out
advice.
1429
fermentation
sake radical (no. 164) : filial
piety; child's respect
14
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
fermentation
The secrets of fermentation are
passed to the son who displays the
most filial piety.
Since filial piety is all about
respecting ones elders, and the older
a whiskey bottle is (i.e. the time it
have spent undergoing fermentation)
the more respect you should give it,
the meaning of this kanji becomes
clear. If it doesnt, sink back some
whiskey and it will.
1430
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
cruel, severe, atrocious, unjust

sake radical (no. 164) :
revelation; tell; inform; announce
14
cruel
Its cruel to pour alcohol down a
cows mouth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There is a saying that a drunk man's

words are a sober man's thoughts. Be
careful about giving someone a
bottle of whiskey, you may get some
revelations about their cruelty. Of
course, they'll just say that it's the
whiskey speaking.
1431
repay, reward, retribution
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sake radical (no. 164) : state;
province
13
Story1:
repay
Imagine a different kind of tax
refund - instead of money, the state
repays you with whiskey.
Story2:
Hint: bottle deposit refund - the state

will repay the recycling deposit for
each alcohol bottle returned.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1432
dairy products, whey, broth, fruit

juice
sake radical (no. 164) : each;
every; either
13
dairy products
Story1:
Story2:
Imagine if at each supermarket you

went to, the section for dairy
products was next to the alcohol
aisle. so for each wheel of cheese
you decide to buy, you get an
accompanying bottle of
wine...perfect for a "wine & cheese"
party. :).
In an attempt to increase sales of
dairy products, the grocery store is
giving away a free miniature
whiskey bottle with each dairy
product you buy.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1433
vinegar, sour, acid, tart

though; notwithstanding; while;
during; both; all
12
vinegar
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Drinking alcohol thats turned to

vinegar feels like a saw going down
your throat.
I spent ages sawing that whiskey
bottle open, but when I got in, it had
all turned to vinegar!
1434
drunk, feel sick, poisoned, elated,

spellbound
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
soldier; private; die
11
drunk
God youre drunk! How many
whiskeys did you have? 9? 10?
Whiskey with 90 percent alcohol
will get you drunk. I dont care who
you are.
1435
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
distribute, spouse, exile, rationing

sake radical (no. 164) : self;
snake; serpent
10
distribute
To DISTRIBUTE WHISKY during
Prohibition you had to be as sneaky
as a SNAKE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I imagine a bartender serving

whiskey to his patrons, and using
that snake-like sprayer to distribute
soda water into each glass.
1436
acid, bitterness, sour, tart

sake radical (no. 164) : None
14
acid
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The prostitute carries an old whiskey

bottle filled with acid to throw at any
difficult Johns.
Dealing alcohol requires a license,
dealing acid requires fast legs (to run
from the police).
1437
furthermore, still, yet

: dog : chieftain
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
waver
The waver for this kanji means to
hesitate. I wavered before going into
the bar with a bunch of horned wild
dogs drinking whiskey straight out
of the bottle.
I wavered when the pack of wild
dogs was blocking the way, but then
I drank some Red Bull and charged
through. (thanks shakkun).
1438
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
revered, valuable, precious, noble,

exalted
: chieftain : measurement;
foot/10
12
revered
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
People don't know this, but

("revered" patriot) Paul Revere had
trouble staying awake during his
midnight ride, so he drank Red Bull
(horns) and whiskey (a drink
invented by his friend Sam Adams)
and glued himself DOWN to the
saddle. [thanks to akahige].
Red Bull, the chieftain (#2906) is so
revered in his clan that everyone
sticks to him like glue.
1439
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
beans, pea, midget

: mouth
7
beans
If I eat BEANS, after ONE
MOUTHful I fart like some kind of
HORNED ANIMAL.
I hate using primitives that are
completely unrelated. Lets call this
one Mr. Bean! Hes an easy
character to build stories with.
1440
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
head, counter for large animals

: beans; pea; midget : page;
leaf
16
head
The head of the family sits at the
head of the table.
Mr Beans head.
1441
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
short, brevity, fault, defect, weak

point
: dart; arrow : beans; pea;
midget
12
short
He is so short so he has to throw
darts from the table.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Sort of like ping pong, this kanji

represents a game where you throw
darts over a table at your opponent.
The serve is rarely returned, so the
games tend to be short.-----------This character apparently refers to
duration, not just to height.
1442
bountiful, excellent, rich
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

lean : beans; pea; midget
13
bountiful
The bountiful feast was so bountiful
that it bent the table below it under
its weight! .
Her bust and bum was so bountiful I
couldnt resist the urge to bend her
over a nearby table and...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1443
drum, beat, rouse, muster

: good luck; joy;
congratulations : beans; pea;
midget : branch; support;
13
drum
Story1:
Japanese festivals have drums so

big, a samurai has to SIT (not stand)
on a table to beat one with a tree
branch!
http://www.d2.dion.ne.jp/~hidafyh/fu
rukawayh/gyouji/image/maturi03.jpg.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I really hate the primitive meaning

of "table" for "bean." I just use
"bean." Anyways, for the DRUM
primitive, imagine a SAMURAI who
beats on a DRUM with two
chopsticks, and a BEAN skewered
on each end of the chopstick to
produce a better sound. And the
obvious story is: "DRUMing on a
DRUM with a huge BRANCH".
1444
rejoice, take pleasure in
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: good luck; joy;

congratulations : mouth
12
rejoice
The samurai sitting on the drum is
on a stage, and the people below him
are rejoicing with their mouths in
unison. It helps me to imagine the
placement this way.
In the taiko (drum (#1444)) song of
rejoicing, the drummers shout with
open mouths.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1445
timber trees, wood

: tree; wood : good luck;
joy; congratulations : beans;
pea; midget : measurement;
foot/10
16
timber-trees
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The hippies object to trees being cut

down for timber. They have glued
themselves to the timber-trees and
are beating their drums.
Everyone likes to see big trees fall
down. For this kanji imagine
hundreds of spectators glued to their
chairs, then a drum roll and then a
cry of "timber!!!" as the huge tree
crashes to the ground.
1446
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
dish, a helping, plate

: dish, dish radical (no. 108)
5
dish
Three dishes stacked side-by-side in
a dishwasher.
Pictograph of a dish with a threelayer cake slice on it.
1447
blood
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: dish; a helping; plate

6
blood
Story1:
Story2:
Vampire orders blood in one of

those posh restaurants. Imagine his
shock when all he gets is a giant
white bowl and just a single drop of
blood in the centre and a drizzling of
balsamic around the edge. Disgusted
he calls the manager over tells him
its overpriced tosh and bites into his
neck with a huge gush of blood
spraying everywhere.
Image: Holy Grail with a drop of
Jesus blood on it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1448
basin, lantern festival, tray

chances; shaku/100 : dish; a
helping; plate
9
basin
Story1:
The part of the kitchen sink in which

you wash dishes in is the basin.
Story2:
I'm not an expert, but it seems that as

a basin this refers more to an oceanic
basin that a kitchen one, and in any
case seems most common in
reference to the famous O-Bon
festival. So, a story: in the O-Bon
festival, so many dishes are broken
that all the parts have to be thrown
into a deep oceanic basin.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1449
alliance, oath
: bright; light : dish; a
helping; plate
13
alliance
In order to form alliances, you
should sit down for a meal and eat
until your dish is bright or clear; in
other words, get to know people
first, before you talk business.
Story2:
heisig:
A new alliance is proclaimed at the

end of a meal between officials. As a
symbol of their alliance they clean
up together one dish, and present it
to the photographers. The clean dish
under the flash lights appears very
bright, and its pretty much all you
can see on the photo that appears on
the next mornings newspapers, with
the title "New alliance, one bright
dish!".
1450
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
steal, rob, pilfer

dish; a helping; plate
11
steal
You are so poor you dont know
where your next dish will come from
all you know is that you will have to
steal it.
The first thing to steal is the
silverware; next, the dishes.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1451
warm
: water : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days : dish; a
helping; plate
12
warm
If you leave water out in the sun in a
dish, naturally it will get warm.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
To distinguish from warmth

(#1949), which refers to warm
weather, remember that this means
warm objects or feelings. Imagine a
plastic kiddy pool in the backyard
full of lukewarm water. The kiddy
pool is shaped like a huge dish, and
it's been under the sun all day - that's
why the water is warm now.
1452
oversee, official, govt office, rule,

administer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: retainer; subject : dish; a

helping; plate
15
oversee
While the slave-buyer is perusing
(perusal (#855)) the stack of slaves
reclining on the floor, the slaves'
overseer supplies them with dishes
of gruel -- don't want the slaves
starving to death before they can be
sold!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The slaves are reclining on the floor

when the overseer comes in. They
tell him "Were not goofing off, a
dish fell and broke and were
cleaning it off the floor".
1453
excessive, overflow, spread out

: water : oversee; official;
govt office; rule; administer
18
overflow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Whos job is it to oversee the water

level on the dam? Itts overflowing!
The overseer isnt doing his job and
he lets the slaves overflow the sink!
1454
specimen, take warning from, learn

from
: gold : oversee; official;
23
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
specimen
The overseer tags his slaves with
gold earrings, just like specimens.
(Thanks bodhisamaya) The
authorities are suspicious about the
athlete that won GOLD at the
olympics. They are now
OVERSEEING a thorough drug test,
taking all sorts of SPECIMENS.
1455
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
fierce, rave, rush, become furious,

wildness, strength
: dog : chief; beginning
11
fierce
The fierce WILD DOG attacked the
CHILD who came near his feeding
DISH.
If you want to make your wild dogs
fierce, feed them a child. Children
are the holy grail of dogfood you
know...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
1456
boom, prosper, copulate

: turn into; become; get; grow;
elapse; reach : dish; a helping;
plate
11
boom
Japans economic boom turned their
empty plates into full ones.
The boom of satellite TV has made
antennas turn into dishes.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1457
salt
Turkey : mouth : dish;
a helping; plate
13
salt
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In the old days, salt was a worth alot,

so it is not surprising to find
someone reclining on the ground,
mouth to plate, getting every last
grain of that delicious salt.
The eccentric explorer lay down on
the earth , opened his mouth ,
and licked it. "As I suspected!" he
said, "It's salt. Something to spice up
our dishes with!"
1458
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
silver
: gold : northeast (Oriental
zodiac); stopping; good radical (no.
138)
14
silver
Like gold, silver is a metal.
Story2:
heisig:
Not sure why Heisig find the right

side so troublesome. My grandmas
hairpin (just before long (#1920)) is
made of silver, the metal that best
reflects sun light. Im sure you can
see the flash from her hair as she
walks by on a sunny day. Note that
the two elements (sun and hairpin)
share not only a horizontal stroke,
but also the left vertical one.
Therefore a bit odd stroke order.
1459
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
regret, bear a grudge, resentment,

malice, hatred
(no. 61) : northeast (Oriental
138)
9
resentment
The athletes state of mind is nothing
but resentment after getting the
silver medal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Datas greatest resentment is getting

a silver medal in Science Olympiad.
(Image: Data fuming on the podium
muttering about being half robot).
1460
root, radical, head (pimple)

: tree; wood : northeast
(Oriental zodiac); stopping; good
radical (no. 138)
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
root
Since trees eat through their roots,
one could imagine roots as tree
silverware.
The roots of the magical tree are
silver.
1461
instant, namely, as is, conform,

agree, adapt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: northeast (Oriental zodiac);

stopping; good radical (no.
138) : seal radical (no. 26)
7
instant
He scratches off the silver stamp and
discovers that he is an instant winner.
For instant postal delivery, buy a
silver stamp!
1462
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
baron, peerage, court rank

: claw; nail; talon : net; net
122) : northeast (Oriental
138) : measurement; foot/10
17
baron
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The baron is very suspicious, always

looking around with vulture eyes
and keeping the silver glued to the
table so no one can steal it.
Here we see an evil baron - a vulture
perched on his shoulder, and a siver
eye-patch glued to his eye.
1463
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
node, season, period, occasion,

verse, clause, stanza, honor, joint,
knuckle, knob, knot, tune, melody
: bamboo : instant; namely;
as is; conform; agree; adapt
13
node
Counting the nodes on bamboo is an
instant way to tell its age.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A certain species of bamboo is

considered the fastest growing plant
in the world. A new node can be
formed in an instant.
1464
retreat, withdraw, retire, resign,

repel, expel, reject
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
9
retreat
If you see silver on the road (eg.
gun, armour, sword) => retreat!
In the land of Oz, you advance by
following the golden road, but you
reatreat by following the Silver Road.
1465
limit, restrict, to best of ability
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

138)
9
limit
He was pushed to the limit at the end
of the marathon, climbing on top of
the Acropolis, but had to settle for
the silver medal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
At The Pinnacle, they limit how

much silver you can have. Too much
silver will lead to wrongfulness.
1466
eyeball
northeast (Oriental zodiac);
stopping; good radical (no. 138)
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
eyeball
Be careful putting silverware near
your eyes: you could lose an eyeball!
Eyeballs made of silver. Thats what
they use to play pachinko with, isnt
it?
1467
good, pleasing, skilled

stopping; good radical (no. 138)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
7
good
With a drop of silver, the forces of
good can vanquish the werewolves.
A drop of silver is good, but a whole
bar of it is better!
1468
melodious, clear, bright, serene,

cheerful
: good; pleasing; skilled :
meat
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
10
melodious
[Image: Moonlight sonata] The
moon has inspired many good
composers (like Ludwig van
Beethoven) to write something
melodious.
A glowing halo surrounds a
magnificent full moon. A perfect
image of the mythic and melodious
music of the spheres.
1469
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
wandering, waves, billows

: water : good; pleasing;
skilled
10
wandering
Water is a good thing to have when
youre out wandering.
John the Baptist with a halo
sprinkling water on people as hes
wandering the wilderness.
1470
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
daughter, girl
: woman; female : good;
pleasing; skilled
10
daughter
Your daughter is a good girl......well,
lets hope so... :-).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Be careful not to think woman +

angel here, which has already been
seen for attractive (#430). Suggest
using woman with a halo, as in an
innocent girl, something that
everyone sees their daughters as
being.
1471
eat, food
: eat, food, food radical (no. 184)
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
eat
That umbrella looks good enough to
eat!
Umbrella + Good: Let's go eat at that
restaurant - the table with the
umbrella looks good.
1472
meal, boiled rice

: eat; food : anti12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
meal
After I eat a meal, I always have to
take an anti-acid.
Im anti-fastfood. Sit down and eat a
real meal!
1473
drink, smoke, take

: eat; food : lack; gap; fail;
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
drink
My experience with Japanese enkais
(dinner parties): plenty to drink
drink drink, but a severe lack of
food, T_T.
When you lack food, just drink
something to fill you up.
1474
hungry, starve
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: eat; food : table; table

(no. 16)
10
hungry
The smell of cooked food wafts past
you in the wind, making your
stomach rumble and feeling hungry.
The wind blew away my food, so
now Im hungry.
1475
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
starve, hungry, thirst

: eat; food : ego; I; selfish;
our; oneself
15
starve
All those starving models in
Hollywood - they want to eat, but
their ego (about their appearance and
trim look) makes sure they grin and
bear it!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
He starves for FOOD but his EGO

wont let him beg.
1476
decorate, ornament, adorn, embellish

: eat; food : towel; hanging
13
decorate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
[decorate; ornament; adorn;

embellish] We decorate a table
before eating, reclining a towel over
it.
Naked sushi: a lady reclining on a
towel as decoration for the food laid
out on her.
1477
building, mansion, large building,

palace
: eat; food : bureaucrat; the
government
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
16
Bldg.
This Bldg. is like all the other
government buildings - they house
bureaucrats who sit around sipping
wine and eating expensive meals at
the taxpayers expense.
A building that eats
bureaucrats!!!!!!!!
1478
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
foster, bring up, rear, develop,

nurture
: sheep : eat; food
15
foster
A sheep became the foster parent for
a wolf pup, feeding it with milk.
This story cannot end well...
Judy Foster in "The Silence of the
Lambs" is what Dr. Hannibal-the
cannibal-Lecter would like to eat.
1479
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
sated, tired of, bored, satiate

: eat; food : wrap; pack up;
cover; conceal
13
sated
My gluttony was only sated after I
ate the hamburger AND the wrapper!
This guy is sated only after eating
the hamburger AND its wrapping!
1480
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
previously, already, long ago

138) : nothing; not exist;
crooked heaven radical (no.71)
10
previously
Story1:
Story2:
Distinguish from formerly (#501).

Think of previously as "the previous
customer" in a restaurant. At a cheap
sleazy diner, the waitress gives you
unwashed silverware that was
previously used by the previous
customer. Yuck.
For the waitress primitive, I dont
really see the receipt. So instead, I
imagine a waitress holding a plate
above her head, using those legs to
weave through the tables.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1481
outline, condition, approximation,

generally
: tree; wood : previously;
already; long ago
14
outline
The police tried to draw a chalk
outline around the dead waitress, but
it was kinda tough with all the tree
roots underneath her.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you attempted to outline the

biography of most famous actresses,
youd find that they have roots
working as waitresses before getting
their big break.
1482
rue, be sad, sigh, lament

(no. 61) : previously; already;
long ago
13
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
rue
If you dont leave some silver as a
tip, you will rue the day you earned
the resentment of your waitress.
The resentment of a waitress who
gave up going to college to help her
boyfriend (with his tuition). She rues
that decision ever since she got
dumped by him (just after he
graduated).
1483
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
even, flat, peace

: dry; parch
5
even
Theres an even covering of water
lilies on the pond at
the Golden
Pavilion in Kyoto.
Frogs stay dry (#1648) even as
rain drops on their lily pads...
1484
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
call, call out to, invite

: mouth : question mark; ?
8
call
Budd' - 'weis' - 'er' call the frogs
mouths from the liliy pads, working
to get you hooked on beer.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Im a lazy fisher, so I genetically

engineered a lily pad with a fishing
hook at the stem and a mouth to call
me whenever it catches something.
1485
two-mat area, ~36 sq ft

Turkey : even; flat; peace
8
two-mat area
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A two-mat area is just about as much

ground as you will need for a lily
pond.
A two-mat area is plenty of space for
sleeping in a tent but you wont be
comfortable unless the ground is
even.
1486
evaluate, criticism, comment

: say : even; flat; peace
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
evaluate
Good evaluation should always be
words of even fairness.
You get an evaluation copy of MS
Word because you want to evaluate
whether its worth buying the full
version. At the end of the evaluation
period the CD turns into a lilypad so
you cant use it any more (an
innovative new copy-protection
trick).
1487
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
reap, cut, clip, trim, prune

: mow; cut grass; subdue :
sword; saber; knife
4
reap
A SABRE is used to cut the stalks of
plants being REAPED at harvest.
They are then combined into a
SHEAF.
The Grim Reapers name is
(Mary)
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1488
hope, beg, request, pray, beseech,

Greece, dilute (acid), rare, few,
phenomenal
linen; cloth
7
hope
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I hope this works, you say as you

stuff a sheaf of stalks under your
blanket but above your linens. Your
real hope is that your parents dont
find out that you left the house.
Wolverine (sheaf, see reap (#1488))
hopes they invent linen sheets that
he wont keep shredding in his sleep.
1489
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
villain, evil, bad luck, disaster

open box enclosure; open box
radical (no. 17)
4
villain
Here the villain digs a hole with a
shovel and covers it with a sheaf,
hoping someone will fall in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Wolverine (sheaf, see reap (#1488))

takes out a villain who cant be cut
by smacking the crap out of him
with a shovel.
1490
bosom, breast, chest, heart, feelings

: meat : turmoil; Hungary
10
bosom
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Just think of the heroine's bosom in a

movie. The villain ties up the
heroine (to the traintracks or the
conveyor belt etc) but her bosom is
the body part that is always left
sticking out.
As you know, female comics villains
are always binding the flesh of their
bosom up in interesting ways. One
has to wonder how these clothes stay
on their body at all...
1491
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
detach, separation, disjoin, digress

: rare beast; strange;
elegant : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
19
detach
Story1:
Ive finally met my arch-rival, the

evilest of all villains. Finally, Im
about to fight him. But whats this?
Hes suspiciously quiet. I move to
attack him, and his right arm falls off
at the elbow. Strange. I walk up to
him and detach his left arm. Very
strange. I undo his belt, and take off
his top hat... BLAST! It was just a
decoy turkey!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The left side isn't too hard---a tophatted villain whose villainy
involves belts around elbows?
Clearly he's a drug dealer. And the
best way to detach yourself from the
drug dealer's influence is to go cold
turkey.
1492
kill, murder, butcher, slice off, split,

diminish, reduce, spoil
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

tree; wood : pike; windyagain radical (no. 79)
10
kill
X marks the spot on the tree where
the missile hit. No doubt, it was
meant to kill us.
I suppose when this kanji was made,
it was most effective to kill your
enemies with sheafs of wood used as
missiles.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1493
genuine, purity, innocence, net

(profit)
: thread : barracks; police
station; camp
10
genuine
Story1:
For remembering the primitive

earthworm: Drops of rain were
falling so I took my shovel to dig up
some earthworms to put them on my
fishook..... My story: To have a
genuine fishing line you don't just
pick up a stick but you also attach
some thread onto it and at the end an
earthworm must be hung.
Story2:
You need to attach a genuine

earthworm to the thread. With
plastic bait you wont catch anything.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1494
dull, slow, foolish, blunt

: gold : barracks; police
station; camp
12
dull
The metal hook is too dull to even
pierce an earthworm....
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
From the earthworms perspective, it

most be pretty dull when you are put
in a metal bowl, just waiting for
being put on the hook on the fishing
trip the next day.
1495
spicy, bitter, hot, acrid

erect : ten
7
spicy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Eating spicy food makes you stand

up ten times faster than usual, cause
you just need to get something to
drink!
Eating spicy food makes you stand
up as if you had sat on a needle.
1496
resign, word, term, expression

: tongue; reed; clapper :
spicy; bitter; hot; acrid
13
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
resign
This guys job is tasting the spicy
curry at the local Indian Food
Factory. He has to resign from his
job before his tongue is rendered
completely useless after all the spicy
food that he has to try all day long...
After my tongue touched the most
spicy pepper of all, I had to resign
from the contest...too hot for me!
1497
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
catalpa tree
: tree; wood : spicy; bitter;
hot; acrid
catalpa
The CATALPA is the tree that bears
the SPICY Indian bean (NOTE - The
Catalpa is also known as the "Indian
Bean" due to the bean pods that
grow from it).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The caterpillars favorite tree is the

catalpa because it tastes spicy.
1498
superintend, manager, rule

(no. 40) : spicy; bitter; hot;
acrid
10
superintend
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The superintendent of a Japanese

school district needs a spicy
relationship at home after watching
girls in miniskirts all day.
The superintendent of an old-age
house has to make sure the food is
never too spicy.
1499
wall, lining (stomach), fence
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: false; punish; crime; law :

16
wall
Did anyone else used to put ketchup
packets on the ground and jump on
them so they spattered on the wall?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Primitive for Ketchup: When the

taste is too spicy your mouth has
basically given up trying to handle it
..or in other words raised the white
flag of surrender. But unlike war ,
putting Ketchup on it will usually
solve the problem. Wall(dingomick);
Did anyone else used to put ketchup
packets on the ground and jump on
them so they spattered on the wall?
1500
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
evade, avoid, avert, ward off, shirk,

shun
(no. 162)
16
evade
You can try and evade them, but
theyll ketchup with you on the
road... Sorry, couldnt resist it.
In order to evade the bear, you lie
down on the road, put ketchup on
yourself, and play dead.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1501
new
erect : tree; wood : axe;
1.32 lb; catty; counter for loaves of
bread; axe radical (no. 69)
13
new
Story1:
Story2:
Don't confuse left primitive with

catalpa (#1498). Every time the
farmer cuts down the peppers from
the red pepper plant, he has to use a
brand new axe. This is because the
spicy peppers cause the metal to
erode very quickly, thereby
rendering the axe completely useless.
Axe-man grows a patch of red
pepper plants in his back garden. He
rubs red peppers on the edge of his
axes, and this seems to keep them
sharp like brand new.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1502
fuel, firewood, kindling

140) : new
16
firewood
New flowers grow in areas of forests
which have been chopped down for
firewood.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If your firewood is too new and still

has flowers on it, its unsuitable for
burning. You need drier wood.
1503
parent, intimacy, relative,

familiarity, dealer (cards)
erect : tree; wood : see;
at; visible
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
16
parent
A wise parent lets their kids learn. A
kid wants to try to eat the red pepper
plant, the wise parent says "Try it
and see for yourself".
I remember this one the way the
Japanese do: a parent standing on
top of a tree watching what his or
her kid is doing.
1504
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
happiness, blessing, fortune

Turkey : dry; parch
8
happiness
Happiness adds a bit (or ten) of spice
to your life.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This is one of those rare occasions

when I forgo Heisig for other
methods.
-- if
you take but one stroke away from
happiness, you get painfulness. (oh
well, Heisig used similar one for ).
1505
tenacious, take hold, grasp, take to

heart
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: happiness; blessing;
fortune : round; full (month);
perfection; -ship; pills; make round;
roll up; curl up; seduce; explain away
11
tenacious
Tenacious-D is happy band led by a
fat man. (Its Tenacious-D time, ya
muthafucka, gwaoh!).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
To be tenacious, you need to have

deep stores of happiness (so troubles
dont discourage you) and you need
to be big and round (so hunger
doesnt drive you to give up). The
most tenacious person of all time
was happy round Buddha!
1506
report, news, reward, retribution
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: happiness; blessing;
fortune : seal radical (no.
on the other hand
12
report
Recall the fashion model wearing
just a stamp over his crotch (clothing
(#1399)). When he got happy, of
course, it ended up in the news
report.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The long awaited report,

'Maximising Male Happiness In The
Workplace' concluded that making
bikinis, with only a stamp sized
piece of cloth covering the crotch,
compulsory for attractive female
staff, was the most cost-effective
means of achieving this aim.
1507
shout, exclaim, yell
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: mouth : to join or connect

the vine
6
shout
Story1:
There was a man in a village who

had a special gift : whenever he
shouted and screamed, his mouth
became a cornucopia, overflowing
with fruits and food of all sorts.
Many of the locals thought he was a
cruel man, always screaming at his
wife, until they realised he was in
fact very kind, and his gift brought
prosperity to his family.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
You can hold a CORNUCOPIA up

to your MOUTH (like a megaphone)
to SHOUT lounder. Also notice that
the shape of CORNUCOPIA implies
the shouts are 4 letter words.
1508
twist, ask, investigate, verify

: thread : to join or connect
the vine
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
twist
A cornucopia is a twisted goat's horn
decorated with coloured threads.
[twist; ask; investigate; verify]
Stories full of twists are difficult to
write, because of the cornucopia of
threads the author has to manage.
1509
income, obtain, reap, pay, supply,

store
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: number one; line; rod radical

(no. 2) : or again;
4
income
Prostitutes can make a veritable
cornucopia of income by using their
crotches -- they put the "come" in
"income." (A bit lewd perhaps, but
effective in keeping this character
distinct from similar keywords like
profit (#906) or earnings (#893)).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Women love men with money. If

you have a high income you can get
a cornicopia of crotches.
1510
lowly, base, vile, vulgar

4) : rice field; rice
paddy : katakana no radical
(no. 4) : ten
9
lowly
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Lowly people only have a drop of

brains and use nothing but 4-letter
words.
A LOWLY single rice grain,
DROPPED in an empty FIELD, can
produce a CORNUCOPIA of food.
1511
tombstone, monument
: stone : lowly; base; vile;
vulgar
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
14
tombstone
There is a grave of a lowly man with
a tombstone made of a simple, small
stone. If you bow really low you can
read the very small inscription
engraved on the stone, it says Now that you bowed so low to read
this, you are as lowly as I once was.
A STONE makes a LOWLY
TOMBSTONE.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1512
land
(no. 170) : clod of earth; land
11
land
Story1:
Story2:
My rice-seedlings have become

sentient and will go on a mission. I
can only apologise for the next 6
frames. In the distance, there is a
pinnacle, which the newly-awakened
rice-seedlings who are still stuck in
the ground can see. Could it be the
Promised Land?
When sailors see land in the
distance, they first see the pinnacles
of the new land, but when they come
close enough theyll be able to make
out the rice seedlings, and finally the
ground!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1513
intimate, friendly, harmonious

experience; care; favor : soil;
earth; ground; Turkey : eight;
eight radical (no. 12) : soil;
13
intimate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The farmer was never very intimate

with his wife. He always kept his
eye on his precious rice seedlings in
the soil.
I keep an intimate relationship with
my rice seedlings -- I never take my
eye from the soil.
1514
forces, energy, military strength
component:
strokes:
keyword:

Turkey : eight; eight radical
Turkey : round; full (month);
roll up; curl up; seduce; explain
away : power; strength;
13
forces
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
What power makes rice seedlings in

the ground grow into well rounded
plants? The forces of nature.
The forces of nature need to be just
right for the rice seedlings in the
ground to become fat and strong.
1515
heat, temperature, fever, mania,

passion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: art : fire
15
heat
Heat up those RICE SEEDLINGS
you pulled from the SOIL in a
ROUND pan over a low FLAME.
(Note: the hot pan image helps
reinforce the idea that this kanji for
"atsui" refers to something hot to the
touch, as opposed to hot weather).
Story2:
heisig:
Just a comment on Erikkusan's story:

Although one of the pronunciations
of this kanji is "atsui" this isn't the
atsui that you feel in Tokyo in
August, (which is Frame 1260's
"sultry' ). This atsui is the one
when you touch something hot, like
a fry pan. Another reading of this is
"netsu," which is the "fever" this fat
man may feel after planting the rice
seedlings.
1516
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
diamond, water chestnut

140) : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey : legs radical (no.
diamond
Story1:
Some girls want diamonds, but

others will be satisfied with just
flowers. However if you think you
can win her over with rice seedlings,
expect her to get up on her walking
legs and walk on out!
Story2:
Not a real diamond but a baseball

one. No proper bases so we
improvise, 1st is a bunch of flowers,
2nd is the pile of rice seedlings and
so on... watch the running legs
charge around after a big hit!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1517
mausoleum, imperial tomb

(no. 170) : clod of earth; land
11
mausoleum
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Ancient Japanese built a mausoleum

for the "unknown rice farmer". It's
on the pinnacle of Mt. Fuji, and it
has a statue of a guy with huge
walking legs planting rice seedlings
as he goes.
At the pinnicle is a mausolem. The
ground is sown with rice seedings to
stop the dead from rising on walking
legs.
1518
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

person
sign of the hog
A greedy hog in a top hat who has
eaten all of the acorns. He even
elbows people out of the way to get
them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Top Hat + Elbow + Person: The sign

of the hog was a very recognizable
tattoo - a hog with a big grin in a top
hat, sticking his elbow into the
person next to him.
1519
nucleus, core, kernel

: tree; wood : sign of the
hog; 9-11PM; twelfth sign of the
Chinese zodiac
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
nucleus
In the nucleus of the acorn, all the
DNA is stored -- the building blocks
for a new tree.
The nucleus of an oak TREE is an
ACORN.
1520
engrave, cut fine, chop, hash, mince,

time, carving
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: sign of the hog; 9-11PM; twelfth

sign of the Chinese zodiac :
sword; saber; knife
8
engrave
Story1:
This famous ninja (I always use

ninjas with sabres, distinct from
samurai) used to engrave the kanji
for his name onto acorns, and throw
the acorns to distract his enemies.
The legend goes that by the time his
victims would pick up the acorn and
read the engraved kanji, they were
already dead.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
While its traditional for lovers to

engrave their names on a tree in
many countries, in Japan, however,
it was traditional for a samurai to
signify his undying love for a
woman by engraving the kanji of her
name on an acorn with his sabre.
1521
above-stated, the said, that specific
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : sign of the hog; 911PM; twelfth sign of the Chinese

zodiac
13
above-stated
I asked my teacher what this strange
word meant, and she furiously
replied that it was explained in the
above-stated paragraph before
throwing an acorn at me!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The above-stated words are the

acorn from which the following
statement grows.
1522
censure, criminal investigation

: sign of the hog; 9-11PM; twelfth
sign of the Chinese zodiac :
up; exert
8
censure
Story1:
Story2:
Censure is the political equivalent of

a "strongly worded letter," according
to Cornell's School of Law. It is a
flex of muscle by congress against
the current president, but it is a very
weak one. Imagine censure as
congress flexing as hard as it can,
only to have a little acorn-sized
bump of muscle pop up suddenly.
Acorn Power is the peoples way to
CENSURE a congressman you dont
agree with. Pelt your Senator with
acorns today.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1523
mention, state, speak, relate

: a type of millet; a type of
herb : walk; walking; road
8
mention
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Why are the roads leading through

the woods so sticky and dirty?
Hmm... I think the forest ranger
mentioned something about excess
resin on the roads...
No-body mentioned that there was
resin on the road. Now Im stuck!
1524
art, technique, skill, means, trick,

resources, magic
: going; journey : a type of
millet; a type of herb
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
11
art
Behold the "BoulevArt" : a life-size
section of a boulevard cast in a huge
block of resin. Some call it ... art.
The definition of art is getting more
and more loose these days. Why
even some resin spilled onto the
boulevard is now counted as art!
Hmmph!
1525
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
cold
(no. 40) : three : eight;
eight radical (no. 12) : twostroke water radical or ice radical
(no. 15)
12
cold
Story1:
Don't mix up with cool (#1404),

when the cool boys order each other
around. This kind of cold has to do
with weather. When its cold outside,
I stay at home and have hot celery
soup with chicken legs to keep out
the ice. cold.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Some strange animal tried to steal a

stalk of celery from my house.
However, it was freezing and the
floor was covered in ice, so the
mysterious animal couldnt get any
traction. Picture a stalk of celery and
a pair of animal legs slipping and
sliding clumsily around the ice, and
never able to leave the house.
Eventually it got so cold that the
little animal froze to death.
1526
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
brew, cause
sake radical (no. 164) : rise;
raise
20
brew
Grass Skirt primitive: Picture some
Hawaiian girls, wearing grass skirts
and tropical scarfs (or leis), doing a
dance. "3, 4, 5, 6 pick up all the
celery sticks!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A classic alcohol commercial:

whiskey being brewed while girls
dance around, scantily clad in their
grass skirts.
1527
defer, turnover, transfer, convey

: say : rise; raise
20
defer
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Speaking complicated words to set

her head spinning, the island girl in
the grass skirt says demurely "I defer
(yield) to your judgment, wise one".
I talked to my Japanese spouse, who
confirmed that this kanji does not
mean "defer" as in "put off, delay".
It means "defer" in the sense of
"submit" or "yield".
1528
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
lot, earth, soil

Turkey : rise; raise
16
lot
My dream is to buy a small lot on a
tropical island and spend the rest of
my days relaxing in a grass skirt.
On the island of JOU, in order to be
considered a lot, a ground must be
big enough to grow sufficient grass
for a grass skirt.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
1529
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: woman; female : rise; raise
Story1:
lass, girl, Miss, daughter
16
lass
Conversation at a party: A: "Who is
that lass?" B: "Which one?" A: "The
woman wearing the grass skirt." B:
"Alas, I dont know".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Two Irishmen visit Hawaii and see a

woman wearing a grass skirt and
nothing else. "Thats some lassie,"
says one to the other. "But alass
Danny Boy, you cant be bringing
her home.".
1530
poison, virus, venom, germ, harm,

injury, spite
: three : mother
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
poison
If you grow up with a mother that
drinks and smokes, you can be sure
its poison in the stuff you get from
her breasts.
You can use silicone implants to to
make your breasts "grow up" but if
they leak, it's poison.
1531
elementary, principle, naked,

uncovered
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: three : thread
10
elementary
This kanji has nothing to do with
elementary school - it means
element, elemental, basic, bare.
Imagine the thread as a thread
connecting all life, starting from the
basic elements and growing up into
everything.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
This is a pictogram of string theory.

Strings are the most elementary
particles of matter, which then grow
up to become matter itself.
1532
barley, wheat
: winter radical (no. 34)
7
barley
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
BARLEY beverages give GROWN

UPs teetering WALKING LEGS.
Grown up barley, i.e. beer, is what
gets you tottering legs.
1533
blue, green
: month; moon
8
blue
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The last time I saw a blue moon was

in my youth when I was growing up.
Once in a blue moon refers to a rare
event. But originally "blue moon"
refers to a full moon, in other words
a fully grown-up moon. Whether
once a month is rare or not depends
on what were talking about, but that
happens to be the origin of the
expression.
1534
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
refined, ghost, fairy, energy, vitality,

semen, excellence, purity, skill
: rice; USA; metre : blue;
green
14
refined
Very refined people in the upper
classes have skin as pale as rice and
blue blood.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Uh, why is your rice blue? "It's been

refined! And by 'refined' I mean it's
been in the back of my fridge for a
few months.".
1535
solicit, invite, ask

: say : blue; green
15
solicit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
People who try to solicit you to buy

things come up to you and just start
taking out of the blue
That door-to-door salesman can
stand outside ringing my doorbell
until hes blue in the face. Theres a
big sign on my front door, and the
words clearly say "No Soliciting".
1536
feelings, emotion, passion,

sympathy, circumstances, facts
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

(no. 61) : blue; green
11
feelings
Data is feeling blue about not having
any feelings ... hey, wait a minute.
Feeling blue is a state of mind where
youre dominated by your feelings.
1537
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clear up
days : blue; green
12
clear up
Sun and blue sky! Yep, the
weathers cleared up!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When we speak of clearing up we

easily think of both the sun and blue
skies. But in another since to clear
up is the absence of weather. And
therefor the reason weather has no
place in its writing.
1538
pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise,

Manchu dynasty
: water : blue; green
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
pure
Pure sea water is always a radiant
blue.
Bottles of water claim to be pure.
Theyre generally in blue containers,
because blue makes you feel like its
that much more pure.
1539
quiet
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: blue; green : contend;

dispute; argue
14
quiet
When someone you know who is
normally talkative goes quiet, its
usually a sign that they are
contending with the blues.
Story2:
heisig:
Don't confuse with silence (#240),

something achieved through action.
On the other hand, quiet refers to a
personal quality of not speaking out.
Members of Blue-man group jump
into the wrestling ring of contenders
for tag-team wrestling. Though the
other contenders are screaming, the
blue men never say anything - they
are a very quiet bunch, that Blueman group. Primitive order: blue
man group's first and main
1540
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
blame, condemn, censure

: shellfish
11
blame
As one grows up, one typically starts
to blame all of their problems on
money.
Story2:
heisig:
This is the story of a poor fisherman

and his wife. A long time ago he
caught an oyster with a small but
precious pearl. The intelligent wife
told him to sell the pearl
immediately: the greedy husband
figured if he kept the oyster and fed
it, it would grow up and yield an
even bigger pearl. One day the
oyster grew so big, it crashed
through the house and escaped back
to sea. The angry wife left her
1541
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
exploits, unreeling cocoons

: thread : blame; condemn;
censure
17
exploits
Spideys exploits are world famous
but still The Daily Bugles pages
blame him for every problem out
there.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
[Geek alert] A lot of modern

software is full of exploits which can
be abused by hackers. I blame multithreading.
1542
volume, product (x*y), acreage,

contents, pile up, stack, load, amass
115) : blame; condemn;
censure
16
keyword:
Story1:
volume
On many wheat cereal boxes, there
is a disclaimer stating that "This
package is sold by weight, not by
volume. Some settling of contents
may have occurred." well they only
say that because they dont want to
be blamed by people getting really
disappointed after they see what a
small volume of cereal the box really
contains.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The volume of the wheat crop is way

down this year! Blame the weather!
1543
bond, loan, debt

: person : blame; condemn;
censure
13
bond
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Bonds are guarnteed by the

government so if they fail there is
one person you can blame - the
prime minister!
Mr. Ts plot of world domination is
foiled. Who is to blame? Bond.
James Bond.
1544
pickling, soak, moisten, steep

: water : blame; condemn;
censure
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
14
pickling
When pickling you MUST use
distilled water! When it doesnt
come out right, generally it is the
water that is to blame.
Bad water is to blame for the process
of pickling.
1545
surface, table, chart, diagram
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

number one; line; rod radical (no.
2) : garment; clothes; dressing
8
surface
When I was GROWING UP, the
SURFACE of my SCARF was
always covered with snot from
blowing my nose on it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
(Thanks to zerOrange) I grew up

underground, and whenever I went
to the surface I wore a scarf to avoid
scrutiny.
1546
bag, bale, sack, counter for bags

: person : surface; table;
chart; diagram
10
bag
Story1:
Superficial people (ie those who are

only concerned about the surface)
are obsessed with expensive bags.
Story2:
heisig:
Do you know why every person in

Japan has a Louis Vuitton bag?
After the 1985 JAL air crash that
killed 520 people (the worlds
worst). An image on tv of the crash
showed Louis Vuitton bags (whose
LV logo covered surface was
somehow impervious) litering the
crash site. From that point on they
stuck in Japanese peoples minds as
durable and high quality. (True
story).
1547
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
undefiled, pure, clean, righteous,

gallant
: water : marking line;
ascertain; assess; measure
15
undefiled
To ensure she remained undefiled, a
young girl growing up in a rough
area always kept a dagger concealed
under her threads, even when she
went into the water.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
(rgravina) To ensure she remained

undefiled, a young girl growing up
in a rough area always kept a dagger
concealed under her Spiderman
underwear (to remember the position
of thread), even when she went into
the water.
1548
pledge, promise, vow

large; big
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
9
pledge
Imagine a totalitarian regime where,
while growing up, you have to
pledge allegiance to the flag at
dagger-point and with St. Bernard
guard dogs watching you.
In order to pledge into her sorority,
Alice had to stab a St. Bernard with
a dagger. (Come on! DO it, Alice!).
1549
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
consume, eat, drink, smoke, receive

(a blow)
: mouth : pledge; promise;
vow
12
consume
This means eat/drink/smoke. Maybe
you make a pledge to stop
gutsing/binging/puffing, but your
own mouth is tempting you to put
something in it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I make my mouth pledge to consume

less.
1550
harm, injury
(no. 40) : mouth
10
harm
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
With kids growing up in your house,

you have to keep them from harm of
putting anything in their mouth,
paint chips, bleach, knvies, etc.
This is silly, but.. If a house
suddenly grows up from your mouth,
you will come to great harm.
1551
control, wedge
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: car : harm; injury

17
control
The roads are icy, and a whole
bunch of cars have spun out of
control! Luckily, it was just a couple
of dents; nobody was harmed.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Control is very important! Especially

when operating a car. Few people
realize the harm they can cause just
by losing control of their car for a
second. Tremendous harm. Stay in
control!
1552
proportion, comparatively, divide,

cut, separate, split
: harm; injury : sword;
saber; knife
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
12
proportion
[proportion; comparatively; divide;
cut; separate; split] Hey, dont take
this out of proportion! I did you just
a little harm, no need to come over
here with a saber...
As shown on this pie-chart, the
proportion of people harmed by
sabres is relatively a small slice
compared to those harmed by guns.
1553
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
constitution, law
(no. 40) : net; net or net
61)
16
constitution
Story1:
Story2:
The constitution is important. At

least my parents thought so. In the
house where I grew up, it was
framed on the wall. Under the
watchful (sideways) eye of my
mother, we had to study it until we
knew it by heart.
The constitution states the following
rights: You may live in your own
house and grow up. And you will
never be watched by big brother's
eye so they cannot control your heart
(your believes).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1554
life, genuine, birth

: life, life radical (no. 100)
5
life
This is the first CELL of a human,
the foundation of its entire LIFE, a
small DROP that will GROW UP to
form a complex organism.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Growing Up is just a Drop of our

LIFE.
1555
star, spot, dot, mark

days : life; genuine; birth
9
star
The sun is the nearest star to the only
planet with life - Earth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sun is a star that has given life.

Cant say that of any other stars yet.
1556
surname
: woman; female : life;
genuine; birth
8
surname
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When women marry, they adopt the

surname of their husband,
signifiying the start of a new life
together. (adapted from gorgon).
Woman change their surname when
they "start their new life".
1557
sex, gender, nature

(no. 61) : life; genuine; birth
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sex
Sex is the only state of mind for
many men through their whole life.
When youre in the state of mind for
creating new lives.
1558
animal sacrifice, offering

: cow : life; genuine; birth
9
animal sacrifice
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Animal sacrifice = taking the life of

a cow.
In the 21st century, animal sacrifice
is no longer really necessary. We can
take a single cell from a cow, with
no harm to the cow. We create a
viable cell line from this single cell,
and feed the resulting biomatter into
a furnace at the exact rate necessary
to appease the gods.
1559
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
products, bear, give birth, yield,

childbirth, native, property
erect : wild goose; trailing
cliff radical (no. 27) : life;
genuine; birth
11
products
If you were to stand up all the
products you have accumulated over
the course of your entire life on top
of one another, the result would
probably be as tall as a cliff.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The salesman is standing on the

cliffs edge. "Buy my products!! Buy
my products! Or else Ill take my
own life"! Man, thats selling on
pressure.
1560
hump, high, noble, prosperity

(no. 170) : winter radical (no.
34) : life; genuine; birth
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
hump
You are struggling to the top across
the humps, but you suddenly see the
pinnacle and you feel new life in
your walking legs.
A woman takes her bra off and what
happens? Nine months later the
hump in her belly pops out between
her legs as a new life.
1561
summit, peak
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: mountain : winter radical

(no. 34) : abundant; lush;
bountiful; plenty; fat face; luxurious
growth of grass
10
summit
Story1:
Walking legs over "bushes" needs to

have a primitive meaning of its own.
It appears in several kanji, such as
sew (#1563), tryst (#2417),
bee (#2687), and swords point
(#2768), and it is clumsy to work
bushes and walking legs into every
story. "Pointy" works fairly well: the
walking legs are stuck on top of the
pointy part of the bush; and for this
character: a summit is the pointy end
of a mountain.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Upon reaching the summit of the

mountain, I noticed my walking legs
were all gouged up from walking
through prickly bushes.
1562
sew, stitch, embroider

: thread : meeting; tryst;
date; rendezvous
16
sew
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Pointy primitive; with a pointy

needle you sew a road (-------) of
threads.
Good thing I brought some thread,
cause I need to sew my pants that I
tore up walking through the bushes
(see summit (#1562)) before we hit
the road to go back down the
mountain.
1563
worship, adore, pray to
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : one; one radical

(no.1) : three : number
one; line; rod radical (no. 2)
8
worship
I put my fingers together in worship
of the bush that hangs from the
ceiling -- that wonderful mistletoe
which has gotten me kissed by many
a girl.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Because I worship her, I only finger

ONE BUSH, hers, and no others!
1564
longevity, congratulations, ones

natural life
: three : katakana no radical
(no. 4) : measurement; foot/10
7
longevity
Story1:
Story2:
In an attempt to increase a bush's

longevity, an incompitent gardener
glues all the leaves back on that have
fallen off. Maybe he should have
tried watering it instead.
This old China man glued shrubs to
his body. The added intake of
oxygen from the shrubs was,
according to him, the secret of his
longevity. Sometimes he would sit
all day in meditation without
moving, and the locals believed the
old man had actually turned into a
shrub !
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1565
casting, mint
: gold : longevity;
congratulations; one's natural life
15
casting
We take a casting because metal will
have much greater longevity than the
original.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
They made a metal casting of the

Chinese man who glued shrubs to
himself to increase his longevity. Its
now sold around the world as its
thought that having one will increase
your own longevity..
1566
enroll, domiciliary register,

membership
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: bamboo : come; plough; 3branch tree radical (no. 127) :

once upon a time; antiquity; old
times
20
enroll
Japanese father enrolls his student in
a well-rounded school: they teach
eastern traditions (the way of the
bamboo), western traditions (like
Christmas trees), and also teach
literature (once upon a time).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Once upon a time, in order to enroll

in a Christian school you had to
answer a series of questions to
ensure that you were really
Christian. For example, the principal
might show you a picture of a
Christmas tree and a picture of some
bamboo and ask you which one is
most suitable for decoration at
Christmas time.
1567
springtime, spring (season)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: three : large; big :

9
springtime
In the springtime bonsai get plenty
of sun.
When its springtime you can only
leave the bonsai out when the sun
has gone down. Their little leaves
cant handle too much heat.
1568
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
camellia
: tree; wood : springtime;
spring (season)
camellia
The tree of spring. Fact: Camellia
are highly valued in Japan and
elsewhere for their very early
flowering, often among the first
flowers to appear in the late winter
[early spring?].
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Anyone whos lived in Japan knows

camellia are by far the first tree of
spring to flower. And how can you
miss those shockingly pink flowers!
1569
peaceful, calm, peace, easy, Thailand

water
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
peaceful
If you look into Japanese gardens
they seem so peaceful - with their
small bonsais and the white stones
looking like rice grains.
Simplistic and peaceful life: A
bonsai to trim and enough rice to
eat...
1570
play music, speak to a ruler, complete
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: three : person :
heavens; sky; imperial
9
play music
When you play music to them, your
bonsai will grow like they are in
heaven.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In heaven you are surrounded by

bonsai trees (full-sized ones fall
through the clouds) while you play
music on your harp. I always have
trouble remembering that the bonsai
tree is on top, so think of them
growing on top of the clouds.
1571
reality, truth
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : three : person
8
reality
Bonsais are grown in a house, away
from the harsh reality of the real
world where they wouldnt survive.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
On this rather boring big brother

type reality show, they have locked
up bonsai inside a house and
everyone is watching them on TV
24x7. The viewers have to vote on
which bonsai shall remain in the
house and which one has to leave.
1572
observance, offer, present, dedicate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

8
dedicate
To join the temple, you have to
dedicate yourself to raising bonsai
for enlightenment, and cornstalks for
sustenance.
Story2:
heisig:
A Japanese farmer who was growing

corn tried to dedicate himself to the
god of corn (in the hope it would
bring better harvests). He had a little
room with prayer beads, incense, etc.
One day he brought an offerand that
he thought would please the god of
corn : a bonsai - corn (a corn plant
turned into a bonsai). The god was
infuriated and yelled at him "HOW
DARE YOU TORTURE MY CORN
IN SUCH WAYS!". The End.
1573
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
stipend, salary
: person : observance;
offer; present; dedicate
10
stipend
The stipend is given to the studentPERSON who has come to Japan
DEDICATED to study.
People who are highly dedicated to
their jobs get good salaries/stipends.
1574
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
rod, stick, cane, pole, club, line

: tree; wood : observance;
offer; present; dedicate
12
Story1:
rod
This wooden rod has one very
simple dedication engraved on it:
"Spare the rod, spoil the child...".
Story2:
The wood from this tree is dedicated

to making rods to flog naughty kids.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1575
discreet, reverently, humbly

: say
17
discreet
Muttering words of gratitude for a
wonderful meal, I discreetly slipped
my cabbage under the table for the
dog.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Cabbage primitive: When a cabbage

is growing up, you must put it in
your mouth before it flowers,
because thats when it becomes
bitter. Seriously, its called bolting
or something. When youre discreet,
you try to make your words like a
cabbage: well-layered, but in an
unassuming way.
1576
diligence, become employed, serve
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: the violet : power;

12
diligence
With enough diligence, Koreans can
turn ordinary cabbage into powerful
kimchi.
Growing cabbages takes muscle and
diligence.
1577
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sino-, China
: water : grass; plants; grass
mouth : husband; man
13
Sino-
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Sino- (Chinese) people had to put a

lot of sweat/water into learning the
kanji. For right-hand kanji primitive The dumb Western husband of a
Japanese woman buys her flowers to
apologise, after he opened his big
mouth and said "kanji are a stupid
writing system"..
In the water between Japan and
China, the Sino- side has put
scarecrows in the water to try and
keep the Japanese away.
1578
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sigh, lament, moan, grieve

: mouth : grass; plants;
grass radical (no. 140) :
mouth : husband; man
13
sigh
A sigh escapes the mouth of the
scarecrow, who laments: "...if I only
had a brain, I could learn kanji".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I will let out a huge sigh of relief

from my mouth when I learn the last
kanji.
1579
difficult, impossible, trouble,

accident, defect
140) : mouth :
husband; man : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
18
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
difficult
Learning Kanji is difficult for
Turkeys.
It is difficult for a scarecrow to scare
a turkey or else they wouldve been
called scareturkeys.
1580
splendor, flower, petal, shine, luster,

ostentatious, showy, gay, gorgeous
component:
strokes:
keyword:

radical (no. 2)
10
splendor
Story1:
The Queen of England taking a walk

round a village: Excuse me, I
couldnt help noticing the splendour
of the flowers in your garden.
Simply splendid. Ten out of ten.
The villager gruffly replies: No it
aint. Its all muck. An Im gonna
cut it all down and sell it to the
farmer for silage..
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(I'm substituting greenhouse for

silage. It is also full of all types of
plants, and the shape resembles the
windows that cover the building to
let in the light.) See the splendor of
the roses filling the greenhouse,
beauty atop a stem of needles
(thorns).
1581
droop, suspend, hang, slouch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: thousand : soil; earth;

ground; Turkey
8
droop
The thousand head of cattle let their
heads droop as they devour the
silage (animal fodder) that is lying
on the floor around them.
Even a drop of silage is enough to
make an old man with a walking
stick droop low down to the floor.
(rgravina - fixed up order).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1582
drowsy, sleep, die

droop; suspend; hang; slouch
13
drowsy
Our eyes droop when we are drowsy.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hint : the eyes of Droopy Dog (see

droop (#1582)). When you are
drowsy you have "droopy eyes".
That is, you have Droopys eyes!
1583
: gold : droop; suspend;

hang; slouch
spindle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Wasnt it a cursed spindle that

Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger
on? Therefore the spindle was the
metal that caused her to droop and
eventually sleep for 100 years.
Spindle: the needle that drops on an
LP record player. This is made of
metal. It droops. Viola.
1584
ride, power, multiplication, record,

no. of vehicles, board, mount, join
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: thousand : tree; wood

9
ride
Its a hay ride! You sit on piles of
silage and everyone likes to imitate
old-time farmers with a piece of
wheat sticking out of their mouths.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[ride; power; multiplication; record;

counter for vehicles; board; mount;
join] In the near future, we hope to
ride on biomass fueled vehicles.
Good news for those who have
wheat silage surplus.
1585
surplus, besides
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: ride; power; multiplication;

record; counter for vehicles; board;
mount; join : sword; saber;
knife
11
surplus
If you go for a ride and find a saber
beside you, perhaps you got into an
Army surplus jeep.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Remember the wheat we cut with

scythes (farmer's equivalent of a
saber) for profit (#906)?Well, we
harvested too much and have to use
the surplus for silage.
() : excess.
1586
now
(no.1)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
now
My MEETING is at 7- but thats
NOW!
(re: ruuku35) The meeting is not at
quarter to seven but now!
1587
include, bear in mind, understand,

cherish
: now : mouth
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
include
This clock includes a mouth that will
tell you what the time is now.
Hearing impaired people have this
kind of watches... now imagine them
as a big mouth under the clock.
Batteries included with this clock.
Open the mouth at the back and
insert them after purchase.
1588
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
versify, singing, recital

: mouth : now
7
versify
Versify this kanji as follows:
Hickery dickery dock, the mouth ran
by the clock.
To versify, words of rhythm needs to
shoot out of your MOUTH with a
CLOCK-like regularity.
1589
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wish, sense, idea, thought, feeling,

desire, attention
: now : heart; mind; spirit;
8
wish
Someone wishing from the bottom
of their heart that the clock would
stop. A mid-life crisis perhaps.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Remember in the Wizard of Oz

when the tin man wished for a heart
and the wizard gave him that dinky
little clock instead?
1590
harp, koto
: jewel; ball : jewel;
ball : now
12
harp
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Two kings were fighting over a

beautiful koto (harp). So they had a
clock built into it that would
measure how long each one played
it. That way they could be sure none
played it more than othe other.
Jesus is coming soon. Prepare to
meet the king of kings now. Practice
your harp playing skills all future
angels!...
1591
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shade, yin, negative, sex organs,

secret, shadow
(no. 170) : now : say
11
shade
There are three types of shade: 1.
natural (a high pinnacle), 2. manmade buildings (a clock tower), 3.
meteorological (a cloud).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Frosty the snowman is running

around the pinnacle, staying in the
shade. As he looks at his clock to see
how much longer he can last, small
clouds rise (steam) from his body.
Nooo, Frosty!
1592
beforehand, previous, myself, I

: None : complete; finish
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
beforehand
Beforehand, this was a halberd but I
cut it short so it could be for hand to
hand combat.
Your halberd doesnt have a
handguard? You should have
thought of that beforehand (i.e.,
before you were missing your hand).
1593
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
preface, beginning, order,

precedence, occasion, chance,
incidentally
53) : beforehand; previous;
myself; I
7
preface
The preface to all human history was
written beforehand in caves.
Story2:
heisig:
Rename the "beforehand" part to be

glove (because you have to wear
gloves beforehand if you want to
wield the halberd, which is why this
primitive is an incomplete halberd).
The story: a winter morning. A
textbook author is holed up in his
tiny office, a veritable cave. He
wants to start his masterpiece
textbook by first writing the preface.
But he cant get started. He sits and
stares at empty paper until evening.
1594
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
deposit, custody, leave with, entrust

to
: beforehand; previous; myself;
I : page; leaf
13
deposit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Depositing money into your savings

account is something you do
beforehand if you use your head. If
youre in Japan your passbook says
when you
make a deposit.
You bang your head on the ATM,
wishing youd deposited some
money beforehand.
1595
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
plains, field, rustic, civilian life

: ri; village; parent's home;
league : beforehand; previous;
myself; I
11
plains
These days we all work in front of
computers. Beforehand we all
worked out in the fields, in the
plains.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The plains are a challenging place to

get any work done. Be sure you
recharge your computers battery
beforehand, or you wont get
anything done.
1596
concurrently, and
component:
strokes:
keyword:

(no. 58) : number one; line;
rod radical (no. 2) : number
10
concurrently
Story1:
Our ninja hero, disguised as a

gardener with a rake, is suddenly
attacked from both left and right
concurrently by bulls with animal
horns. Our hero lets out a bloodcurdling scream and tears his rake
handle vertically in half, so he now
has two wooden staffs (split rake
handle) to fight with. He grips each
staff (left side and right side) and
rams it into the horns of the charging
bulls. The force of each charging
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You decide to take the bull by the

horns and do both chores
concurrently, grabbing your doublehandled rake before attempting to
clean up both yours and your
neighbours garden. But
unfortunately, its not long until
your rake splits in two.
1597
dislike, detest, hate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
concurrently; and
13
dislike
Naturally, if youre dating more than
one woman concurrently, they will
certainly dislike each other!
Attempting to court two women
concurrently will make them both
dislike you.
1598
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
sickle, scythe, trick

: gold : concurrently; and
18
sickle
This is a special sickle with metal
blades on both sides. It can cut many
things concurrently!
The gold sickle of the USSR flag
represents both leaders and workers
laboring concurrently.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1599
self-effacing, humble oneself,

condescend, be modest
: say : concurrently; and
17
self-effacing
When you are self-effacing you use
words to concurrently bring yourself
down and make yourself look better.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Though the mans words were selfeffacing, his actions concurrently

made it clear that his modesty was
false.
1600
bargain, reason, charge, suspicion,

point, account, purity, honest, low
price, cheap, rested, contented,
peaceful
53) : concurrently; and
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
13
bargain
Stores dont want you to know it, but
if you find the secret cave, they run
bargains there concurrently to their
regular prices. (Image: pulling a
certain level in a store to find the
"bargain cave).
If you have several sellers
competing concurrently, one will
cave in and give you a bargain
1601
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
west, Spain
: west, west radical (no. 146)
6
west
The old west represented by a
completely empty whiskey bottle
(compare sign of the bird (#1427)
whiskey bottle about one third full).
Note: this kanji is also used to
denote Spain.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1602
value, price
: person : cover; place on
top of; west radical variant (no. 146)
8
value
In the West, people have no value.
Only money is important.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
What might it mean for a person in

the old west to be of value? Their
face is on a "Wanted!" poster, of
course. Imagine the reward...
1603
need, main point, essence, pivot, key

to
woman; female
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
need
() When Clint needs a woman,
he likes to be on top.
In some movie with the theme of the
Old West, the population of a town
finds themselve in dire need of
women, after all of the towns
womens became crazy and started
gunshooting and participating in
duels and such.
1604
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
loins, hips, waist, low wainscoting

: meat : need; main point;
essence; pivot; key to
13
loins
Story1:
If you want to get closer to the actual

meaning, then I think that ()
is more like the hips or the small of
the back. After being sat down in the
office too long, people often say
Its the part of the
body that needs massaging.
Story2:
heisig:
To the puritans reading this site please stop reporting stories that
have anything to do with sex!
Although (as wrightak said) this
kanji really refers to the hips, Heisig
clearly chose the keyword loins
because it was anatomically close
enough, and the primitives lent
themselves to an easy-to-remember
story. Just because youre all
sexually repressed doesnt mean
other people wont benefit from a
1605
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ballot, label, ticket, sign

show; indicate; point out; express;
display
11
ballot
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the Old West there were no ballot

boxes. Afraid of fraud and fighting
among the gunslingers, the ballots
were posted into a slot in the top of
the local church altar instead. They
may have been rough, but the
cowboys wouldnt fight in the
church.
In western political elections (US),
peoples ballots will often depend on
religion and at which altar the
prospective president prays.
1606
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
drift, float (on liquid)

: water : ballot; label;
ticket; sign
14
drift
In Florida, Bush through Kerrys
ballots into the water, watching them
drift away and setting the whole
country adrift.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The political fanatic stole all the

ballots and dumped them in the
stream. He calmly watched them
drift away as the cops came to a
screech behind him.
1607
signpost, seal, mark, stamp, imprint,

symbol, emblem, trademark,
evidence, souvenir, target
: tree; wood : ballot; label;
ticket; sign
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
15
signpost
Trees were frequenly used as
signposts in those days, indicating
where one had to go to cast their
ballots.
Large wooden signposts are planted
on peoples lawns, with the faces of
their representatives all saying:
"Vote [1] Me!" for the upcoming
ballot.
1608
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
chestnut
tree; wood
chestnut
Chestnut tree, west nut tree.
The cowboy climbed the tree to see
where they were in the woods. The
poor guy chose a chestnut tree. ouch
ouch.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1609
transition, move, change

large; big : self; snake;
serpent : walk; walking; road
15
transition
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Since the days of the Old West,

traveling has transitioned from
trying not to step on big snakes to
driving on big roads.
The west has gone through quite a
transition, gone are the days when
dogs and snakes roamed the desert,
its all roads and casinos now.
1610
capsize, cover, shade, mantle, be

ruined
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

restore; return to; revert; resume
18
capsize
The U.S.S. Old West has capsized,
and all the cowboys on board are
trying to restore her upright.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Remember Oregon Trail? Remember

how you had to float your wagon
across rivers to get to the Old West?
Well, sometimes that wagon
capsizes. Once that happens youd
better quickly head to the nearest
town to restore.
1611
smoke
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: fire : cover; place on top

of; west radical variant (no.
Turkey
13
smoke
In the Old West, they used to light
fires in the ground to make smoke
signals.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Should be easy. SMOKE brings to

mind "Where theres SMOKE,
theres FIRE". So, the FIRE in the
OLD WEST can tell people were
youre at, so put out the FIRE with
SOIL to keep the SMOKE to a
minimum.
1612
south
: ten : upside-down box
radical (no. 13) : dry; parch
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
9
south
South of my belt leads to happiness.
In the south (Southern Alabama,
Southern Africa, picture any south,
but choose one and stick with it)
"they measure happyness by the
belt". If someone has a larger belly
(and a longer belt), it is believed
they are well fed and thus are happy.
1613
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
camphor tree
: tree; wood : south
camphor tree
We traveled to southern Japan just to
see a camphor tree. Its what we
came for.
Trivia: Cinnamomum camphora is
native to Taiwan, southern Japan,
southeast China and Indochina,.
heisig:
onyomi:
1614
offering, no. of drinks, present, offer
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: south : dog
13
offering
A South Korean street vendor is
offering chihuahu snacks.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you go to someones place and the

food sucks, you lower it down south
of the table as an offering to their
dog.
1615
gates
: gate, gate radical (no. 169)
8
gates
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Heisigs stroke order in the 4th

edition (and earlier) is wrong, so be
careful -- first is the left-most
vertical stroke, then draw the rest of
the "sun" attachment as you would
normally. In fact, if you just wrote it
out as two suns with elongated sides,
youll get the stroke order exactly
correct.
The gates to Hell. guarded by
Cerebus or ... Bill Gates?
1616
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
question, ask, problem

: gate; counter for
cannons : mouth
11
question
A mouth on the Gates of Hell says
"Answer me these questions three, or
thru the gates ye soon will be".
Hark! Who goes there? is the
expected question from the mouth of
the guard at the gate
1617
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
review, inspection, revision

: gate; counter for
cannons : exchange
15
review
A little devil at the gates of hell
reviews your record to see if youre
evil enough to get in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
As I was reviewing for my exam at a

quiet saloon, the devil popped out of
nowhere and offered to make sure I
pass. But I told him no way, since
thats cheating. Besides, Im just
reviewing things I already know. I
wont fail. But he kept insisting, so I
kicked him and sent him crashing
through the entrance gates.
1618
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
clique, lineage, pedigree, faction,

clan
: gate; counter for
cannons : fell; strike; attack;
punish
14
clique
You only get through the gates into
that person's fiesta if you are in the
same clique.
The felled souls of the world, cut
down like trees, pass through the
gates of hell and join the clique.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1619
interval, space
: gate; counter for
cannons : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
12
interval
The interval between star systems
(suns) was too large, so the stargates
were created to travel between them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
We open the gates at regular

intervals to let a bit of sun in.
1620
simplicity, brevity
: bamboo : interval; space
18
simplicity
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
[simplicity; brevity] The

is a bamboo device for
scaring birds from the gates of your
garden by clacking against a stone at
regular intervals. Its design is
simplicity itself. (Inspired by
PepeSeco).
The simplicity of bamboo plant is in
all its joints being at equal intervals.
1621
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
open, unfold, unseal

: gate; counter for
cannons : put together
12
open
Sure you can squeeze through these
gates by kicking them or pushing
them with your body, but if you want
to get them wide open, you need to
do that with both your hands.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To open the gate, use your both

hands.
1622
closed, shut
: gate; counter for
cannons : genius; years old;
cubic shaku
11
closed
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The gates are too big to be closed by

man. Only a genie can. "Close
sesame!".
Alright none of you GENIUSES
could figure out how the door is
CLOSED, so I invented these. They
are called the SALOON DOORS.
With these, you don't need to.
1623
tower, tall building, palace
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: gate; counter for

cannons : each; every; either
14
tower
Story1:
To keep this distinct from other kanji

such as "watchtower" and "pagoda",
I use the mnemonic "towering
tower". -- In some old 8-bit kung-fu
videogame, with a plot similar as
Bruce Lees last, unfinished movie,
the hero must break through a gate at
each level of the towering tower,
fighting with opponents using
various styles of kung-fu until he
meets the finale at the topmost level
of the "towering tower".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Remember the two towers from lord

of the rings... each has its own very difficult to master - entrance
gate.
1624
leisure
: gate; counter for
cannons : tree; wood
12
leisure
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Imagine the gates the Garden of

Eden, the ultimate land of leisure.
Youre not allowed in, but if you
peek through you can see trees.
Imagine Leisure Suit Larry walking
through the saloon doors with wood
in his pants, hoping to get lucky.
1625
hear, ask, listen
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gate; counter for

cannons : ear
14
hear
Press your ear to the gates and see if
you can hear what is going on inside.
To distinguish from listen, you hear
someone at the door (gate).
1626
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wet, be watered, profit by, receive

benefits, favor, charm, steep
: water : intercalation;
illegitimate throne
15
wet
Forgetting about the moat, the king
stepped out of his gate and landed in
the water. Needless to say he got wet.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(I had the same idea as Dingomick) I

imagine some prankster who put a
bucket full of water on top of the
huge gates, so that it would fall on
the king as he came through them.
See the king now, between the gates,
all wet, dripping drops of water.
1627
column, handrail, blank, space
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tree; wood : rise high; be

well along
20
column
[column; handrail; blank; space] I
think about oriental (eastern) Torii
gates: they have two supporting
columns made of wood.
A column of text scratched on a
black tree beside the gates of Hell:
To the East lies The Beast.
1628
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
fight, war
: gate; counter for
cannons : beans; pea;
midget : measurement; foot/10
18
fight
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
During the saloon brawl, one guy

got glued to a table and was tossed
out through the saloon gates. But he
really wanted to fight, so he ran back
through those gates (with the table
still glued to his back) only to be
tossed out again. Imagine him
repeatedly running in and being
tossed back out.
Food fight! Look, beans are stuck to
the gates like glue.
1629
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
godown, warehouse, storehouse,

cellar, treasury
: person : mouth
10
godown
A godown is a dockside warehouse.
This is actually a meeting of large
doors and mouths. The stroke order
is the same as door, not gates, just
with the top stroke moved down into
the now larger door.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Note: this is not gate but actually a

variation of door and is written as
such, with the vertical stroke last not
first.
1630
genesis, wound, injury, hurt, start,

originate
: godown; warehouse; storehouse;
cellar; treasury : sword; saber;
knife
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
genesis
Back in the day the people were so
excited to get hold of the Sega
genesis they looted the godown with
sabers.
I prefer to have girls Godown on my
sabre to prevent unwanted GENESIS
of babies............
(creation).
1631
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
un-, mistake, negative, injustice, non: wrong, wrong radical (no. 175)
8
unThis looks like a pictogram of 3
fingers from each hand trying to
open up a crack in a wall. Thats an
un-believable way to escape from
prison OR the UN- have a prison in
the Hague.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
People in the jail cell are unfriendly, un-comely, and uncooperative.

1632
haiku, actor
: person : un-; mistake;
negative; injustice; non10
haiku
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I pity the fool/ Who put me in this

jail cell/ I pity the fool. (Credit
taijuando).
I pity the fool/ Who put me in this
jail/ I pity the fool.
1633
repudiate, exclude, expel, reject

: hand : un-; mistake;
repudiate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When ordered to go to the jail cell,

the defendant gave the judge the
finger and said he repudiated all that
the legal system stood for if they
were going to send an innocent man
like him to jail.
He reached his fingers through the
bars of his jail cell, trying to touch
his beloved. But she repudiated him
and left.
1634
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
jail cell, grieve, sad, deplore, regret

: un-; mistake; negative; injustice;
non- : heart; mind; spirit;
12
sad
Saddness is like having your heart
captured and jailed because of some
sad or terrible event, etc. Here the
sad heart waits for someone to come
and un-lock their jail cell and set
them free again.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Stuck in a jail cell with his heart

crying out to see his family again,
the prisoner has never felt so sad.
1635
guilt, sin, crime, fault, blame, offense

122) : un-; mistake; negative;
injustice; non13
guilt
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Guilty under the eyes of the law,

therefore sentenced to jail. [note:
UNDER the eye of the law works
in penalty (#833) as well.].
It is his guilt that is causing them.
He is having these nightmares where
the great (sideways) eye appears at
the top of his jail cell, and is staring
down intently at him. Guilt is a
merciless tormentor.
1636
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
comrade, fellow, people, companions

non- : car
15
comrade
Some man jailed in Russia, is freed
by his comrade (from the
Communist party perhaps), who
crashes into the jail cell with a
vehicle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
(+fuaburisu) But its the wrong jail

cell! Your comrade is one floor
above.
1637
front door, title page, front page

radical (no. 63) : un-; mistake;
front door
Story1:
The only way out of a jail cell is to

serve your time and walk out the
front door. There are no other doors.
Story2:
heisig:
An old man serving a very long jail

sentence painted a life-like door at
the back of his jail cell, hlafway
open, with the blue sky, clouds, etc,
as some kind of symbol of freedom.
Every time the prison officers come
to take him they ask him to come to
the door. The old man with a grin
always answers "Which door?",
looking at his painted door with a
grin. And the prison officer always
answer, sighing - "The front door !".
1638
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
marquis, lord, daimyo

: person : dart; arrow
9
marquis
Marquis Keydartee (make-believe
french name, Key+dart+T).
(Going off various) Mr. T. is made a
marquis and given the key to the
city. But somebody disagrees with it
and assassinates him with a dart.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1639
climate, season, weather

: person : number one; line;
rod radical (no. 2) : dart; arrow
10
climate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The marquis has absolutely no

interest in issuses of climate change.
Hes old and near death. [Dont
forget the walking stick to symbolize
his old age.].
The marquis moves to a warmer
climate after he gets old enough to
need a walking stick to get around.
1640
decide, fix, agree upon, appoint
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: water : decide; determine;

archery glove
7
decide
Decide! "Decide?! Death by
drowning in polluted water or death
by guillotine. How can I decide?" I
asked.
To decide if someone is a witch or
not first dunk them in water. If they
dont drown they are a witch and can
be sent to the guillotine.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1641
cheerful, pleasant, agreeable,

comfortable
(no. 61) : decide; determine;
archery glove
7
cheerful
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A large crowd in a cheerful state of

mind applaude each criminal as they
become victims of the guillotine.
A cheerful crowd of insulted aliens
applaude as Datas head is chopped
off by guillotine.
1642
admirable, greatness, remarkable,

conceited, famous, excellent
: person : tanned leather
radical (no. 178)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
admirable
LOCKETs often carry inside them a
picture of a PERSON we find
ADMIRABLE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
For locket: The locket (key dangling

from something, the vertical stroke)
opens like a mouth, but you need a
jewelers monocle to make out the
pictures within. ----- Dracula
survives a staking attempt when the
locket with Minas admirable picture
deflects the blow. "It was an
admirable attempt," he admits as he
sucks his attackers blood.
1643
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
difference, differ
: tanned leather radical (no.
13
difference
Story1:
You lose your precious locket on the

road to somewhere. You ask people
if theyve seen it, but no luck. "Just
buy another one," someone says. "I
mean, whats the difference?" Then
of course you say "Well, it makes a
huge difference!! Since it has
sentimental value, I dont want a
different one! " Then of course they
understand.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
An odd version of The Road Less

Traveled: "I found a locket in the
road, and that has made all the
difference.".
1644
horizontal, woof, left & right, latitude

: thread : tanned leather
radical (no. 178)
16
horizontal
Story1:
The thread that holds the locket

around my neck is choker-length so
it stays horizontal.
Story2:
heisig:
Hint : this kanji also means

"latitude", which are the horizontal
lines on a globe. Do you remember
James Heisig's story for frame 175
"black ink" ? Here a cartographer on
a ship, is using his "thread locket" to
mark horizontal lines on a map. He
pulls a chalked thread from the
locket, and snaps it to mark
horizontal lines. Imagine the "threadlocket" in the shape of a globe, filled
with dark powder and a little bobbin
1645
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
defense, protection
: going; journey : tanned
leather radical (no. 178)
16
defense
[defense; protection] For "defense
against the dark arts" class, you go
the magical boulevard and buy an
enchanted locket.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Since it was in the middle of the

boulevard, everyone could see she
hit the man only in self-defense, as
he was trying to steal her valuable
locket.
1646
Korea
tanned leather radical (no. 178)
18
Korea
Story1:
Theres a young Korean male actor,

Yon-sama, famous amongst middleaged Japanese women. Extremely
famous. Read about his affect on
Japan/Korean relations on
Everything2.com. In any case,
women just flipped over this guy,
traveled to Korea to see his home,
started taking Korean language
classes, etc. So, imagine here the
misty eyes of the Japanese women as
they clutch their lockets with Yon-
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This character represents the flag of

South Korea: a locket (circular
taegeuk) in the middle of the mist
(white background).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_
South_Korea.
1647
dry, parch
: ten
3
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
dry
Dry one item in ten minutes on the
clothesline.
Note: the book shows the strokes for
potato rather than dry...dry does not
have the hook at the end.
1648
liver, pluck, nerve, chutzpah

: meat : dry; parch
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
liver
Well you all know that the liver is
the part of the body that would be
quite grateful if you led a dry
lifestyle (i.e. no alcohol).
The slaughterhouse prefers to ship
dried liver to the supermarkets (can
you imagine boxes soaked in blood
on the truck that delivers them?).
Imagine them lifting the slabs of
flesh and hanging them on the
clothesline to dry.
1649
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
publish, carve, engrave

: dry; parch : sword; saber;
knife
5
publish
The newspaper pages are hung on
the clotheseline to dry and then cut
down with a sabre to be published.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The newspaper pages are hung on

the clotheseline to dry. This gives
the government a chance to censor
the news: they cut up unwanted
stories with a sabre. Therefore, only
state-approved stories are published.
1650
sweat, perspire
: water : dry; parch
6
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
sweat
The way sweat is supposed to work:
it gets your skin wet, and then as it
evaporates/dries, it cools you off.
When you sweat your clothes
become soaked with water,
prompting you to hang them to dry
on a clothesline.
1651
flats, counter for houses, eaves
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: car : dry; parch

10
flats
Flats in the city are crowded. You
get a space for your car in front, and
a clothesline out back. Nothing else.
Small flats (garages) for cars help
keeping them dry.
1652
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
beach
: mountain : wild goose;
dry; parch
8
beach
At the base of mountain cliffs, there
is usually a beach. You often can see
people lying there, drying off after a
swim.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Three impossibilities for a beach:

There cannot be a beach at the top of
a mountain. There cannot be a beach
on the top of a cliff. There cannot be
a beach that is completely dry.
1653
tree-trunk
person : dry; parch
13
keyword:
Story1:
tree trunk
A fine mist is falling, and so
everyone gathers around near the
tree-trunk, effectively using the rest
of the tree as an umbrella in order to
keep dry.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
By astridtops - In the rainy mist,

Totoro is standing in front of a treetrunk at the bus stop, under the
umbrella he just received. Look at
him smiling: even when the big
drops fall, he remains dry! Great
story...which I get to by thinking:
tree-trunk->TT ->Tonari no Totoro.
I also imagine Mickey Mouse is
there too as the KUNyomi for this
kanji is .
1654
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
potato
140) : going; from
6
potato
If your potatos are growing flowers
and those little hooked roots, you
should either buy less or eat them
faster.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If your potatoes are growing flowers,

you need to store them in a more dry
place, like hanging them on hooks so
they dont accumulate moisture on
the floor.
1655
eaves, roof, house, heaven

(no. 40) : going; from
6
eaves
Story1:
Story2:
Under the eaves of the house the

poor family has potate plants.
Very good image Erik. To help those
who struggleded with this, the eaves
of a house is usually the bit where
you hang the roof gutter along,
usually made of zinc or plastic and
shaped as a half-pipe. It catches rain
water, so it flows to a drain pipe
instead of down onto people and
windows. And in this family the
potato plants grow along the eaves
so the water pours down on them.
They are poor. so no gutter.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1656
too much, myself, surplus, other,

remainder
: person : little; small
7
too much
You hang an umbrella upside-down
on a hook of the scales and fill it
with little potatoes. No luck: it
weights too much.
Story2:
heisig:
This is the kanji for

Amari, which means too little in
negative sentences and too much in
the rest (always with a negative
sense). I take the liberty of using the
symbol ">" (more than, another
meaning!!) as the umbrella
component, and using two (#2) and
little (#105) for the potato primitive.
So, this kanji either means "two
much" (more than 2) or "two little".
(thanks, Virtua_leaf and
1657
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
exclude, division (x/3), remove,

abolish, cancel, except
(no. 170) : too much; myself;
surplus; other; remainder
10
exclude
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You wont make it unless you

exclude something. The climb to the
pinacle cannot be completed if you
are carrying too much. You just have
to decide what you can afford to
exclude.
To become a member of The
Pinnacle, they test you on a scale. If
you weigh too much, they exclude
you.
1658
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
gradually, slowly, deliberately, gently

radical (no. 60) : too much;
myself; surplus; other; remainder
10
gradually
You cant expect weight loss to
happen overnight. You should limit
going to the scale to weigh yourself
to once a day or once a week, in
order to observe the anticipated
weight loss gradually.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I set up a column chart next to my

scales so I could record my weight
gradually changing.
1659
confer, relate, narrate, describe

: too much; myself; surplus; other;
remainder : or again;
9
confer
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Amazed at the weight of his crotch,

they conferred every honor upon
him. (Image: guy with his junk on a
scale getting a medal pinned to his
chest/around his neck/being
knighted, etc.).
If there is such a thing as too much
crotch, the guy who gets that much
should have an honor conferred
upon him.
1660
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
route, way, road

remainder : walk; walking;
10
route
On this route, all trucks have to
check in at the scales before they can
get on the road.
There are too many roads, so you
need to plan a route.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1661
diagonal, slanting, oblique

remainder : Big Dipper; 10
sho (vol); sake dipper; dots and
cross radical (no. 68)
11
diagonal
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The main bar of an old-fashioned

scale(balance) will be very diagonal
if you place a giant measuring cup
on one side.
The constellation of libra (meaning "
scales" in latin) is diagonal to the
handle of the big dipper.
1662
paint, plaster, daub, smear, coating
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: water : too much; myself;

surplus; other; remainder :
13
paint
If you add too much water to the
paint it will drip onto the ground.
A true artisan mixes his own paint
from water and soils on a scale in
careful proportions.
1663
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bundle, sheaf, ream, tie in bundles,

govern, manage, control
: tree; wood : mouth
7
bundle
Mnemonic: Bundle of joy. Here I see
the proverbial stork with a baby
hanging from its mouth fly straight
into a tree. Painful, but he doesnt
drop the bundle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Unlike in , this big mouth isnt

content to wait for apricots to fall in
his mouth, so he has climbed the tree
and is taking them in bundles.
1664
trust, request
: bundle; sheaf; ream; tie in
bundles; govern; manage;
control : page; leaf
16
trust
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you trust in something, you've

got your head all bundled up
(wrapped up) in it.
We found a bundle of severed heads
in your room, its difficult to trust
you.
1665
rapids, current, torrent, shallows,

shoal
: water : trust; request
19
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
rapids
You need complete trust in your
water guide to attempt Class 5 rapids.
You can never trust the water in the
rapids, it will do everything it can to
pull you under. Imagine a line of
natives with bundles upon their
heads all fighting the rapids to cross
the river.
1666
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
imperial order
control : power; strength;
9
imperial order
This is an imperial order for pizza.
To deliver the huge bundle of pizzas
to the emperor, the pizza boy needs
huge muscles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Imperial order carries quite a bundle

of executive power.
1667
alienate, rough, neglect, shun, sparse

: head; counter for
animals : bundle; sheaf; ream;
tie in bundles; govern; manage;
control
12
alienate
Story1:
[True story] In Osaka the homeless

(the alienated) live in large numbers
around the city zoo. Picture them in
winter all bundled up in rags trying
to keep warm, alienated from the
society, living literally worst than
the animals in the zoo who at least
are bundled in their natural furs and
have pens to live in sheltered from
the elements.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This kanji is so strange that it was

alienated at the kanji zoo. The
bundle of joy stork bundles this
kanji up and takes it to a kanji foster
home.
1668
quick, fast
control : walk; walking; road
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
10
quick
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack
jump over the bundled sticks in the
middle of the road. (dingomick).
Uh oh. The stork just dropped the
bundle of joy in the middle of the
road. Somebody save it, quick!
1669
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
organize, arranging, tune, tone,

meter, key (music)
: an imperial order or
decree : correct; justice;
righteous; 10**40
16
organize
Recycling in Japan, you have to
make sure all your bundles are
organized correctly otherwise the
taskmasters wont accept them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When a bundle of taskmasters

organize something chances are it
wont be done correctly because they
are constantly arguing.
1670
sabre, sword, blade, clock hand

: all : sword; saber; knife
10
saber
Story1:
If it helps, make the awl primitive

ice pick instead. Theyre basically
the same thing. This kanji is an easy
David vs. Goliath story of the
icepick vs. the saber...
Story2:
heisig:
Every self-respecting ninja knows

the story of "The Awl and the
Sabre". According to the legend, a
woman once defended herself by
using an awl against a sabre! She
used to work all day with that awl.
However, the bandit using the sabre
had no skill. And thus the awl beat
the sabre. And from there the saying
goes : "The sabre is powerless
against the awl, if one cant use the
sabre.".
1671
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
precipitous, inaccessible place,

impregnable position, steep place,
sharp eyes
(no. 170) : all
11
precipitous
The rock climber trying to get up to
the pinnacle is dangling from a
precipitous edge, hanging only one
with his icepick.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Well I have someone climbing an

inflatable precipitous pinnacle. Once
at the top it is so precipitous that the
person is afraid to climb down and
instead punctures the inflatable
pinnacle with an awl to get safely
and slowly back to the ground.
1672
examination, investigate
: tree; wood : all
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
examination
After intense cross-examination
from the prosecutor, the tree
confessed to murdering the woodpecker with an awl... "He just kept at
it, he kept poking at me with that
beak, so I thought I'd see how HE
liked it!!" The autopsy examination
revealed at least a dozen puncture
wounds, what a brutal case.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Dont confuse with exam (#1278),

test (#354), evaluate (#1487). Think
of examination as a doctors
examination. Youre having
problems getting wood in bed. You
go in for a doctors examination.
The doctor shoves an icepick into
your manhood as part of the
examination.
1673
frugal, economy, thrifty
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : all
10
frugal
Mr. T is as frugal as they come. He
uses his one ice pick for everything:
to eat, pick his teeth, clean his toilet,
kill people, cook, etc.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Khatzumoto needs to be frugal after

spending all his money on Japanese
media and none on food. His waist
has shrunk and he needs a new belt,
but being frugal he just punches
another hole with his awl.
1674
heavy, heap up, pile up, nest of

boxes, -fold
: thousand : ri; village;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
9
heavy
The first computer in the world was
as heavy as thousand computers are
now.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
To me it looks like a car with two

extra wheels, like a truck. As it is a
very heavy vehicle I suggest an
image of a huge mining truck, like
the yellow Liebherr T282B.
Remember that the first "wheel" is a
bit bent.
http://www.primidi.com/2004/06/21.
html.
1675
move, motion, change, confusion,

shift, shake
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: heavy; heap up; pile up; nest of

boxes; -fold : power; strength;
11
move
Even though the furniture is heavy,
itll be easy to move with all the
muscles that he has.
His MUSCLES are so HEAVY, he
barely can move...thats ironic.
1676
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
meritorious deed, merit

: move; motion; change;
confusion; shift; shake : fire
15
meritorious deed
A meritorious deed? Like moving a
damsel in distress out of a fire,
maybe.
Prometheus did a meritous deed for
humanity by MOVING FIRE from
the gods to us humans.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1677
work
: person : move; motion;
change; confusion; shift; shake
13
work
A person who moves something is
doing work, physically speaking.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr T, move. Mr Ts new exercise

video called "Work it suckaz". Here
is shouting "move it work it move
work it!".
1678
species, kind, class, variety, seed

115) : heavy; heap up; pile
up; nest of boxes; -fold
14
species
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Our species has a wheat heavy diet...

This kanji also means "Seed."
STORY: Scientists have developed a
new SPECIES of WHEAT that has
large HEAVY seeds. Now we can
feed the world.
1679
collide, brunt, highway, opposition

(astronomy), thrust, pierce, stab,
prick
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: going; journey : heavy;

heap up; pile up; nest of boxes; -fold
15
collide
Two heavy trucks in a game of
chicken collide while racing toward
each other on the boulevard.
Story2:
heisig:
(n) (1) important

point (e.g. on a route); (2) important
role (responsibility, etc.); (3)
(astronomical) opposition.
STORY:Two HEAVY trucks are
playing a game of chicken on the
BOULEVARD. However, they both
missed the IMPORTANT POINT:
that they have to turn in different
directions. Naturally, they
COLLIDE when they both turn in
the same direction. (ty dingomick).
1680
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
fragrant, be scented, smoke (cigs)

140) : heavy; heap up; pile
up; nest of boxes; -fold : fire
16
fragrant
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Do you know how they make those

FRAGRANT air fresheners? Well
you take some FLOWERS, compress
them with a HEAVY weight, and put
them on an OVEN FIRE for a
while... (cmp perfume (#493)).
The heavier the flowers the stronger
their fragrance when you burn them.
1681
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ill, sick
: trailing sickness; sick radical
(no. 104) : third class; 3rd;
3rd calendar sign
10
ill
Caveman got ill after flying third
class. The cabin air and food got to
him. (Primitive: these all got MUCH
easier when using CAVEMAN
instead. ).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you hang around a third class

hospital, youll get ill with the
sickness everyone else has.
1682
stupid, foolish
(no. 104) : know; wisdom
13
stupid
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Of course caveman is stupid. He

doesnt know anything. Hes a
caveman!
This kanji shows stupidity as a
"knowledge-sickness". Everybody
can be stupid at times, and it usually
happens because of a lack of
experience. Hence the stupidity is a
"knowledge sickness".
1683
pox, smallpox
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

(no. 104) : beans; pea; midget
12
pox
Caveman has horrible pox. They
look like edamame beans oozing
bight green paste.
Pox is a sickness which symptoms
include bean-shaped bumps on the
skin.
1684
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
symptoms, illness
(no. 104) : correct; justice;
righteous; 10**40
10
symptoms
Once you have all the symptoms
right, you have correctly identified
the sickness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A sickness can only be correctly

diagnosed if the symptoms are
identified correctly.
1685
rapidly
(no. 104) : dart; arrow
10
rapidly
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I picture a sick caveman, and two

people rapidly blowing darts at him.
One is blowing poison darts, the
other is blowing antidote darts. Will
the sick caveman live or die?
Depends on how rapidly they fire.
If shot with a poison dart, sickness
develops rapidly.
1686
diarrhea
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

(no. 104) : profit; advantage;
benefit
12
diarrhea
For a country full of pay-per-use
public toilets, sudden diarrhea is
certainly the most profitable
sickness!
Caveman doesnt have any skills, so
he sells his diarrhea as chili to
peasant wheat farmers for an
amazing profit.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1687
exhausted, tire, weary

(no. 104) : pelt; skin; hide;
10
tired
I picture an exhausted sick caveman
snuggling up in a comfy pelt blanket.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Your body feels tired when you have

a sickness. All you want to do is
wrap yourself up in a nice warm pelt
and get better.
1688
epidemic
(no. 104) : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
9
epidemic
Story1:
Sickness-missiles are being

engineered by bio-terrorists to
spread epidemics all over the world.
Imagine seeing footage of a place
where those sickness-missiles are
built : rows after rows of missiles,
and if you look closely on each is
inscribed in tiny letters the name of
different sickness such as "flu",
"plague", etc.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
SICKNESS / MISSILE ** Hint:

True fact about biochemical warfare:
in the medieval and ancient world,
SICKNESS in the form of the
corpses of those who had died from
some EPIDEMIC or plague were
often hurled at the enemy via the
crude MISSILE launchers of the
time. [C].
1689
pain, hurt, damage, bruise
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 104) : road with walls on
both sides
12
pain
Think of the phrase pain in the xxx.
Then think of a pogostick up your
xxx. That's painful, right? The real
question is why a pogostick is up
your xxx. That's sick, dude.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When I was feeling sick my mum

said I shouldnt go out to play on my
pogo stick until I felt better. Well I
wasnt strong enough to stay up on it
and so fell over and have the pain to
prove my mum right.
1690
mannerism, habit, vice, trait, fault,

kink
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

(no. 104) : false; punish;
crime; law
18
mannerism
Caveman has a bad mannerism of
putting ketchup on everything he
eats. I guess thats ok since raw
mammoth cant be too good...
This mannerism is a sickness of the
modern generation. It was only
recently that we started putting
ketchup on everything.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1691
hide, shelter, shield

(no. 22) : young; if; perhaps;
possibly; low number; immature
10
hide
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Young kids likes to hide in

cardboard boxes. (Primitive:
CARDBOARD BOX, especially
kids playing with them.).
Note that stroke order with box
primitive is as follows: first
horizontal line, then enclosed
element, and then a hook (its
incorrect in 4th edition).
1692
artisan, workman, carpenter
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 22) : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
radical (no. 69)
6
artisan
Hint: Artisan/Ax Def: An artisan is a
skilled manual worker; a
craftsperson. Here we see his tools
represented by the artisan's ax stored
in his toolbox.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
We here have the axe-man whos an

artisan at making sculptures with his
axe... The only thing is, he never
shows anyone, keeping all his
sculptures inside a box down in the
basement. He doesnt want any
attention.
1693
doctor, medicine
(no. 22) : dart; arrow
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
7
doctor
Easily confused: Dr. (#47), doctor
(#1694), examination (#1673),
check-up (#1724), medicine
(#1736). To avoid confusion I
renamed this medic, and picture the
medic from Team Fortress 2
returning to his box of darts in the
supply cupboard every time his
syringe gun is empty.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This DOCTOR prefers to use

DARTS instead of syringes for
injections. Here, he pulls out his
BOX of DARTS, and the child on
the examination table squirms.
1694
english:
equal, head, counter for small

animals, roll of cloth
component:

(no. 22) : legs radical (no. 10)
strokes:
keyword:
4
equal
Story1:
This kanji is used commonly as a

counter for small animals. This is a
pictograph of a SMALL ANIMALS
view from inside a CARDBOARD
BOX looking out at his masters
HUMAN LEGS. Hes probably
hiding so the master does not
COUNT him with the other animals
which will probably be eaten (thus
he avoids everyones EQUAL fate on
the farm: the kitchen table).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Imagine a magician doing that trick

where he puts his assistant in a box
and proceeds to saw her in half.
Dont the human legs sticking
horizontally out of the box remind
you of an equal sign?
1695
ward, district
(no. 22) : mow; cut grass;
subdue
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
4
ward
In the homeless ward of the city you
see people sleeping in
CARDBOARD BOXES using a
SHEAF as a pillow.
Thats the homeless ward of the city.
Wolverine lives in a cardboard box
there.
1696
hinge, pivot, door
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tree; wood : ward; district

8
hinge
Make sure you install the hinge the
right way. If it opens treeward (=
tree ward), you won't be able to get
the fence open, make sure it opens
houseward.
You notice a hinge on a tree and
realize theres a secret door. You
open it up to find an Xbox!!!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1697
assault, hit, beat, thrash

: ward; district : pike;
8
assault
The biggest assault on Japan during
WW2 is when the wards in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were wiped
out by nuclear missiles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In this hospital ward, the personnel

is assaulted by missiles. Think of a
ward where crazy old people assault
the personnel because they dont like
the food, they dont want to take
their medicines, they want to go
home, etc. The patients use whatever
they can get their hands on as
missiles.
1698
Europe
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: ward; district : lack; gap;

8
Europe
Do japanese consider Europe like
just a ward, boring enough to make
them yawn?? This kanji is offensive!
[Europe] X-Box was first released in
America and Japan (the biggest
videogame markets). Europe had an
X-Box lack for a while...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1699
repress, well, now, in the first place,

push, shove, press, seal, do in spite of
: hand : seal radical (no. 26)
7
repress
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
They would repress dissents by

cutting off their fingers and mailing
them to relatives in small boxes (of
course including stamps for proper
postage).
A true stamp collecting nerd wont
be able to repress the urge to get his
fingers on the latest box of collector
stamps!
1700
face-up, look up, depend, seek,

respect, rever, drink, take
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : lofty; high; raise;

high-priced
6
faceup
Mr T with the post package at the
post office: these stamps dont stick
to the box, foo Postguy: Try it
again but this time with the stamp,
face-up..
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr. T, his "acting career" in its

twilight, must now FACE-UP to the
fact that his mug will never appear
on a BOX of cereal or on a STAMP.
1701
welcome, meet, greet

: lofty; high; raise; highpriced : walk; walking; road
7
keyword:
welcome
Story1:
Welcome home daddy! Is that box

for me? You were on the road a long
time! I collected all the stamps from
the letters you wrote me:-) ...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Stamp-collectors sit and wait on the

road to welcome new mail arrivals.
1702
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ascend, climb up
: dotted tent radical (no.
105) : beans; pea; midget
12
ascend
When an American Indian warrior
dies, his body is placed on a TABLE
inside a TEEPEE, and a ritualistic
ceremony is held to encourage his
spirit to ASCEND to that big buffalo
hunting ground in the sky.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When I was a kid I went out

camping in a teepee. I ate beans for
dinner, and afterwards I produced so
much gas that my teepee actually
ascended in the air!
1703
lucidity, be clear, clear, clarify,

settle, strain, look grave
: water : ascend; climb up
15
lucidity
Story1:
Story2:
Scuba divers know that when you

ascend in the water, your lucidity
increases (For non-divers, the deeper
you go, the more you become
mentally impaired by nitrogen
narcosis, every 50 feet is like
drinking one martini). Scuba divers
also know that as you ascend in the
water, the lucidity of the water
improves, too.
A few drops of acid/peyote and the
Indians obtain lucidity on their
vision quest, as if they were floating
in the lucid sky.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1704
discharge, departure, publish, emit,

start from, disclose
: dotted tent radical (no.
(no.2) : eight; eight radical
(no. 12)
9
discharge
Story1:
Two pairs of human legs poking out

of a teepee: you know therell be a
discharge soon, be it sexual, violent
(husband returns home with a
weapon), or dishonourable (soldier
caught molesting a native), or
perhaps all of the above.
Story2:
I spent some time in her

TEEPEE...just the TWO of us...but I
looked between her HUMAN LEGS
and I saw a nasty DISCHARGE...so
I made my rather hastily.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1705
abolish, obsolete, cessation,

discarding, abandon
53) : departure; discharge;
publish; emit; start from; disclose;
counter for gunshots
12
abolish
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Slaves have been discharged from

the caves where they were kept
thanks to the abolition of slavery.
Guns were abolished, so gun
enthusiats left for the hills to
discharge their guns in caves.
1706
colleague, official, companion

: person : large; big :
days : little; small
strokes:
keyword:
14
colleague
Story1:
A colleague implies someone that

you share work with, such as in your
company or profession, etc. Here
your colleague helps you to erect
your pup tent during a company
outing. Note: Heisig's warning to
keep this distinct from other similiar
kanji such as companion (#19),
friend (#704), consort (#1203) and
comrade (#1637). That is why I
chose to have the person element
pictured as someone (the colleague
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mr. T began working in a japanese

compagny. As he sees that his
colleague accept to do some extra
work during the week-end and even
sleep at the office, he says to them:
"I pity da fool who work during
week-end! You might as well install
a pup tent in the office and forget
about your home".
1707
dormitory, hostel, villa, tea pavillion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : fuel used for
sacrifices
15
dormitory
A dormitory is right in the middle
between living in a house and living
in a pup tent.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This guy would rather use his puptent as a house, than sleep in the
dormitory. So he effectively turned
that pup-tent into a house by getting
a postal address for it etc. (just to
emphasize house).
1708
heal, cure
(no. 104) : fuel used for
sacrifices
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
17
heal
On the battlefield, the only place to
heal from your sickness is inside the
medic's pup tent. Think of M.A.S.H.
Sick caveman has to sleep in his pup
tent. Not the cave because to humid
and cold but a nice small pup tent in
the sun will heal him from his cold.
1709
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
carve, engrave, chisel

: circumference; circuit;
lap : three; hair ornament;
short hair or fur radical (no. 59)
11
carve
A lathe is used to carve a shape with
circumference into wood or metal.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Start with a circumference and carve

away until you get the shape you
want.
1710
shape, form, style

: put together : three; hair
ornament; short hair or fur radical
(no. 59)
7
shape
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Everyone in the kindergarten came

up with fun and interesting shapes
made out of Play-Doh, except for the
kid with the amputated arm. Seems
like you really need both hands.
With your two hands, outline the
shape of a curvaceous woman. Is
that a universally understood
gesture? [Careful: mould (#680)
which has two hands and soil/clay].
1711
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shadow, silhouette, phantom

: scenery; view : three; hair
(no. 59)
15
shadow
The sun over the capital cast a
shadow with the same shape.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You're out hiking looking at the

SCENERY, suddenly out of the
corner of your vision you see a large
SHADOW's indistinct SHAPE...
could it be a grizzly? (cmp shade
(#1592)).
1712
cedar, cryptomeria
: tree; wood : three; hair
(no. 59)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
7
cedar
Cedar is an evergreen tree that keeps
its SHAPE all year long. That is, it
doesnt loose its needles/leaves in
the winter.
Cedar is a wood that keeps its shape.
(This is true, it's rot resistant.).
1713
coloring, paint, makeup
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: dice; form; appearance; take;

coloring : three; hair
(no. 59)
11
coloring
In Sydney we occasionally get exotic
birds. You first notice a colouring in
a tree. You look more carefully and
you make out the shape of a bird
(here represented by its claws).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When coloring something in you

grab the crayon of choice to fill in
the shapes.
1714
patent, clear
: badge; chapter; composition;
poem; design : three; hair
(no. 59)
14
patent
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The shape of a sheriffs badge makes

it patent who he is.
It was patently absurd when the
fellow tried to arrest me--his badge
was the wrong shape: a vase and a
sunflower? Come now.
1715
lad, boy (ancient)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

erect : wild goose; trailing
cliff radical (no. 27) : three;
hair ornament; short hair or fur
radical (no. 59)
lad
A lad standing on the top of a cliff,
looking into the far, and thinking
how to shape his future.
A young lad is standing atop a cliff,
looking at the writhing shape of his
fallen lass below.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1716
face, expression
: lad; boy (ancient) : page;
leaf
18
face
A lad's head still has a baby's face.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When I was a lad, a pretty face was

all it took for someone to get in my
head, and Id fill pages of lovelorn
letters to them.
1717
ought, by all means, necessarily

: three; hair ornament; short hair
or fur radical (no. 59) : page;
leaf
12
ought
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Why, I OUGHT to RESHAPE your

HEAD...
Since this Kanji is exceptional, the
shape ought to be on the left side.
Got that into your head?
1718
swell, get fat, thick

: meat : swelling; sound of
drum
16
swell
Story1:
This kanji does not mean swell as in

a inflammation. There is a different
kanji for that meaning ().
This kanji means swell as in, a tire
swelling/expanding, your income
swelling/expanding, dough
swelling/expanding, etc. Johnskb's
story is best b/c it does not involve
swelling in the sense of
inflammation, just general expansion
of the stomach. STORY: "If a PART
OF your BODY begins to
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Which part of your body can change

shape and, when it does, swells up
and throbs like a drumb? Hmmm...
1719
nonplussed, three, going, coming,

visiting, visit, be defeated, die, be
madly in love
(no. 28) : large; big :
three; hair ornament; short hair or
fur radical (no. 59)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
8
visit
Im going to visit my grandpa in the
hospital. He broke his elbow, and it
became really big and contorted into
a weird shape. I hope he will be all
right!
Whenever the postman has to pay a
visit to this place, he brings an
elbow-shaped thingy that he throws
to the St. Bernard.
1720
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wretched, disaster, cruelty, harsh

(no. 61) : nonplussed; three;
going; coming; visiting; visit; be
defeated; die; be madly in love
11
wretched
Whenever I have to visit the
relatives... that puts me in one hell of
a wretched state of mind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Data feels wretched because he has

no family to visit.
1721
discipline, conduct oneself well,

study, master
three; hair ornament; short hair or
fur radical (no. 59)
10
discipline
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Mr. T is a harsh taskmaster who will

discipline you (beat you into shape)
with his walking stick.
You may not have known it, but Mr.
T is into discispline. Not just self
discipline, in order to get into shape,
but what he really likes is when the
Task master spanks him with her
walking stick. Dont tell Mr. T I told
you. I pity da fool, and da fool
would be me!!!
1722
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
rare, curious, strange

: king; rule; magnate :
person : three; hair ornament;
9
rare
Story1:
It's rare to see the king carrying his

own parasol - typically he gets one
of his attendants to do it for him
(thanks to Katsuo for umbrella +
shape = parasol and to Peppi for the
story idea).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Tip: umbrella + shape : This

four times in Heisig, so it may be
suggest "parasol" (because it is the
same shape as an umbrella). REF:
rare (FRAME 1723) , check-up
(#1724), measles (#2574), fallible
(#2720).
1723
checkup, seeing, diagnose, examine
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : person : three;

radical (no. 59)
12
checkup
At my last check-up, the doctor said
to me: "Start carrying a parasol, or
you might get skin cancer. You've
been tanning too much!" [Umbrella
over shape = parasol].
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The doctor at my checkup was

expressing words of concern about
my umbrella shaped gut.
1724
sentence, literature, style, art,

decoration, figures, plan
mow; cut grass; subdue
4
sentence
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A twist on greenapple: The teacher

puts a tophat on all pupils with
gramatically correct sentences, while
the rest are left with a big red X on
their homework.
The teacher in the tophat puts an X
on all the grammatically incorrect
sentences.
1725
vis-a-vis, opposite, even, equal,

versus, anti-, compare
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: sentence; literature; style; art;

decoration; figures; plan; literary
7
vis-a-vis
When sitting vis-a-vis, Scots will
glue their kilt down to avoid
embaressment.
The word vis-a-vis is like sentence
glue, it kind of joins sentences
together.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1726
family crest, figures

: thread : sentence;
literature; style; art; decoration;
figures; plan; literary radical (no. 67)
10
family crest
The Scottish weave their family
crests with thread on plaid fabric.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A family crest sown on to a garment

with thread sometimes has a Latin
sentence as a motto.
1727
mosquito
sentence; literature; style; art;
radical (no. 67)
10
mosquito
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The mosquito (an insect) knows only

one sentence: Bzzzzz.
Mosquitoes are the insect who love
Scots in plaid kilts because it makes
for easy access to the best parts.
1728
adjusted, alike, equal, similar variety

of
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: sentence; literature; style; art;

radical (no. 67) : two; two
radical (no.2)
8
adjusted
The Scotsman goalkeeper adjusted
himself. He reached down and
adjusted the two things between his
skinny fencepost legs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
HINT: this kanji as a primitive can

mean goalkeeper. The "fence posts"
are goalposts, and the two
goalkeepers wear plaid uniforms
(this kanji also means uniform as in
even), making them uniform with
each other and distinguishing them
as goalkeepers from the rest of the
team.
1729
dose, medicine, drug
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: alike; equal; similar;

Saito : sword; saber; knife
10
dose
When my medicine dose is way too
large, I adjust it by cutting it into
smaller pieces with my saber.
We had to adjust his dose slightly,
after he went on a rampage with a
sabre.
1730
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
finish, come to an end, excusable,

need not
: water : alike; equal;
similar; Saito
11
finish
When the goalkeeper finishes the
game, he drinks a lot of water and
adjusts himself.
Finish him! Subzero adjusts the
water in your body and crushes you
into a few million pieces.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1731
purification, Buddhist food, room,

worship, avoid, alike
: alike; equal; similar; Saito
11
purification
Story1:
Story2:
Purification? I think of Japanese

during new year's eve
praying(saying sentences) in front of
Itsukushima's shrine
torii(fenceposts) and its altar. They
expect to enter the new year totally
purified.
Kind of vulgar, but here the
SCOTSMAN got tired of adjusting
himself so decided try
PURIFICATION. Sadly, he did it by
straddling the ALTAR with his
skinny LEGS.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1732
solemn, quietly, softly

radical (no. 129) : rice; USA;
metre
11
solemn
Even though its a maddening task,
the monks stay solemn as they rake
rice between the fenceposts.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Note: This is not sieve as it has a full

rice and not rice grains and the hook
is missing from rake. Also the given
stroke order is incorrect (fenceposts
should come last).
1733
bases, fort, rampart, walls, base(ball)

radical (no. 15) : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
12
bases
Playing baseball in a rice field with
sparklers stuck into the ground to act
as bases.
The traditional New Years baseball
game in Japan is held at midnight in
a rice field. They stick sparklers in
the ground for the bases so they can
be seen, and to be more festive.
1734
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
music, comfort, ease

days : two-stroke water
radical or ice radical (no. 15) :
tree; wood
13
music
Zelda: Ocarina of Time - The white
sparkly thing is Navi. Shes
hovering/dancing around a tree to
the legendary Lost Woods music.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
There we were at the concert...her

voice was like a dove...her dress
sparkled...then suddenly, a tree fell
on her.....
1735
medicine, chemical, enamel,

gunpowder, benefit
140) : music; comfort; ease
16
medicine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
New-age medicine involves using

things like music and flowers
(aromatherapy) as treatment.
Oh man, this medicinal marijuana is
making me hear MUSIC and see
FLOWERS everywhere...
1736
ratio, rate, proportion, %,

coefficient, factor
radical (no. 15) : ten
strokes:
keyword:
11
Story1:
ratio
Its quite mysterious how each
sparkler gives of sparkles at a
precise ratio of ten to one. Physicists
have been studying this effect for
decades, known as the Sparkler
Effect, and using it to explain why
stars look like sparklers in the night
sky.
Story2:
It's mysterious how there's always a

ratio of ten sparklers to one package.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1737
astringent, hesitate, reluctant, have

diarrhea
: water : stop; halt :
radical (no. 15)
11
astringent
Story1:
Story2:
I think that Heisig meant this as the

"slightly bitter but fresh" meaning
that it can have to describe foods
like lemons (). So imagine a
guy trying a cocktail (water), feeling
like hes been kicked in the face
(footprint) and sparks are flying
from his tongue. How did it taste?.
Hmm, yes, slightly bitter, but fresh".
If you eat something astringent
water will stop the sparkly sensation
in your mouth.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1738
vicarious, surrogate, act in addition

to
: hand : whisper :
radical (no. 15)
13
vicarious
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Now that Im a responsible adult, I

have to get my vicarious thrills from
watching stupid people put sparklers
up to their ears and burn their fingers.
I put my fingers in my ears to avoid
going deaf while getting a vicarious
thrill from watching kids light off
sparklers and fireworks on Chinese
New Year.
1739
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
center, middle
(no. 2) : large; big
5
center
Youve got the st bernard dead centre
in your sights (the box).
The center of a dogs universe is his
mouth: bark, eat, bite. What a life!
1740
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
England, English
140) : center; middle
8
England
The original great seal of the king of
England had a very ornate flower in
the center.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
England is a country where people

think theyre the flower at the center
of the world. (a description that
would fit China much better.. ).
1741
reflect, reflection, projection

days : center; middle
9
reflect
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In the solar system, the Sun is the

central source of all light, everything
else just reflects it.
A solar power plant consists of
thousands of mirrors reflecting the
suns rays, concentrating the energy
on a focal point at the centre. See
here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_T
wo.
1742
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
red
7
red
He was stabbed with a dagger, and
little drops of red blood dropped
onto the ground.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
There was red all over the soil after

Little Red Riding Hood plunged a
dagger into the wolf. Those two dots
we see are wolfies animal legs we
see, by the way (a la smithsonian).
1743
pardon, forgiveness
: red : strike; hit; folding
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
pardon
The student blushed until his face
was red, so the schoolmaster decided
to pardon him.
There arent many pardons given by
the Red taskmasters in China. 80%
of the worlds death penalties are
performed there...
1744
unusual, change, strange
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: also; again : winter radical

(no. 34)
9
unusual
Its quite unusual and abnormal to
see an apple with walking legs
running away from the person who
wants to eat it!
Imagine an apple on walking legs on
stage singing "Its not unusual to be
loved by anyone" (Tom Jones).
Keyword can be confused with
uncommon (#1797).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1745
tracks, mark, print, impression

for pairs of footwear : also;
again
13
tracks
Pirate pokes the tip of his wooden
leg into an apple to disguise his
tracks.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To hide his distinctive wood-leg

tracks, this pirate is throwing apples
after his tracks in order for animals
to come and confuse his tracks.
1746
barbarian
: also; again : insect; bug;
temper
12
barbarian
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The barbarian picks an apple from

above and eats it even though there
is a worm (insect) in it.
Barbarians eat apples with worms
still in them.
1747
romance, in love, yearn for, miss,

darling
: also; again : heart; mind;
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
romance
The romance between Snow White
and Prince Charming started when
Snow White took a bite of poison
apple and her heart stopped.
A childhood romance: a boy takes a
red apple to school to try to win the
heart of his beloved.
1748
gulf, bay, inlet
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : curve; stretching a

bow
12
gulf
In his most daring feat, William tell
used his bow to shoot an apple off
the head of his son across the water
of the gulf.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
An army of archers must cross a gulf

of water. Fortunately there are
millions of apple trees growing in
the cliffs above the gulf. The archers
use their bows to shoot down apple
after apple, which all fall into the
water and slowly fill up the the gulf
until the archer soliders can cross on
foot.
1749
yellow
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: yellow, yellow radical (no. 201)

11
yellow
The salad did not look very
appetizing... The sprouts were
yellow and there were animal legs
sticking out of it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I order a salad with sprouts. Im

asked if Id like to add chicken. Yes
please. My salad then arrives . . . .
topped with these horribly gnarled
yellow things. Chicken feet! (animal
legs) ugh.
1750
sideways, side, horizontal, width,

woof
: tree; wood : yellow
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
sideways
A tree went all yellow. It died and
fell down, ending up sideways.
In a horrible accident, a yellow
schoolbus gets wrapped sideways
around a tree.
1751
grasp, faggot, bunch, counter for

bundles
: hand : comma-design
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
grasp
Japanese censorship laws require
pornos to use a mosaic screen, so
you cant see what the porno chick is
grasping with her fingers (but you
can assume, neetch).
Your fingers grasp the Rubics
cube... if only your brain could too.
1752
color
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

radical (no. 20) : commadesign
6
color
Ever look closely at mosaics? They
contain a bunch of images bound up
into a larger one. It seems amazing
until you realize that the only quality
of the smaller images that really
matters is their colour.
Bound up in the Rubiks cube are
the 6 different colours.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1753
discontinue, beyond, sever, cut off,

abstain, interrupt, suppress
: thread : color
12
discontinue
I can't finish my sewing project
because the thread color I was using
was discontinued.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
As times move on and fashion tastes

inevitably change, threads of certain
colors often get discontinued.
1754
glossy, luster, glaze, polish, charm,

colorful, captivating
: bountiful; excellent; rich :
color
19
glossy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To print something with bountiful

colour, they use glossy paper.
Glossy prints bring out bountiful
colors more so than matte...
1755
fertilizer, get fat, fertile, manure,

pamper
: meat : comma-design
8
fertilizer
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
PART OF YOUR BODY excretes

something that is commonly used for
FERTILIZER. Sometimes this
process is slow, so you solve a
RUBIKS CUBE while you sit and
wait.
If youre sick, a part of your body
may produce fertilizer that makes a
colorful mosaic.
1756
sweet, coax, pamper, be content,

sugary
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: twenty; 20
5
sweet
Little red riding hood is carrying
around a wicker basket filled with
sweet baked cookies for granny.
Girls are kinda sweet and sexy until
they reach their twenties. So 20
minus ONE.
1757
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dark blue, navy

: thread : sweet; coax;
pamper; be content; sugary
11
navy blue
Thanks raulir - As many Japanese
perverts know, navy blue threads
conceal school girl sweetness
underneath.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Much like Violet Beauregarde from

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
Spiderman failed to heed Willy
Wonkas warnings, and upon
chewing on the 3 course meal
chewing gum turned a very navy
shade of navy blue.
1758
so-and-so, one, a certain, that person

: sweet; coax; pamper; be content;
sugary : tree; wood
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
9
so-and-so
I had the same idea as fuabrisu. A
generic person is described here as
having body sort of like a tree trunk
and head sort of like a wicker basket.
Two girls with a lollipop in a tree
gossiping so-and so did this.
really? so-and what did she do o
she is sooo wrong...
1759
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
conspire, cheat, impose on, plan,

devise, scheme, have in mind,
deceive
: say : so-and-so; one; a
certain; that person
16
conspire
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I imagine a clique of catty girls

conspiring against a another
girl...they are exchanging lots of
words, chatting about how so-and-so
girl is now up to such-and-such
(gasp!), and how they will spread the
word about it.
You might hear the words of
someone conspiring... "If you do soand-so...".
1760
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mediator, go-between
: woman; female : so-andso; one; a certain; that person
12
mediator
The woman hoped her friend
would act as mediator to set her up
with the guy she liked. She didn't
mention his name, just referred to
him as "A certain unnamed person -I'll call him 'Mr. So-and-So ' ...."
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The two little gossiping girls with

their lollipops are having a fight.
Now an adult woman (mom or
teacher) has to come between them
an serve as a mediator.
1761
deceit, cheat, delude

: that : lack; gap; fail;
12
deceit
Story1:
Story2:
He escaped using deceit. That is, he

ran past while the guard was
yawning and hid in the bushel basket.
Every day, a smuggler takes bushel
baskets on donkeys across the
border. But the border patrols can
never arrest him for lack of evidence
no matter how much they search the
bushel baskets: they cant find
whatever he is smuggling. What was
his deceit? He was smuggling
donkeys!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1762
chess piece, Japanese chess, shogi

: tree; wood : that
12
chess piece
Tree + Bushel Bucket: Chess pieces
carved from trees were tossed into a
bushel bucket for sorting into sets.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Ever seen those huge chess games in

parks? The large wooden chess
pieces need to be carted in a
shopping trolley.
1763
national flag, banner, standard

alternative : that
14
national flag
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The national flag of Croatia. It's a

banner with the Croatian coat of
arms, commonly referred to as the
Chessboard
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of
_arms_of_Croatia).
The national flag is the banner of a
country; stored in a whicker basket
at night and taken out to the flagpole
in the morning.
1764
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
period, time, date, term

: that : meat
12
period
The slowest remote chess game ever:
a one month period between every
move.
The girls panties are all in the
bushel basket as its that time of the
month again... her period.
1765
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
Go
: that : stone
13
Go
Go is chess played with stones.
The ignorant gaijin put a rook on top
of his opponents stone when
playing Go, much to the
consternation of the Japanese
players.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1766
fundamentals, radical (chem),

counter for machines, foundation
: that : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
11
fundamentals
Fundamentals of chess: use the
rooks to protect your ground.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A Bushel-basket full of earth

contains the fundementals of
farming. i.e. earth.
1767
tremendously, very, great,

exceedingly
: sweet; coax; pamper; be content;
sugary : equal; head; counter
for small animals; roll of cloth
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
tremendously
Its a tremendous match between the
two chess-players. They are clearly
eachothers equal.
These two bushel baskets are
tremendously huge. But not only
they are huge, they are also perfectly
equal in size.
1768
intuition, perception
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tremendously; very; great;

exceedingly : power; strength;
11
intuition
Intuition is a tremendously powerful
resource of the mind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Using Zareons story for the

previous frame "tremendously"...
The two chessplayers who are
eachothers equals are so good at
chess that they dont have to even
move a muscle. Their brain power
does it for them. Furthermore, they
dont even have to think, really.
Their intuition takes control. This is:
extreme chess.
1769
withstand, endure, support, resist
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

Turkey : tremendously; very;
great; exceedingly
12
withstand
Because I hid myself behind a huge
dirt barrier I dug, I was able to
withstand the tremendous nuclear
blast.
Plain old soil can withstand
tremendous amounts of pressure.
1770
onyomi:
english:
precious, value, prize, esteem, honor

center : shellfish
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
precious
Inside your purse is all of your
money and your keys () etc. All of
your precious valuables.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Frodo kept the precious in the purse

but did a switch with some worthless
shells when he went to sleep. Heres
gollum opening the purse "ahhh my
preciousssssss.....why you m*****
*****!!!!!.
1771
bequeath, leave behind, reserve
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: precious; value; prize; esteem;

honor : walk; walking; road
15
bequeath
Bequeath is an odd old word, isnt
it? Basically, it just deals with how I
want my precious possessions dealt
out, after I die, later down the road.
"Being of sound, but antiquated,
mind, I bequeath this to you!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Bilbo bequeathes the "PRECIOUS"

to Frodo, who will carry it on the
long ROAD to Mordor.
1772
dispatch, send, give, donate, do,

undertake
center : walk; walking; road
13
keyword:
Story1:
dispatch
Bond has stolen a lady spy's purse
while she was asleep after their
evening together. When she
discovers it's gone, she dispatches
some henchmen on the road after
him to dispatch him, but Bond
evades them and escapes with the
purse.
Story2:
heisig:
Apart from meaning DISPATCH,

this kanji can mean "to give (to
someone lower than you)," "to do,"
and to even "have intercourse."
STORY: The MAESTRO is on the
ROAD waiting for a pimp to
DISPATCH some new ladies (lower
than him) so that he can GIVE
THEM money from his PURSE and
then DO IT with them. Where is the
MAESTROS baton? You dont
wanna know...
1773
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dance, flit, circle, wheel

(no.1) : dancing radical (no.
136)
15
dance
The yakuza boss reclines in the
oaken bathtub wearing his shades
while his personal harem dances
naked for him.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
I learned nothingness (#1775) first

because it is a very common kanji.
Probably easier to think of this kanji
in that context. Attractive dancers
should dance wearing nothing but
sunglasses.
1774
nothingness, none, ain't, nothing, nil,

not
(no.1) : fire
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
12
nothingness
When I enter the wooden tub heated
by flames in the onsen, I can let all
my worries slip away and be
submerged into nothingness.
In a hot tub you can relax and have
your stress vanish into nothingness.
1775
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
association, braid, plait, construct,

assemble, unite, cooperate, grapple
: thread : moreover; also;
furthermore
11
association
A common thread associates the
knick-knacks on your knick-knack
shelf. Souveneirs from Spain on one,
from Japan on the other.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Watch this:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r
249/sith_lord10/updated%20showroo
m%20july/s29.jpg The leader of the
Spiderman association has tons of
Spiderman figurines lined up on his
shelf.(Zactacular).
1776
coarse, rough, rugged

moreover; also; furthermore
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
11
coarse
Japanese carpenters don't use
sandpaper, they use rice-paper(rice
glued on to some paper). Here the
carpenter is using the coarse paper to
smooth out the shelf he's making.
Ugh, why does this shelf feel so
coarse? Because its made of rice, of
coarse! Get it? Of coarse??
Hahahahahahahahahah god i hate
my life.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1777
tariff, crop tax, borrowing

115) : moreover; also;
furthermore
10
tariff
Story1:
Story2:
The EU and US impose such high

tariffs on food imports that third
world wheat (the most basic of
staples) never reaches first world
supermarket shelves.
According to Henshall, this kanji
originally represented the harvested
rice (the wheat primitive) that
farmers paid as a tithe. Its meaning
today would seem to be very similar.
Imagine the farmer putting aside
some of his harvested wheat on a
shelf in order to pay the tariff to his
lord.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1778
ancestor, pioneer, founder

express; display : moreover;
also; furthermore
9
ancestor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The ancestor worship is so common

in Daoist and buddhist countries that
you can buy tiny altars to put on the
shelves, one for each deceased
family member.
The urns of ancestors are kept on
shelves next to the altar.
1779
thwart, separate from, prevent,

obstruct, deter, impede
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

(no. 170) : moreover; also;
furthermore
8
thwart
Keeping porn on the pinnacle of a
bookshelf can thwart snooping kids
(thanks bodhisamaya).
The shortness of the Japanese
thwarts their attempts to reach the
topmost (pinnacle) shelf without
grabbing a chair.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1780
investigate
: tree; wood : moreover;
also; furthermore
9
investigate
Like the "ero inquiry" that had been
partially swept under the rug (see
inquire (#1145)), this kanji depicts
the investigation into the forestry
scandal being shelved.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The result of the inverstigation of

the missing Trees? Why, most of
them had become shelfs!
1781
help, rescue, assist

: moreover; also;
furthermore : power; strength;
7
help
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
HELP! Someones pinned under this

bookshelf and its gonna take a lot of
muscle to lift it off!
Can you help me move this shelf? I
dont have the muscle to do it alone.
1782
best regards, good

(no. 40) : moreover; also;
furthermore
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
8
best regards
It seems like every time my Japanese
friends send me their best regards,
they accompany them with a gift.
Over time, Ive gotten so many that I
had to buy a second house which
contains nothing but several fancy
shelves. Each shelf is dedicated to a
certain friend of mine and contains
every last one of their presents.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
We have a shelf in our house where

we put Christmas cards from people
who send best regards for the
holiday season...
1783
tatami mat, counter for tatami mats,

fold, shut up, do away with
: rice field; rice paddy : washaped crown radical (no.
14) : moreover; also;
furthermore
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
tatami mat
The king is peacefully sleeping on
his new tatami mat when all of a
sudden a shelf falls over and kills
him. You can see his crown poking
out and the brains splatter out the
top of his head from all the pressure.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Making tatami mats from rice field

waste was Japans crowning
achievement, but for some reason
other countries just shelved the idea.
1784
row, and, besides, as well as, line up,

rank with, rival, equal
12) : one; one radical (no.1)
8
keyword:
Story1:
row
This is a simplification of , a
ideogram of two people standing in a
row.
Story2:
heisig:
Hint : as a primitive I use the image

of a rowing boat. In a rowing boat
people sit in rows, but also side-byside (another meaning of the kanji),
working together (yet another
meaning of this kanji). Note : there
will also be a kanji for "rowboat"
coming at frame 1876. The rowing
boat is associated with the sport, and
is a primitive, while the kanji for
"rowboat" has a generic meaning of
"a small boat". In any case, the kanji
1785
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
universal, wide(ly), generally,

Prussia
: row; and; besides; as well as;
line up; rank with; rival;
equal : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
12
universal
Story1:
A row of suns is actually a normal,

plain, and ordinary occurrence in an
infinitely large and expanding
universe. FUtsuu.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To me, row is way too close to file

(#812), so Im adopting Fabs
meaning of rowboat from the
previous frame. Universal Studios
went through a number of logo
animations before settling on the one
they are most famous for: the letters
UNIVERSAL orbiting the Earth.
One of the most ridiculous of these
involved a man rowing himself in a
boat around the sun.
1786
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
musical score, music, note, staff,

table, genealogy
: say : universal; wide(ly);
generally; Prussia
19
musical score
Musical scores are in a universal
language.
A musical score can be read, but not
like ordinary words. Music is a
universal language.
1787
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
damp, wet, moist

counter for days
12
damp
You first wash you clothes with
water and wring them until they are
just damp before hanging them in a
row under the sun to dry. If you
dont wring them damp first they
will take days to dry!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If your things are damp, lay them up

in a row under the sun and let the
water evaporate. (thx Raichu)...
1788
appear, existing
days : page; leaf
18
appear
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Somebody's head appears from

behind the laundry in a row drying
under the sun
Clouds were covering the sky for
months now. Rows upon rows of
people spent whole days with their
heads turned upwards, waiting for
sun to appear.
1789
slender, fine, thin kimono
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: thread : soil; earth;

ground; Turkey : halberd;
17
slender
At the end of Thanksgiving it's
tradition for everyone to stand in a
row and measure their waist with a
strip of thread. Whoever is the most
slender wins the leftovers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
At the time of Thanksgiving, theres

a row of all sorts of food on the
table, which you mustnt eat if you
want to stay as slender as a thread.
1790
spirits, soul
: rain : two; two radical
(no.2)
15
spirits
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
After raining for two days in a row,

you plead with the SPIRITS for
some relief. (Adapted from
johnskb,21-5-2006).
When it rains, two worlds come
together and spirits can be seen in
the forest, dancing in a row.
1791
business, vocation, arts, performance
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

12) : sheep : tree; wood
13
profession
The oldest profession: prostitution. I
was once in a brothel in Amsterdam
where the working girls had a group
of businessmen blindfolded and
hanging upside down in a row, not
yet spanked and whipped, but
waiting eagerly.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A bunch of kids are hanging upside

down in a row on the monkeybars.
Naturally, they haven't chosen a
profession, at least not yet.
1792
slap, strike, hit, beat, tell, speak

: hand : None
15
slap
Story1:
Story2:
After a row husbands take their

wives upsides down over the knee
and slap them with their fingers on
the bottom (if that doesnt get me
banned).
Here we have badly behaving
HUSBANDs, whose wives have had
them hung UPSIDE DOWN IN A
ROW. Each wife approaches her
HUSBAND, berates him, gives him
a sharp SLAP in the face and, ThreeStooges style, pokes him in the eyes
with her FINGERS.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1793
me, I (male)
: person : None
14
me
Story1:
Mr. T also finds himself as one of

the HUSBANDs, whose wives have
had them hung UPSIDE DOWN IN
A ROW. But when his wife comes
up to punish him, he pleads, Its
ME, Baby. I wasnt behaving badly
like these other foos..
Story2:
heisig:
Building on johnskb: Although it

goes against the Heisig method, this
story is a lot easier to remember
when you know its the kanji for
"boku." Males usually use either
"boku" or "ore" (instead of
"watashi") to refer themselves.
"Boku" is slightly boyish and soft;
"ore" is rough & tough. Mr. T would
definitely use "ore" -- but when hes
one of the husbands hung upside
down in a row about to be punished
1794
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
together, both, neither, all, and,

alike, with
6
together
Story1:
Story2:
The character for deluge (#1799)

gave me the idea to use together as a
primitive for Noahs Ark. Noah kept
plenty of salad on board to entice the
animals with their animal legs to
scurry on board together, two by two.
The conjoined twins, who are always
together, have trouble eating
together because one is a vegetarian,
eating salad and the other is a avid
meat eater, eating chicken
legs.[Thanks fuaburisu!].
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1795
submit, offer, present, serve (meal),

accompany
: person : together; both;
neither; all; and; alike; with
8
submit
You have to SUBMIT all required
documents together, in person!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When people are together and form a

group, they suddenly submit their
personal responsibility to the mob
mentality.
1796
uncommon, queerness, strangeness,

wonderful, curious, unusual
together; both; neither; all; and;
alike; with
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
11
uncommon
Brains together with beauty is an
uncommon combination.
Its uncommon to find a pair of
together twins who are connected at
the brain! When such a set does turn
up, they are inevitably showcased on
TV.
1797
wing, plane, flank
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

rabbits : uncommon;
queerness; strangeness; wonderful;
curious; unusual
17
wing
The thing about feathers is that they
usually cover the entire bird. A
creature with feathers only on its
wings would be very uncommon.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
WINGS without any FEATHERS

would be an UNCOMMON site.
Well, unless you like to eat chicken
WINGS alot.
1798
deluge, flood, vast

: water : together; both;
neither; all; and; alike; with
9
deluge
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Lots of water coming together is

called a deluge.
A real deluge of water, as if all water
worked together, as if strung
together haphazardly.
1799
harbor
: water : fork in road;
scene; arena; theater
12
harbor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
During a deluge, all the poor snakes

get washed into the harbour.
All throughout the deluge Noah had
been kicking himself for forgetting
to bring any snakes onto the Ark. It
wasnt until the deluge had finished,
and Noah had brought the Ark safely
back to the harbour that he realised
that the snakes had been under the
Ark all along.
1800
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
outburst, rave, fret, force, violence,

cruelty, outrage
days : together; both; neither;
all; and; alike; with : water
15
outburst
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
If you think of it as of outburst of an

atomic bomb (which will also prove
useful in the next frame), then
imagining thousands of suns blasting
in one single outburst of rage and
turning people into rice grains is not
that hard.
Having spent all day stringing
together grains of rice he suddenly
had an outburst, "I can take it any
longer!".
1801
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
bomb, burst open, pop, split

: fire : outburst; rave; fret;
force; violence; cruelty; outrage
19
bomb
Actually means explosion, like an
outburst of fire.
Bombs make fiery outbursts. Its
almost too logical, this one.
1802
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
respect, reverent
: together; both; neither; all; and;
alike; with : heart; mind;
10
respect
If you wanna stay together you have
to show your valentine respect.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
As I like Aretha Franklin's song "RE-S-P-E-C-T", I cut out each of the

letters from pieces of card, then
string them all together and send it
to her as a valentine.
1803
elect, select, choose, prefer

: southeast : walk; walking;
15
keyword:
Story1:
elect
Isn't this how the US presedential
election works? You are given a
choice between two snakes. Their
politics are actually strung together
but you get to feel as though you
chose which one you want to lead
you down the political road for the
next four years. So which snake are
you going to elect?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Youre driving on the road and you

see two snakes together. You cant
avoid both, so you have to elect
which one gets run over.
1804
english:
Mr., hall, mansion, palace, temple,

lord
component:

44) : together; both; neither;
all; and; alike; with : pike;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
13
Mr.
Mr. President in his palace, ordering
missiles to be fired at a harmless
enemy in order to unite us together
under the flag.
Mr. President! We all stand here
together under a national flag. One
thing is certain: well never give in.
We are launching nuclear missiles
now to implement mutually assured
destruction protocol.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1805
well
(no. 55)
4
well
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I nearly died by falling in a well.

Actually, on two separate occasions.
Im glad to see theyve added these
fence posts. Now the well will be
much safer.
Have you ever seen an old fashioned
japanese well? ==
http://cruises.about.com/od/southeast
asiacruise1/ig/Osaka-Japan/AncientWell-at-Osaka-Castle.htm.
1806
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
surround, besiege, store, paling,

enclosure, encircle, preserve, keep
box : well; well crib; town;
community
7
surround
The village surrounded the well with
a wall so kids wouldnt fall in.
You get good surround sound when
your pent-up in well.
1807
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
till, plow, cultivate

: come; plough; 3-branch tree
radical (no. 127) : well; well
crib; town; community
10
till
If you just grow your christmas tree
in a well, there will be no need to till
the soil.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A man was tilling a new plot to plant

xmas trees but his tractor hit an old
covered-up well and fell halfway in,
hes asking for a new tractor for
xmas..
1808
Asia, rank next, come after, -ous

mouth
7
Asia
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In Asian countries, people use II

chopsticks to get things into their
mouths. Just imagine someone
shoving a piece of sushi into their
mouths with chopsticks.
A mouth barred up and not aloud to
speak freely is the sign of asia
(korea, China, pakistan etc).
1809
bad, vice, rascal, false, evil, wrong
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: Asia; rank next; come after; ous : heart; mind; spirit; heart
radical (no. 61)
11
bad
Because Asian people started to eat
Western food, their hearts became
bad and they started having heart
attacks.
Story2:
heisig:
Asian hearts are bad and evil. They

invented so much martial arts:
karate, judo, kungfu, muay thai,
silat, etc... just to hurt each other.
They torture their own people
(China, North Korea). They torture
other people (Japan in China and
Korea). And they are able to hide all
this behind their nice facade of
kindness. Bad, bad Asians. (did i
shatter some peoples ideas on Asia?
my bad).
1810
onyomi:
english:
: upside-down box radical (no. 13)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
circle, yen, round
4
circle
The shape of a Yen coin.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A poor old man is almost killing

himself trying to lift a huge glass
hood with his cane (using it as a
lever), to get to just one yen coin.
Note : the kanji refers to a circular,
round object, but also to the
Japanese currency (pronounced
"en").
1811
angle, corner, square
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

radical (no. 20)
7
angle
A museum display of two walking
sticks bound together under a glass
canopy, showing the first device
used to measure an angle.
The gates have been bound up
together leaving no angle to get
through...
1812
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
contact, touch, feel, hit, proclaim,

announce, conflict
: angle; corner; square; horn;
antlers : insect; bug; temper
13
contact
For insects to get in contact with
each other, they need to place their
antennae at just the right angle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Wow, he threw that BOOMERANG

with such skill, it made CONTACT
with that INSECT in mid flight.
1813
unravel, notes, key, explanation,

understanding, untie, undo, solve,
answer, cancel, absolve, explain,
minute
: angle; corner; square; horn;
antlers : sword; saber;
knife : cow
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
13
unravel
Did you know that you can unravel a
cow? If you stick the dagger in at
exactly the correct angle, the whole
cow will just unravel.
Unravel the mystery by determining
at what ANGLE the SWORD went
into the COW.
1814
again, twice, second time
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

red; tan
6
again
The king has eaten too much and has
to get a new belt again. See his fat
rolls hanging over?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This is a belt with a non-adjustable

jeweled buckle. Everytime you go
back to the leathersmith telling him
to move the buckle because youve
packed on a few pounds (but that
this is the last time!), he says
"Again?!? Werent you just here last
month?".
1815
lecture, club, association
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : put together; inner

palace
17
lecture
I have a funnel attached to my laptop
that takes my profs lecture and puts
the words into a text file. The bigger
the funnel, the more accurate the
conversion, so picture a bunch of
laptops with large, unwieldy funnels
attached to the USB port.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Image: a professor walking around

with a funnel and simply pouring his
words into each students head
instead of a lecture. (Primitive:
FUNNEL, who got the celery stuck
in the funnel again?! You know its
not supposed to be used for that!).
1816
subscription, buy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: shellfish : put together;

inner palace
17
subscription
Story1:
Subscription is like a money funnel,

because the receiving end is small
(just one company) and the other end
is wide (the whole country).
Story2:
My subscription to Money magazine

came with a free coin funnel.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1817
posture, build, pretend

: tree; wood : put together;
inner palace
14
posture
Ideal posture is standing tall like a
tree and having a V shape like a
funnel
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I fell out of a tree and broke my

neck. So they put one of those white
funnels around my neck to correct
my posture.
1818
gutter, ditch, sewer, drain, 10**32

: water : put together; inner
palace
13
gutter
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A gutter funnels water.

A gutter takes the water that falls as
rain and funnels it off to where it can
be dealt with appropriately.
1819
argument, discourse
: say : think; be methodical
15
argument
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Right part: academic conference (a

meeting, some of the attendees
making notes in scrapbooks during
presentation). Argument at academic
conferences is naturally carried out
using words.
Its very difficult to present a good
argument if you dont bring along a
scrapbook with some key words
jotted down to the meeting.
1820
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ethics, companion
: person : think; be
methodical
10
ethics
Mr. T talks about ethics at the
academic conference. "I pity the fool
who gets caught plagarizing
someone elses stuff!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T has no ethics at the

scrapbooking convention. Hell do
whatever it takes to beat all those
ladies.
1821
wheel, ring, circle, link, loop,

counter for wheels and flowers
: car : think; be methodical
15
wheel
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
During a talk at the academic

conference, speaker shows an
introductory slide depicting the
structure of car, and then moves on
to the more narrow topic of wheels.
Someone stole all the wheels off the
ladies cars at the scrapbook
convention.
1822
partial, side, left-side radical,

inclining, biased
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : level; small

11
partial
Mr. T is partial to konbini hentai. He
reads them for hours every day after
work at his local konbini. (Primitive:
KONBINI HENTAI, all the
magazines(scrapbooks) by every
konbini door in Japan).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mr. T is very partial to hentai comic

books. I know because he dropped a
pile of them when I accidentally
bumped into him at the door to
kinokuniya!
1823
everywhere, times, widely, generally

: level; small : walk;
162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
12
everywhere
Go down the road in Japan and you
will find comics EVERYWHERE,
newpaper stands, 7-11, Tsutaya,
even the supermarket. Comics are
everywhere here along the road.
Go down any road in Japan and
youll find konbini hentai
everywhere.
1824
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
compilation, knit, plait, braid, twist,

editing, completed poem, part of a
book
: thread : level; small
15
compilation
Story1:
Raulir has a good idea. I prefer to

think of the manga compilations as
the individual comics (serials from
the anthologies) bound together with
a coarse thread down the spine,
produced quickly and put on the
market. Good way to recycle those
pulpy manga, and since when has the
consumer not gotten screwed in
Japan? ;-).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A Japanese comic book is a

compilation of the individual
chapters (which have already
appeared in weekly comic
magazines) with a thread (story arc)
going through it.
1825
tome, counter for books, volume

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
5
tome
Pictograph. I think of that Harry
Potter spell book that had to be
bound shut coz it wanted to eat you.
1: counter for books A
heavy scrapbook so full that flowers
are sticking out. Only if a scrapbook
is that full, it can be called a heavy
book.
1826
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
code, ceremony, law, rule

lean : eight; eight radical (no.
12)
8
code
Coding is a tool which you can use
to bend the computer to your will.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Think "codex" (mnemonic help) or

"code of laws", or even Leonardo Da
Vincis code. Here I see a codex as a
tool used to bend the masses into
submission. Picture a huge codex
book lifted down on crowds to bend
them down in submission. Another:
if you bend to the code without
asking questions, you are a tool!
1827
family name, surname, clan
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: clan, clan radical (no. 83)

4
family name
Looks a bit like Ft => Family title
=> Family name.
The family name is important to me!
Drop me from a building, torture me
with a fishhook, Im keeping my one
family name. Hook me with a second
fishhook, I refuse to change my
family name.
1828
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
paper
: thread : family name;
surname; clan
10
paper
All that threads you to your family
name is a piece of paper. (birth
certificate).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I imagine a ridiculously expensive,

and rather pointless, Japanese type
of paper for writing letters, with
ones family name woven in fine
thread somewhere in a corner.
1829
marriage
: woman; female : dark;
evening; dusk
11
marriage
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Marriage is the day in this womans

life where she gets a new family
name.
Tip: Heisig later introduces the kanji
dusk (#2451). Story: Never enter
into marriage with a woman at dusk
(wait until you see them in daylight).
Note: This is an ancient proverb . . .
(probably).
1830
lower, short, humble
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: person : family name;

surname; clan : one; one
radical (no.1)
7
lower
A person bows low when presenting
his business card.
Mr. T travels to Japan and knows he
must bow lower when presenting his
business card.
1831
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
resist, reach, touch

: hand : name of an ancient
tribe
8
resist
Story1:
Japan business etiquette tip: When

someone hands you a business card,
resist the impulse to fiddle around
with it with your fingers, and by all
means resist the urge to use the card
to pick gunk from under your
fingernails. Just examine it carefully,
ask politely about the (few by now)
kanji that you dont know, and put it
away carefully in a location that
shows your counterparts how
important they are to you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Most japanese find it impossible to

resist pushy businessmen in Japan
when they push their damned
business cards into your fingers.
1832
bottom, sole, depth, bottom price,

base, kind, sort
53) : name of an ancient tribe
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
bottom
I put all those useless business cards
at the bottom of a cave.
In the deepest bottom of this cave
complex, spelunkers leave their
calling cards to prove they made it
all the way.
1833
people, nation, subjects

: family name; surname; clan
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
5
people
All the people of the world with all
their family names shouting with
their big mouths.
How many of you know what "vox
populi" means?
1834
sleep, die, sleepy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

people; nation; subjects
10
sleep
In an Orwellian sense, the eye
watching the people never sleeps.
The little boy from The Sixth Sense
couldnt sleep because before his
very eyes he saw a dead crowd of
people everywhere.
1835
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
catch, capture
: hand : for the first time;
not until
10
catch
I was retreating from the battlefield.
In the chaos, my friend threw his
dogtags at me to give to his family. I
managed to catch them with my
fingers as the chopper was lifting off.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Dog tag: This is a wild animal track

device. It has an arrowhead and
screwdriver-shaped radio beacon.
Its evidently fired in animals to
track their movements. When animal
has a dog tag, its easy to catch it:
just take a dog tag in your fingers.
1836
bay, creek, inlet, gulf, beach,

seacoast
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : for the first time;

not until
10
bay
The water of the bay washes all the
dog tags up after the battle.
Otis Redding is sitting on the dock
of the bay, looking over the water
while clutching the dog tags of his
fallen friend from Vietnam.
1837
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
bullrush, flag, cattail

140) : bay; creek; inlet; gulf;
beach; seacoast
bullrush
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Bulrush was the flower that you

could see near almost all bays in
japan before the japanese started
putting concrete everywhere. Just
check how many percent of Japans
coastline that is concretised... youll
be surprised.
The bulrush is a flower that grows
around bays.
http://www.meltonrossnewbarnetby.c
o.uk/images/bulrush.jpg.
1838
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shop, store
: person : good luck; joy;
congratulations : for the first
time; not until
15
shop
A shop in an impoverished country
is just a cottage with a dog tag
identifying it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Normal cottages ( actually means

a building) dont have tags
advertising their names, but shops
do.
1839
supplement, supply, make good,

offset, compensate, assistant, learner
: garment; clothes;
dressing : for the first time;
not until
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
12
supplement
I usually hear supplement in "dietry
supplement". So youre given a
cloak for extra fibre and dogtags for
extra iron. Keeps you regular and
stops you feeling tired and run-down.
The name and number printed on a
soldiers cloak is a supplement to his
main I.D. tag; his dog-tag, in helping
identify the soldier.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1840
residence, mansion
: name of an ancient tribe :
village; rural community; right
village radical (no. 163)
8
residence
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The business card says his residence

is just to the left of the city walls.
Can you find it? Yep, got it.
So fed up am I, Ive finally built city
walls around my residence to keep
these Japanese from soliciting me
with their business cards.
1841
enclosure, quarters, fortification, redlight district
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: receive; undergo; answer

(phone); take; get; catch :
11
enclosure
The city finally received the
enclosure that it desperately needed,
city walls to protect it against attacks
from the tall kids.
Even the tall kids cant get out of the
enclosure that is the city walls.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1842
county, district
: mister; you; ruler; male name
suffix : village; rural
community; right village radical (no.
163)
10
county
The old boy had never been outside
of his own county because he
couldn't get over the city walls.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The old boys of Hazard COUNTY

never got past the city walls.
1843
outskirts, suburbs, rural area

: mingle; mixing; association;
coming & going : village;
rural community; right village
radical (no. 163)
9
outskirts
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The country folk and and the city

folk mingle at the outskirts of town,
just past the city walls.
The city walls mark the outskirts of
the inner city, where it begins to
mingle with the suburbs.
1844
section, bureau, dept, class, copy,

part, portion, counter for copies of a
newspaper or magazine
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

erect : mouth : village;
radical (no. 163)
11
section
Within the city walls, this section of
town was so noisy that we had to
muzzle them up.
The section within the city walls
where dogs must be muzzled by
law...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1845
metropolis, capital
: someone; person : village;
radical (no. 163)
11
metropolis
In a metropolis people are just
puppets inside city walls, there is no
individuality if you live so close
together.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A vision of a futuristic
METROPOLIS: standing at the
window of your 400th floor
apartment, hand in hand with your
LOVE DOLL, gazing out at the
gigantic CITY WALLS that you can
never escape.
1846
mail, stagecoach stop
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: droop; suspend; hang;

slouch : village; rural
163)
11
mail
The drooping citywalls was
generating a lot of angry mail for the
city officials. Hint: think "hate mail"
and you will remember this one. [thx
CharleyGarrett].
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The city walls droop down in one

spot so that the mailtman can throw
the mail over.
1847
home country, country, Japan

: abundant; lush; bountiful;
plenty; fat face; luxurious growth of
grass : village; rural
163)
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
home country
He reminisced about his home
country: "Ah, back in my home
country, the bushes grew so high
that they covered the city walls!".
It's easier if you think of the USA as
the HOME COUNTRY. To the
northern border you have it
protected by BUSHES, while to
south you have it protected by CITY
WALLS (or a 800 mile long fence).
1848
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
home town, village, native place,

district
52) : northeast (Oriental
138) : village; rural
163)
11
hometown
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Your hometown is where you broke

out of your cocoon (born), and
where you left when your hair was
silver (died), your whole life was
spent inside the city walls.
Your home town is where you
earned enough silver to enable you
to break out of your giant cocoon
(leave home) and explore outside the
city walls.
1849
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
echo, also N5116, sound, resound,

ring, vibrate
: home town; village; native place;
district : sound; noise
20
echo
Peoples voices are like echoes of
sounds from their hometowns....you
can always tell where theyre from
by how they talk.
My hometown is a ghost town, any
sounds echoes and echoes.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1850
son, counter for sons

: good; pleasing; skilled :
9
son
The daughter is a good girl that
grows up to be a woman. The son is
a good boy that grows up to defend
the city walls.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A good son stays within the city

walls so he can care for his parents
1851
corridor, hall, tower

53) : son; counter for sons
12
corridor
Your son plays in the corridor
pretending hes exploring a cave.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
() I think of the corridor found

in the cave that Yoda made Luke
Skywalker walk through as part of
his Jedi training in Empire Strikes
Back. It was in this corridor that
Luke met Darth Vadar, cut off his
head and found himself behind
Darth Vadars mask. An early little
hint that Luke was Darth Vadars
son.
1852
shield, escutcheon, pretext
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 27) : ten : eye;
class; look; insight; experience; care;
favor
9
shield
You paint 10 huge eyes on your
shield to scare the enemy, but
consequently your shield is so big
and heavy that you have to drag it.
Story2:
heisig:
From Wikipedia: "If a Spartan

hoplite were to return to Sparta alive
and without his shield, it was
assumed that he threw his shield at
the enemy in an effort to flee; an act
punishable by death or banishment."
Picture the enemy of a Spartan
soldier poking his eyes out with a
sewing needle and trying to steal his
shield. However, the Spartan
desperately clutches on, and is
dragged around for a while,
1853
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sequential, fellow
radical (no. 60) : shield;
escutcheon; pretext
12
sequential
Story1:
This is mostly used in the word

, "circulation" (of buses through
their routes, of blood, etc). So I think
of a column of little Roman soldiers
with their shields marching
sequentially through the veins of a
person, as an anthropomorphization
of the immune system.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A column of shielded soldiers

advancing sequentially to avoid
revealing the size of their army
(Think "Sandpeople always ride
single file to hide their numbers"
from Star Wars).
1854
faction, group, party, clique, sect,

school
: water 
9
: None
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
faction
Drag + rag gave me trouble until I
came up with zombie for it. The
zombie population became more
diverse, separating into different
factions. One of them being the
water Zombies.
The radical faction is almost
eliminated, sir. Theyre living in the
sewers dressed in rags and dragging
their supplies.
1855
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vein, pulse, hope

: meat 
: None
10
vein
The vein is the part of the body most
lusted after by the flesh hungry
zombies (drag & rag - see
revenantkioku frame 1855).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To get blood drawn from a vein you

present the part of the body to the
nurse, and they drag an alcohol swab
(rag) across the vein.
1856
masses, great numbers, multitude,

populace
: blood : person
12
masses
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Masses of zombies, splattered with

blood. (any zombie movie).
When the masses are hurt, say in a
natural disaster like an earthquake,
they can be seen everywhere
dragging their bloody rags.
1857
relay, in turn, sending

: tiger; brave; fierce;
surname : walk; walking; road
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
10
parcel post
Picture a crude drag-sled - in this
case, made from cornstalks that have
been belted together - filled with
parcels, that the postman drags along
behind him down the road along his
delivery route.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
(I prefer 2 towels over cornstalk and

belt) - Have you ever wondered why
your parcels always end up in such
bad condition when you get them?
Or why you never get them at all?
Thats because youve never looked
at how theyre actually delivered each postman is given a load of
parcel post and 2 towels to drag
them down the road on.
1858
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
grade, steps, stairs

: pike; windy-again radical (no.
79)
9
grade
This is a military-grade staple gun! It
can be loaded with real missiles.
1st grade: staple gun, 9th grade:
missiles.
1859
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
forge, discipline, train

: gold : grade; steps; stairs
17
forge
As a discriminating metalsmith, I
use the highest grade metals when
forging such precision devices as
staple guns and missiles.
Metal has to be forged many times
over in order to reach a high grade.
1860
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
empress, queen, after, behind, back,

later
(no. 27) : mouth
6
empress
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The empress is cruel. Normally

shell violently pull her servants by
the ear when theyve failed to follow
orders. But one time she dragged
this one guy around the palace by
the mouth. She must have been
really angryever since that
moment, hes never been seen again.
The F word often comes out of the
mouth of the empress.
1861
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
phantasm, vision, dream, illusion,

apparition
: short thread radical (no. 52)
4
phantasm
After the play, The Phantasm of the
Opera hangs up his cape on a clothes
hanger and returns to his cocoon to
sleep.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You open your closet and find

strange, glowing cocoons sitting on
your clothes hangers... definitely a
phantasm!
1862
director, official, govt office, rule,

administer
mouth
5
director
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The porn director has one big mouth.

"Dont bother putting your clothes
on a hanger, just get started.".
The director sticks a clothes hanger
in each actors mouth and hangs
them from the ceiling until he needs
them.
1863
pay respects, visit, ask, inquire,

question, implore
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: person : director; official;

7
pay respects
That person, being the director, is
someone you need to pay your
respects to.
If Mr. T gets a role in a film, he
doesnt pay respects to the director,
the director pays respects to Mr. T.
1864
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
part of speech, words, poetry

: say : director; official;
12
parts of speech
Parts of speech act as word directors,
giving it meaning and indicating its
correct placement and usage in
grammar.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The big mouthed diretor is even

picky about the parts of speech you
use, shouting, "More verbs! Less
adjectives!" and such all the time.
1865
domesticate, raise, keep, feed

: eat; food : director;
official; govt office; rule; administer
13
domesticate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When you DOMESTICATE a

animal, you are the DIRECTOR of
its life and what it EATS.
After a pride of hungry lions ate the
director, the producer decided to
tone down his documentary and film
domesticated cats instead.
1866
heir, succeed
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: mouth : tome; counter for

books; volume : director;
13
heir
Story1:
The lawyer called all the heirs into a

meeting. Everybody else received
cars, property, and the like. When it
got to be my turn the lawyer
informed me I would be receiving a
scrapbook. My mouth dropped open.
A scrapbook?! No Ferrari, no
mansion, ...scrapbook?! Turns out
the scrapbook was of my great
uncle's company, and I had been
named the new director of the multimillion dollar business. My mouth
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
My mouth hung open when I found

out I was the heir to not only my
father's scrapbooks, but he also left
me as director of the company.
1867
boat, ship
: boat, boat radical (no. 137)
6
boat
Story1:
Story2:
I see this kanji as a pictograph of a

two story boat seen from the front.
The glass canopy is the body of the
boat. The drop on top is the
chimney. The horizontal line is the
ceiling/floor between the the 1st/2nd
floor. Finally, the two drops in the
middle are the lights on the decks.
Cinnabar () colored boat, the extra
drop signifying that the paint hasnt
dried yet. The stick represents the
oars.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1868
liner, ship
: boat; ship : white
11
liner
The most famous LINER is the
Titanic, which struck an iceberg and
sunk. Just imagine that huge LINER
strucking an even huger mass of
white ice.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A liner is to boat as an emperor

(#261) is to a king (#255), or a chief
(#967) is to a person (#951): in each
case we need only add white to the
latter in order to get the former.
1869
navigate, sail, cruise, fly

: boat; ship : high spirits
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
navigate
To navigate a "boat" through a
"whirlwind" takes a skilled
navigator.
In Legend of Zelda: The Wind
Waker, you can navigate your boat
by summoning whirlwinds.
1870
carrier, carry, all

: boat; ship : pike; windyagain radical (no. 79)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
10
carrier
Carrier?! This means "general" (as in
the general public or generally).
OK.. Carriers, i.e. boats with
missiles, are not available to the
general public.
In general, carrier boats have
missiles.
1871
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
tray, shallow bowl, platter, tub,

board, phonograph record
: carrier; carry; all : dish; a
helping; plate
15
tray
What do you call a "CARRIER" of
DISHes? A TRAY.
Imagine a restaurant set in Disneys
Fantasia or maybe in Harry Potters
university, where dishes are
magically landing and taking off of a
carrier tray.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1872
conveyor, carry, transport

: hand : carrier; carry; all
13
conveyor
When workers neglect workplace
safety, their fingers get cut off and
carried away by the conveyor belt,
which looks like a finger carrier in
that case.
Story2:
heisig:
During WWII, morse code was the

primary means of communication
from sea. The morse code specialist
was the conveyor of messages to and
from the crew of the carrier, using
his fingers to tap out the secret
messages. (This works especially
well for carrier
frequency and carrier wave,
being the radio waves/frequencies
used in morse code).
1873
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
ship, boat
: boat; ship : a marsh at the
foot of the hills; name of a river
11
ship
A boy floats his toy boat in a gully
and imagines it as an immense ship.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Aargh, hard to keep this separate

from boat. How about this: the
phrase "shape up or ship out!" This
phrase originally meant that a soldier
had better get his act together, or
else face being shipped off into a
combat zone. Here we see a poor
WW-I soldier who has been shipped
off to a combat zone. Hes riding in
the boat overseas to fight in the
trenches (gulley).
1874
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
warship
: boat; ship : oversee;
21
warship
The warship towers over the smaller
benign boats, overseeing their safe
path from port to port.
A warship is a boat that oversees the
seas. Think of it as the patroller of
the ocean.
1875
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rowboat, small boat

: boat; ship : courts;
imperial court; government office
13
rowboat
Rowboats are a classic way to court
(go on a date with) someone...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Courts in olden times would often

punish convicts by sentencing them
to a life of being the rower crew for
large rowboat ships (there were no
engines or boilers back then)... Yo
ho, Yo ho....
1876
melon
radical (no. 28)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
melon
???? ok, sorry to be crude...
if you claw at a girls melons, she is
gonna give you the elbow.
Vegetarian vultures are fighting for a
melon, each trying to elbow its way
to it with claws.
1877
arc, arch, bow
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

violin) : melon
9
arc
When you use a bow to shoot a
melon, the arc varies depending on
how far away you are.
Joan of Arc ("arc" also means "bow"
in french) is practicing with a bow,
shooting at melons in a distant field.
1878
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
orphan, alone
zodiac : melon
9
orphan
An orphan will never know the joys
on sucking on his mothers
melons........
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Unlike the celebrated story of

Momotaro the peach boy, no one
knows the story of the melon boy
who was left an orphan.
1879
cocoon
140) : upside-down box
thread : insect; bug; temper
18
keyword:
Story1:
cocoon
This is a simple two-column manga
showing the metamorphosis of a
caterpillar into a cocoon. First, the
caterpillar gets under a large flower
(bees tend to hang around flowers,
which scare away other predators).
Then, in the first frame, we see the
caterpillar (insect). Then, a bar
separating this frame from the next
frame (remember that Japanese
manga run the other way!), in which
we see the insect covered with
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The magic flower is the reason why

Spider-Man ended up miniaturized
and confined inside a hood-like
cocoon together with an insect.
Now, only a walking stick separates
them both.
1880
benefit, gain, profit, advantage

12) : dish; a helping; plate
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
benefit
The benefit of having sharp horns
and fast legs is that an animal can
get to the food dish first.
The benefit of being an animal with
horns and fast legs is in keeping it
from becoming a dish for the other
animals! (shaydwyrm).
1881
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
spare time, rest, leisure, time, leave

of absence
days : or again; furthermore;
on the other hand
13
spare time
Story1:
Story2:
Some jackass-like people have way

too much spare time. You can find
videos of them all over the internet,
if you like such things, you can
watch it all day. You see them
stapling their mouths shut, or
throwing eachother upside down in
boxes or kicking each other in the
crotch.
Tip: The complex right side of this
kanji appears twice more in Heisig.
He later names it "hobby". REF:
shrimp (#2689), haze (#2779).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1882
spread, pave, sit, promulgate

: to state to; to announce :
variant (no. 66)
15
spread
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Instead of being glued to one

specialty (#46) , I decided to
spread my attention in many
directions , and be a taskmaster at
none.
Arrowheads are spread all over the
field. The taskmaster profiteerer
forces you to find them all using a
compass.
1883
come, due, next, cause, become
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: rice; USA; metre

7
come
You horny bastard, dont come, at
least not yet!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Here I see, of all things, Bambi. His

animal horns have not yet come out.
(As we can see in the kanji, the
animal horns are not at the top, not
"poking through". ) Remember:
Bambi will soon come to have a
great set of animal horns but they
have not yet come out.
1884
spirit, mind
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: spirit; steam radical (no.

84) : mow; cut grass; subdue
6
spirit
Youre reclining on the floor trying
to hook a sheaf with a small hook
through the cracks. That youve been
doing this for seven hours without
success shows your burning spirit.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Captain Hook, his spirit crushed, is

lying on the ground cursing
Wolverine who has defeated him
with his far superior claws.
1885
vapor, steam
: water : spirit; steam
radical (no. 84)
7
vapor
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Water vapor almost looks like a

spirit but has no soul.
Wolverine disappears into water
vapor, seemingly his spirit
dissipating into nothingness.
1886
fly, skip (pages, scatter

: measuring box; 1.8 liter
9
fly
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hooks with small wings attached

look like hummingbirds with a long
beak. Two hummingbirds are trying
to fly away with our little measuring
box. What do they want it for?
Two hummingbirds flying into a
measuring box serving as a bird
feeder
1887
sink, be submerged, subside, be

depressed, aloes
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : to move on;

doubtful
7
sink
(thx geezer) The maimed waitress
(no head and arms just her legs and
trunk) is dropped into the water with
a cement crown to make sure she
sinks. She shouldnt have been so
nosy about her yakuza-boyfriends
schemes.
Story2:
heisig:
This is the famous story of

Archimedes and the Crown, where
buoyancy was discovered. Watching
the crown sink in the water,
Archimedes detected the fraud and
ran naked through the city (human
legs distorted from running) yelling
"Eureka! Eureka!" See
http://math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archim
edes/Crown/CrownIntro.html and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_
%28word%29.
1888
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wife, spouse
58) : woman; female
8
wife
Ten rakes woman. your wife digs her
fingernails into you and it feels like
10 rakes when she finds you ontop
of another woman.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(Im really not sexist, this just helps

me remember the kanji): I make my
WIFE do all the yard work, and as a
really mean joke, I bought her TEN
RAKES for her birthday this year.
"Do the yardwork, WOMAN! You
have TEN perfectly good RAKES to
choose from!".
1889
decline, wane, weaken
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : mouth
10
decline
If you thought that the dude in
was pathetic, you havent seen him
after his decline. Here he is carrying
a stick around in his mouth like a
dog, begging people to throw it for
him. Note that the mouth is closed
only after the stick goes in, as is only
logical.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you thought that the dude in

was pathetic, you havent seen him
after his decline. Here he is carrying
a stick around in his mouth like a
dog, allowing people to rent him and
play catch with him for money!
1890
inmost, heart, mind, inside
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : mouth :
10
inmost
The guy from pathetic (#401) shared
his inmost feelings with a girl and
she rammed a walking stick down
his throat. It ruptured his inmost
organs.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Besides making money from acting

like a dog (see decline), the pathetic
man has risked his inmost internal
organs by becoming a cane
swallower!
1891
mask, face, features, surface

: face, face radical (no. 176)
9
mask
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If youre wearing a mask, a hundred

eyes can look at you but none of
them will know who you are.
When Jim Carrey puts on The Mask,
he can make it seem like he has 100
eyes popping out of his head.
1892
leather, become serious, skin, hide,

pelt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: twenty; 20 : mouth

9
leather
I asked the street vendor the price of
the LEATHER jacket. He said
TWENTY, but with my MOUTH, I
talked him down to TEN. (correct
stroke order).
You can feed twenty mouths for a
year for the price of ten leather coats.
1893
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
shoes
: leather; become serious; skin;
hide; pelt : change; take the
form of; influence; enchant; delude; ization
13
shoes
Leather shoes are nice because they
change shape to fit your foot.
Leather is often changed into shoes.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1894
hegemony, supremacy, leadership,

champion
leather; become serious; skin; hide;
pelt : month; moon
19
hegemony
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the old west, animal skins were

made into leather and their flesh was
eaten, thus using the whole animal,
which viewed from the animal side
could be taken as humans asserting
complete hegemony over them. All
your base are belong to us.
In the Old West, cowboys had
hegemony OVER the Indians despite
their leathercraft and ability to
navigate by the moon.
1895
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
voice
7
voice
Having lost his voice, the samurai
comunicated to his troops with a
striped flag.
When an enemys flag is raised, a
true samurai can split it in half with
just his voice.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1896
give, do something for

radical (no. 12)
7
give
Story1:
Picture of a person facing you. is

the head. His right arm is raised
(your left), to give you something
from a tray . His legs are below
the tray. , to give:
,
"My uncle gave me this watch."
Following - form of another verb,
means "to do the favor of":
, "Won't
you open the window [do the favor
of opening/kindly open the
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I see this as a pictograph of an oldstyle phonograph - a stand, record,

crank and bell (the mouth). Even the
primitives work out - a tool with a
crank which plays music out of the
bell mouth. Imaginge giving one of
these old and beautiful phonographs
to a classical or jazz music buff!
1897
recreation, pleasure
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: woman; female : give; do

something for
10
recreation
A woman gives up her recreation
time in order to raise a family.
Typical male fantasy of recreation:
women "giving it up".
1898
mistake, err, do wrong, mislead
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: say : give; do something

for
14
Story1:
mistake
You must give words of apology
when you make a mistake.
Story2:
It is a rookie mistake to believe the

words when your sweetie says "You
dont have to give me anything for
my birthday." Trust me, your sweetie
wants something, something shiny,
and if you disappoint, you will suffer.
heisig:
onyomi:
1899
english:
steam, heat, sultry, foment, get musty

140) : many; offer; dedicate;
to steam
component:
strokes:
keyword:
13
steam
Story1:
Think of a picture of someone

steaming vegetables. On top you see
the flowers of cauliflower or
something else that is being steamed.
Underneath, the pan is completely
full of water. Below the pan is a
floor - that's the hotplate - and under
that the oven fire. Caution: don't
confuse with boil (#1257), or the
steam radical in spirit (#1885).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When you want to steam some

flowers/vegetation you don't cover
them completely with water, rather
you have just a little at the floor of
the saucepan and then heat.
1900
aquiesce, hear, listen to, be

informed, receive
: complete; finish :
three : water
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
acquiesce
To get someone to completely
acquiesce it takes 3 dunks in the
water before they give.
To get someone to acquiesce, duck
them completely in aqua (=water)
three times. (variation on
dingomicks).
1901
box (archaic)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

water : open box enclosure;
open box radical (no. 17)
bin
Damn racoons ill show them. I put a
snare in the bin as well as a few
phosphorous sparklers so as to scare
the shit out of the buggers as they
rummage through my bin.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
(thegeezer3) Damn racoons... Ill

show them. Ill put a SNARE in the
BIN as well as a few SPARKLERS
so as to scare the shit out of the
buggers, then hit them with a
SHOVEL.
1902
poles, settlement, conclusion, end,

highest rank, electric poles, very,
extremely, most, highly, 10**48
: tree; wood : fast; quick;
sudden
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
poles
Can simplify this using decay
(#1243). Then: The expedition to the
poles is bad for your health, and the
decay that started in your mouth
spreads to your crotch at which
point you fall to the floor.
Story2:
heisig:
(modified Katsuo) Can simplify this

using decay (#1243). You travel to
the poles, a frozen wasteland. In
desperate need of food you try to set
up a snare but the tree is decayed
(see story for decay (#1243)) so you
catch no prey. The brutal cold first
attacks your mouth as your lips turn
blue, then your crotch also gets cold
as your body fails; finally you fall to
the floor.
1903
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tusk, fang
: feathered stick; barb radical (no.
6) : katakana no radical (no. 4)
4
tusk
The kanji looks like an elephant with
tusks. the box is the elephants eye.
The final stroke is the tusk.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
He stored the tusks into a box, along

with the broken halberds.
1904
bud, sprout, spear, germ

140) : tusk; fang; tusk radical
(no. 92)
8
bud
Buds while theyre still small tend to
be tusk-shaped.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Zoo keepers are baffled as to why

the tips of the elephants tusks keep
budding into flowers.
1905
wicked, injustice, wrong

: tusk; fang; tusk radical (no.
92) : village; rural
163)
8
wicked
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The wicked queen builds her city

walls out of menacing tusks.
As everyone knows, rhinoceroses
and elephants are often killed for the
value of their TUSKS. Here we see a
WICKED city mayor who has had
countless elephants killed just to
make his CITY WALLS out of
TUSKS.
1906
gracious, elegant, graceful, refined
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tusk; fang; tusk radical (no.

(no. 172)
13
gracious
Story1:
Goodness gracious! Such an elegant

turkey with a tusk. This mnemonic is
meant to join RtKs keyword with a
better proposition. Heisig could have
used "elegant" here, which is not
confounded so easily with graceful
(#721), and accurately represents the
characters meaning (it is also the
chosen keyword in Kodanshas
Kanji Learners Dictionary).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To not confuse it with grace (#606)

or graceful (#721), think of the
phrase "Goodness gracious." Like:
"Goodness gracious! A turkey with
tusks!".
1907
explanation
: separate; divide; topped rice
radical (no. 165) : shaku;
Japanese foot; measure; scale; rule
11
keyword:
Story1:
explanation
Animal track primitive: As expected,
animal tracks were left in place of
the trail of rice Id purposely
dropped the night before. EDIT also try the footprint for a primitive
meaning, the classic symbol of
detective films. STORY: This
shakuhachi player is so talented, he
can do interpretations of animal
noises too. Theyre so realistic he
soon has animal tracks leading
straight to wherever hes playing.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
An interpretive dance of some kind

where somebody follows animal
tracks, a shakuhachi providing the
soundtrack, suggesting the tracker's
thoughts and intentions.
1908
turn, number in a series

rice paddy
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
turn
The famers take it in turns to watch
out for any animal tracks on their
rice field.
They take turns alternating between
wheat and rice in this field
1909
hearing, judge, trial
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

(no. 40) : turn; number in a
series
15
hearing
At your divorce hearing the judge
tells you to roll dice to see who
keeps the house. ("I cant believe
what Im hearing!" you say).
In the courthouse the judge decides
your hearing with a roll of the dice.
1910
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
flip, turn over, wave, flutter, change

(mind)
: turn; number in a series :
feathers; counter for birds, rabbits
18
flip
Flipping the bird: After finding out
the dice is crooked, you kindly
present the middle feather to the
dealer.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the birds out the back are

playing dice, they flip their feathers
(not their finger) at their opponents.
1911
clan, enclosure
140) : water in which rice has
been washed
18
clan
Story1:
This character refers to feudal clans

that were abolished in 1871 (Meiji
4) in favor of prefectures
(), and thus were
predecessors of the modern
prefectures. As we know from ,
flowers and water drops each have
their own way of falling. This
character says that clans location
was decided in the way flowers,
water drops and dice fall: at random.
See
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In the particular clan depicted by

this character, each member has to
take his or her turn watering the
flowers.
1912
fur, hair, feather, down

: fur, hair, fur radical (no. 82)
4
fur
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Ive heard of people having hair on

the back of their hands, but this is
ridiculous! Thats not hair, thats fur!
Be careful not to pet a cat the wrong
way - most cats dont like you
rubbing your hand backwards over
their fur.
1913
decrease
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: come; plough; 3-branch tree

radical (no. 127) : fur; hair;
feather; down
10
decrease
The amount of "fur" (needles) on a
Christmas tree decreases, until it
doesnt look all that good.
Real fur coats and real christmas
trees are dereasing the last couple of
years. Plasctic chrismas trees and
fake fur it is nowadays.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
1914
tail, end, no. of fish, lower slope of

mtn
44) : fur; hair; feather; down
7
tail
A dog waves its furry tail like a flag.
A FLAG of FUR is a TAIL.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1915
home, house, residence, our house,

my husband
(no. 40) : to depend on; to
entrust with
6
home
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This kanji is, of course, pronounced

"taku", and it seems the owner of
this home is a little bit otaku himself.
He has hung up locks of hair
suruptitiously obtained from various
females all over his house. A
veritable hair fetishist, and certainly
someone whose home you wouldnt
want to visit.
Home is where the hair is.
1916
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
consign, requesting, entrusting with,

pretend, hint
: say : to depend on; to
entrust with
10
consign
When you consign a matter to
someone, you get their word and a
lock of their hair (to be used in a
voodoo ritual if they dont keep their
word).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In "The Lord of the Rings",

Galadriel consigned a lock of her
hair to Gimli the dwarf, along with
some wise words.
1917
do, change, make, benefit, welfare,

be of use, reach to, try, practice,
cost, serve as, good, advantage, as a
result of
component:
strokes:
keyword:

wrapping radical (no. 20) : fire
9
do
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In this kanji, you can see 3 katakana

characters: , , and then again
followed by TAIL FEATHERS.
STORY: "So () you () wanna
DO it?" "Only if you () do" says
the female bird as she raises her
TAIL FEATHERS.
Do me from behind, says the bird, as
she shakes her tailfeathers.
1918
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
falsehood, lie, deceive, pretend,

counterfeit, forgery
: person : do; change;
make; benefit; welfare; be of use;
reach to; try; practice; cost; serve as;
good; advantage; as a result of
11
falsehood
A person who claims he didn't do
something while he actually did, is
telling a falsehood.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
It depends on what your definition

of do, uh, is, says Mr. T giving
falsehood about his affair with a
peacock.
1919
long, leader
: long, grow, leader radical (no.
168)
8
long
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The Geisha with long hair uses an

ornate lacquered hairpin to bundle it
all up.
The top of this one reminds me of
the staple primitive. So heres my
story: The girls hair was so long
that she had to use staples instead of
hairpins. It worked, but stapling her
hair to her head was kinda painful.
1920
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
lengthen, counter for bows &

stringed instruments, stretch, spread,
put up (tent)
violin) : long; leader
11
lengthen
The longbow is follows the design
of a standard bow, only it has been
lengthened.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Legolas recieves spam telling him

that his can lengthen his "bow"...he
smirks...he knows its already long
enough.
1921
notebook, account book, album

cloth radical (no. 50) : long;
leader
11
notebook
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In ancient China books were rolledup scrolls of paper. So notebooks

were nothing more than long towels.
Students, for this class, your
notebook will be a towel. Make sure
its extra long though, well have a
lot of writing.
1922
: meat : long; leader
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
dilate
Taking Viagra lets your blood
vessels dilate...resulting in a body
part getting long.
Staying out in the dark moonlit sky
for a long time, your pupils dilate.
1923
hair of the head

: hair hanging long; mane; long
hair radical (no.190) : friend
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
14
hair of the head
Japanese teenage girls consider the
style of the hair of the head very
important. If a particular style is
trendy, soon they all want their own
hair in the same shape as that of their
friends.
Friends influence the length and
shape of each others hair.
1924
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
unfold, expand
10
unfold
Unfold flag, take out the salad, pin
the flag down with hairpins and have
a picnic.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
You use an American flag to wrap

up a salad for a picnic and bind it
with a hairpin. Now imagine
unfolding it to open up the bounty
youve fixed up for yourself.
1925
miss, mourning
: ten : mouth :
mouth : garment; clothes;
dressing
12
keyword:
Story1:
miss
I miss my parents dearly. Here they
lay, under a big cross, their mouths
side by side. I stick hairpins in their
graves. CAREFUL: the stroke
order/primitive order is: ten, L
mouth, R mouth, hairpin. "Soil" is
not drawn in its stroke order.
Story2:
heisig:
This kanji means miss as in "miss a

(dearly departed) person", not as in
"miss a
target".
Here
the dearly departed has been buried
in the ground, with her favourite
hairpin in place of a gravestone, and
two mourners stand around crying
with open mouths.
1926
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
nest, rookery, hive, cobweb, den

: small, insignificant : fruit;
reward; carry out; achieve;
complete; end; finish; succeed
11
nest
The nest atop of a tree contains the
fruit of the owl: its offspring.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The wise old OWL makes her nest

out of FRUIT, carving out the
middle for her chicks, because then
its less work: no running back &
forth to get food!
1927
simple, one, single, merely

: small, insignificant :
armor; high (voice); A grade; first
class; former; instep; carapace
9
keyword:
simple
Story1:
Owls are smart...for this owl

everything is simple coz his brain is
ten times more powerful than mine.
An owls brain is ten times smarter
than other simple minded birds
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
1928
war, battle, match
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: simple; one; single;

merely : halberd; arms;
radical (no. 62)
13
war
George W. Bushs plans for war
were so SIMPLE. To him, its all just
a big FIESTA.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
So theres this fiesta in downtown

Compton. Its a simple party, but
someone invited people from the
wrong gangs and the simple fiesta
turns into an all-out turf war.
1929
Zen, silent meditation

express; display : simple; one;
single; merely
13
keyword:
Story1:
Zen
Knowing ZENs emphasis on
nothingness, its not hard to
envision a ZEN ALTAR being quite
clean and SIMPLE.
Story2:
heisig:
Simple-minded blond girl (see frame

1928) is very good at Zen, which
isnt surprising since she doesnt
think much. She has this bad habit of
meditating perched on the main
temple altar, which infuriates the
Zen buddhists. When they get up to
her and tell her rudely to step down
the altar, she just smiles and teases
them : "Not very zen are you ?".
Who would have thought simpleminded blond girl would teach the
1930
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bullet, twang, flip, snap

violin) : simple; one; single;
merely
12
bullet
Hunting with a bow is too
complicated. Im switching to
something simpler--using a bullet.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The bow was a weapon for simple

times, but nowadays it has been
replaced by bullets.
1931
cherry tree
: tree; wood : small,
insignificant : woman; female
10
cherry tree
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I was taking a picture of my

girlfriend under the cherry tree
during , when an owl happened
to poop on her at the exact moment
the shutter snapped. Its really my
favorite picture , just dont tell her
that.
The tree in Japan that represents
both wisdom (the owl) and
femininity (the woman). This is a
sakura (), or cherry tree.
1932
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
animal, beast
: small, insignificant : rice
field; rice paddy :
mouth : dog
16
animal
Story1:
The owl looks for its prey in the rice

field. It sees so many potential
animals to eat but since it only has
one mouth, it decides that the tasty
looking chihuahua will be its meal
for tonight. (adapted from
Copycatken,1-9-2006).
Story2:
heisig:
I have a strange story for this one but

it works. I imagine a owl getting into
a rice field which serves as a boxing
ring. His opponent is a little
chihuahua. The fight starts, the owl
takes one punch to the mouth and is
out cold. In the chihuahuas corner is
that coach from Rocky saying "Your
an ANIMAL!!". A vivid image of
this story works pretty well for me.
1933
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
brain, memory
: meat : small,
insignificant : villain; evil;
bad luck; disaster
11
brain
The brain is the part of the body that
can give you the wisdom of the
owl... or the wickedness of the
villain.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The brain is the part of the body that

an owl will use to defeat the villain.
1934
trouble, worry, in pain, distress,

illness
(no. 61) : small,
insignificant : villain; evil;
bad luck; disaster
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
trouble
When I am in trouble, my state of
mind is on two sides: 1. The wise
part of me (owl) 2. The villain part
of me (villain) Think of the devil
and the angel on your shoulders in a
troubled situation.
The owl villain is the one that
troubles me most of all the supervillains. Hes just so smart... you
never know what hell do! Definitely
enough to put you in a troubled state
of mind.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1935
stern, strictness, severity, rigidity

: small, insignificant : wild
27) : daring; brave; bold
17
stern
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This represents a stern looking owl,

perched up on a cliff. This cliff is
quite famous for daring individuals
to cliff dive off of, but is any of them
daring enough to threaten the owl?
The daring mouse gets a stern look
after he climbs onto the owls cliff...
1936
chain, irons, connection
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gold : little; small :

shellfish
18
chain
The chain on this chainsaw is made
of little metal shells.
A gold chain with small seashells
hanging on it is in fashion these days.
1937
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
raise, plan, project, behavior, actions

eight; eight radical (no. 12) :
hand
10
raise
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The owl was asked to raise his hand

if he needed anything, but he had a
wing, not a hand! So he made a tool
that looked like a hand which he
used when he needed to raise his
hand. For raiseing, owl has a tool
hand.
What raises mankind above others is
the wisdom of an owl, the use of
tools, and his hand with an
opposable thumb. (compare with
reputation (#1939)).
1938
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
reputation, praise, honor, glory

say
13
reputation
This owls reputation skyrocketed
after he created a tool in order to
speak human words.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
By word of mouth, owl-luring tool

(raise (#1938)) gained a reputation
of amazingly effective and reliable
device.
1939
game-hunting, shooting, game, bag

: dog : rat; mouse; dark gray
11
game hunting
Story1:
Story2:
[game-hunting; shooting; game; bag]

According to unicode.org and
wwwjdic, and (mouse
(#2065)) are variants. So, for
(which Ill call rat) I have: an owl,
flying in the wind, can easily spot a
rat even if its hiding in the
cornstalks. Now is easy: wild
dogs are having fun by gamehunting rats.
The WILD DOGS are GAME
HUNTING the OWL who flies like
the WIND through the CORN
STORKS.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1940
bird, chicken
: fire
11
bird
There is only one bird with such
beautiful white tail feathers: the
albino peakcock.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The BIRD let loose a WHITE ONE

from its TAIL FEATHERS...right
on my new car!
1941
chirp, cry, bark, sound, ring, echo,

honk
: mouth : bird; chicken
14
chirp
Story1:
Story2:
A chirp is quite simply the sound

that comes from the mouth of birds.
This kanji is not limited to the chirp
of a bird, but stands for the sound of
any kind of animal. Picture a very
weird bird that can imitate with its
mouth (a bird with mouth, heh) the
voice of many different animals:
Meeow! Woof! Mooo! Cuack!!!
(Maybe the bird has Kirby powers
and obtains the abilities of the
animals it eats).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
1942
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: crane (bird) : bird; chicken
crane, stork
21
crane
Story1:
Story2:
Do you know how cranes came to

be? Well, they used to keep the poor
bird cooped all the time. But the
crane really wanted to be free, so it
would always streatch its head and
neck out of the coop trying to be free.
The original version of the "Ugly
Duckling" was about a crane who
grew up in a turkey coop. All the
other birds made fun of it for not
having a wattle or a snood or
fanning its tail...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1943
crow, raven
: bird; chicken
crow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The books story is just fine, but I

found a kanji dictionary explanation
also interesting: As crows are all
black, its hard to see where their
eyes are (black on black), so a stroke
is removed from the part in the
pictograph where the eyes would be.
A crow is a bird, but not a white one.
MEANING: write bird, but skip
writing one in white.
1944
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vine, ivy
140) : bird; chicken
vine
In the jungle there is a flowery vine
called hedera rhombea that attracts
humming birds by the dozens. They
scoot around the flowers sucking up
nectar off the vine.
Story2:
heisig:
Note : if youll remember we already

have a primitive for "ivy", but it was
completely made up from the
"square jewel" kanji. The kanji here
refers to ivy, or vine, and is used in a
particular compound for "Hedera
rhombea", which is a type of ivy
native to Japan. This vine here
produces a lot of flowers, and
attracts many small birds, which is
sure to cheer up even the most
depressed Japanese gardener.
1945
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
pigeon, dove
: nine : bird; chicken
pigeon
Feed one pigeon and nine more birds
will be swarming you immediately
Imagine some pigeons going to see a
baseball game. They would surely be
the only birds there!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1946
chicken
: servant; what; why : bird;
chicken
19
chicken
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
There are two types of birds often

compared to husbands. Yes there are
a few vultures out there, but most
husbands are CHICKENS.
(n) (domestic)
chicken, (P) (n)
chicken meat, (P).
The vultures husband is a
chicken...heck...who am I to judge
their interspecies love? Theyre both
birds so its cool.
1947
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
island
: bird; chicken : mountain
10
island
This island is the home of the
terrible mythical bird Roc. It sits
mighty atop the mountain waiting
for the next hapless ship to pass by.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Birds living on remote mountainous

islands have few preditors. Tail
feathers arent really needed are
they? Evolutionary process at
work!...
1948
warmth
days : lead on to; therefore;
then
13
keyword:
Story1:
warmth
Note: Just confirming Heisig has
confused these two characters. This
is used primarily for weather and
climate (and colours).
Story2:
heisig:
A massive group of migrating ducks

is blocking the warmth of the sun as
they pass over your
house/barbecue/picnic. Their
formation is so humongous they
block the warmth for a good 10
minutes while they pass over.
Mnemonic for the migrating ducks
primitive : the migrating ducks stick
together like the best of friends,
flying together as one (fifth stroke),
they are not easy prey for the great
1949
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
beautiful woman, princess

: woman; female : lead on
to; therefore; then
12
beautiful woman
You want to know about a beautiful
woman? Theres a woman thats so
beautiful, the birds migrate to her
instead of the sun!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
As I saw the most beautiful woman

on Earth, a flock of migrating ducks
passed by and let their poop fly. That
just ruined the moment...
1950
abet, help, save

: hand : lead on to;
therefore; then
12
abet
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You abet the escape of migrating

ducks by pointing them the way.
Aiding and abetting: You are accuse
of abetting a drug dealer, by
smuggling drugs in migrating ducks.
Of course, this means you have to
stick your fingers in their mouths.
1951
slacken, loosen, relax, lessen, be

moderate, ease
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: thread : lead on to;

therefore; then
15
slacken
[slacken; loosen; relax; lessen; be
moderate; ease] The thread in this
story is a cable line, something like a
power or phone line. The thread was
tense with all the migrating ducks
perched on it, but got back to being
slackened when the entire flock flew
away. (darg_sama-modified,2-112005).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spiderman is a slacken off. He lays

around all day in the park watching
migrating ducks...
1952
belong, genus, subordinate official,

affiliated
44) : name of a Chinese
emperor
12
belong
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
These bugs BELONG TO an

extremist group promoting insect
independence. They are parading the
FLAG of their group, the Nationalist
GNATS, and wearing explosives
BELTS for their planned terrorist
war.
This FLAG BELONGS to the terror
group called the GNATS, oftern
seen wearing explosive BELTS. My
opinion is they all BELONG in jail.
1953
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
entrust, request, send a message

: mouth : belong; genus;
subordinate official; affiliated
15
entrust
Entrust is to confer trust in someone
else. My mouth belongs to you and
your secret is safely entrusted with
me.
If you entrust me with something,
my mouth belongs to you.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1954
accidentally, even number, couple,

man & wife, same kind
: person : long-tailed
monkey
11
accidentally
Mr. T accidentially stepped on
Jiminy Cricket (a brainy insect, with
a belt sort of sash to hold his
"conscience" badge).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mr. T accidentally steps on Jiminy

Cricket. // Primitive: right side:
Talking cricket = Jiminy Cricket, a
brainy insect with a belt to whip
little kids who misbehave.
1955
interview, treat, entertain, receive,

deal with
: long-tailed monkey :
(no. 162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
12
interview
On the road to my interview I
accidentally bump into Jiminy
Cricket who gives me some good
advice.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I was finally able to score an

interview with the wisest being
around: Jiminy Cricket. However,
his schedule is really packed, so they
had to squeeze me in while his tour
bus rode between gigs. In fact, it was
really short---after a few miles I was
kicked out of the bus and stranded in
the middle of the interstate. But man,
it was worth it!
1956
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
foolish, folly, absurdity, stupid

: long-tailed monkey :
61)
13
foolish
Dont be foolish! says Jiminy
Cricket as he lashes you with his
belt. Follow logic, like me, not your
heart.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
I simply imagine Jiminy Cricket

jumping all over the place, like a
mad man, yelling "yeeeeehaaaaa!".
Maybe he just fell in love?
Mnemonic - "Jiminy Cricket has a
foolish heart".
1957
corner, nook
(no. 170) : long-tailed monkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
12
corner
If you behave badly at THE
PINNACLE, JIMINY CRICKET
will send you to sit in the corner.
Oh how the pious fall from their
lofty pinnacles! Jiminy Cricket now
deals drugs on the street corner.
1958
inverted, reverse, opposite, wicked
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: left hand; old grass radical (no.

9
inverted
Theres a road thats been invertedits gone from horizontal to directly
vertical! The only beast that could
possibly climb it is a mountain goat
of course.
Story2:
heisig:
This reminds me of a cartoon I saw

once, perhaps it was with Donald
Duck. he is startled and furious
when he chases this mountain
billygoat further and further up the
mountain road, untill the angle is so
steep that he finds himself inverted.
And falls down, while the goat
stands solidly placed inverted and
laughs a goaty laughter as Donald
plumments and makes that typical
Donald shaped cartoon crater at the
1959
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
model, molding
: conjunction (astronomy); first
day of month : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
13
model
This guy is such a gifted sculptor.
He can model a MOUNTAIN GOAT
and a MOON with just SOIL mold.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A legend says that if you model a

mountain goat (with tail and
everything) from dirt and leave to
the light of the moon on the first day
of the month (#2846), the dirt will
became flesh. (blackstockc).
1960
mount, hill, knoll

13) : mountain
8
keyword:
Mount
Story1:
White mount , Fuji mount , olympus

mount whatever ....The choice is
yours but wherever you go they sell
those snowglobe souvenir : under a
GLASS HOOD you can see the
mount with a MOUTAIN GOAT
standing on top of it .... So kitsch
you just cant forget it .
Story2:
heisig:
This has the same meaning as , so

my "Mount" is a hill with mountain
goats on it under a glass canopy. Its
obviously an effort by the locals to
add some Mount atmosphere to their
hill. As a primitive, it has the
meaning "sturdy" (really), which
Heisig has not used for some reason,
but I will. The glass canopy must be
pretty sturdy to keep the goats inside
(bulletproof glass, Im sure).
1961
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
steel
: gold : mount; hill; knoll
16
steel
Mount Fuji is completely made up of
a metal known as steel.
Ancient shamans predicted a time
when there would be Mounts made
of metal. The steel skyscrapers of
today
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1962
hawser, class (genus), rope, cord,

cable
: thread : mount; hill; knoll
14
hawser
A sturdy thread is equally obviously
hawser (heavy rope). (see previous
frame).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spiderman saves Japan from floating

away by tying Mt. Fuji to mainland
Asia using a hawser made of web.
1963
sturdy, strength
: mount; hill; knoll : sword;
saber; knife
10
sturdy
Story1:
Story2:
Mount everest is very sturdy, you

can hit it all day with a saber and it
wont even wobble.
Anything sturdy in Japan is
associated with Mount Fuji. Perhaps
this is because its symmetry is
believed to make it rather sturdy
itself, unlike all those crooked
mountains that are around and tend
to fall apart (think rock slides,
avalanches, etc.). Here we see
Sturdy-brand sabers with Mount Fuji
engraved on the blade.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1964
tin can, container

: can, jar radical (no. 121)
6
tin can
Horses kept in the mountains have a
unique savory taste. At least so the
text on this tin can would have us
believe, which contains 100%
authentic mountain horse.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The starving horse, stranded on the

mountain, is forced to eat a tasty tin
can.
1965
pottery, porcelain
(no. 170) : wrapping
20) : tin can; container; jar
radical (no. 121)
11
keyword:
Story1:
pottery
Pottery is used for food preservation,
the pinnacle of which today is food
bound up in tin cans.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
This chinese man was making the

best china pottery in all of ... China.
For some reason he insisted on
working at the top of a pinnacle,
away from the distractions of the
world. He kept in touch with the
local people, and took orders,
through bound tin cans (tin cans
bound with rope, the children's
version of the telephone).
1966
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
swing, shake, sway, rock, tremble,

vibrate
: hand : a vase; a pitcher;
earthenware
12
swing
Primitive: A condor is like a vulture
but twice the size and lives in
mountainous regions (+1 Elphalpo).
Story: I swing my fingers back and
forth, trying to fend off the attacking
condor.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For the condor primitive: A condor

is like a vulture, but twice as big and
it lives near mountains (a suitable
place for such a majestic bird). For
swing: Im sitting on a swing when a
condor comes by and picks up the
whole swing set with its big fingerlike claws and now Im swinging in
mid-air. Weeeeeeeee!!!!!
1967
noh chanting
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : a vase; a pitcher;

earthenware
16
Noh chanting
Noh chanting?!? I meant "NO
CHANTING!" Now all you, just
shut up! Not another word! Dont
you know that chanting can provoke
attacks from the local condor? So,
no chanting, and especially no Noh
chanting.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Picture guy dressed in a condor

mask up on stage during Noh
performance chanting some words
nobody understands.
1968
concerning, settle, take position,

depart, study, per
: capital; 10**16 :
reasonable; just; natural; superb;
outstanding; plausible
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
concerning
In the capital they have been having
hearings concerning bioethics and
bioengineering they call as their first
witness a chihuahua with one human
leg.
Ahem...CONCERNING your recent
science fair project, it was a
CAPITAL idea, but the
CHIHUAHUA with a HUMAN LEG
is freaking out the other contestants!
1969
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sociable, kind, courteous, hospitable,

cordial
: snake; legless insect; badger or
clawed dog radical (no. 153) :
17
sociable
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The skunk here is Pepe LePew of

Looney Tunes fame. Hes a very
sociable skunk, as far as skunks go,
but instead of having a "heart of
gold" he has a heart of silver (since
he always finishes second in the
game of love).
The skunk here is Pepe LePew of
Looney Tunes fame. Hes a very
sociable skunk, as far as skunks go,
but instead of having a "heart of
gold" he has a heart of silver.
1970
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ground-breaking, open up farmland

Turkey
16
groundbreaking
Story1:
It was the groundbreaking of the

new farm, but there was an uninvited
guest to the ceremony. It was a
famous skunk, the one with the
familiar silver stripe. The feet of the
crowd rushing from the ceremony
site churned up the soil very nicely.
The ceremony was ruined but the
groundbreaking was a great success.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I got sprayed by a skunk, so no one

is helping me with the
groundbreaking of my farm. On a
positive note, I found silver laying
all over the soil. Mine all mine!
1971
excuse, dismissal
radical (no. 12)
8
keyword:
excuse
Story1:
Obviously this is the rabbit from

Alice, excusing himself and rushing
away on his legs, as he has a binding
day schedule. This is at the same
time an image, with bound=ears,
day=head and legs are just legs. The
image is used in rabbit (#2093).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
What is the rabbits excuse for being

such a jerk? Well he was bound up
for a whole day while being stepped
on by peoples human legs in some
make-up labratory. Yeah I think I
can excuse him after knowing that.
1972
deviate, idleness, leisure, miss the

mark, evade, elude, parry, diverge
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: excuse; dismissal : walk;

162)
11
elude
Word play to differentiate
elude/evade: elude ~= e-lewd. Alice
is following Mr. Rabbit on the road.
Mr. Rabbit flashes her in a lewd way
and disappears, completely eluding
her.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Even though the white rabbit was

late, he eluded the wrath of the the
Queen of Hearts because Alice was
coming up the road.
1973
nightfall, night
days : excuse; dismissal
12
nightfall
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At nightfall the sun excuses itself

and goes to sleep.
This is EASY!!! Japanese people see
a RABBIT ON THE MOON
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_r
abbit ) and so nightfall is when the
sun leaves to make way for the
rabbit.
1974
exertion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: excuse; dismissal : power;

10
exertion
When RABBITS hop around, they
EXERT tremendous force using
their MUSCULAR legs.
The energizer bunny's exertion of
power keeps going and going...
1975
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
elephant, pattern after, imitate,

image, shape, sign (of the times)
radical (no. 152)
12
elephant
An elephant has huge ears, like a
rabbit, and a big, fat body, like a sow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
An animal with huge ears like a

rabbit, and a body fat like a pig...
An ELEPHANT! For the
"phenomenon" connotation you
could use Dumbo, or Joseph Merrick
(the "elephant man")
1976
statue, picture, image, figure, portrait

: person : elephant; pattern
after; imitate; image; shape; sign (of
the times)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
14
statue
Statues of people are made the same
size as statues of elephants.
Story2:
heisig:
One of the most famous statues is of

course the Statue of Liberty, which
is known for the first thing a person
sees when coming into New York.
However, did you know that the first
thing a person used to see (between
the years of 1885 to 1896) was
actually a huge elephant statue on
Coney Island? It's true too... (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_I
sland - search Coney Island
Elephant).
1977
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
horse
: fire
10
horse
Story1:
Turkey with the drops at the top

removed and tail feathers added (this
matches stroke order and there are
the tail feathers already, why not
have the whole bird). If you take the
two drops of as wings, then
horses are like turkeys, but have no
wings and have more prominent tail
"feathers". Both are actually
supposed to be pictographs, though.
Story2:
heisig:
The top part is half a comb (see

frame 1920) with an extra vertical
stroke to account for a sturdier
version used to comb a horse mane.
As a primitive I used the theme of
the Trojan Horse. Not the modern
computer viruses, but the large
wooden horse which led to the
demise of Troy and of the Trojans.
Either its size (much greater than a
live horse), or the fact that it
conceals things into its belly, will set
1978
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
pony, horse, colt

: horse : phrase; clause;
counter for haiku
15
pony
The new My Little Ponies show is
all about magic horses who utter
cute catch phrases.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A particular My Little Pony has a

string that when you pull it, it
repeats the same dumb phrase like "I
love you".
1979
verification, effect, testing

: horse : all
18
verification
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
We just verification that there are

indeed no soldiers in the belly of this
trojan horse. Were just gonna stab it
in the belly with this awl to check.
The verification proves the horse is
real by poking it with an ice pick.
1980
equestrian, riding on horses, counter

for equestrians
: horse : strange;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
18
equestrian
Equestrian events are where you get
horses to do strange things.
If the equestrian team used trojan
horses, it would be really strange.
1981
stop-over, reside in, resident

: horse : lord; chief; master;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
15
parking
In the olden days you had to park
your horse next to a candlestick, a
primitive parking meter that you
start by lighting a fire and tracks the
time by burning down.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In the olden days parking lots used

to have reserved spaces for where
the lord (of the set of houses, shops,
whatever) could park his team of
horses. nowadays its pretty much
the same...reserved parking in front
for the big bosses cars....
1982
drive, run, gallop, advance, inspire,

impel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: horse : ward; district

14
drive
You have to be craaazzzzyy to drive
a buggy led by a team of horses
through a ward of Tokyo!
You use teams of horses to drive you
and your carriage around the ward.
1983
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
station
: horse : shaku; Japanese
14
station
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Anyone living in Japan knows that

train stations play little melodies
when the train is about to arrive. In
Ye Olden Days, when horses and
carriages were used for transport, the
carriage driver would play a little
melody on his shakuhachi to let the
passengers know the carriage was
arriving at the next station.
A homeless horse playing the flute at
the station to make a dime.
1984
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
boisterous, make noise, clamor,

disturb, excite
: horse : or again;
hand : insect; bug; temper
18
boisterous
Story1:
Or more precisely: the team of

horses are getting boisterous because
one of them got bitten in the crotch
by a horse fly. The kanji also means
to roar, make up noise, to kick up a
fuss and to make merry. Perhaps it is
exactly the etymology behind this
kanji.
Story2:
The hidden Greeks inside the Trojan

Horse are getting boisterous as one
of them is bitten in the crotch by a
nasty insect. If they dont shut up,
the Trojans will hear them...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
1985
burdensome, pack horse, horse load,

send by horse
: horse : plump; thick; big
around
14
burdensome
If a passenger is too plump and
heavy, its too burdensome for the
horse.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If your horses get so plump to be

good for nothing they just become
burdensome.
1986
wonder, be surprised, frightened,

amazed
: awe; respect; honor;
revere : horse
22
wonder
Story1:
You stand in AWE at the 8th

WONDER of the world, a huge
TROJAN HORSE.
Story2:
heisig:
This is another word for surprise.

= surprise. The
Trojans stood in awe of the
magnificent Trojan Horse that they
thought was a gift. But imagine their
surprise (wonder) when a bunch of
Greeks came rushing out of it! (To
further cement the connection
between the primitives, if needed:
Its a wonder that the Trojans
managed to speak keigo even
then, saying
1987
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fervent, kind, cordial, serious,

deliberate
: bamboo : horse
16
fervent
A fervent horse doesnt need to be
whipped with a bamboo stick during
a race, it will go fast by itself.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A fervent history otaku rebuild the

the Trojan Horse. But since he was
Japanese, he used bamboo instead of
normal wood.
1988
inflation, advancing, going

: majestic plural; imperial
we : horse
20
inflation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Flesh+quarter=McDonalds quarter
pounder. Due to inflation,
McDonalds has had to start making
quarter pounders out of horse meat.
Every quarter moon, the cost of a
trojan horse rises one quarter by
inflation.
1989
tiger, drunkard
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tiger spots; mottled; tiger or tiger

8
tiger
Story1:
Magic wand + first two strokes of

pelt () + diced + human legs. A
wizard who turns people he doesnt
like into newts with his magic wand
goes for variety - he has always
wanted a tiger pelt - but things go
awry when the tiger promptly dices
and eats him, leaving only a pair of
legs. (a fitting end for a wicked
wizard).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Tigger, the tiger, (from Pooh stories)

is happy to have found a magic
wand. Using it he can bounce up to a
the top of a cliff, seven times as high
as some human legs could bounce.
Tigger thinks "Its great to be a tiger!
1990
captive, barbarian, low epithet for

the enemy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

crown radical (no. 141) : male
13
captive
Captive men are thrown to the tigers.
I think you can imagine something
else is done to captive women...
Tip: To avoid confusing keyword
captive with captured (#1018) note
that captive contains "ti" for tiger.
heisig:
onyomi:
1991
english:
skin, body, grain, texture, disposition
component:
strokes:
keyword:

stomach; paunch; crop; craw
15
skin
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Ending up in a tigers stomach is not

good for your skin, as its full of
stomach acids.
They say, "there's more than one
way to skin a cat", but if you try to
skin a tiger you might end up in its
stomach.
1992
void, emptiness, unpreparedness,

crack, fissure, untruth
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

crown radical (no. 141) : one;
one radical (no.1)
11
void
In Japanese folklore there is no hell,
but there is the void. There, a row of
tigers waits in the blackness to
devour those souls who have failed
in their spiritual life.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Warning to Sigfreid and Roy: Your

entertainment contract will be null
and void unless you can make all the
tigers stand in a row.
1993
frolic, play, sport

: void; emptiness; unpreparedness;
crack; fissure; untruth :
halberd; arms; festival car; float;
tasselled spear radical (no. 62)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
15
frolic
This is a story about the end of the
universe. The universe is turning
into a featureless void. Theres
nothing we can do about it except
for throw a fiesta and frolic a little
bit before its all over.
Sigfreid and Roys contract having
been voided, the tiger is free to frolic
about at the fiesta.
1994
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fear, uneasiness, anxiety, concern,

expectation, consideration
crown radical (no. 141) : give;
do something for
13
uneasiness
I feel a sense of uneasiness about
giving this HUGE tiger a steak.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
My dear friend, a Bengali merchant,

gave me a tiger as a birthday present.
I felt uneasiness, knowing that Ill
have to reject it. Or was it horror?
1995
english:
prudence, thought, concern,

consider, deliberate, fear
component:

crown radical (no. 141) : think
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
15
prudence
Real meaning: "to ponder". You
have to think with prudence (ponder
carefully) about approaching a tiger,
as is evident from .
You have to think with prudence
about approaching a tiger. If not, it
will eat your brains and heart.
Thanks raulir.
1996
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
drama, play
crown radical (no. 141) : pig;
hog; pig radical (no. 152) :
sword; saber; knife
15
drama
There would be a lot of drama if a
tiger tried to eat a sow but then the
sow attacked it with a saber.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A great Indian drama acted out every

year is how a poor Bengali boy
fended off the tigers from his pigs
using only a sabre.
1997
tyrannize, oppress
crown radical (no. 141)
9
tyrannize
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Here we see the evil tyrannizing

tiger. What is on his chest? A giant
E, for EVIL, of course.
The "E" shape actually means claws
here, and the real etymology is a
tiger tyrannizing other animals with
its claws (the etymologies actually
make sense once in a blue moon!). I
think of the claws here as two hooks,
representing the front paws. (stroke
order of that part: last of ).
1998
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
deer
53) : compare; race; ratio;
Philipines
11
deer
Bambi wanders into a cave and sees
a side order of salad and 2
spoons...but whats the main course?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Santas reindeer, Rudolf, opens a

nightclub in a cave. Its popular with
all the deer and reindeer in the
world. The cave speciality is a salad
w/ dressing on the side. There is no
other deer club that can compare.
How many other deer nightclubs are
there?
1999
recommend, mat, advise, encourage,

offer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : dotted cliff radical (no.
53) : fire
16
recommend
Customer in restaurant asks you
(waiter) what you recommend: "I
recommend ze deer or ze 'eadless
chicken. And I recommend you
garnish it wiz some flowers." (let
last six strokes = headless chicken).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
It is recommended that deers stick to

eating flowers. If they try to eat
birds, they may end up choking on
them, like this one here. Note that
the head () is gone and the visible
part of the body which is normally
written with a stroke of the head
must by necessity be drawn with a
stroke of the tail.
2000
jubilation, congratulate, rejoice, be

happy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 34)
15
jubilation
The hunter experienced jubilation
when the deer with melancholy
walked up to him and said, "just
shoot me, whats the point in
running. Everyone dies someday..."
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Bambi was melancholy at the death

of his mother, but is now in
jubilation as hes made friends with
thumper.
2001
lovely, companion
one; one radical (no.1) : deer
19
lovely
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The anthropologist made an exact

deer painting from the cave ceiling
on the ceiling of his house. Too bad
theyre both mediocre. All his wife
could say was, "How...lovely.".
Lovely bambi.... pictographe : just
take a look at those innocent open
eyes (part 1 its not more far fetched
than seeing mediocre in it) with thin
eyebrows what a lovely deer ...(part
2).
2002
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bear
: ability; talent; skill;
capacity : fire
14
bear
Most dont know it, but bears have
the ability to walk on fire. Theyre
invincible creatures!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Note : I dont know why James

Heisig put "bear" ahead of "ability"
(next frame), but I sugget to skip
this, learn the next kanji ("ability")
then go back here and use ability as
a primitive.
2003
ability, talent, skill, capacity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 28) : month;
moon : spoon; spoon or
katakana hi radical (no. 21) :
spoon; spoon or katakana hi radical
(no. 21)
10
ability
This man may have the dis-ability of
no flesh below the elbows, but he
can eat with 2 spoons, on in each
foot.
Story2:
heisig:
Kid from the Oracles place in the

Matrix (whose head is shining like
the moon) is holding a a spoon and
making it bend using his special
ability. When Neo asks to learn this
ability the child replies, " Remember
the truth Neo, there is no spoon."
Neo Proceeds to the kitchen
pondering these words of wisdom.
The Child smiles mischeviously and
pulls a second spoon hidden up his
sleeve in the crook of his elbow.
2004
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
attitude, condition, figure,

appearance, voice (of verbs)
: ability; talent; skill;
capacity : heart; mind; spirit;
14
attitude
This guy has an attitude problem
lots of ability, but his hearts not in it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Having a good attitude means

believing in your heart that you have
the ability to do anything - like
memorizing more than 2000 kanji,
for example.
2005
sign of the tiger, 3-5AM, 3rd zodiac

sign
(no. 40) : wherefore; a
reason : eight; eight radical
(no. 12)
strokes:
keyword:
sign of the tiger
Story1:
I don't know why but when I read

sign of the tiger I get the "eye of the
tiger song" stuck in my head. So I
see rocky training in his house. Hes
hitting the ceiling (no punching bag)
eating brussel sprouts to keep in
good health and running with only
the animal legs his dog.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The sign of the tiger is that hes

eaten all of the yellow (#1750) salad
in the house.
2006
performance, act, play, render, stage

: water : sign of the tiger; 35AM; third sign of Chinese zodiac
14
performance
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Studies have shown that Rocky's

PERFORMANCE increases if he
downs WATER mixed with gatorade
while in a match.
I remember seeing advertisements
growing up with the sign of the tiger
saying to "Put a tiger in your tank",
meaning that it would increase the
performance of the drops of gasoline
you put in.
2007
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sign of the dragon, 7-9AM, 5th

zodiac sign
(no. 27)
sign of the dragon
I'm going with the Mortal Kombat
Symbol, as it's the closest thing to a
sign of the dragon I know. In that
game, there's a place called the pit to
which you can throw your opponent
on round two, but only with a
hairpin punch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The kid said "I dont believe you!

Dragons dont exist!" so we made a
little surprise for him: we pinned a
huge dragon (it was just a sign
really) on a nearby cliff. "Whoaaa!
Dragon!" the kid said. "But why
wont it move?" "I tell you why,
cause its pinned there with two
hairpins" I thought to myself.
2008
embarrass, humiliate, shame
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: sign of the dragon; 7-9AM; fifth

sign of Chinese zodiac; shin dragon
10
embarrass
If you get too close to a firebreathing dragon, your skin can turn
red from the burn. When someone is
embarrassed, it's as though they have
this sign of the dragon stuck to their
face.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The sign of the dragon falls off the

cliff, to our great embarassment (see
sign of the dragon (#2008)) We
should have glued it there!
2009
english:
quake, shake, tremble, quiver, shiver
component:
: rain : sign of the dragon;

7-9AM; fifth sign of Chinese zodiac;
shin dragon radical (no. 161)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
15
quake
An earthquake is a sign that a dragon
is awakening after a heavy rain... It
is angry for having been woken up
and it makes the earth thunder and
quake above it.
Instant mythology: When heavy
rains disturb a dragon hiding under
the earth, an earthquake may result.
2010
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shake, wave, wag, swing

: hand : sign of the dragon;
7-9AM; fifth sign of Chinese zodiac;
10
shake
Your mother shakes herfinger
violently - no, no, no - no Mortal
Kombat today!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you're talking to someone and

notice that theirfingers are starting to
shake, it's often a sign of the dragon
being behind you where the other
person can see him coming.
2011
with child, pregnancy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: woman; female : sign of

the dragon; 7-9AM; fifth sign of
Chinese zodiac; shin dragon radical
(no. 161)
10
with child
A woman who is with child can't be
sacrificed to the dragon; virgins only
need apply.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The woman hides the dragon from

poachers under her shirt, pretending
she's with child. "Seen any sign of
the dragon?" ask the poachers.
"Nope, haven't seen him," replies the
woman.
2012
lips
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: sign of the dragon; 7-9AM; fifth

sign of Chinese zodiac; shin dragon
10
lips
Sign of the Dragon + Mouth: Lips
need chapstick during the wintertime
so they don't look like the sign of the
dragon who kissed you on the mouth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
As I approached her lips, I began to

sense the sign of the dragon breath
coming from her mouth, and I
almost fainted.
2013
agriculture, farmers
component:
strokes:
keyword:

lean : sign of the dragon; 79AM; fifth sign of Chinese zodiac;
13
agriculture
Story1:
Imagine if you could bend a dragon

to your will. Helpful in war, yes, but
also a boon for agriculture. The
dragon could use its sharp claws to
plough the ground, and use its firey
breath to clear the land. But first
you'd have to bend the dragon to
your will -- not an easy task.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
It's a good agricultural sign when, as

the farmer is bending down, he
discovers some plants arranged in
the sign of the dragon. It means the
weather and earth will be supportive
of the crops.
2014
concentrated, thick, dark, undiluted

: water : agriculture;
farmers
16
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
concentrated
The agriculture of Florida is
concentrated on making
concentrated orange juice. Just add
water! Imagine a can of FCOJ,
dumping it into a pitcher and adding
water.
Concentrated water is going to
revolutionize the agriculture! Just
add water... oh wait...
2015
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
escort, send
: heavens; sky; imperial :
(no. 162)
9
send off
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The St Bernard with devilish animal

horns must be non other than
Cerberus, guard dog of the
netherworld. In this frame Cerberus
is seen along the road to hell,
escorting those who have been sent
off to join Hades in his realm.
The woolly mammoth got quite a
send off before he wandered up that
road never to be seen alive again.
2016
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
connection, barrier, gateway,

involve, concerning
: gate; counter for
cannons : frontier pass; close;
relation
14
connection
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At the airport, the woolly mammoth

was too big. When he tried to go
through his flight's gate he got stuck
and missed his connecting flight.
The wooly mammoth Smashes the
gates down restoring the connection
between the glacier and the low
lands.
2017
blossom, bloom
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mouth : frontier pass;

close; relation
9
blossom
The mouth of the wooly mammoth
was so big and furry that plants
would actually grow and blossom
there.
From the mouth of the hell hound
blossoms, not flowers, but evil
spawns of DOOOOOOM.
2018
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
ghost, devil
4) : rice field; rice
paddy : legs radical (no.
radical (no. 28)
10
ghost
Story1:
Story2:
() is not a ghost. An ogre or a

troll would be a more fitting
translation. Such a thing has but a
drop of brains and uses its legs and
elbows as deadly weapons (a
concept which should be familiar
from the license (#765) to kill). I'll
use "ogre" for this.
A ghost, or oni, wandering slowly on
its human legs, searching for brains
to eat. What looks like an elbow here
is actually a pictoral representation
of the forked tail protruding out of
its rear.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2019
ugly, unclean, shame, bad looking

sake radical (no. 164) : ghost;
devil
17
ugly
The ugly oni cant get a date so he
drinks sake by himself at the bar.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Drinking too much whisky can make

you as ugly as an oni.
2020
soul, spirit
: say : ghost; devil
14
soul
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When you die, your SOUL either

goes to the RISING CLOUDS
(heaven) or to the ONI (hell, the
devil).
When we die, our soul rises up in a
ghostlike rising cloud of mist up to
heaven (we hope) (Adapted from
darg_sama,28-10-2005).
2021
witch, demon, evil spirit

: hemp; flax : ghost; devil
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
21
witch
This modern version of the witch
lives in some hippie community. She
smokes a lot of hemp, and spends
the day talking to ghosts, which not
surprisingly appears only to her.
The witch sold me some hemp that
made me see ghosts dont do drugs.
2022
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fascination, charm, bewitch

: ghost; devil : un-; not yet;
hitherto; still; even now; sign of the
ram; 1-3PM; eighth sign of Chinese
zodiac
15
fascination
Ghosts have not yet left the world,
they must still have a deep
fascination with their past life on
Earth.
Story2:
heisig:
Here the "Ghostbusters" founder

talks about his fascination for ghosts
(picture Dan Arkroyd in the movie if
that helps). He says he has a
fascination for ghosts ever since he
saw one as a teenager. Since then
hes been scouring all of the world,
trying to capture them on tape, on
video... A journalist asks "When will
it end ? Arent you tired of chasing
ghosts ?" "Oh no, not yet ! Not until
I become a ghost myself anyway !".
2023
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clod, lump, chink, clot, mass

Turkey : ghost; devil
13
clod
Without any weapons, our only
defense was to throw clods of dirt at
the advancing oni horde. (Adapted
from dingomick because zombie was
used as a primitive for drag+rag).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
All too often I find myself

vaccuming clods of dirt with my Dirt
Devil.
2024
attack, advance on, succeed to

: dragon; imperial :
22
attack
Story1:
The top 16 strokes are the chinese

radical for "dragon". Joining up both
meanings of the radical we can name
the top part of this kanji "imperial
dragon". Two-headed snakes do
exist as biological curiosities, and
they look a bit like a slingshot (with
the heads splitting at a junction). Our
imperial dragon here, the pet of a
Chinese emperor, is a rare "threeheaded slingshot-snake" kept in a
vase and fed with meat. When the
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You attack an old dragon and

take his clothes. REF: dragon [old]
(#2981).
2025
menacing, dignity, majesty, threaten

: mouth : suddenly;
brighten; illuminate; light up
17
upbraid
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To upbraid someone, you criticize

them in a menacing way. In other
words, you jaw at them with your
MOUTH until both sides of their
face turn RED (hence the doublered).
Tip: Heisig later names "red +
red" as incandescent (#2908). Story:
"So the boss upbraided you, huh?".
"Yep, his mouth was incandescent.
2026
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
majestic plural, imperial we

: meat : heavens; sky;
imperial
10
majestic plural
The queen is not happy. "We
(majestic plural) are not amused that
the hunger for the flesh of the wooly
mammoth has caused it's extinction.
Poor Charles is particularly upset.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The king says "Only We are allowed

to partake of the flesh of the golden
calf.".
2027
atmosphere, fog
: rain : part; minute of time;
segment; share; degree; one's lot;
duty; understand; know; rate; 1%;
chances; shaku/100
12
atmosphere
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The part of the sky that is

responsible for weather and rain is
known as the atmosphere. It only
occupies part of the sky though.
(This is atmosphere as in ambiance,
mood). Rain is only part of the
atmosphere for a romantic porch
date. Food, music, and candles are
the rest.
2028
counters for things
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: bamboo : harden; set;

clot; curdle
14
item
Dragon Quest - You find a hardened
bamboo stick, perfect for a weapon,
but you cant pick it up because your
items are full.
Story2:
heisig:
Youve entered in a chinese shop

where apparently the only item in
sale is old, dusty, hardened bamboo
(for construction for example). It
looks like these items have been
there forever. Asking the clerk if
anything else is available, he doesnt
understand and instead asks - "Two
items? Three items?" (the kanji is a
counter for items) - thinking you
want to buy something.
2029
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
tempering, refine, drill, train, polish

: gold : east
16
tempering
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the East, especially Japan ...there

are masters of tempering metal to
great strength....on the Spring of
Trivia show in Japan I saw how a
Japanese sword ...actually split
flying bullets...all because of special
Eastern tempering techniques.
Tempering should be done with the
metal facing east. (If not, the metal
may pick up the earths magnetic
field).
2030
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
abide by, follow, obey, learn

: revered; valuable; precious;
noble; exalted : walk;
162)
15
abide by
You must abide by the revered rules
of the road! No devils brew and stay
glued to your lane in the road!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Even the most revered person must

still abide by the rules of the road -no exceptions are granted to anyone.
2031
quit, stop, leave, withdraw, go

122) : ability; talent; skill;
capacity
15
quit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Hey, screw you! Dont you look

down on me! I have the ability to
quit anytime I want!
My eye doesnt seem to have the
ability to quit staring at her...
2032
barracks, police station, camp

4) : left hand; old grass
radical (no. 45)
4
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
barracks
The game characters from Worms
sleep in their barracks at night.
Earthworm jim sleeps in a barracks
because he is a soldier... apparently.
2033
moreover, also, furthermore

: month; moon : one; one
radical (no.1)
5
keyword:
moreover
Story1:
Moreover is a literary term to shelve

what you had just been talking
about, to come back to it later.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Same as darg_sama. Play on words. I

imagine visiting someone who has
an impressive collection of medals
and trophies (chess champion, for
example). After spending an hour
showing you all the trophies in the
glass shelf, you think "Whew! Its
over." ... but the person says "... and
wait, theres "moreover" !", pointing
at more trophies lined atop the glass
shelf.
2034
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
seaweed, duckweed
140) : wash
19
seaweed
Goods + wood = paper. You know
how nori, ie: seaweed, comes in
sheets for putting in your ramen or
for your sushi? Well that's because
it's water paper! Seaweed is also a
sea flower of sorts, so it all just
works out.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Let wooden goods = furniture. Then:

Walking along the sea shore you see
some washed-up furniture with
water (waves) splashing against it.
From a distance it looks like flowers
are growing out the top, but as you
get closer you see it is in fact
seaweed.
2035
slave, servant, prisoner, criminal,

follower
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 33) : show;
indicate; point out; express;
display : extend; give; cast;
slave radical (no. 171)
16
slave
In an attempt to free them from
being slaves to their desires, the
samurai stands behind the altar
likening a clear mind to a sieve that
lets only the purest thoughts through.
Story2:
heisig:
Careful: retainer (#848). Think of

slave in the virtual sense (a slave to
your passions). The samurai is
standing on the altar lecturing about
goodwill (see goodwill (#1097)). He
notices the boredom of most of the
crowd. However some audience
members are attentive about the
message of goodwill. The samurai
views his sermon as a sieve of
character: those of good character
pass through and see the merit; those
2036
onyomi:
english:
healing, cure, quench (thirst), wreak

(no. 104) : be superior; heal;
more and more; increasingly; finally;
beyond doubt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
18
healing
Story1:
(Think rpg!) We were in dire need of

healing. Our party was fighting the
cavemen, but we didn't fare too well.
It was more like a butcher's meeting
than a fight... just as they were about
to pierce my heart, luckily a priest
came along and used his healing
spell in the nick of time (#2433).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Note: meeting of butchers + heart

are later combined into in the
nick of time (#2433). Story: For
healing to take place, you must catch
the sickness in the nick of time.
2037
rust-colored, red, read lead, pills

(no. 3)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
4
cinnabar
How about a rusty cinnabar colored
dilapidated boat, found abandoned
somewhere. The smoke-stack and
the keel have fallen off...
Rusty old boat with the bottom and
top missing.
2038
lagoon
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : a shoe; the sole of

a shoe; magpie
15
lagoon
Right part: mortar bound up over
oven fire, comprising boiling
cauldron. Lagoon is a shallow pond,
thus easily warmed by sun, largescale equivalent of a boiling
cauldron.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I stapled both sides of some tail

feathers to a waterfall towering over
the lagoon to give it a more tropical
feel
2039

sign of the cow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Pictograph of a stanchion, which

includes two vertical posts to
restrain cows so they can be milked,
with a horizontal stroke showing the
number of cows per stanchion: one.
A stanchion is a great symbol for the
SIGN OF THE COW, since modern,
domesticated cows are often
stanchioned in barns.
77 cows behind a fence.
2040
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sign of the hare, 5-7AM, 4th zodiac

sign, rabbit, east
4) : seal radical (no. 26)
sign of the hare
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You know how missing childrens

pictures often appear on milk
cartons? Well here we have a
missing hare. His concerned family
is having his picture printed on the
backs of receipts and even on
stamps. So far, however, there has
been no SIGN OF THE HARE.
rabbit ears.
2041
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
sign of the snake, 9-11AM, 6th

zodiac sign, serpent
: self; snake; serpent
sign of the snake
The nd! Thanks all.
The snake likes stealing pieces from
mosaics, so if you notice your
mosaic has a piece missing, thats a
sign of the snake.
2042
onyomi:
english:
this, current, next, coming, last, past

: stop; halt : spoon; spoon
or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
this here
Story1:
I'm not going to use 'this here' as a

primitive because it's too vague. But
'stop and sit down', usually tied to a
tour guide explaining scenery works
for me.//Stop and sit down to have a
look at this here.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A wildlife explorer, let's call him

Steve Irwin, the sadly passed away
wildlife expert, is tracking down an
animal in a forest. He finds a
footprint, and gets out a spoon to
taste it. He scrapes the spoon over
the floor and tries it. "Now, this here
is a crocodile footprint" he
announces.
2043
brush, firewood
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

past : tree; wood
brushwood
(From mantixen's) I'll stop and sit
down on this here tree, which
happens to be brushwood. Now I
have to brush wood off my butt.
I'll stop and sit down on this here
tree, which happens to be
brushwood.
2044
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fort, stronghold, entrenchments

past : stone
fort
Stop and sit down to listen to the
tour guide's story. "These stones
down there used to be a fort, but the
enemy came and tore the place
down. It has never been rebuild".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(Grammar and story adjustment from

astridtops story) You STOP AND
SIT DOWN to listen to the tour
guides story. "These STONES are
remnants of what used to be a fort
long ago, but the enemy came and
tore the place down. It has never
been rebuilt".
2045
a little bit, sometimes
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

past : two; two radical (no.2)
whit
Those two tourists from my tour
group don't have a whit of common
sense. They never stop and sit down
when the tour guide tells them to!
I am at my whit's end with these two.
They never just stop and sit down.
Kids are nerve racking.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2046
beard, mustache
: hair hanging long; mane; long
hair radical (no.190) : this;
current; next; coming; last; past
beard
Story1:
Story2:
"Please stop and sit down to look to

the painting up there", the tour guide
says. "We don't know exactly who is
on the painting, but from the shape
of the hair and the distinctive beard,
we think they meant to depict
President Lincoln.".
A beard is hair that, instead of
wanting it SHAPED like your
friends, you grow it LONG so that
you can STOP, SIT DOWN and
scratch it thoughtful while
considering this here and that there.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2047
glassy, lapis lazuli

: jewel; ball : kettle lid
radical (no. 8) : villain; evil;
bad luck; disaster : rump;
footprint radical (no. 114)
15
crystal
Michael Jackson is the king of pop,
wearing his crystal rhinestone glove
(see detach (#1492).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In my story for detatch detach

(#1492), the left side primitive was
junkie. The top-hatted villian of
society with a belt around their
elbow. Here, the junkie is getting a
fix of crystal meth: the jewel in the
crown of todays drugs.
2048
bird, captive, capture
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: person : kettle lid radical

(no. 8) : villain; evil; bad
luck; disaster : rump;
footprint radical (no. 114)
fowl
Story1:
Being a Terrorist on the FBI most

wanted list, Bin Laden must
constantly move from place to place
and is never quite certain where is
going to sleep. Sometimes he can
count on a loyal supporter to let him
stay in a spare room, but when
traveling to more remote parts of
Arabia, he is sometimes forced to
sleep under an umbrella with the
fowl. (which consequently, makes
him smell rather foul).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Michael Jackson stands under an

umbrella feeding some fowl on his
ranch.
2049
pear, apple
: tree; wood : bird; captive;
capture
apple
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A flying fowl smashes into a tree

and all the apples drop off.
"Eureka!" shouts Newton, who
happens to be watching.
Michael Jackson stands under an
umbrella in case an apple falls way
off the tree like he did.
2050
pity, have mercy, sympathise,

compassion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

136)
sympathize with
Tom Cruise - American with
sunglasses (thanks synewave). I can't
sympathize with Tom Cruise's state
of mind regarding scientology.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
After the Bush years, you can

sympathize with the state of mind of
Americans for wearing sunglasses
when traveling abroad. Heck, I tell
people I'm Canadian.
2051
phosphorus
: fire : rice; USA;
136)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
phosphorus
Tom Cruise's shoes caught on fire,
because he was using phosphorous
to shine them.
The shoeshiner always starts by
cleaning the shoes first with
phosphorus. This is a bit risky,
though, and he sets himself on fire
(picture him running around in
flames).
2052
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: deer : rice; USA;

136)
camelopard
As a scientologist, A DEER to TOM
CRUISE, is not just a deer. It is
actually a descendent of a
camelopard that was sent by
extraterrestrials.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You saw a camelopard!? Bullshit!

Next your going to tell me that you
saw a deer getting a shoeshine.
(Actually I saw a camelopard getting
a shoeshine, but now that you
mention it, his body did look like a
deer...).
2053
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: fish : rice; USA;

136)
scaled
Little known fact: Tom Cruise turns
into a merman at night, scaled like a
fish and everything. Weird.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A scaled fish goes to a shoeshine

place to get his scales shined up to
impress the lady fish. (Shoeshines
will shine up any type of scaled
creature, including but not limited to
fish and dragons).
2054
cover
: large; big : day; sun;
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
encompassing
The DACHSHUND is so long he
can stretch himself around the
circumference of the earth,
encompassing the whole globe. (It
might help to think of the dachshund
as the slinky dog from Toy Story.).
Can't work with the Heisig primitive
of Dachshund, as the all
encompassing big eel is obviously
the mythical Norse Midgard Snake.
2055
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hermitage, retreat
53) : cover; suffocate; obstruct
hermitage
The hermit's home, his hermitage, is
a simple CAVE where he lives with
his pet DACHSHUND.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
At the famous Hermitage museum in

St. Petersburg, they have a cave
below the museum with a big
sculpture of the Midgard Snake.
2056
: hand : cover; suffocate;

obstruct
shrouded
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When your fingers completely

encompass something, it is shrouded
from view.
Apparently there is a cult
worshipping the Midgard Snake,
which is shrouded in mystery.
Members have to cut off one of their
fingers to join up.
2057
I, myself
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : cover; suffocate;

obstruct
10
myself
I did it all by myself! Mr T stands
there proud as holding a moray eel
in his hand. Hes brought down
terrorist organisations, drug
syndicates, but gets all worked up
when catching a fish... what a guy.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
As astridtops mentions, this is "Ore".

In Japanese r = l, so could write it
"Ole". So picture a bullfight with
person as the matador and a
dachshund replacing the bull. The
crowd keep shouting "Ole! (Ore)".
2058
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 61) : license; sincerity;
permit : winter radical (no. 34)
make amends
Data accidentally bumps into a legal
prostitute, causing her to fall on her
ass. To make amends, he invites her
to a romantic dinner.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I used to beat up random licenced

walkers of the street, but I've had
some nagging guilt at the back of my
state of mind for months now. So
I've decided to make amends by
throwing small change at them while
driving down the road.
2059
a good horse, speed, a fast person
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: horse : license; sincerity;

steed
This should be obvious, owners of
prize race horse (STEEDS) are paid
to have their STEED mate with
another (hopefully to produce a prize
winning foal). Yep, the STEEDS are
glorified HORSE HOOKERS.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Trojan horse, legal prostitute: The

guy told the legal prostitute that he is
like a steed in the bed and that she
should do it for free. However,
afterward - being severely
disappointed- she considered him
more like a Trojan horse.
2060
high, steep
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mountain : license;
sincerity; permit : winter
radical (no. 34)
steep
Steep prices for streetwalkers up a
mountain.
There are legal prostitutes waiting
on top of a steep mountain. Not only
is the mountain steep, but so are the
cost of the legal prostitutes.
2061
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
end, finish
erect : license; sincerity;
complete a job
I like mantixen's thinking. As long
as its still standing up, the
streetwalker still needs to complete
her job!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The streetwalker has to make

something stand up in order to
complete a job.
2062
mortar
: mortar, mortar radical (no. 134)
6
mortar
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I removed all the back to back

staples and grinded them in a mortar
to create metal dust.
The mortar bomb exploded, ripping
the sun in half.
2063
father-in-law
: mortar : male
father-in-law
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
My father-in-law is more fun than

my blood father. My father-in-law is
a hillbilly with an arsenal of army
gear. He gave me the mortar
launcher and said: "Be a man! Blow
up a chunk of Planet Earth!" And so
I did...
(from astridtops) "Real men don't
use mortars", said my father-in-law,
as he began to grind some stones
down using only his fists.
2064
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: mortar
mouse
Story1:
You are chasing the famous three

blind mice and try to catch them by
slamming a mortar on top of them.
Success! You can see their three tails
sticking out from under the mortar.
In fact the impact has broken the
first two tails, as you can see from
the sharp angle they bend at, and the
two drops (blood) on each. The third
tail still curves nicely though, and
hence has no drops of blood on it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A pictograph of an elaborate mousecatching device. A hook on the front

to grab them, a couple of alternating
ploughs to slice them (spattered with
drops of blood) and a mortar on top
for the big jobs.
2065
chisel
: mortar : pike; windyagain radical (no. 79) : gold
keyword:
Story1:
bore
This is pretty much only used in the
word (), chisel. Missile +
metal is obviously a hammer being
swung. The needle is the chisel and
the mortar represents the
impressions left (bored) by the
chisel. For some reason the chisel is
used to make a row of such
impressions here, and the work is
done in such a difficult place that it
has to be done upside down. Perhaps
this is some sort of sabotage, done in
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Hanging upside down in a row are

ten mortars. You must shoot chisel
tipped missiles into all of them and
successfully bore holes through them
in order to get the prize of gold. Talk
about a messed up county fair game!
2066
break, destroy, censure, be chipped,

be scratched, be broken, be ruined
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: mortar : soil; earth;

ground; Turkey : pike; windyagain radical (no. 79)
13
break
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
To "break the soil" is to make a

symbolic gesture that indicates the
beginning of construction. Like
when a politician in a hardhat gets a
shovel and lifts a piece of dirt. This
particular project is behind schedule,
so to speed things up, they blow it
up with mortar and an air-to-ground
missile.
Place your mortar on solid ground
before firing missiles from it,
otherwise it will break.
2067
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
counter for ships

: boat; ship : old person
small craft
In a small craft, the boat is so small
that you hit yourself in the crotch
when trying to use a mortar and
walking stick (as a pestle).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In military terms, a small craft is a

boat that only has enough room for a
mortar that fires walking sticks which is pretty useless unless you hit
the enemy in the crotch.
2068

(no.2) : two; two radical
(no.2) : cow
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rhinoceros
Mr. Rhinoceros doesn't see well, so
to prevent an unwanted attack, I
don't surprise him. I always
approach waving a flag attached to
my walking stick. I've drawn a
picture of the I-ching and an
attractive cow on the flag, so Mr.
Rhinoceros will stay calm when he
sees it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I hang a flag imprinted with the

picture of a rhinoceros on the grill of
my car to scare cows.
2069
swamp, shore
days : two; two radical
(no.2) : ten
lunar month
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For days of the lunar month,

a girl is fine. The other six days she
wears a white pad.
To keep track of time on a desert
island Tom Hanks puts a needle into
the white part of his yin yang symbol
every time a lunar month passes.
2070
stature, height
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : two; two radical

(no.2) : meat
10
spinal column
Look, says the teacher in biology
class. "The spinal column holds your
flesh together, just like the metal rod
of this umbrella (he demonstrates
this with an umbrella covered in IChing symbols) holds the umbrella
together".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A pictograph of a spinal column.

The umbrella representing the
shoulder blades, the I Ching as the
shoulder muscles and the part of the
body as the spine itself.
2071
rice field ridge path
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: rice field; rice paddy : or

on the other hand : or again;
on the other hand
rice-field footpath
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the rice-field footpath I found a

condom (used to protect you from
the one in four crotches that
shouldn't be done de) of someone
who couldn't afford a hotel.
Rope ladder, like as found on the
side of a large ship. The rice-field
footpath depicted here is actually a
rope ladder suspended a metre above
the rice field. Don't let your limbs
slip through!
2072
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
compose, spell, write, bind (books)

: thread : or again;
on the other hand : or again;
on the other hand
mend
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
SPIDEY has to mend his own

costume, so he used the CROSSSTITCHING his aunt showed him.
After a long fight with his enemies,
Spider-Man uses THREAD to mend
the EMBROIDERY on his torn
outfit.
2073
you, thou, second person
component:
strokes:
keyword:

13) : to mix with; to associate
with; to join; double X radical (no.
89) : to mix with; to associate
with; to join; double X radical (no.
89)
let it be
Story1:
Story by katsuo (but not yet posted) At a small concert for the Beatles I
was hanging eight towels from the
celing. I asked Paul if he wanted me
to stitch them together but he said
"Let It Be".
Story2:
There's a new cabaret show in town

called "It's Raining X-Men" where
eight Chippendales dress up in
superhero costumes for the ladies. I
would say something negative, but I
just shake my head and let it be.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2074
emperor's seal
: you; thou; second person :
jewel; ball
19
imperial seal
Story1:
The imperial seal is usually an

impressive mark made with a jewel.
However when the letter arrives it
has been raining on it and you see
that the drops of rain have been
transformed into little xs where
some animal legs have run over it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Primitives (to give correct stroke

order): tool bench, towel, 4 Xs,
jewel. Story: the Imperial Seal is like
a kind of coat-of-arms the Emperor
can stamp on stuff. Picture that coatof-arms as depicting a big jewel
(say, a diamond) with a motto on a
banner above it saying 'let it be
(#2074)'. (The emperor must have
been a huge Beatles fan).
2075
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
put on armor, arm oneself

: gold : an interjection of
surprise
suit of armor
"Without the right metal, that there
suit of armor won't mount to more
than a hill 'o beans!" said the
dwarven smith as I embarked on my
quest - with my aluminum-foil hat
and shield.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A suit of armor crafted from metal

so strong that it could withstand the
weight of a mountain of beans.
2076
victory song
: an interjection of
surprise : table; table
(no. 16)
triumph
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
After eating a mountain of beans, I

was able to triumph in the wind
contest.
With the wind blowing, it was a
triumph for Jack to climb the giant
beanstalk.
2077
attractive, bewitching, calamity

: woman; female : early
death; calamity
7
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
bewitched
If you dont want to get bewitched
(and who would?), then avoid any
woman you see carrying what might
appear to be a sapling. Its really a
wand in disguise, and if youre not
aware you might get bewitched.
I was bewitched by the woman fairy
(like an angel, but not as tall).
2078
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
fertility
: water : early death;
calamity
7
irrigate
You use water to irrigate your
saplings.
A fairy needs a lot of water to
irrigate those beating wings, so you
have make sure they drink a lot to be
well irrigated (see bewitched
(#2078).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2079
drink
: early death; calamity :
mouth
quaff
After planting the saplings, the
villagers open their mouth and quaff
large quantities of sake!
The fairy spreads her legs over my
mouth to let me quaff her moisture.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2080
leek
140) : leek radical (no. 179)
leek
You can tell green onions from leeks
because leeks are the ones that
flower.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For the green onion primitive, I use a

pun: Green UN ONE. Leeks are
milder than green onions, they're
more like the flowers of the scallion
family.
2081
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: bamboo : two
people : halberd; arms;
radical (no. 62) : leek radical
(no. 179)
lottery
Story1:
I never play the lottery. I'd rather be

whacked by bamboo staffs as I pass
down an assembly line than do that.
Of course, when a buddy wins, I'll
go to the fiesta and enjoy the special
salsa packed with green onions, but I
will never play the lottery myself.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(based on mantixen's) If I won the

lottery, I wouldn't even need to go
speed dating (a fiesta to form
couples) to find a woman, even if I
had onionbreath they'd be flocking
in my direction. On second
thoughts.. I'd better buy a bamboo
cane to keep the ugly ones away.
2082
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 61) : two people :
halberd; arms; festival car; float;
62) : leek radical (no. 179)
penitential
Someone stole the bamboo from the
previous lottery--but I'm sure their
state of mind is very penitential.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Indiana Jones: "The penitent man

shall pass. The penitent man shall
pass." Indy's state of mind is
screaming at him that something is
wrong. This assembly line of death
is giving all kinds of hints that
something is wrong. "Oh hey, green
onions!" Indy ducks down to grab
them and the trap misses him
completely... fiestas ensue...
2083
grass cutting, hay
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 20) : grass;
plants; grass radical (no.
wrapping radical (no. 20)
hay
The 2 mountain goats have to bind
up all the hay then the farmer might
give them their horns back.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
This one is easy if you know the old

form of grass (); To make hay, get
the old grass, bind up the clumps
individually, and then stack them
vertically.
2084
chick, squab, duckling, doll

: grass cutting; hay : bird;
old bird radical (no. 172)
chick
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A young chick milling about in the

hay looks up and sees a huge turkey
looking down on it. Turkey leans
down and says: "Boy, you got no
hope of leavin this place alive...".
The chick got lost in the hay. Now
mama turkey is throwing the stuff all
over looking for her chick.
2085
run, go, quick, tend towards
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: run : grass cutting; hay

scurry
If you suddenly open the barn doors,
the rats will scurry away, RUNNING
quickly over the HAY scattered
across the floor.
Imagine a cartoon character hiding
in a haystack, and then trying to run the result is a haystack scurrying
across the field.
2086
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: crooked-big radical (no.

(no. 3)
understandably
A chihuahua with one human leg is
understandably not as fast as other
chihuahuas.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
That one-human-legged chihuahua

that appeared before the capital in
concerning (#1969) is
understandably traumatized by the
abuse he suffered at the hands of the
scientists.
2087
think, consider, quarrel
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : reasonable; just;
natural; superb; outstanding;
plausible : delicious; relish;
clever; expert
15
training
After a hard day of training, wheat is
understandably delicious.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
After training hard and eating

Wheaties for months, you are
understandably thrilled to sink your
spoon into a delicious hot fudge
sundae.
2088

(no. 27) : shaggy hair or dog
immense
Story1:
Story2:
Subject to even more cruel

experiments in the name of
biological science, the one-humanlegged chihuahua is injected with
chemicals that alters his shape
grotesquely, and makes him as
immense as a cliff (see how he's tall
enough, standing right beneath it, to
reach the top?).
This pup is immense! It's head is
almost level with the edge of this tall
cliff. Who ever heard of a chihuahua
with a human leg with a shape so
immense?
heisig:
onyomi:
2089
english:
dice, form, appearance, take, coloring

: claw; nail; talon : tree;
wood
component:
strokes:
keyword:
8
grab
Story1:
Story2:
You ever wondered why this

appeared as a primitive in so many
RTK1 kanji? Well, you should know
that once a vulture grabs hold of a
tree, he can never let go. Even
Heisig couldnt shake him loose.
A common meaning for this kanji is
DICE. --- Ever wonder what
vultures do up in the trees? They
play DICE. But of course, being
vultures, they are always grabbing
the dice away from each other.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2090
some, one, or, possibly, a certain

: halberd; arms; festival car; float;
62) : mouth : one; one
radical (no.1)
a
Story1:
Story2:
Aru starts with a. To most Japanese,

the differance between "a" and "the"
is confusing. It wasn't "the" mouth
of someone important on the floor at
the fiesta, it was just a mouth of a
common drunk.
A is an indefinate article alright. At
this fiesta, the band wern't the
genuine article either. So the patrons
threw them off the stage ("Aaaaaa!")
and pressed their mouthes against
the floor. "Sing no more you
talentless hacks!!'.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2091
beheading, kill, murder

: car : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
radical (no. 69)
11
chop off
A "chop shop" is a place where
stolen cars are taken, and parts
chopped off with an axe, to be sold.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I wanted a convertible so I chopped

off the top of my car with an axe.
2092
rabbit, hare
4) : legs radical (no.
(no. 3)
rabbit
Story1:
Story2:
There is no excuse (#1972) for

you un-binding this rabbit out of its
cage so that it can drop pellets all
over my new carpet!
A real rabbit always leaves DROPs
of poo pellets behind, and his ears
are no longer bound up (compere
excuse (#1972)), so they flap above
like helicopter blades (pictograph),
and his MOUTH still is wide-open
with the STAFF-like tongue, and his
powerful LEGS still look like a
human's.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2093
to be (classical)
(no. 2) : the latter; duplicate;
5)
est
Story1:
This is the kanji for the classical

form of "is". I think Heisig's
keyword "est" is the old english or
latin word for "is". The Scorpion this
est!
Story2:
heisig:
"Est" is the latin third person

singular of the verb "esse" (to be) in
Latin. So, this word has been chosen
to point out that this character is
found chiefly in Classical Japanese
(also names). I imagine an incredibly
haughty Latin Scorpion, looking
down at his vast estate and saying
"Mihi est". This literally mean "It is
to me" and means "It's mine" ... this
is gramatically similar to how
Japanese express possession too,
2094
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: grass : high & level; lofty;

bald; dangerous : eight; eight
radical (no. 12)
lofty
The strawman had a lofty ambition
of becoming human.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Getting lofty up in the loft. The two

lovers rolling around in the straw hit
a loose board in the floor. It breaks
and it ends up with one of their
human legs sticking out of the
bottom. Whoops.
2095
comma-design
: sign of the snake or serpent; 911AM; sixth sign of Chinese zodiac
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
comma-design
The "comma-design" referred to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe.
This is a comma-design outlaid in
mosaic on the floor.
2096
: utilize; business; service; use;

employ : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
offspring
At this hospital, all the new
offspring are immediately given
little dog tags with the parent's name
on them, just to be sure there is no
chance of a mix-up.
I'll call this "firstly" since it really
has the meaning of "first time" or
"beginning". First thing any soldier
gets is a dogtag.
2097
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
head, no. of animals

: divination : person
critters
The zoo is full of critters.
Yup, we counted lots of critters in
the zoo.
2098
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

140) : three
violet
This is a violet cabbage, hanging
from a nail on the kitchen wall.
Violets are blue, cabbages are green.
Flowers on a spike are a sight rarely
seen.
2099
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

days : net; net or net crown
radical (no. 122) : or again;
mandala
Spending the day with your eye on
your crotch as you meditate on the
mandala.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Citing my story for ridicule (#829):

"It's clearly an Indian mandala, with
the Buddha sitting cross-legged,
eyes closed as in trance, beneath the
sun, a symbol of the enlightenment
which one can reach by practicing
His teachings.".
2100
towel, hanging scroll, width

: turban, scarf, scarf radical (no.
50)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
3
towel
If it looks like a towel, speaks like a
towel and walks like a towel... I
wonder why Heisig didnt include
this one (as an actual kanji) in RtK 1.
Primative from RTK1.
2101
say
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: two; two radical (no.2) : I;

myself; katakana mu radical (no. 28)
quote
Think of manga where what a person
says is quoted in a rising cloud.
The messages of the Indian Chief
were quoted in rising clouds.
2102
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
divining, fortune telling

: divination, katakana to radical
(no. 25)
augury
A magic wand is used for augury.
Augury means 'the practice of
interpreting omens.' Magicians have
a magic wand to perform augury
with.
2103
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
high, boasting
: drink : upside-down box
heaven-high
Angels go to classes at heaven-high.
They quaff their thirst for
knowledge, sure that the instructors
there will never give them a belt in
the mouth. Not at heavan-high!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Angels enroll at heaven-high (it's

even made of the elements heaven
and high. How easy can it be?).
2104
must not, do not, be not

counter for days : large; big
shalt
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
"Thou shalt not kill", 'cause the

graveyard is full. There's no room
left to dispose of the evidence!
Just flowery words from the Big
guy?: "Thou shalt remember the
sabbath day and keep it holy.
2105
: person : committee;
entrust to; leave to; devote; discard
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Yamato
Mr. T was selected to head up the
committee studying the Yamato
period.
There's always a person named
Yamato on every committee. And I
always hate them.
2106
tomboy, chivalry
: person : insert between
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
chivalry
Mr T approaches the knights and
stabs his scissors into the table
they're seated at. "I pity the fool who
questions my chivalry!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mr. T believes in chivalry - so

whenever he plays a game of rock,
paper, scissors, he always throws
scissors to let the other person win.
Note that this has nothing to do with
women at all (hence the absence of
women in this kanji) - just with
everybody being weaker than Mr T.
2107
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : scroll; volume;

book; part; roll up; wind up; tie;
coil; counter for texts (or book
scrolls)
fed up
Mr T has been chasing some fools
for a while, but they keep leaving
riddle scrolls behind, making Mr T
use his noggin to try and catch them.
"Mr T is fed up with these fool
games!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Mr. T invented the book because he

was fed up with scrolls.
2108
: person : mingle; mixing;

comely
Mr T mingles amongst the crowd,
seeming more comely than his usual
offish self.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Mr. T only likes to mingle with

comely people.
2109
sudden, abrupt, improvised

: person : ego; I; selfish;
our; oneself
abrupt
A person with a big ego is not afraid
to treat others abruptly.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T is known to be particularly

abrupt with anybody that has a big
ego.
2110
cultivated rice field

: person : rice field; rice
paddy
work a field
Story1:
Not so long ago, if Mr T was

working in a field, he would have
been a slave.
Story2:
heisig:
The first television show that Mr T

ever worked on was a slavery period
drama. Operating on the assumption
that all black people look alike, the
director decided to save on his
budget by just hiring one black
person. In each scene requiring
slaves in the background to work a
field, he would put Mr T in the rice
paddy in the background. Then when
they changed the scene, he would
simply put Mr T there too - no
2111
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : orders; ancient

minstrel
Mr. T orders the minstrel to play a
happy song, one full of frank and
mirth.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mr T enters the royal chamber

dressed up as a minstrel, playing his
lute and taking orders from the
monarchy. "Say, good bard, doth
thouest know the fable of King
Arthur?" "Of course I know that one,
fool!".
2112
offspring
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : child; sign of the

Chinese zodiac
animal offspring
Remember that sordid affair (#959)
when Mr. T was caught having
relations with a cow? Well, some
months later the heifer drops off the
child at T's place. Does Mr. T share
responsibility for his animal
offspring?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
People normally buy their child

some animal offspring such as a
puppy or kitten for a pet.
2113
foe, enemy, revenge, grudge, feud

: person : nine
foe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mr. T uses a baseball bat for hitting

foes. "I pity the foe! I mean fool!".
Mr. T can handle nine foes all by
himself!
2114
nursing, attending, entertainer

: person : add; addition;
increase; join; include; Canada
look after
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mr T has been charged to look after

the kids. He will use his muscle to
protect them and make sure their
mouths are fed.
Mr. T looks after the kids by making
sure they get enough ries.
2115
a wee bit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: person : grass; plants;

grass radical (no. 140) : three
13
trifle
To a big guy like Mr. T, eating a
whole cabbage at once is nothing.
"What? a cabbage? That's just a
trifle, foo, where's the meat?".
To MR.T swallowing a whole
CABBAGE is no more than a
TRIFLE.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2116
prejudice, bias, rural area

: person : false; punish;
crime; law
biased
In the great debate between ketchup
and mustard, it's well-known that
Mr. T is quite biased.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In the great debate between Heinz

and Hunts, it's well-known that Mr.
T is quite biased. (thanks
Megaqwerty!).
2117
be profitable, yield profit

: person : various; many;
several; together
make a profit
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
People make a profit in various

ways. That is capitalism.
Faith, lovedoll: Mr T, having faith in
the word of God, prayed really hard
for the girlfriend he could never get
in the regular way. God listened, but
sent him a lovedoll instead. Being
severely disappointed, mr T decided
to prostitute her and make a profit
instead.
2118
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
happiness, luck
: person : happiness;
blessing; fortune
bliss
Bliss is a person in a state of
happiness.
Mr. T thinks "bliss" sounds silly, so
he's standing by his choice of
"happiness" instead.
2119
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
temporary home
: person : high; boasting
emigrant
Mr T, angel: Believe it or not, but mr
T is actually an angel. He emigrated
from heavens to right the wrongs on
planet earth.
When people emigrate, they believe
they are going to some better place,
a place which to them, is heavenhigh.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2120
companion, follower
: person : spine; backbone
9
partner
Mr. T dont take a partner, especially
one with no spine. "I pity da foo got
no spine", he says.
As a PARTNER, I want a PERSON
with a strong SPINE.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2121
deed, skill
: person : branch; support;
6
performing artist
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Mr T is dancing and singing and all

that, but hes doing it on a branch.
All that talent and can still still keep
his balance? Thats a real
performing artist.
(note: this is the ki from
kabuki).//The performing artist is a
person doing Kabuki theater and
dancing around with a branch in his
hand.
2122
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
strong, just, righteous, peace-loving

: person : mouth :
curving river radical (no.47)
integrity
Mr. T is a man of integrity. Every
time he opens his mouth, integrity
just seems to stream out.
Mr T's structural integrity has been
compromised. Blood and guts is
flowing from his mouth.
2123
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
both
: person : tool; utensil;
means; possess; ingredients; counter
for armor, suits, sets of furniture
mate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
"Oy, mate", the carpenter calls out to

Mr. T, "where did you leave my
tools, mate?" Mr. T just hates it
when people call him mate. It
inspires him to misuse their tools.
Mates are a kind of condom that Mr
T puts on his tool.
2124
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : exhaust; use up;

run out of; deplete; befriend; serve
as is
Mr. T is exhausted! As is the woman
who just gave him shakuhachi.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
You see person holding the exhaust

pipe which has just dropped off their
new car, and say, "You should return
that and get your money back!".
"Trouble is," they reply, "I bought it
as is".
2125
help, assist
: person : right
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
adjutant
An assistant is on Mr. T's left and an
adjutant on his right. That's cause the
adjutant can duck faster!
MR.T always has his adjutant on his
RIGHT, and his assistant (#952) on
his left.
2126
crotch, thigh, groin, (kokuji)

: person : mouth :
heavens; sky; imperial
strokes:
keyword:
fork in a road
Story1:
Mr. T came to a fork in a road. He

pondered which way he should go,
when a large mouth appeared in the
heavens above him and said "Go
west!" So, he went to California.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Every person at the end of their life,

must come to their metaphorical fork
in a road, do they go into the mouth
of hell, or do they go to heaven? (If
it helps, I hear they play Blackjack
in hell...).
2127
employ, hire
: person : commonplace;
ordinary; employment
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
hire
I pity da foo' with no underlings! So,
Mr. T hires some janitor to make his
life more comfortable.
In order to make sure his new
traditional Japanese cave apartment
will be comfortable, Mr. T is wise to
hire a handyman who rakes the stone
garden, and uses a screwdriver to fix
up all of the Japanese electronics
(rice cooker, TV, ect).
2128
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
recollect, remember
: person : think
Story1:
memorial
A memorial service is something
that makes you think about a person
who has died.
Story2:
At a memorial service for Mr. T,

everyone is thinking "I pity that foo".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2129
dried meat
relaxed; at ease; place
dried meat
Story1:
Once again, Mr. T ventured out into

the remote area to visit his old
taskmaster (see permanence/remote
(#958)). However, the old
taskmaster has become very weak.
His flesh looks like dried meat and
his heart almost stopped (no heart).
He stayed a whole month to take
care about his former teacher.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mr. T doesn't like dried meat. He's

been known to take a walking stick
to the taskmaster trying to hand him
a piece of meat that had been dried
out. No, Mr. T doesn't like dried
meat a-t a-l-l!
2130
: person : graduate; soldier;

private; die
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
my son
"My son", sniffs Mr. T, "I'm so glad
that you are now a college graduate"
he said.
Only after Luke Skywalker
graduates as a fully-fledged jedi
does Vader finally tell him the big
secret - "I'm your father... you're my
son".
2131
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: person : happenstance;
especially; intentionally; reason;
cause; circumstances; the late;
therefore; consequently
make do
Note that the meaning of this kanji is
"make (someone) do something", not
"get by with". Story: Mr. T doesn't
rely on happenstance, he makes
people do what he wants.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A person should try to make his own

luck, but sometimes you have to
make do with happenstance.
2132
uncanny, weird, threatening, horrible

radical (no. 15) : wife; spouse
10
nifty
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
His wife has a nifty way of making

all types of ice cream in her home
freezer.
Sugoi! Sugoi! Ice Wife Sugoi!
2133
be clear, serene, cold, skilful

radical (no. 15) : tusk; fang;
tusk radical (no. 92)
keyword:
sharp
Story1:
(Note that per Heisig, this doesn't

mean 'able to cut'; it means mentally
sharp, adept, or 'on your toes'!)
During the Ice Age, cavemen had to
be especially careful around the
woolly mammoth, because they were
more mentally sharp than they
looked. If the cavemen weren't
careful, they could end up impaled
on the mammoths' tusks!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A sharp tusk pointing out of the ice.

Probably belongs to a mammoth.
2134
wither, droop, lame

circumference; circuit; lap
wilt
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You don't want the lettuce to wilt, do

you? So, you put ice around the
circumference of the serving tray,
and then the lettuce on top of that, so
it cannot wilt.
Plants wilt, wither and die when ice
envelopes the circumference of their
roots.
2135
endure, keep (rain)out, stave off, tide

over, defy, slight, surpass
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 15) : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey : legs radical
34)
pull through
On their walk to the Promised Land
(land (#1513)), our brave riceseedlings are faced with an
unforeseen obstacle: An ice glacier
the size of a rain puddle. Will they
be able to pull through?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In a very harsh turn of the weather,

the water of the rice fields has turned
to ice! The farmers are strutting
around the little rice seedlings
anxiously on their walking legs,
hoping that the plants will pull
through and survive!
2136
peace, government, cure, heal, rule,

subdue, patch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 15) : pedestal; a
stand; counter for machines and
vehicles
7
metallurgy
The secrets of metallurgy and
smithing: get your redhot metal and
bang it against the pedestal as an
anvil. Then cool it quickly with lots
of ice.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
An ICE PEDESTAL is useless in

METALLURGY since it will just
melt.
2137
cold
radical (no. 15) : salary in rice
stately
Story1:
Story2:
Much more stately than that soil

podium, this is made of ice. You can
still see the dude standing behind it
in his top hat, and he still spouts
pretty much nonsense as many times
as he can, but you have to admit his
showy altar is quite stately.
This stately home in Brittain has
been used for winter weddings many
times. A reverend in a top hat stands
behind the altar in the home's chapel,
which is adorned with ice sculptures.
Very romantic.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2138
kite, (kokuji)
windy radical (no. 16) : towel;
(no. 50)
kite
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I'm drying myself at the

(outdoor hot spring) when a sudden
gust of wind catches my towel and
blows it into the air. I chase after it
and onlookers remark, "Look, he's
flying a kite!".
If the wind is strong enough, even a
towel makes a good kite.
2139
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

windy radical (no. 16) : stop;
halt
lull
A lull in a storm occurs when the
wind stops.
The wind stops for a few minutes as
the eye of the hurricane passes over
lulling people into a false sense of
security.
2140
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:

windy radical (no. 16) : bare
bone; bad; wrong; death radical (n.
78)
earlybird
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The earlybirds always get all the best

food at the buffets, and all the
latecomers get are just leftover
bones, you can almost see the wind
and tumbleweeds rolling over it.
You can either fly like the wind and
be an earlybird at the buffet or come
late and be left with only the bones.
2141
male mythical bird
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

windy radical (no. 16) : bird;
chicken
phoenix
Souring in the winds there is only
one bird left. The phoenix. It
scorched the other birds, never to
return...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
(The extra stroke combines with

white in the bird component to make
a hundred-year-old bird) The
Phoenix -- the bird made famous in
myth, that after it reaches hundreds
of years of age, is reborn and rises
again on the wind.
2142
axe, kill
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

east : gold : sword;
saber; knife
slaughter
Because the police had confiscated
the swords (though they got a receipt
in return) from the group of men
protecting the gold transport, bandits
attacked them with sabers and
slaughtered every last one of them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The ransom note explained that if

the gold was not received by the
following morning, the victim would
be slaughtered with a saber.
2143
temple
tree; wood : sword; saber;
knife
8
moment
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The kendo artist takes a brief

moment to practice his skills: he
throws sheafs over the tree and tries
to cut them with his saber when they
come down again.
Wtf moment? This kanji means
temple. Wooden x-men statues with
sabres guard the entrance to the
Professor Xavier temple. Might help
if you imagine the two x-men as
Wolverine and Sabretooth.
2144

english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
come off, peel, fade, discolor

58) : water : sword;
saber; knife
peel off
Peel off the outside of the broom
that sweeps up rice grains to reveal a
saber.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A multi-purpose broom! It cleans, it

sweeps (rice!), it hits! In fact, peel
off the mahogany exterior to
uncover a sabre! It slices, it dices, it
kills!
2145
shave
: younger brother; faithful service
to elders : sword; saber; knife
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
shave
The younger brother wants to look
cool and shaves himself with a saber
instead of a razor.
My younger brother looks like
Sabretooth and needs to shave.
2146
fragrant, stink, glow, insinuate,
(kokuji)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

radical (no. 20) : spoon;
spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
4
aroma
The muchacho sits down bound up
to enjoy his own aroma.
If you bind up a person and let him
sit for several days, an unpleasant
aroma will result.
2147
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
be bent, slope, capture

radical (no. 20) : I; myself;
4
flexed
Your elbow is bound up so that your
biceps will stay flexed.
My elbow was bound up in a cast,
making it impossible to keep it
flexed.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2148
get tired of, satiate, bore

counter for days : month;
moon : dog
despondent
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The poor chihuahua who had fallen

down a cliff was totally despondent
about his position. He saw the sun
and the moon pass by, but expected
no rescue any more.
The sun above the moon =total
eclipse. Confused by the darkness of
the total eclipse, the dog fell off the
cliff and became a completely
despondent mangled mess.
2149
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wild goose
(no. 27) : person : bird;
old bird radical (no. 172)
wild goose
I've been sent to chase the wild
goose! I'm here at the top of the cliff,
and I can hear Mr. T and that tricky
turkey down there sniggering about
sending me on a search for the wild
goose.
Story2:
heisig:
Mr T is sent on a mission to find a

wild goose that swallowed some
important, top-secret chemicals (they
were in a baggie, so he has to find it
before it dissolves!). After searching
for clues and tracks, he finds it - and
backs it up against a cliff. In a heroic
move, Mr T jumps off the cliff,
grabs the wild goose, and lands on
the ground on his back, protecting
the volatile wild goose. He then
looks at it - wait - this isn't the wild
2150
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
counterfeit, forgery
: wild goose : shellfish
counterfeit
The police hoped to catch the crooks
making counterfeit money, but it all
turned out to be a wild goose chase.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
You catch a wild goose that lays

money (shells) instead of eggs.
Unfortunately the bank declares it
counterfeit.
2151
kitchen
(no. 27) : beans; pea;
midget : measurement; foot/10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
kitchen
What happened to the kitchen? It
was here a second ago... Well, it fell
off the cliff. See the table down there
below the edge of the cliff? Maybe
we can glue it back together. Of
course, first we've got to retrieve the
kitchen from the base of the cliff.
I took that Natto (bean glue) out of
the kitchen and threw it off a cliff
like any rational person would.
2152
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
be seen dimly, suggest, intimate,

faint, stupid, hint
(no. 27) : person
insinuate
So, you found a dead person
abandoned at the bottom of the cliff?
You think I might be involved?
What are you trying to insinuate?!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
That nasty person likes to insinuate

that I am afraid of heights and can't
climb a cliff.
2153
scout, sentinel
: mouth : resemblance
scout
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Boy scouts nowadays blow sparks

out of their mouth to start a fire.
Sure beats rubbing two sticks
together .
Good scouts extinguish (#144)
candles with their mouth, not with
water. Otherwise the smoke might
tell the enemy where they are.
2154
ridicule, insult
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: mouth : morning; dynasty;

15
derision
When I wake up, I am always late,
so I hurry to work. With a bad case
of perpetual morning breath, I am
the subject of derision at my office
whenever I open my mouth.
If morning breath emanates from
your mouth, you are subject to
derision!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2155
: each; every; either

reprehend
Each time I see this kanji I reprehend
the person primitive for knocking
the each primitive out of shape.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You only reprehend him because he

is reprehensible! He walks around
kicking people, like he wants to
dispose of them. And that's all on
top of having a big mouth.
Reprehensible! Of course you must
be the one to reprehend him.
2156
: mouth : whisper
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
whisper
If someone's whispering you'd need
three ears close to his mouth to be
able to hear it.
It's funny how if I just talk, no one
listens, but if I whisper, many ears
are eager to hear what's coming from
my mouth.
2157
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: mouth : generation;
world; society; public : tree;
wood
chatter
Mouths like to chatter about the new
generation on the tree.
Two good friends looking at their
childhood tree house and
remembering how it seemed like
generations ago since they were up
in it chattering away all night.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2158
choked, smothered, stuffy

: mouth : cause; factor; be
associated with; depend on; be
limited to
9
windpipe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You cant breathe very well, so the

doc looks inside your mouth to find
the cause. "Oh, I see the cause of
your windpipe blockage. Theres a
St Bernard penned up in there!".
Imagine a group of windpipes
chatting: That mouth is the cause of
all my problems, you know, always
breathing in germs, etc..
2159
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
noisy
: mouth : splendor; flower;
petal; shine; luster; ostentatious;
showy; gay; gorgeous
quarrel
Mouths quarrel over who is more
splendid.
These very competitive neighbours
open their mouths and quarrel every
day about whose silage stack with
flowers looks more splendid.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2160
rumor, gossip, hearsay

: mouth : revered; valuable;
precious; noble; exalted
gossip
Story1:
If you open your mouth to gossip

about people, it's usually the most
fun if you have some juicy bits on
people who are generally revered,
for instance that they are secretly
glued to their bottle of Horned
Whiskey.
Story2:
"Did you know that the most revered

(#1439) chieftain (#2906) is not only
a horny guy, but an alcoholic, too?
Ah, and I forgot, he also sniffs
glue... Ups, did that come out of my
mouth? No, no... I NEVER gossip!".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2161
cough, clear throat

: mouth : sign of the hog; 911PM; twelfth sign of the Chinese
zodiac
cough
I looked up, opened my mouth and
suddenly an acorn fell in! I had to
cough it up quickly so that I
wouldn't choke.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A squirrel's mouth coughs up an

acorn.
2162
noisy, boisterous
: mouth : proclaim; say;
announce
clamor
To clamor means to open your
mouth and proclaim loudly your
opinions.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For this keyword, I am reminded of

the Night Before Christmas, with the
father awakening to see what was
the clamor, and his mouth dropping
open as he sees the fat bearded man
spanning the rooftops (bounding
from one house to the other).
2163
throat, voice
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mouth : marquis; lord;

daimyo
12
throat
I think of "clearing your throat".
Some stuffy guy opens his mouth to
clear his throat so the marquis can
speak.
The Marquis de Sade was kinda gay.
He used to mouth down a lot of deepthroat action.
2164
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
saliva, sputum
: mouth : droop; suspend;
hang; slouch
11
saliva
When some people are sleeping,
their mouths droop open, and saliva
drips out.
Saliva drools from a mouth that
droops. .
2165
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
strike, beat, hit, thrash, criticize

: mouth : seal radical (no.
26)
bash
These &^% stamps won't stay fixed
to the envelop when I lick them with
my mouth. No matter how hard I
bash them, they come loose every
time. Aargh!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
For me, the kanji looks like a picture

of two eyes. Somebody bashed the
right one until it burst open. Ugh...
Put a stamp on it - I don't want to see
it!
2166
lie, falsehood
: mouth : void; emptiness;
unpreparedness; crack; fissure;
untruth
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
fib
= Something void of truth
coming from your mouth.
A statement void of truth uttered by
a mouth is a fib.
2167
peck, pick up
: mouth : pig; hog; pig
radical (no. 152)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
peck at
Just like the ones on a rhinoceros,
there are little birds who like to peck
at the skin near the mouth of a sow
and clean it.
If your girlfriend looks like a sow,
you do not kiss her on the mouth.
Just a little peck at the cheek.
2168
spell, curse, charm, malediction
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: mouth : elder brother; big

brother
8
curse
Caution: this means a spell, not to
swear. I put a curse on my elder
brother so that he can never open his
mouth.
Your older brothers mouth often
curses.
2169
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
bark, howl, cry

: mouth : dog
barking
The mouth of a chihuahua is good at
barking.
The mouth of a bird is chirping,
just as the mouth of a dog is barking.
2170
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
suspend, hang, wear (sword)

: mouth : towel; hanging
dangle
Dangle a bib or towel under my baby
son's mouth.
A towel dangles under his mouth to
keep him clean at dinner.
2171
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
chew, bite, gnaw

: mouth : tooth; cog
chew
Use your teeth to chew what you put
in your mouth.
"When you open your mouth, don't
take in more food than you can
handle, and chew it properly with
your teeth", mum told us.
2172
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
grant, answer
: mouth : ten
within my ability
"come true" is a better keyword
IMO. If you speak your wish 10
times it will come true.
With his big mouth he claims he can
do ten things at once. "It's all within
my ability", he boasts.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2173
: mouth : not; must not; do

not; be not
sides of the mouth
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Look at the sides of his mouth! His

moustache is tied into great knots.
They're not even symetrical. Look at
the knots on the right side of the
mouth! (though they're there on both
sides of the mouth....
Dimples. Those knots on the sides of
the mouth. Too easy.
2174
stammer
: mouth : beg; invite; ask
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
stammer
"S... Si... S... Sir!" the beggar's
mouth stammers when appealing for
some help from the business man.
See the mouth open and close like a
fish out of water would.
If you had a gun in your mouth
begging for your life, you would
stammer too.
2175
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
talk, (kokuji)
: mouth : new
spin a tale
He really can spin a tale. Every time
he opens his mouth, some new and
creative tale comes out.
Oh yeah, suuure - tell us a new one...
2176
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
throat
: mouth : formerly; once;
before; ever; never; exmiso
Miso is full of active microbial
cultures, so when you put it in your
MOUTH, those bacteria just
INCREASE and INCREASE until
your mouth is overflowing with
miso!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mouth, eyebrows, eyeballs with

pupils crossed looking down at the
bowl, flapping tongue: A Japanese
man eating miso soup.
2177
songs with samisen

: mouth : shellfish
10
pop song
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The new generation of pop songs

have no depth. They just mouth
empty lyrics to get money. Not like
the pop songs of my day.
A new way for sluts to use their
mouths to make alot of money.
2178

scold, reprove
: mouth : seven
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
scold
A kid gets scolded if they dont put
the spoon properly into their mouth
when eating.
If I got scolded, I could expect a
spoon of castor oil in my mouth.
2179
village, rural community, right-side

B rad
: mouth : comma-design
keyword:
Story1:
city walls
The city walls are beautifully built.
High above you, shows you the
famous mouths of former city
mayors, all smiling down at you,
integrated into a total mosaic making
the city walls a unified beautiful
work of art.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I stand outside the city walls,

requesting permission to enter. The
guard hands me a Rubik's cube and
tells me ill only be allowed in after I
fit the whole thing in my mouth...
2180
be amazed, disgusted, shocked

: mouth : tree; wood
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
dumbfounded
His mouth fell open dumbfounded
when he woke up and found himself
on top of a tree.
The first time I saw an Australian
apricot tree ( vs. ) I was
dumbfounded.
2181
.
eat, drink, receive (a blow), (kokuji)
: mouth : eat; food
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
ingest
Ingest is a fancy word for what you
do with your mouth as you eat.
Note: This is a colloquial word for
"eat", so the formal keyword
"ingest" might better be replaced
with something like "scoff" or "tuck
in", etc. Suggested story: "Yeuk! I
can see the food rolling around in
your mouth when you scoff it like
that!".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2182
clay
Turkey : straightaway;
clay
This one rhymes: "If you fights wiz
Cassius Clay, you'll hit the soil, boy,
straightaway!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Clay is a soil that becomes anything

straightaway with heat.
2183
divination sign, land, earth

Turkey : have the honor to;
sign of the monkey; 3-5PM; ninth
authochthonous
Story1:
Story2:
While "autochthonous" can mean

"indigenous" in ENGLISH, that is
NOT one of the potential meanings
of this character (thus, the majority
of these stories will not help you
with meaning). Rather, the kanji is
"autochthonous" in the sense of
being Earthly, mystic, and
portentous (the ancient, primitive,
sacred power of DIRT and SOIL). A
vague, poorly-chosen keyword all
around. Mantixen's story does the
A monkey likes the earthy feel of
soil.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2184
piled high
Turkey : bird; old bird radical
(no. 172)
11
piled high
After our pre-Thanksgiving
massacre, we piled high all the
turkey corpses atop the soil of the
farmyard.
Story2:
heisig:
During the Turkey Holocaust (this is

what the animal kingdom calls
Thanksgiving - they have really
short memories and thus dont recall
that it actually happens every single
year), turkeys are killed en masse,
and their bodies are piled high. To
keep them from tumbling down, a
pile of dirt is piled high right next to
them to keep them standing upright
so that they will be fresh when it is
time to eat them.
2185
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
trench, dugout, air raid shelter

Turkey : overpowering; great;
powerful; excelling; Australia
dugout
As they constructed the visiting team
dugout, they removed a quantity of
soil when there was an
overpowering stench. Nobody will
want to use this dugout!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A DUGOUT is a dry moat found

around Japanese castles. The SOIL
is arranged so as to OVERPOWER
(or give the advantage to
OVERPOWER) an attacking army.
If dug in a low lying area it fills with
water and becomes a moat ( moat
(#2306)).
2186
dirt, grime, earwax
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

Turkey : empress; queen;
after; behind; back; later
blemish
Big consternation in the court! A
little bit of soil in the garden touched
the empress' face and left a blemish
there. Courtiers fainted left and
right...
The empress gets a soil mask at the
spa to treat a blemish.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2187
level, wide
Turkey : daybreak; dawn;
morning
flat
I'm usually flat on the soil passed out
at nightbreak.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the soil is flat, you can see the

sun rise over the horizon from a long
distance.
2188
wharf
Turkey : hill; mound; left
wharf
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
He came to finding himself down at

the wharf with soil all over his
tuxedo. The maestro can only guess
that he'd been drugged by some
needle sharp dart, since the last thing
that he recalled was feeling a prick
on the bottom, before waking up at
the wharf.
Note: Right side is large hill
(#2928).
2189

english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
fill in
Turkey : true; reality;
Buddhist sect
stuff up
In a hole in the ground, the body of
the victim was placed. And then the
killer stuffed it up so that the truth
would not be found out, he hoped.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I stuffed up his mouth with dirt to

keep the truth from coming out.
2190
dam, prevent, stop up

Turkey : box-on-side
enclosure radical (no. 22) :
days : woman; female
dam
Story1:
Soil, box, sun, woman: In Peru, they

were constructing a dam and to this
end, soil was gathered from the
surrounds. During the excavations,
they found a box, containing little
statue of the sun woman (godess). A
nice archeological find, but
detrimental for the dam building
efforts, since the work was to be
halted.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
All the dams were built by the Army

Corps of Engineers' Ladies'
Auxiliary. So the WOMEN worked
under the SUN all day, with a BOX
full of DIRT on their shoulders, to &
fro, building up the dirt wall that
would become this mighty dam.
2191
fence, railing, enclosure
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

Turkey : someone; person
railing
A railing prevents museum patrons
from getting soil on the voodoo dolls.
I was relieved to find my stolen
lovedoll tied to some railing. She's a
bit dirty but still good!
2192
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shellfish :
shellfish : woman; female
suckling infant
The woman removes the two shells
covering her breasts (for modesty)
and then attaches the suckling infant.
How very Little Mermaid...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I see this as two suckling infants

clamped onto their mother (woman)
like shellfish when breastfeeding.
2193
wicked, mischief, seduce, rape, noisy

: woman; female : woman;
female : woman; female
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
violate
Many women violate me at the same
time. Then I woke up.
To avoid being violated, three
women cluster together in the
women-only wagon of the train.
2194
jealous, envy
: woman; female : stone
8
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
jealous
The jealous woman bashed the
brains in of the guy who betrayed
her, with a stone.
Every woman wants a huge stone on
her finger to make her friends
jealous.
2195
: woman; female : lowly;

base; vile; vulgar
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
handmaiden
Handmaiden's are usually quite
lowly women, but this one is a
special (just look at the way lowly is
drawn).
A handmaiden is a woman servant
with the lowly job of burning pirated
Chinese DVDs (rough copies of
already lowly movies)
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/t
ol/news/tech_and_web/article673046
3.ece.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2196
: woman; female : address;

just like; fortunately
well finished
To become well finished, young
women often go to a finishing
school at a posh address.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When asking a girl out on a date,

you are only well finished when you
have her address and phone number.
2197
prostitute
prosperous; bright; clear
harlot
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Harlots are women who make a lot

of money, usually, so they or their
pimps are quite prosperous. Look at
all her bling bling, shining like more
than two suns. Who says vice doesn't
pay?
Harlots are women who make a
living selling themselves to
prosperous men.
2198
stretch, singing girl, geisha, prostitute
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: woman; female : branch;

65)
courtesan
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the
, the
courtesans (women who lived in the
royal courts) often stayed in the side
portions of the palaces, the section
that branched off the main building.
Idea taken from illustrations in a
copy of the Tale of Genji.
To be a successful courtesan, a
woman must be able to branch out
into many of the arts.
2199
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: woman; female : square

fair
The photographer took a picture of
this fair woman framed by ivy.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Come on, think of Rapunzel. That

WOMAN was so FAIR, she was
locked away. Only she used her IVY
like FAIR hair to let her lover climb
to her.
2200
niece
: woman; female : climax;
arrive; proceed; reach; attain; result
in
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
niece
Little did you know, the woman who
made you climax was your niece.
My niece is a WOMAN now, and
can make herself CLIMAX.
2201
jealous, envy
: woman; female : rapidly
13
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
envy
If you go through women rapidly
you will be the object of envy.
Ah, puberty ... the girl that starts her
journey towards womanhood the
most rapidly will become the subject
of envy from all her classmates.
2202
mistress, weak
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: woman; female : demand;

request; need
mistress
As any servant knows, a mistress
who runs things well must be nature
be a very demanding woman.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
It is normally the woman who does

the job around the home. A mistress
is highly demanding. You can see
her bossing her family around to do
the chores while she does her leisure
activities. Looks like she's doesn't
have to be bossed to do anything.
2203
old woman
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: woman; female : old man;

old age; grow old
aged woman
The woman version of an old man is
an aged woman.
You know an aged woman?! I know
an old man. We should set them up.
(Note: Be careful not to confuse with
old woman (#804)).
2204
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
mother-in-law
: woman; female : old
mother-in-law
According to Japanese traditions,
daughters-in-law have to pay respect
to the woman who is their mother-inlaw, because they are older.
My mother-in-law is the OLDER
version of my WOMAN on the left.
2205
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
elder sister, maidservant

moreover; also; furthermore
young miss
A young miss in a rich Japanese
household is often treated with such
care that she is a like a woman who
is put on a shelf like an ornament.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The young miss won a long of baby

beauty pageants. A whole shelf is
devoted to the prices she won.
2206
glad, pleased, rejoice

: woman; female : rejoice;
take pleasure in
overjoyed
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Finally, I got a woman ... I have to

just shriek and rejoice, I'm so
overjoyed!
Men simply rejoice. Women tend to
take their emotions a bit further and
become overjoyed.
2207
become pregnant
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: from; possessive particle;

whereupon; accordingly :
child; sign of the rat; 11PM-1AM;
first sign of Chinese zodiac
expecting
Story1:
Story2:
A woman says to me Im expecting

theres a child in here (pointing to
her stomach) I put my ear to her
stomach and suddenly the child
punches me I see the shape of its
fist in the stomach wall. Well, you
might be expecting, but I certainly
wasnt expecting that I reply.
Fist, child: The guy had only put his
fist inside and now his girlfriend is
expecting a child. "How long ago
did I have that business trip?", he
wonders.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2208

zodiac : strike; hit; folding
assiduous
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Well, yeah, the kid's assiduous: he's

got that taskmaster on his back all
the time! What else would you
expect?
Assiduous children make assiduous
taskmasters.
2209
soothe, calm, pacify

(no. 40) : possess; have; exist;
happen; occur; approx
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
soothe
It really soothes my mind that I
possess a house. Now at least all my
payments are going towards
something solid, instead of just
throwing it away as rent.
My house is possessed by the ghost
of Barry White, who often sings me
songs to soothe me to sleep at night.
2210
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
temporary abode, keep, imply,

suggest
(no. 40) : long-tailed monkey
imply
When you see Jiminy Cricket near a
house, it will imply that Pinocchio
isn't far off.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The talking cricket says, "you've

been spending a lot of time in the
house lately," and you say, "What is
that supposed to mean?", to which
the cricket replies, "I'm implying you
need to get a job!".
2211
wide, large
(no. 40) : I; myself; katakana
mu radical (no. 28)
strokes:
keyword:
extensive
Story1:
During an extensive search of a

murderer's house of horror,
homocide detectives found an elbow
body part by the side of another
body. Surely there were even more
victims than they imagined.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Thanks to Katsuo: BY ONE'S SIDE

and ELBOW can be SUPERMAN
(think of the George Reeve's
SUPERMAN pose for a mental
image). Well, that fortress of
solitude is very EXTENSIVE.
Would you expect SUPERMAN's
HOUSE to anything less?
2212
prison, jail, hardness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

(no. 40) : cow
jail
For a cow used to free-grazing,
being stuck in a house is equivalent
to being in jail.
Looking at the kanji , keeping
pigs in the house was normal. But, if
you instead kept a cow in the house,
you would be sent to jail.
2213
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
close, shut, cover, block, obstruct

(no. 40) : three : eight;
eight radical (no. 12) : soil;
13
block up
The A/C wasnt making the house
cold because the filters had been
blocked up with dirt.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
It was so cold (#1526), the pipes

blocked up with ice. After removing
the ice, we insulated them with soil.
2214
dwell, Sung dynasty

(no. 40) : tree; wood
Sung dynasty
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The Sung dynasty was so-called

because people kept trees in their
houses and as a consequence birds
sung in them.
The Sung dynasty needed to cut
down a lot of TREES to make a lot
of HOUSES. (the imperial dynasty
of China from 960 to 1279; noted for
art and literature and philosophy).
2215
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
muscles, meat
(no. 40) : six
venison
I was once served venison at home,
but the only way I could eat it was to
down a six pack first.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I told my friend the deer I kept in my

house for venison was called "roku"
(six). He asked if naming it didn't
make me attached to it. I said no,
because "roku" is also a way to say
the kanji for deer.
2216
slaughter, butcher, slay

keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
butchering
Chucky from Child's Play was found
butchering a poor victim with a flag
pole.
Generals usually see their soldiers as
mere puppets in their war game.
These poor sods are given a flag and
told to fight for their country. As if
that would make good all the
butchering.
2217
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

Philipines
fart
You haven't smelled a fart like his!
His were so bad, that when he cut
one, they had to wave a flag to keep
folks away. None compare to the
farts that he farts.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
At a fart contest each contestant

holds up a flag whenever they fart so
the judges can come over and
compare it to the others.
2218

44) : resemblance
rubbish
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
You aren't supposed to throw an

American flag out with the rubbish.
The proper way to get rid of a flag is
to burn it, shown here by holding a
candle underneath it.
ee a little on some body if you
think they are rubbish.
2219
buttocks, hips, butt, rear

44) : nine
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
5
buttocks
The baseball team stick flags in their
buttocks and wave them at the
opposing team to put them off.
I wonder if this story will be flagged
for saying i give her buttocks a score
of 9.
2220
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: shit; excrement : woman;

female
frequently
A Japanese woman walking around
waving an American flag probably
sleeps with foreigners frequently.
Imagine the flag of Japan. I
frequently go there for its tasty rice
and to see its beautiful women.
2221
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

44) : death; die
corpse
After meeting death, a flag covers
the soldier's corpse.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Imagine the character Death (the

shroud-wearing skeleton) carrying
an armful of flags. He goes round at
night sticking a flag in each corpse.
(i.e. to distinguish it from those who
are merely sleeping).
2222
wall, fence
44) : put together
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
folding screen
This folding screen looks quite
pretty, with all the national flags
printed on it, but folding and
unfolding it is rather complicated. It
looks more like a puzzle than a
utility item.
Someone took an old fence (#1056),
brushed the dirt off it and turned it
into a folding screen.
2223
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
be aggravated, grow worse, grow

bulky, swell
: mountain : tall; high;
expensive
high-reaching
High-reaching aspirations usually
revolve around the mountain that is
the tallest. For climbing, for
descending, for just bring there - the
thrill of it all.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
People like Sir Edmund Hillary set

very high-reaching goals, like being
the first to climb Everest, the tallest
mountain in the world.
2224
: mountain : soil; earth;

34)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
rugged mountains
The next step on the sentient riceseedlings; journey, after their
miraculous pull through (#2136)
from being trapped: mountains in the
distance, extremely rugged
mountains, and nowhere to go next
but through them.
When trying to cross RUGGED
MOUNTAINS you'll feel like you
have RICE SEEDLINGS for
WALKING LEGS.
2225
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
high mountain
: mountain : ego; I; selfish;
our; oneself
high mountain
In this local folklore, the high
mountain has a big ego for being the
highest mountain and is therefore
rather unkind to people who dare to
climb it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A drugged up high mountain. Those

mountains that get high only think of
themselves, their ego takes over.
Drugs are a selfish pasttime.
2226
cliff, bluff, precipice

: mountain : wild goose;
square jewel; corner; angle; edge
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
11
bluffs
Standing at the base of the bluffs I
announce, "Im going to climb those
ivy-covered cliffs, and then the
mountain on top of them." My
friends dont believe me, "He
bluffs!" they say.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The ivy-covered cliff we saw on the

horizon (#157) ... the sheer beauty of
the mountain that overlooks these
bluffs is enough to make you want to
swim for shore yourself!
2227
peak, summit
: mountain : jurisdiction;
dominion; territory; fief; reign
keyword:
Story1:
mountaintop
This mountain lies exactly between
two prefectures, so naturally there
was a struggle about which
prefecture had jurisdiction there.
And would you believe it, one of
them gained jurisdiction over the
base, and the other over the
mountaintop.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At the top of the mountain, Bill

Clinton found an intern and said
"This mountaintop is my jurisdiction
(#1405). I order you to give me
head." The intern replied, "Come on
Bill, hasn't this type of behaviour
caused enough problems already?".
2228
go into, plunge, inlay
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: mountain : sweet; coax;

pamper; be content; sugary :
lack; gap; fail; yawning radical (no.
76)
fit into
No way that sweet girl can fit those
mountains of hers into an A-cup.
They'll be severely lacking space.
Too many sweets I guess.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
(from mantixen's) I was going to

take some sweets on my climb up
the mountain, but it wouldn't fit into
my bag, so I lack them.
2229
steep, craggy, rugged

: mountain : distinction;
difference; variation; discrepancy;
margin; balance
rocky
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This is a very rocky mountain! In

fact, it has the distinction of being
one of the most rocky in the country.
The Rocky MOUNTAINS have the
distinction (#554) of being the
rockiest MOUNTAIN range.
2230
quire (of paper), bundle of seaweed,

counter for screens, notebook
component:
strokes:
keyword:

cloth radical (no. 50) : fortunetelling; divining; forecasting;
occupy; hold; have; get; take
quire
Story1:
The fortune teller tells me that in the

future I will have my own quire. "Is
that choir as in 'group of singers', or
quire as in 'sheets of paper'?" I ask.
She can't tell because her crystal ball
is too misty, so I rush to the
bathroom, grab a towel, and use it to
wipe the crystal ball. Turns out to be
quire as in 'sheets of paper', of
course.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
(25 sheets of paper) -- the fortune

teller orders a quire of paper but
receives a quire of towels. She calls
to complain, but customer service
tells her, "Why didn't you see it
coming?".
2231
flag
cloth radical (no. 50) : turn;
number in a series
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
banner
My favorite towel is one that says
"Who wants a turn?" like its an
advertising banner.
When I go to gaming conventions, I
always bring my banner: a simple
towel with the dice logo on it. Let's
roll!
2232
flag, banner, streamer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

cloth radical (no. 50) : sound;
noise
pennant
Many towels were waved and
kazoos blown when the Cardinals
won the pennant.
Yep, it's a party alright. The kazoo
fiesta noise is audible from far away,
and look, they fashioned pennants
out of towels to use as a signal flag
for beckoning visitors in.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2233

53) : wrap; pack up; cover;
conceal
cleaver
The cleaver was found with the
dismembered body wrapped up in a
cave.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The murder victim was killed by a a

cleaver. Her body was found in a
cave, wrapped up in plastic.
2234

53) : enclosure; quarters;
fortification; red-light district
licensed quarters
Story1:
Story2:
The very special tall child whom the

city folks keep enclosed in their city
walls has finally been granted the
use of an abandoned cave for his
licensed quarters. Hey, its better than
sleeping in the open!
Meanings acc. to kanji dictionary:
enclosure, quarter, large, empty, redlight district)//This city's red light
district can be found in tall caves
within the city walls. There the
prostitutes have licensed quarters to
sell their bodies.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2235
protect, shield, defend, eaves,

canopy, penthouse, visor
Philipines
overhang
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This overhang is really good against

the warmth. Compared with other
overhangs, this one makes you feel
as cool as if you are in a cave.
This overhang has so much shade it's
comparable to being in a cave.
2236
hawk
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
hawk
Those wild goose scurry into the
caves that have been worn into the
side of the cliffs, all trying to avoid a
hawk. The bird storming down on
them for an easy feed.
CAREFUL: wild goose (#2150)
contains "cliff", here we have
"CAVE"!
2237
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
level
Turkey
shire
In the Shire, hobbits used to live in
caves. Nowadays their holes in the
soil still look a little like caves.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Remember at the end of the Lord of

the Rings, when Saruman was found
in the Shire trying to fill up all the
hobbit's caves with soil? Or
something like that.
2238
mausoleum, shrine, palace

53) : morning; dynasty;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
tomb sanctuary
With few visitors, the tomb
sanctuary in the cave is only open in
the morning.
The tomb sanctuary of the Egyptian
pharaohs is only open in the
morning. At night they seal the cave
to keep the spirits from escaping!
2239
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
strong
violin) : one; one radical
(no.1) : rice field; rice
paddy : one; one radical
paddy : one; one radical (no.1)
strengthen
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If you can't pull your bow all the

way back, you need to strengthen
yourself by eating a stack of
pancakes and waffles.
I strengthened my bow skills by
eating a double decker rice sandwich.
2240
all the more, increasingly

violin) : you; that
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
8
more and more
The bow dug more and more into the
small of his back as he reclined on it.
Will someone please tell the idiot to
get up?
If I recline back, I can pull my bow
open a little more and more.
2241
slacken, relax
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

violin) : to be (classical)
loosen
The scorpion nibbled on the string of
my bow and loosened it. Now I have
to string the bow again!
My grip on the bow loosened, and I
felt myself slowly slipping away.
The last thing I remember seeing
was the scorpion quietly scuttling
away from my trouser leg, where it
has delivered it's poisionous blow.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2242
rice gruel
violin) : rice; USA;
metre : bow; bow (archery,
violin)
rice gruel
Rice gruel gives you the strength to
use two bows at once.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Kill me now with 2 BOWS, I'm sick

of eating RICE gruel.
2243
saw, turn (lathe), grind

: hand : excuse; dismissal
lathe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To stop workers losing fingers on

the lathes, the company has decided
to issue lucky rabbit's feet to its
workers.
RABBIT FINGERS are also lucky you can remove them from a
RABBIT by using a LATHE.
2244
: hand : juvenile; child
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
bump into
If you bump into a juvenile he is
bound to give you the finger.
Juveniles are often unsure of how
long their extremities actually are,
because they're growing all the time.
They often bump into things because
their fingers are a centimetre or two
longer than the last time they looked!
2245
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
impersonate, dress up, disguise, thin

shingles
: hand : part; minute of
time; segment; share; degree; one's
lot; duty; understand; know; rate;
1%; chances; shaku/100
disguise
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
"How do you like my disguise?"

"Umm... the fingers are only part of
a disguise. You should really
disguise the other parts of your
body, too.. o.o" (Imagine the guy is
just wearing camouflage gloves or
something along those lines.).
"Now part your fingers, and witness
my latest disguise" It might just
work, your friend now appears
completely invisible!
2246
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: hand : capital; 10**16

pillage
Taking everything in the capital you
can get your fingers on.
Think rape and pillage. The capital
has been raided, and the women are
all being forcibly fingered.
2247
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
push open
: hand : sentence particle
10
shove
In the busy pub, one of the dart
players shoved his dart into my
elbow by accident when it nearly
slipped out of his fingers.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Your fingers slip when someones

elbow shoves you, causing you to
drop the dart you were about to
throw. But as you can see, their
elbow is very small, so you decide
theyre too weak to shove back.
2248
catch, seize, grasp, hold, arrest,

capture
: hand : country
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
clutch
Reminds me of a Star Wars quote,
Leia: "The more you tighten your
grip, Tarkin, the more star systems
will slip through your fingers." (i.e.,
the tighter you clutch, the more
countries you'll lose).
In countries such as Japan and
Australia, the clutch is operated by
using the fingers on the left.
2249
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
press, print, affix a seal, stamp

: hand : Nara; what?
impress
In Nara, they do not accept ,
in fact their seals are done by simply
impressing fingers into hot melting
wax (fingerprints are unique!).
In Nara, you impress wax seals with
just your finger.
2250
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
twirl, twist, play with

: hand : wish; sense; idea;
thought; feeling; desire; attention
11
wrenching
Ever try WRENCHING a bolt with
just your FINGERS? Trust me,
youll WISH you had a wrench for
WRENCHING to save your
FINGERS.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I have an unfortunate habit of

wrenching off other peoples fingers
when I pull a wishbone with them.
2251
scratch, rake, comb, paddle, behead

: hand : or again;
hand : insect; bug; temper
scratch
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Insects on your crotch make your

fingers want to scratch.
Scratching with your fingers is a
possible sign of a flea (#2681)
infestation. Even when they (the
drops) are gone, the urge to scratch
remains.
2252
composing, editing, compiling,

selecting
: hand : southeast
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
assortment
You reach into a bag of assorted
lollies with your fingers and pull out
two snakes stuck together.
You can always find something from
his assortment of stolen watches.
Fingers, the thief, can pull back his
sleeve and allow you to elect
(without the road work) any of the
watches from his extensive
assortment.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2253
wipe, mop, swab

: hand : style; ceremony;
rite; function; method; system; form;
expression
9
wipe
Why carry a handkerchief? I wipe
my nose finger-style.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you are going to wipe your nose

with your fingers, better do it in a
grand style.
2254
be complete, uniform, all present

: hand : in front; before
muster
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You finally mustered up enough

courage to point your finger at the
bully in front of you and tell him
what an *** he is. Hope you can run
fast.
When I muster up the strength to do
something exercise-ish, I have me
fingers out in front of me and do the
usual stretches. Cracking the knucles
and such...
2255
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: hand : separate; branch

off; diverge; fork; another; extra;
specially
deal with
If you deal with the Yakuza, you
might get a finger separated.
"I'll deal with you separately," said
the teacher, pointing his finger.
2256
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: hand : memorize; learn;

remember; awake; sober up
churn up
My stomach starts to churn up if I
try to count on my fingers how many
kanji I still have to memorize.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This kanji means churn up in the

sense of throw into confusion.
Picture using your finger to try to
draw this kanji on your hand and not
being able to remember, just
throwing yourself further into
confusion.
2257
rub, fold, print (on cloth)

: hand : learn
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
rubbing
Think of Braille rubbing things
with your fingers in order to learn.
I learned, quite by accident, that by
rubbing my fingers somewhere
special, I felt great. 20 lears later, I'm
still rubbing.
2258
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: hand : relax; cheap; low;

quiet; rested; contented; peaceful
press down on
Think of shiatsu. You press down on
someone with your fingers to help
them relax.
You help your girlfriend relax by
pressing down on her back with your
fingers.
2259
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
catch, capture
: hand : leg; foot; be
sufficient; counter for pairs of
footwear
10
nab
I felt a finger on my leg as someone
tried to nab my wallet.
Fingers nabs Davy Jones wooden
leg: Argh! Bring me back me leg, ya
scurvy dog!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2260
be imminent
: hand : curving river
radical (no.47) : evening
9
imminent
The old lady said that there was a
flood imminent, because her fingers
hurt in the evening.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The Dutch boy put his finger in the

dam holding back imminent danger
from flood waters until evening.
2261
plant, sow
: hand : turn; number in a
series
disseminate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I'm all used up for the day, so I

disseminate turns to the remaining
ladies with my fingers.
Means "plant; sow" When sowing
seeds or planting flowers, the results
will turn out better if you
disseminate the seeds/plants with
your FINGERS in TURN . A red
flower here, then a blue flower, a red
flower, then a blue flower, etc...
2262
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bow with arms folded, come

together, assemble
: hand : mouth : ear
interpretation
For deaf people, whose ears do not
function properly, the interpretation
of speech is often attained by using
their fingers in sign language, and
pay close attention to the mouths of
others.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I bow with hands clasped, my

fingers holding the microphone
(with an opening that's like an ear
for receiving sound) after giving my
own interpretation of the karaoke
song.
2263
: hand : katakana no radical

(no. 4) : seven
keyword:
Story1:
receptable
Why are you holding that lock of
hair, man? Are your fingers even
clean? Go put that thing into a trash
receptacle. No! Not your fingers, the
lock. Receptacle seems to
work...especially since receptable
isn't a word.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The keyword in the book is

"receptacle" (which is an actual
word unlike receptable). I picture a
kidnapping demand where a finger
and a lock of hair of the victim is
placed into a receptacle and sent to
the family.
2264
lift up, give, offer, consecrate,

sacrifice, dedicate
: hand : observance; offer;
present; dedicate
strokes:
keyword:
dedicate (RTK3)
Story1:
DEVOTE (new rtk3 keyword).

Think of the Yakuza. To show their
DEVOTION to the clan, they must
be DEDICATED enough to cut off
their FINGERS if they fail a task.
Story2:
Dedicated people who dedicate

themselves to growing bonsai
cornstalkes have to have very fine
fingers to work the bonsai cornstalk.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2265
twist, twine, kinky

: hand : sort of thing; so; if
so; in that case; well
twirl
Bad guys in movies always twirl
their moustache with their fingers,
and that sort of thing.
Twirling a baton is the sort of thing
you only do with your fingertips.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2266
counter for guns, inksticks,

palanquins, rickshaws, bravely
volunteer
: hand : courts; imperial
court; government office
counter for tools
The courts use their fingers as a
counter for tools used in murder
cases.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A lawyer holds several blood stained

screwdrivers in his fingers and
asks,"Ladies and gentlemen of the
court, how many tools do you see?".
2267
: hand : melancholy;
grieve; lament; be anxious; sad;
unhappy
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
commotion
A new dance, called the
"commotion" where you move your
fingers in a melancholy way.
(Derived from "The Locomotion":
Everybody's doin' a brand new dance
now, Come on baby, do the
Locomotion.).
There was a huge commotion in the
state of Denmark when Hamlet cut
off his fingers. He must have been
really melancholic...
2268
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
make progress
: hand : walk; counter for
steps
10
make headway
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Come on people, the only way to

make headway in this business is to
let your fingers do the walking! bust
out the yellow pages and dial as
many numbers as possible, surely
someone is a sucker for a cold call
sell.
Thing from the Addams Family has
difficulties in making headway
because, well, he has no head. Only
walking fingers.
2269
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
stroke, pat, smooth down

: hand : nothingness; none;
ain't; nothing; nil; not
petting
I was petting my pet, but when I
looked at my fingers I saw . . .
nothingness my pet had bitten
them off.
I pet my pet with my fingers so
hard... he was reduced to
nothingness.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2270
scatter, sprinkle, give them the slip

: hand : scatter; disperse;
spend; squander
sprinkle
Use your fingers to scatter sprinkles
on top of your ice cream cone .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Japanese tradition of
- I see a
garden sprinkler scattering fingers.
2271
excel in, surpass, pull out, select

: hand : feathers; counter
for birds, rabbits : bird; old
outstanding
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
My turkey suit, complete with actual

feathers, was so outstanding that
farmers tried to hunt me down with
hatchets: I promptly gave them the
finger.
His turkey costume was really
outstanding: it was full of real turkey
feathers, and he even managed to
make convincing bird claws of his
fingers.
2272
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
victory, fast
: hand : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58)
spoils
Someone tries to lay their fingers on
your spoils, and you run after them
hitting them with a broom as they
run from you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
As my share of the spoils of war I

grab a running-broom that has
fingers (just like the one in
Disney/Mickey Mouse/Fantasia). It
runs round cleaning up with its
broom and uses its fingers to press
buttons etc and operate household
appliances. But also like Mickeys it
gets out of control and spoils
everything it touches. So much for
the spoils of war.
2273
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
gouge, hollow out, bore, pry

: hand : decide; determine;
archery glove
gouge out
The penalty for gouging out
someone's eyes is to have your
fingers guillotined.
Before they guillotine him they
gouge out his eyes with their fingers,
which is why we can't see eyes in
this Kanji.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2274
cowardice, wince, flinch, hesitate,

waver
(no. 61) : gone; past; quit;
leave; elapse; eliminate; divorce
wince
The gambling addict's state of mind
... wincing as he realizes that
everything he owns is gone.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
As they pull the batteries out of

Data, we see him wince and then
he's gone.
2275
consider, reflect, think

(no. 61) : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
ponder
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Brain: "I'm in a lucid state of mind.

Pinky, are you pondering what I'm
pondering?" Pinky: "Yes Brain, but
how are we going to get the turkey
up here?".
The state of mind of a turkey is to
ponder the meaning of life while
waiting to be eaten come November.
2276
fall in love with, admire, grow senile
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

(no. 61) : in a moment;
instantly; all of a sudden; neglect;
disregard
infatuation
Infatuation is the state of mind that
makes a knot form in your heart.
Data instantaneously (#2431)
combusted when he first experienced
infatuation.
2277
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wise
(no. 61) : orders; ancient
quickwitted
The commando team under orders
need to be quickwitted and are
always in the right state of mind for
action.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Data, orders: Commander Data is as

quickwitted as they come. While
Picard is still in the process of
uttering an order, Data is already
executing it!
2278
sincere, kind, considerate

(no. 61) : receive; undergo;
answer (phone); take; get; catch
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
considerate
The state of mind of the tall child
whom receives all of the attention is
often surprisingly considerate. They
have known nothing but kindness in
their life, and thus act the same in
return!
A considerate state of mind is open
to receive others' input.
2279
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
yearnafter, long for, aspire to,

admire, adore
(no. 61) : juvenile; child
15
yearn
A paedophiles state of mind is to
yearn for juveniles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
A juveniles state of mind tends to

go apeshit when they see something
they yearn for. Usually involving
jumping up and down, tantrums, and
other bullshit. (Imagine giving them
a big backhand across the face.).
2280
just as, as though, fortunately

(no. 61) : fit; suit; join; 0.1
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
as if
I was in a state of mind to ask my
wife if some slinky outfit from the
closet fit her. "As if!" she yelled,
"that belonged to your previous
girlfriend!".
If your state of mind is fit, it's as if
the kanji learn themselves.
2281
wide, large, enlarge
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 61) : ashes; puckery
juice; cremate
enlarge
He was in a terrible state of mind
when his home that he was enlarging
was consumed by a fire and
everything he had build up was
turned to ashes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Imagine the state of mind of a person

who takes some viagra, thinking it
will enlarge his package, but
somehow it reduces it to ashes
instead.
2282

(no. 61) : younger brother;
faithful service to elders
keyword:
Story1:
respect for elders

The state of mind of a younger
brother has respect for elders,
including you if you're the elder
brother.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Data, younger brother: Commander

Data had a younger, amoral brother
(Lore). When they visited an old
computer museum, Lore remarked
that he could compute much faster
than the machines on exhibition.
That's when Data found it to be his
duty to teach his brother respect for
elders.
2283
boil, ferment, seethe, uproar, breed
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: water : courage; cheer up;

be in high spirits; bravery; heroism
12
Story1:
bubble up
The courageous man who went into
the water to save a drowning victim
couldnt be seen, except by the air
that bubbled up.
Story2:
Bubble up the WATER and see who

has the COURAGE to jump into it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2284
: water : zero; spill;

overflow; nothing; cipher
canal
The canals on Mars contain zero
water.
A canal is used to put water where
there was zero.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2285
sparkling water
: water : ray; light
glistening
Rays of sunlight on the water make
for a glistening effect.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Compare with shimmering (frame

2880), where the rays of sunlight
shimmer off the futon. Water is
what's glistening in those rays.
(helps to remember both kanji).
2286
: water : clear
bounding main
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You know you are deep in the water

of a bounding main (deep body of
water), when you look up and can no
longer see the rays of the sun above
you.
In calm waters, even the bounding
main is limpid (#2446).
2287
gargle, rinse mouth
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: water : bundle; sheaf;

ream; tie in bundles; govern;
manage; control : lack; gap;
gargle
To gargle, put a bundle of medicine
in your mouth with water and throw
your head back as if in a yawn.
Gargle with salt water and bundle up
if you have a sore thoat and lack
medicine.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2288
continent, sandbar, island, country

: water : state; province
continent
Australia is the only continent that is
surrounded by water on all sides, yet
is still a single state.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If the borders of a state are all water,

then it is more properly called a
'continent' instead. (For state
(#128), I think of the small-dash/bigdash alternating pattern that is used
for state borders on some maps.).
2289
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : decameron; 10day period; season (for specific

products)
swirling waters
For ten days, we watched the
swirling waters, but it didn't seem
like the water would rise in another
tsunami.
Story2:
heisig:
You have got a really, really plugged

up bathtub - so plugged up, as a
matter of fact, that when you get out
of the bath, it takes an entire
decameron for the gently swirling
waters to go all the way down. You
are really annoyed at this (it's gross,
besides), so you get a tiny little sun
and bound it up with twine, and
lower it into the drain. It clears the
clog right up, and the swirling
waters zip right on down!
2290
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
imbued with
: water : three; going;
coming; visiting
seep
We have a prettily shaped umbrella,
but when it started to rain, water
seeped through and three of our
elbows got wet. So much for design
over functionality.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
X-men movie scene where the

senator SEEPS through the bars like
WATER. You see all these
ELBOWS (three of them) move in
trying to grab him, but it's
MYSTIQUE the SHAPE changer
that catches him in her UMBRELLA.
2291
wash, sprinkle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: water : cover; place on top

of; west radical variant (no. 146)
rinse
In the wild west everything was so
dirty! With the limited water people
could spare, a simple rinse was the
best your clothes would get.
Rinse empty whiskey bottles with
water.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2292
wash
: water : tree; wood
douse
In the forest fire, they doused the
trees with water to prevent more
damage.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You use water to irrigate (#2079)

saplings. When it has become a tree,
you need more. Then you have to
douse it.
2293
: water : eye; class; look;

teardrops
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Water drops from your eye are

teardrops.
teardrops (#2294) ,
... Parts: , ... Note:
Tuttle 3a9.21 ... tears (#1082), vs.
teardrops (#2294) (vs )? don't
worry. They are the exact same word
except when used in place names:
On and Kun are the same . has
the decency to have a different OnYomi. But the Kun is the same. ...
2294
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
all, turbidity
: water : army; force;
troops; war; battle
gushing
As the Pharaoh's chariots tried to
cross the Red Sea, gushing waters
came and crushed them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Picture yourself driving a chariot

wildly down the street and knocking
over all the fire hydrants. Water is
gushing everywhere.
2295
sand
: water : few; little
7
grains of sand
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Wet sand is simply sand but to see

beautiful grains of sand, the water
must be few.
Near the water is one of the few
places you will find grains of sand.
2296
defile, blaspheme, ditch

: water : sell
blaspheme
Story1:
The church is selling holy water for

the faithful, but if you dare to say its
tap water, they'd tell you you were
blaspheming.
Story2:
heisig:
During the Wedding at Cana, the

Son of God had some people come
up to complain after he performed
his miracle. "This wine is terrible!
Are you trying to sell me watereddown wine?" He replied, "It's a
wedding, for God's sake, the wine is
free, so stop complaining." The
dissatisfied guest retorted, "Hey,
don't blaspheme!" Jesus Christ just
rolled his eyes and, under his breath,
uttered his own name in vain.
2297
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
lewdness, licentiousness
: water : claw; nail;
talon : 9th calendar sign
11
lewd
The vulture is on top of the porter
and appears to be commiting a lewd
act, so I throw water over the pair of
them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Claw marks across the porters back

from engaging in lewd acts in the
shower. He is tipped well for
carrying the ladys bags to her room.
2298
weir, fish trap, beam, girder

: water : sword; saber;
knife : dot; tick or dot radical
(no. 3) : tree; wood
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
roofbeam
What seemed to be water dripping
from the wooden roofbeam was
actually drops of blood dripping
from a sword lodged in it.
He cut down the tree with a sword to
make a new roofbeam, but when he
saw two drops lying on the tree, he
assumed there was too much water
in the wood and he left it to dry first.
2299
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sediment, grounds, dregs, stagnant

: water : Mr.; hall;
mansion; palace; temple; lord
sediment
Mr. President is visiting the city of
New Orleans, where the sediment is
being cleared away that got there
when the water rushed in during
hurricane Katrina.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
After Mr. (and Mrs.) Smith blasted

everything in sight with a missile
launcher (see Mr. (#1805)), turning
the whole world into sediment,
nothing was left to shot at. The only
thing left was WATER. So boring...
2300
spread out, wide

: water : seal radical (no.
26)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
5
widespread
Its a widespread belief that they
cannot find fingerprints on a body
that has been deposited in the water.
Its a widespread belief that water
takes away fingerprints.
2301
Kyoto, the capital
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : each; every; either

old Kyoto
Old Kyoto was once the capital, but
if has fallen from grace and the
flowers that used to decorate its
houses have all disapeared.
Each drop of water has been through
old Kyoto at some point.
2302
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
you, thou
: water : woman; female
thou
One of the modern commandments:
"Thou shalt not imagine wet women,
dripping in their bathing suits".
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art
thou Romeo?" says Juliet, her eyes
all watery.
2303
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
manufacture paper, spread out thin,

strain, percolate
: water : deer
filter
I filter my water using a deer. Sure
I'm a naturalist, but you know what?
The filtered yellow "water" tastes
MUCH better!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When you go out into the

wilderness, you shouldn't drink fresh
water no matter how clean and clear
it looks. A deer could have just
crapped in it a mile upstream.
Lesson: Bring some kind of filter to
filter your drinking water.
2304
shore, brink, verge

: water : repeatedly; recur
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
on the verge of
Water dripping repeatedly on
someone is enough to put them on
the verge of insanity.
I was on the verge of wetting myself
when she repeatedly showed me
her...
2305
moat, ditch, canal, Australia
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: water : overpowering;
great; powerful; excelling; Australia
moat
A moat is a water structure used
against something potentially
overpowering.
Australia was designed as a moat,
surrounded by water, to keep out the
overpowering forces of foreign
nations.
2306
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sprinkle, lively, vigorous

: water : departure;
discharge; publish; emit; start from;
disclose; counter for gunshots
spray
If you discharge a water gun, it
sprays water of course!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To spray is to have water

discharged, from, for example, a
hose.
2307
drown, indulge
: water : weak; frail
13
drowning
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Weak people placed in the water

start drowning. Get some strength in
those arms and learn how to swim!
Weak swimmers drowning in the
water.
2308
port, harbor
: water : play music; speak
to a ruler; complete
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
port
They started playing music when the
ship of the emperor came in sight
over the water and was brought into
port.
A band playing music on the water
front for a heroic Navy ship
returning to port.
2309
lonely, deserted
: water : grove; forest
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
solitude
Picture yourself living in solitude on
a tiny island. There are only two
trees, and you keep getting splashed
by water from sea waves.
A water-filled grove is a place of
solitude.
2310
wide expanse, abundance, vigorous
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: water : revelation; tell;

inform; announce
abounding
According to the book of
revelations, abounding waters will
be the first sign of the apocalypse!
Revelations into the benefits of
drinking water are abounding these
days.
2311
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
water's edge, shore, bank

: water : street; ward; town;
4th calendar sign
water's edge
These spikes mark the water's edge
in ancient times. Notice that the
water level is actually much lower
today.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The water's edge is firmly nailed to

the ground with robust spikes...
through the water.
2312
large bird, wild goose

: creek; inlet; bay : bird;
chicken
large goose
A bird often found near creeks is the
large goose.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Ever ridden in a watercraft at an

amusement park in the shape of a
large goose bird?
2313
: water : bird; old bird

radical (no. 172)
souse
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When the pegasus attacked, we did

what we could and soused it:
everyone knows that a wet pegasus
is a dead pegasus.
Souse the pegasus with water, she
likes it.
2314
overflow, inundate, spill

: water : benefit; gain;
profit; advantage
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
brimming
Water is to the benefit of all live
forms, so when a place has a lot of
water, you soon see it brimming with
life forms.
(+brendanmacdonald) Water is
brimming with health benefits!
2315
luxury, select
: water : plump; thick; big
around
strokes:
keyword:
7
cleanse
Story1:
Story2:
I couldnt find any reference to this

kanji as meaning cleanse. It seems to
be most often used in the following
compound to mean
affair. The other meanings seem to
be closer to select so maybe Heisig
meant cleanse in the ethnic sense
here.. Im going to use the keyword
"selection", as in natural selection.
Story: natural selection first began in
the water, and those that were too
plump were selected out.
Water is used to cleanse a plump
mans colon.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2316
fill, wear (a smile)

: water : tremendously;
very; great; exceedingly
inundate
A tremendous amount of people
inundate waterparks during summer
vacation.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
After the success of Gatorade,

Michael Jordan was inundated with
requests to do water commercials.
2317
pure
: water : receive; undergo;
immaculate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I doubt it was an immaculate

conception, I'm sure she received
something 'watery' from someone or
other.
Water you receive as a gift should be
immaculate.
2318
crush, smash, break, dissipate

: water : precious; value;
prize; esteem; honor
15
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
defile
Man continues to defile precious
water and it may prove to be his
downfall (Think of Exxon, BP, etc.).
...Faramir and Frodo watched the
tiny creature far below. "Shall we
shoot him?" Faramir asked. "This
Gollum has defiled the waters of the
Forbidden pond, looking for his
Precious, and for that the penalty is
death"...
2319
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
kindness
: water : roof; house; shop;
dealer; seller
moisten
Before raging wildfires approach the
town, homeowners will spray hose
water on their roof to moisten the
house as a preventative measure.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When it's very dry, I sometimes

moisten the wooden beams on the
roof with water so that they won't
completely dry out and crack open.
2320
open sea
: water : difficult;
impossible; trouble; accident; defect
rough seas
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Rough seas are a body of water that

is most difficult to travel over.
Rough seas = difficult waters.
2321
draw (water), ladle, scoop, pump

: water : reach out; exert;
exercise; cause
draw water
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When you draw water you reach out

and take the water from the well.
Reach out for water to draw water
from the well.
2322
pure water, clear water, pool in a

river
: water : quiet
river pool
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Stare into the quiet water of the river

pool, and maybe you'll see the river
mermaids.
A river pool is a little spot of
WATER over on the edge where the
water can be QUIET for a while
before going back out into the
roaring river to flow.
2323
collect, gather, be in arrears
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : detain; fasten;

halt; stop
cumulation
Water, detain: At the airport, crazy
EU customs regulations made that
every person carrying water bottles
was detained and the water bottles
themselves impounded. As you may
imagine, in the customs office, there
was quite a cumulation of water
bottles.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I look up at a cumulonimbus cloud

and say There must be a lot of
water detained in that
cumulonimbus, quite a cumulation.
2324
edge
: water : heavens; sky;
imperial : sword; saber; knife
keyword:
abyss
Story1:
Moses threw the golden calf into a

nearby abyss, chased the offenders
that had worshipped it with a saber,
and cleaned the whole spot it had
been standing with water as to wash
away the sins of these people.
Story2:
heisig:
In the abyss of hell, there is no water

and Satan keeps watch with his sabre.
2325
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
primeval chaos
: water : barracks; police
station; camp
chaos
Chaos theory holds that a single
EARTHWORM wriggling can cause
huge flows of WATER all over the
planet.
Earthworms go into chaos when
there's no water.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2326
pan: water : mediocre

6
pan
Yeah, all our water is fairly
mediocre, but if we work together in
some pan-continental union, we can
make some better water! As if.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This is pan- as in the prefix meaning

"all". I think of Pangea as being a
mediocre continent with water
covering the rest of the planet. This
was before it broke up into the firstclass, well-distributed continents we
got now.
2327
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: water : prudence; thought;

concern; consider; deliberate; fear
strainer
Prudence always splashes water over
the strainer before & after using it.
"Just being prudent", she says.
The strainer exercises prudence on
the water, only letting the good
water pass.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2328
get wet, damp, make love

: water : demand; request;
need
drench
Those who demand water will be
drenched.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When he demanded water from the

waitress, she dumped the glass over
his head, drenching his clothes.
2329
pool, eddy
: water : determine; fix;
establish; decide
eddy
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If you get caught in an eddy, the

water seems determined to pull you
in.
An eddy is created when water
determines it doesn't want to just "go
with the flow".
2330

counter for days : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
fabrication
The greatest fabrication ever told
was that God made the water and the
earth in only one day.
This kanji should mean black soil. It
is is used for Buddha's death and
nirvana ( ()). Story:
Fabrication of black soil. Use water
to wash away other colours and and
dry it in the sun (sun over soil).
2331
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
kettle, cauldron, iron pot

: father : gold
10
cauldron
Your father uses his legs to stop
himself from being put in a metal
cauldron.
Whilst on holiday, my father was
captured by cannibals and put in a
metal cauldron.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2332
ax, hatchet
: father : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
radical (no. 69)
hatchet
Father is sitting on top of an axe, and
when I ask why he says, Axe? Its a
hatchet, and Im trying to hatch it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The father axe giving birth to baby

hatchets. There is a role reversal in
axe families.
2333
old man, grampa

: father : question mark
grandpa
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Father!!! My Father exclaimed when

he saw my grandpa again.
[exclamation (#2680)].
My grandpa, the father of my father,
often puts his ear agains the city
walls to hear what's going on. Well,
Alzheimer...
2334
: dog : skeleton; bone;

remains; frame
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
sly
The sly criminal gave a skeleton to
the pack of wild dogs chasing him.
Sly fox thought he could outsmart
the wild dogs, but all they found of
him was his skeleton.
2335
obscene
: dog : fear; majestic;
graciously; be apprehensive
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
indecent
The indecent man made even the
pack of wild dogs apprehensive
(#2569).
An indecent video featuring a
helpless victim taking hairpins in his
brain while a pack of wild dogs tears
him from limb to limb, has generated
calls for compulsory censorship of
the internet.
2336
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: dog : mingle; mixing;

Story1:
cunning
You have to have cunning to mingle
with a pack of wild dogs and get
away unharmed.
Story2:
A pack of wild dogs mingle together

and perform cunning-lingus.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2337
tanuki, raccoon
: dog : ri; village; parent's
home; league
racoon dog
A raccoon dog joined the pack of
wild dogs as their computer-literate
otaku member with circles around
his eyes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The racoon dog was only allowed to

join the pack of wild dogs because
his computer owned.
2338
wolf
: dog : good; pleasing;
skilled
wolf
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
I don't know if "All (wild) dogs go

to heaven," but I think this wolf will,
because he has a halo.
Pack of wild dogs, halo: In the pack
of wild dogs, there is a prophesy.
The wild dog that is born with a halo
surrounding it will eventually turn
into a wolf and lead the pack of wild
dogs to victory over mankind.
2339
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: dog : shellfish
flustered
The pack of dogs got all flustered
when they tried to open the shellfish
with their snouts.
The shellfish flustered the fishermen
by pretending to be a pack of wild
dogs. "woof woof, grrrrrr".
2340
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
puppy, dog
: dog : phrase; clause;
counter for haiku
pup
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mother dog: I don't like our pup

hanging around with that pack of
wild dogs because he picks up all
sorts of bad phrases. Father dog:
Don't worry, he's only a pup it's
just a phrase he's going through.
"He encountered a pack of dogs"
sounds like a scary phrase, until you
mention they were all puppies.
2341
fox
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: dog : melon
Story1:
fox
A pack of dogs chases a fox who has
stolen a melon! Must be a vegetarian
fox...
Story2:
In Japanese folklore the FOX is

known for changing shape. This one
was being chased by a PACK OF
WILD DOGS and passing a garden,
changed into a MELON to hide.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2342
archaic part of Korea, lion-dog

shrine guards
: dog : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days
a-un
From the pack of wild dogs only
white ones are chosen to be a-un (to
guard the temple).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Lion-like wild dogs that show their

white teeth to anyone who
approaches the Shinto shrine.
2343
aim at, sight, shadow, stalk

: dog : moreover; also;
furthermore
8
aim at
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When her home was invaded by a

pack of dogs, the little girl climbed
on the shelf and aimed various items
at the dogs below.
I think the dogs purposely aim at
your shelves to deal the most
damage.
2344
lion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: dog : expert; teacher;

master; model; exemplar; army (incl.
counter); war
lion
In "The Lion King," Scar was the
expert who did all the scheming, and
the three hyenas were his pack of
wild dogs that did most of the dirty
work.
The pack of wild dogs admire the
lion as an expert hunter.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2345
: dog : dollar
baboon
The hunter employs a pack of dogs
to hunt baboons, which he sells to
zoos for a lot of dollars.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Baboons like to taunt wild dogs by

dangling their dollar sign chains
from trees just out of their reach
(and occasionally mooning them
with their red butts).
2346

140) : good; pleasing; skilled
tobacco
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
If you smoke these tobacco flowers,

you'll end up sporting a halo sooner
rather than later.
If you smoke these tobacco flowers,
you can blow funky smoke halos
(rings).
2347
jasmine
140) : end; close; tip; powder;
posterity
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
jasmine
If you know someone called
Jasmine, then just imagine yourself
sticking a flower in her extremity.
The jasmine flowers are
exceptionally strong scented, and
you can smell it the whole day if you
rub them on an extremity of your
body, like a hand.
2348
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
jasmine
140) : profit; advantage;
benefit
hawthorn
Thanks to Nathaniel Hawthorne, the
hawthorn flower is now profitable.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A hawthorn is a flower that stands in

the way of profit as it has to be taken
out of the wheat fiels by farmers.
2349
strawberry
140) : mother
strawberry
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The strawberry plant is one that

mothers really like. Not particularly
for its flowers, but for the fruit of
course, so they can make fresh
strawberry pies.
Most people eat the fruit of the
strawberry plant, but your mother
eats the flowers.
2350
bush clover
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

140) : autumn
bush clover
The bush clover is a special flower
which was dedicated to bush when
he won the presidency in Autumn.
Bush clover flowers in autumn.
2351
art, craft, performance, acting, trick,

stunt
component:
strokes:
keyword:

Turkey : eight; eight radical
Turkey : round; full (month);
roll up; curl up; seduce; explain
away : say
technique [old]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Its the oldest technique in the book.

When surrounded by the evil rice
seedling forces (they have gathered
all around the ground around you),
you dispense a cloud of rising smoke
from your feet, and disappear,
leaving only flowers behind.
The [old] technique for making a
rising cloud of flowers was misused
by round men to get a woman's legs
caught in ivy.
2352
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
mow down (the enemy)

140) : pheasant
trim
Get a pheasant (#2584) to trim your
flowers for you.
Pheasant under glass with flower
trimmings as garnish. Mmmm!
2353
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : decline; wane; weaken
straw raincoat
Looking for a job at a florist during
bad weather, I was forced to wear
my pauper's straw raincoat.
Predictably, I was declined at every
flower shop I found.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Flower, decline: After your flowers

have declined (i.e., lost their bloom),
you can always use the remains to
weave a straw raincoat. It's all about
recycling these days...
2354
wither, droop, lame

140) : committee; entrust to;
leave to; devote; discard
11
keyword:
Story1:
numb
Oh, the committees in for a
surprise: I put some nightshades into
their drinks. Theyll be numb for
sure, probably worse.
Story2:
heisig:
The keyword numb makes no sense.

I choose "to fade
away". A girl lies in a wheat field at
the same time every day. A photo is
taken every day showing this scene
and a time lapse video shows the
wheat growing through the year until
the wheat is tall and the top sprouts
to look like its flowers. At this point,
the girl can no longer be seen in the
photos and she fades away.
2355
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
moss, lichen
140) : pedestal; a stand;
moss
Flowers can be seen on the pedestal
covered with moss.
The flowers you can see on old
pedestals when you visit the ruins in
Greece are moss in fact.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2356

140) : hot water; bath; hot
spring
prodigal
When the prodigal son returned, he
was greeted with flowers and hot
water for tea by his mum.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The prodigal son thought he was

going to be in hot water when he
went home after wasting his family's
money, but instead they greeted him
with flowers.
2357
cover, shade, mantle, capsize, be

ruined
140) : be worn-out; be
dilapidated; be defeated
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
15
cover over
You cover over the shredder with
flowers when the FBI comes aknockin.
The taskmaster arranges flowers to
cover over the rags she makes us
clean with.
2358
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
vine, tendril, influence, connections,

good offices, spread, sprawl, thrive,
rampant, powerful
140) : wide; beautiful
tendril
The alien plant from outer space
flowered and started drawing
mandala's on the ground with its
tendrils as a way of communication.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you show a mandala to a flower it

will cross its tendrils into the lotus
position.
2359
lotus
140) : take along; lead; join;
connect; party; gang; clique
lotus
Story1:
A lotus can either be a flower, or

else something that takes you along
(the car make).
Story2:
Way too easy! Lotus, as in the really

expensive, fast car. Whenever I want
to take someone somewhere
(, I make sure to rent a
Lotus so that I can arrive to pick
them up in style. I'm a great
customer of the local car rental shop,
so they always make sure to give me
a flower when I pick up my Lotus.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2360
lotus, Mt Fuji
140) : husband; man
lotus flower
Story1:
[+woelpad] In a certain culture, there

is a ritual carried out when a girl is
quite young (young enough, in fact,
that they do it before they are
considered a woman in that culture for the same reason that some
cultures do not name a baby until
they are sure it will live) - she must
go on a vision quest for a lotus
flower and look inside it to see the
face of her husband - then report
back.. Imagine a poor flower girl's
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
There's a popular myth amongst

flower girls that the face of their
future husband is hidden inside a
lotus flower.
2361
lotus
140) : contain; form; looks
lotus blossom
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Those little flower buds contain a

whole lotus blossom when they
grow bigger.
Flower, contain: 'Lotus Blossom' is
the stripped down version of a
software package tailored to the
needs of flourists: Lotus Flower
(lotus flower (#2361)). However, the
software still contains the most
important functionality of the
original version.
2362
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
orchid, Holland
140) : rise high; be well along
orchid
The orchid thief tries to steal exotic
flowers from the east, only to be
stopped customs at the departure
gate * orchid.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The Asian lesbians are partial to this

flower because it reminds them of
their favorite classic video game
character: B. Orchid.
2363
reed, rush
140) : door; counter for
houses; door radical (no. 63)
hollow reed
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You must play a tune using a hollow

reed, to open the secret door hidden
beneath the flowers.
Ancient superstition requirs you to
adorn your door with hollow reed
and flowers, but nobody knows the
purpose anymore.
2364
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

140) : signature; govt office;
police station
yam
The signature flower of Ireland: the
yam! Speaking of which, how are
yams different from potatoes?
A yam has a signature flower that
differentiates it from a sweet potato.
2365
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
iris
140) : prosperous; bright; clear
iris
Only prosperous people (picture
someone with a lot of bling) can
afford to have iris flowers in the
house regularly. They're too
expensive for daily use.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
You become so prosperous selling

flowers (irises) you buy Van Gogh's
famous painting "Irises" and hang in
in your flower shop.
2366
banana
140) : char; hurry; impatient;
irritate; burn; scorch; singe
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
banana
Like the fruit itself, banana flowers
look charred as they age.
Charred bananas on a bed of flowers
are a delicacy that stir up images of a
tropic island.
2367
wick
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
7
wick
My favorite are heart shaped candles
that smell like sweet flowers. The
trick is to find one with a thick wick,
they give off the most flower scent
(but burn the quickest).
Giving a girl flowers is like lighting
the wick to her heart.
2368
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
buckwheat
140) : high; boasting
buckwheat
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
"Buckwheat's been shot!

Buckwheat's been shot!" At his
funeral, attended by the rest of Our
Gang, Buckwheat is placed in his
coffin covered by flowers. An angel
is also present, and says "Its O-tay
Buckwheat, you have been invited
up to heaven!".
Grain from the buckwheat plant can
be used for some angelically tasting
cakes.
2369
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
butterbur, bog rhubarb

140) : path; route; road;
distance
butterbur
Butterbur flowers can be seen along
the path.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A Butterbur is a plant, but also, in

LOTR, Butterbur is the name of the
owner of the Prancing Pony. The
hobbits met him on their path to
Mount Doom.
2370
indigo
140) : oversee; official; govt
office; rule; administer
18
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
indigo
Indigo flowers have to be overseen
because they are often picked for
their beauty.
Traditionally, blue (#1534) could
be used to describe blue OR green.
However, two kanji that describe the
hues specifically are and . This
kanji is the "blue" counterpart of
green (#1371). Story: The overseer,
master of the slaves, wore a cloak
dyed with indigo, and flowers in his
hair.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2371
eggplant
140) : add; addition; increase;
join; include; Canada
eggplant
Eggplant is a low rie flower
(thanks Peppi).
An epplant is a flower with almost
no ries...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2372
torment, scold, chastise

140) : can; passable; mustn't;
should not; do not
8
bullying
How many flowers can I stuff in
your nostrils? Well Im just gonna
have to go and see. Bullying at its
worst!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Flowers, you ask if they can feel

pain, do you? ^stomp^ ^stomp^
^stomp^ They sure -can-!! ^stomp^
^stomp^ ^stomp^ ^stomp^ ^stomp^
^stomp^!!
2373
shade, shadow, backing assistance

140) : shade; yin; negative;
sex organs; secret; shadow
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
behind the scenes

Behind the scenes, in the shady
areas, they trade various flowers: oh,
yeah, gather 'round the good stuff!
Another Heisig RTK3 fail. I'm going
to use "owing to" as the keyword -it's mostly used in (thanks to
you). Thanks to you, I was even able
to grow flowers in the shade, no easy
task.
2374
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
sagebrush, wormwood, mugwort

140) : meeting; tryst; date;
rendezvous
wormwood
Story1:
Wormwood brings very, very vivid

and hallucinogenic dreams. You eat
some of the intoxicating flowers of
the wormwood with your
girlfriend...and in your high state of
mind, decide that it would be a good
idea to do it in the bushes on the side
of Mario Kart Road. Suddenly, in
the middle of it, she starts tripping
out, and runs through the bushes into
the middle of the track, while they
are racing...and is killed. Imagine
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You bring a wormwood flower to a

tryst (#2417) for the bitter parting at
the end.
2375
mustard, rape, dust, trash, rubbish

140) : jammed in; shellfish;
mediate; concern oneself with
mustard
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mustard has a lot of flavor jammed

in to its flowers.
Mustard is a plant that jams in all its
taste into its mustard seeds.
2376
show symptoms of, sprout, bud, malt

140) : bright; light
germinate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You need a lot of bright light to

germinate flowers.
If there is one thing those nasty
german's hate its bright, happy
flowers.
2377
wild grape, Portugal

140) : crawl; creep
grape
Story1:
Story2:
Grapes are totally a conspiracy, I'm

telling you. They're pretty little
plants with flowers that grow in
clusters, and they are sweet, I know,
but...Bound up in each little grape
(the skin is like a wrapping) is a tiny
RFID tag that the government uses
to spy on you. That's why they sell
them in such large quantities for so
cheap - if you "pass" a few of them
out, no matter - odds are that at least
one will stay inside you. They
My offspring ate all the grapes off
the grape vine (#2379)!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2378
grape vine, wild grape

wrapping radical (no. 20) : tin
can; container; jar radical (no. 121)
grape vine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
"I heard it through the grape vine"'

using a pair of tin cans bound
together to form a hidden
amongst the flowers.
I WRAPPED a large tin can (#1965)
to a grape vine, under the
FLOWERS of the grape vine, so that
grapes fall directly into the tin can
(#1965) when they are ripe.
2379
be resuscitated, revived
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

140) : fish : 2-branch
tree radical (no. 115)
resurrect
Fish are used (as fertilizer) to
resurrect your wheat to a flowering
state.
Famous resurrection: Jesus. There's
the fish and loaves of wheat bread
he's got under his arms and flowers
in his hair.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2380

140) : turn; number in a series
grow wild
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
First the flowers grow up, but if you

aren't attentive, they have a tendency
to grow wild, playing dice out in the
garden to kill time. A bad seed,
indeed. Flowers grown wild!
Some kids playing the board game
Jumanji throw the dice, and as a
result, flowers suddenly begin to
grow wild all around them.
2381
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : orders; ancient laws;
command; decree
cocklebur
A truly invasive parasite, the
cocklebur is a flower that attaches
itself to its namesake and proceeds
to order the host around, the poor
guy.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When cocklebur flowers get stuck in

your socks and shoelaces while
bushwalking, you have to order
everyone to stop and wait while you
pick them out.
2382
reed used for matting

140) : orphan; alone
rush mat
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Orphans sleep on the flowers of a

rush mat.
The poor orphans took to injecting
'flowers' (poppy variety), and lay
Knocked Out (KO) on the rush mat
floor of the orphanage.
2383
ignorance, darkness, get, receive, be

subjected to, sustain, Mongolia
component:
strokes:
keyword:

140) : wa-shaped crown
radical (no. 152)
darken
Story1:
Flower, crown, one, sow: Each year,

just before Christmas, one sow is
selected among many to wear a
crown adorned with flowers.
Unknowing of her fate, there is a
party in her honor that evening. Near
the end, the lights suddenly darken
and a lot of noise can be heared.
When the lights go on again, the sow
has been slaughtered and is ready to
be baked for Christmas dinner.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Miss Piggy has entered the Miss

Universe pageant. Only one sow will
get the crown, when the lights
darken, Miss Piggy accepts the
flowers as she is announced the
winner!
2384
miscanthus reed
140) : halberd; arms; festival
float
strokes:
keyword:
grassy reed
Story1:
There are two methods for

swimming up on your enemy
unnoticed. A ninja using a grassy
reed, making sure the flower is first
removed, will approach stealthily. A
warriors scabbard, once the halberd
is removed, can also substitute for a
breathing tube in a pinch.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
To prevent the weed from spreading,

you must cut the grassy reed with a
halberd before it
flowers.
http://www.flic
kr.com/photos/wasatyu/168795205/.
2385
banana
140) : comma-design
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
plantain
A plantain is a flowering fruit that
looks kind of like a banana, and of
course bananas look sort of like a
comma, so you might even say that
they have a sort of comma-design.
Southern cities in Europe often have
plantains for street decoration. The
light filtering through these plants
makes for a nice light mosaic on the
streets.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2386
cutting (grass)
140) : reap; cut; clip; trim;
prune
mow
You reap what flowers you mow.
(thanks synewave).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Before you mow the lawn, first

quickly reap any flowers growing it,
otherwise they'll just go to waste.
2387
cover, lid, flap

140) : come together;
congregate; meet; cover
13
lid
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The lid of this dish is gone! Now the

whole room smells of the flowers
that were used in the cooking.
When the magician lifted the LID,
the flowers were gone from the dish.
2388
stone leek, Welsh onion
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

140) : rush; hurry; be flustered
onion
The onion is a plant that has such
spicy fumes, that you have to cry as
if your heart is in a double knot.
The ONION is a type of FLOWER
(bulb) that makes you
INSTANTANEOUSLY cry a DROP
of tear. Just remember the DROP
goes on the KNOT.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2389
ignore, despise, neglect, ridicule

140) : net; net or net crown
radical (no. 122) : protection
14
revile
They gays were reviled by society,
so they put flowers above their eyes
and marched around.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In Northern Ireland, bitter religious

groups revile their opponents by
marching defiantly under their very
eye, holding flowers that symbolize
their beliefs.
2390
hollyhock
140) : 10th calendar sign
hollyhock
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Hollyhock loved to suck cock. With

a flower in her hair she would lead
you into a teepee and let you
experience heaven.
The hollyhock is a flower that can
grow as large as a teepee. It almost
reaches to heaven.
2391
thatch, cover, shingle, tile

140) : mouth : ear
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shingling
When shingling with flowers, they
can often block up your mouth and
ears unless you wear the proper
safety gear.
Story2:
Flower, deaf: The deaf guy was

shingling the roof of his house with
flowers (ecohouse). Being deaf was
an advantage since he didn't hear the
comment of his neighbours.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2392

heart radical (no. 61) : heart;
mind; spirit; heart radical (no.
radical (no. 61)
stamen
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A male flower attracts many hearts

with its stamen.
This flower's stamen is so manly that
it has three hearts.
2393
mushroom
140) : ear
mushroom
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
My mother used to joke that if I

didn't wash my ears properly,
mushroom plants would be growing
out of them.
How could Mushroom be
flower/ear??? It makes no freakin'
sense!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotof
ilo/2202580888/Oh,
O.K.. Well, then maybe it could be.
2394
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
sow (seeds)
140) : time; hour
sowing
All it takes is time to get flowers
after sowing seeds.
After sowing seeds it will take TIME
before FLOWERS grow.
2395
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
parsley
140) : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
radical (no. 69)
parsley
The axe murderer glares at his
flower garden victims "First Parsley,
Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Cooking for Cannibals: Sprinkling a

freshly chopped parsley flower onto
your axe before cutting up those
helpless victims is a great way to
add a little zest to your dishes.
2396
rush matting
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : fortune-telling;
divining; forecasting; occupy; hold;
have; get; take
thatching
The thatching of the old thatched
roofs in rural Japan often has
FLOWERS growing out of it when
it's gotten weathered. So you can
pluck them and use them like tea
leaves to tell your FORTUNE.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The fortuneteller wants the thatching

of his roof done with flowers instead
of reeds.
2397
arrowroot, kudzu
140) : why; how;
when : fragrant; stink; glow;
insinuate; (kokuji)
12
kudzu
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Flower, siesta: The muchacho was

not careful. He passed the warning
signs and decided to hold a siesta in
the kudzu field. The kudzu grew so
fast, he was completely covered by it
in a few hours and not able to
escape. Now, the kudzu flowers
mark his grave.
The muchacho takes a siesta under
the flowers of the kudzu.
2398
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
blue, pale
140) : godown; warehouse;
storehouse; cellar; treasury
pale blue
The godown was filled with pale
blue flowers, probably some drug...
If you give her pale blue flowers,
she'll godown on you every time.
2399
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: mugwort : tree; wood

straw
When a giant drinks a cocktail, he
needs a straw of large proportions.
He hollows out a tall tree for the
straw, and sticks a giant flower on
the rim of his drink.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Story of three little pigs. First one

built a house out of straw but it got
blown down. Second one built a
house out of flowers but it got blown
down. Third one built a tall house
out of wood. It was so tall, when the
wolf blew it it fell back on the wolf,
killing him instantly. The end.
2400
turnip
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

140) : nothingness; none;
ain't; nothing; nil; not
turnip
Turnip flowers? Gross, but at least
it's better than nothing to eat.
Turnips just taste like nothing to me.
2401
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

140) : various; many; several;
together
sweet potato
The sweet potato is a plant that can
be used in various dishes quite well.
The sweet potato is a plant that has
various names. (So don't get it
confused with "yam").
2402
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
thicket, bush, underbrush, grove

140) : number; strength; fate;
law; figures
quack
The idiot savant was thought to be a
quack because he couldn't help but
count the number of flowers he saw.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I don't even know where Heisig got

this keyword from. Using "thicket"
instead: Picture a thicket with a large
number of flowers.
2403
garlic
140) : show; indicate; point
out; express; display : show;
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
garlic
In the temple were two altars. One of
them had the usual array of fl0wers,
but the other was adorned with
garlic, so that the locals could pray
to keep the vampires out.
The Vampire approaches - You take
out a clove of garlic 2 show him you
mean business.
2404
bracken, fernbrake
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : that
bracken
Bracken is a flower that grows on
cliffs and resembles a fish spine
lacking stability.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
After eating all the BRACKEN

FLOWERS on the CLIFF, the
MOUNTAIN GOAT belts out a
huge YAWN and takes a nap.
Unfortunately he never wakes up as
the BRACKEN is highly
carcinogenic to mountain goats....
2405
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : military officer; jailer;
old man; rank
grow plentiful
This reminds me of the old Peter,
Paul and Mary anti-war song,
"Where have all the flowers gone?"
The final verse talks about the
graveyards of military officers being
the place where flowers grow
plentiful.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Military officers make for good

fertilizer. So after a war the flowers
in the military officer's graveyard
grow plentiful.
2406
madder, red dye, Turkey red

140) : cover; place on top of;
west radical variant (no. 146)
madder red
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Madder red is an extract from a

flower which was used as fake blood
in western films.
Madder red is a colouring agent that
is acquired out of the roots of plants
that grow in the west.
2407

140) : perfect; completion; end
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
candle rush
The candle rush doesn't bloom often,
but when it does, the flowers must
be perfect.
On valentines day (a.k.a. the candle
rush), people are rushing to buy
candles and the perfect flowers for
their lover. Of course they do this all
with a smile
.
2408
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
gather
140) : ghost; devil
collector
Debt collectors will even hustle
ghosts for the flowers on their
bodies' graves.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This demon is a bit of an oddball,

he's a collector of rare flowers, most
of the time you can seem him
trawling the graveyards looking for
species that he doesn't yet have.
2409
sedge
140) : bureaucrat; the
government
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
sedge
Sedge is a flower (plant) that looks
like grass, much like bureaucrats
look a lot like real humans.
The bureaucrats wanted all the sedge
plants in the district counted.
Whatever will they think of next...
2410
reed, bullrush
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

140) : tanned leather radical
(no. 178)
ditch reed
As soon as Iris decided to ditch reed
she took off the locket he gave her
and tossed it along with the corsage
into the nearest ditch. Iris is quite a
bitch to ditch reed on the night of the
prom!
The lost locket was found between
the flowers of the ditch reed.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2411
edify, way, path

(no. 162)
Way
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Imagine a trail of brussel sprouts

along a road. You follow it, picking
up each sprout and eating it as you
go along. Eventually, after the last
sprout, you find your reward a
milky Way.
A road magically sprouts up to show
the chosen ones onto the Way.
2412
follow (rod), pursue
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: mountain : walk; walking;

track down
When you're following someone
along a road high atop a mountain, it
is easy to track them down, since all
tracks lead down.
Despite travelling all the mountain
roads and paths, no one could track
down the Yeti.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2413
crawl, creep, grovel, trail (vines)

: say : walk; walking; road
crawl
Some of those amateur marathon
runners at the end seem merely to
crawl on the road instead of running.
They truly need words of
encouragement.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
There are words written on the road,

but you have to crawl along to read
them:
'If...you...can...read...this...you...look..
.silly...'.
2414
roundabout way
: going; from : walk;
162)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
detour
Due to potatoes in the road, there
was a detour.
A truck had spilt its load of potatoes
on the road, forcing us to make a
detour.
2415
flee, escape, shirk, evade, set free

: shield; escutcheon;
pretext : walk; walking; road
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
elude (RTK3)
It really eludes me why we have two
kanji with the same keyword... this
one and deviate/elude (#1973). But
lets intertwine their stories: The
rabbit, who eluded capture
(deviate/elude (#1973)) on the road,
was finally caught when someone
threw a shield over it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The Spartan had to block the road to

stop the advancing enemy army, but
he tried to shirk his duty and threw
away his shield. That's suicide.
2416
meeting, tryst, date, rendezvous
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

three : number one; line; rod
radical (no. 2) : walk;
162)
tryst
Going out on the road to use a
pointy (see my comments in
summit (#1562)) part of my
anatomy, is called a tryst.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
While I was having a tryst with my

secret lover on the road, I had to
quickly run towards the bushes with
my walking legs, because my
husband suddenly appeared.
2417
far off, distant, long ago

: claw; nail; talon : tin can;
container; jar radical (no.
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
far off
On the long long road through the
desert, far off you can see a condor
flying...
The condor might seem like its far
off in the distance now, but if you
don't start running down the road
you could be dinner.
2418
distant
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: large; big : day; sun;

Japan; counter for days :
little; small : walk; walking;
remote (RTK3)
(From astridtops) Faraway (2nd
edition keyword) from civilisation,
there are no camping sites, so you
can see people in a pup tent near the
road doing some wild camping
instead.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[+Katsuo] In remote areas you can

pitch your pup tent in the road, as
there is no traffic. To disambiguate
permanence/remote (#958) &
remote (#2419), recall that
[] distinctly implies
permanence, while a pup tent is by
definition and design a temporary
structure, particularly if it's pitched
on a road.
2419
urge, force, imminent, spur on
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

mouth : rice field; rice
paddy : walk; walking; road
pressing
When the wealthy go on the road,
they always pretend to be pursuing
pressing matters, so they speed along
in their big BMW's.
Those with wealth speed down the
road as if they have some pressing
matter to attend.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2420
: beg; invite; ask : walk;

162)
until
Beg in the road until you get what
you want.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
"I'm going to sit here by the side of

the road, in front of the government
building and beg until they give me
a pension", the war veteran said.
2421
humble, modest
: grandchild; descendants :
(no. 162)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
14
modest
My parents arent at all modest
about their grandchildren, at every
opportunity they take them on the
road showing them off to their
friends!
He wasnt at all modest when telling
us about his grandchildren "Theyre all on the road to success"
he said.
2422
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
stop
: beans; pea; midget : walk;
162)
standstill
The negotiations had reached a
complete standstill. To try and get
things moving again the meeting
table was placed in the middle of a
busy road! That should do the trick!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I ripped a huge bean fart, bringing

our road trip to a standstill.
2423
cultural progress, perfume

: possess; have; exist; happen;
occur; approx : village; rural
163)
cultured
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The most important sign of a

cultured area in ancient times was
the possession of city walls. Anyone
who has ever played Civilization
knows that...
This cultured gentleman possesses a
part of the city walls of old Rome.
2424
an ancient Chinese province
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: decision : village; rural

163)
courtesy
A St. Bernard balances a bottle of
horned whiskey on his nose to get it
over the city walls as a courtesy to
his exiled master.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The chieftain (#2906) and his St.

Bernard practice common courtesy
at the city walls: Every newcomer is
kissed ardently. The women by the
chieftain, the men by the dog.
2425
crevice, fissure, discord,

opportunity, leisure, also N5013
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : little;
small : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days : little; small
13
chink
There was only one chink in his
plan. Even standing atop the highest
pinnacle, standing above even the
sun, the little man was still just as
little as when he was under the sun.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Man those little chinks can do

anything! They were the first to
build rockets, and by launching one
off the top of the highest pinnacle in
China, one little chink was the first
to ride above the sun, and see all the
little chinks below!
2426
corner, nook, recess
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 170) : fear; majestic;
graciously; be apprehensive
nook
Those apprehensive when they reach
the pinnacle often find a nook to
hide in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
On the pinnacle of the secret

government organisation, every
nook and cranny of the pinnacle is
under government control, even the
ricefields. You can't even drop a
hairpin there without being noticed.
2427
possess, haunt
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: displeasure; proper name :

61)
possessed
I entered the stable and felt an icy
chill. Yes, that horse is possessed
and the only way to deal with it is a
stake in the heart!
The frozen horse still had a heart
beat, it must be possessed!
2428
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
attract, captivate
: young; if; perhaps; possibly; low
number; immature : heart;
attract
You have to be young at heart to
attract the opposite sex.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Take just one look at the junior idol

video industry (or don't!) in Japan to
understand how the young attract the
hearts of the Japanese. ;-).
2429

radical (no. 165) : heart;
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
without exception
Without exception, the heart of
every hunter starts beating like crazy
as he comes upon the tracks of an
animal.
If you get addicted to playing dice
(without exception you will end
up losing your rice fields ( so
take my warning to heart.
2430
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
in a moment, instantly, all of a

sudden, neglect, disregard
: not; must not; do not; be
not : heart; mind; spirit; heart
radical (no. 61)
instantaneously
His heart got tied in a knot and he
died instantaneously.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Instead of Blood Clot, think of

Blood KNOT, where if you get a
Blood KNOT that goes to your
HEART, you will die
INSTANTANEOUSLY.
2431
all
: thing; object; matter :
61)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
firstborn son
The caveman, introducing his
firstborn son: "And this is thing with
heart. Come yesterday from woman's
stomach.".
The firstborn son gets everything his
heart desires. Historically, the
firstborn son inherited the family
fortune and title if any.
2432
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: steal : heart; mind; spirit;

in the nick of time
Nick XXX needs a heart transplant
quick. He goes to a meeting of
butchers where one of them is about
to chop up an ideal heart. Nick
snatches away the heart from under
the butchers knife just in the nick
of time. (note: replace XXX with a
Nick you know).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The guy who had a heart attack at

the butcher's meeting was saved in
the nick of time.
2433
excuse, tolerate, forgive

: likeness; like; such as; as if;
better; best; equal : heart;
sensitive
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
He's very sensitive about that

sculpture, as it captures the likeness
of the woman of his heart.
To tell if someone is sensitive, first
make a likeness of their heart. Then
observe them while you poke the
heart, stick needles in it, etc. If the
person reacts, then that means they
are sensitive.
2434
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

days : sign of the hare or
rabbit; 5-7AM; fourth sign of
Chinese zodiac; east
overarching
In this astrological tempel, a sun is
depicted, overarching the Sign of the
Hare.
When the sun shines during the sign
of the hare the hares go mad and
have an overarching desire to jump
over arches.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2435
advance
progress
The churches teach that if we
eliminate horniness as a universal
trait, we can make progress as a
society.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Thinking of The Pilgrims

Progress, imagine the pilgrim is
stuck outside the universe , trying
to get in. But the universe is
surrounded by horns which block his
path. Once he removes the horns
from the universe, then he can make
progress.
2436
dark, not clear
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

days : love; affection;
favourite
17
equivocal
The suns love is equivocal: it
warms yet burns us.
On a sunny day, a guy
professes his love to a girl he
admires. But she gives him the
common equivocal response, "Lets
just be friends.".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2437

days : turn into; become; get;
grow; elapse; reach
aglow
When the sun comes up and sets the
sky aglow, night turns into day.
The SUN TURNS the sky aglow.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2438

days : army; force; troops;
war; battle
halo
My halo is as bright as the sun, and
is actually made from a wheel I
pulled off a chariot.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The sun, high above us, was

according to ancient Greeks the
chariot of a god, and the halo of this
chariot are the rays of the sun.
2439
shine, light
days : army; force; troops;
war; battle
glitter
Story1:
Every day, the chariot of the god

glitters as it moves from from east to
west.
Story2:
Garry Glitter (British 70's glam rock

star) is starring in a remake of "Ben
Hur" and they are now filming the
famous chariot race scene.
Somehow, a reporter from the Sun
(British tabloid) newspaper has got
on the set and is running alongside
Glitters glittering chariot, trying to
interview him.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2440

days : dry; parch
dry weather
Dry weather is of course good
drying weather, so everyone puts
their clotheslines out under the sun.
Excessive SUN has caused DRY
weather.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2441

days : relax; cheap; low;
clear skies
Under the sun and the clear skies,
you can really relax.
When there are clear skies above
you, you can relax under the sun.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2442

days : sign of the dragon; 79AM; fifth sign of Chinese zodiac;
morrow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The ancient villain in the Bruce Lee

movies said to Bruce: "In the
morrow, when the sun is high in the
sky, I will feed you to my pet
crocodiles".
Bruce Lee waits for the sun of the
morrow to begin a showdown.
2443
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

days : cover; place on top of;
west radical variant (no. 146)
bleaching
In the Old West, the sun was the
only method for bleaching hair.
Sun, west: The Japanese like to
bleach their hairs until these shine in
the sun. It has to do with their
obsession for the West.
2444
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
dark, foolish
days : un-; not yet; hitherto;
still; even now; sign of the ram; 13PM; eighth sign of Chinese zodiac
9
obscure
Something that is obscure has not
yet been brought before the light of
day.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Cant you go outside and get some

sun? Not yet, I have to learn all
these obscure RTK3 kanji!.
2445
clear
days : ray; light
limpid
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The sun's rays passed through to the

very bottom of the limpid pond.
The sun's rays can be seen in a
limpid liquid.
2446
bleach, refine, expose, air

days : outburst; rave; fret;
force; violence; cruelty; outrage
air out
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
An outburst of sun is a good time to

air out your things.
If you don't air out your grievances.
One day they will be released in an
outburst of anger.
2447
dawn, daybreak
days : signature; govt office;
police station
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
dawn
I go out at the crack of dawn to buy
a newspaper (The Sun), and bump
into ex-sumo wrestler Akebono ()
who is doing the same. Of course I
ask for his signature on my copy of
The Sun, which he signs "Dawn
(Akebono)".
At DAWN, the SUN starts it's DAY
of work, yes? So doesn't it need to
SIGN IN with with SIGNATURE?
Just picture that silly image for this
kanji.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2448

days : seal radical (no. 26)
elevate
A sunny day to a depressed person is
just like a box of stamps to a stamp
otaku: both have the ability to
elevate spirits!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sending mail to the sun. It would

take a whole box of stamps to
elevate it that high.
2449
flourishing, successful, beautiful,

vigorous
days : jewel; ball
8
effulgent
Story1:
Story2:
The Sun King (Louis XIV) was

known for his effulgent reign.
[+katsuo] This is the Sun King.
Sayeth Wikipedia: "The Sun King
(in French le Roi Soleil) because of
the idea that, just as the planets
revolve around the Sun, so too
should France and the court revolve
around [the king]
("http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_
XIV_of_France). And just like the
sun, he was quite effulgent and
actually emitted sunlight.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2450
dark, evening, dusk

: family name; surname;
clan : day; sun; Japan; counter
for days
dusk
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At dusk every day I go out in one of

those airplanes that leaves a vapour
trail and write my family name just
above the setting sun. (I have to wait
until dusk so that the sun is low
enough in the sky).
The woman leaves her marriage at
dusk after all the guests have gone
home.
2451
dark, disappear
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:

days : every
last day of the month
Every month, there is one day that is
the last day of the month.
If only every day could be the last
day of the month, I'd be filing for
paychecks all the time.
2452
kidney
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
hand : meat
13
kidney
When the sex slave misbehaves,
threaten to sell his body parts
starting with his kidney.
If you have a weak KIDNEY, youll
become a SLAVE to your
CROTCHs need to pee. Oh well,
its just a weakness of the FLESH.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2453
thigh, crotch, yarn, strand

: meat : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
8
thigh
Wheres my flesh missile? Between
my thighs, naturally...
My thigh is the part of the body that
my missile smacks against.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
2454
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: meat : agriculture; farmers
Story1:
pus
If your flesh gets stung by the thorns
of certain plants while doing
agriculture work, your wound may
infect and show pus.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Forget Manure, the best thing for

agriculture is pus, freshly squeezed
from some rancid flesh.
2455
viscera, bowels
: meat : borough; urban
prefecture; govt office;
representative body; storehouse
viscera
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
That municipality is so unsafe, thugs

will attack you and cut the viscera
out of your flesh to sell them on the
black organs market.
Your viscera are like a municipality
of body parts working together with
different roles.
2456
bladder
: meat : ray; light
keyword:
bladder
Story1:
It starts in the bladder, passes

through a certain body part and then
appears like a ray of golden light!
The part of the body that golden rays
of light seem to pour out from.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
2457
embryo
: meat : large; great; grand;
glorious; distinguished
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
embryo
When she took the pregnancy test
because she thought she was
carrying the flesh of an embryo, the
test was negative and she dropped it
on the floor.
Story2:
heisig:
When a baby is born, he or she is

considered "age zero". After a year
of life, he or she is only then
considered one year old. Since an
embryo is found within a woman, it
is effectively part of the body of that
person. However, it is not yet zero
years old - in fact, its age is negative
one (i.e. -1 years old)!
embryonic stem cell.

2458
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
anus
: meat : craft; construction;
anus
The anus is the part of the body
where crafty smugglers often hide
small valuables.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The body part I was always told a

new one would be crafted for me
(albeit in the less friendly "I'll tear
you a new one!") is the anus.
2459
timidity, heart, mind, fear, cowardly

: meat : idea; mind; heart;
17
cowardice
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Cowardice is the situation where you

get the thought that maybe running
away and saving your flesh is a good
idea.
Cowardice is when you are not
willing to sacrifice your flesh for
your ideas.
2460
knee, lap
: meat : tree; wood :
water
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
15
knee
Before lacquer (#932) was made
with water, it was made by draining
this body part of fluid: the knee!
Story2:
heisig:
Back in ancient Japan, people didnt

have knee pads for things like
rollerblading and such (what, come
on. Ninjas on rollerblades. Ultimate
90s flashback). Instead, they would
simply dip their knees in laquer, and
wait until it dried (hence the flesh,
and the abscence of any drops of
water). Unfortunately, this meant
that you would have to wait about 30
minutes after deciding to go
rollerblade until you could actually
2461
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
brittle, fragile, easy to beat,

sentimental, susceptible
: meat : dangerous; fear;
uneasy
fragile
If you're a fragile person, lots of
things are dangerous and will hurt
your flesh.
Doing dangerous things reminds us
that our flesh is fragile.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2462
: meat : power; strength;

rib
Without ribs, our flesh wouldn't
have the power to stay upright.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Flesh, power: According to the

bible, the part of the body that gave
power to womankind was the mans'
rib. Without it, they wouldn't exist.
2463
elbow, arm
: meat : measurement;
foot/10
7
elbow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Sometimes I get carried away and do

elbow curls until the point where my
forearm snaps off! When that
happens I simply pull out the glue
and re-attach the elbow to my flesh.
Picture two Siamese twins glued
together at the elbow.
2464
body cavity
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: meat : empty; sky; void;

vacant; vacuum
body cavity
A body cavity is an empty space
within your flesh.
During a body cavity search, the
police check certain parts of your
body to make sure they're empty of
things like cocaine, etc..
2465
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
gland
: meat : spring; fountain
13
gland
A body part that acts like a spring
for hormones is a gland.
When adrenaline glands release
hormones, the body springs into
action.
2466
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
tumor, swelling
: meat : heavy; heap up;
pile up; nest of boxes; -fold
13
tumor
A tumor is a useless body part that is
nothing but heavy.
When flesh clumps together and gets
heavy, it forms a tumor.
2467
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
small low table, tray

: meat : virtuous; good;
goodness
16
dining tray
Some people insist that the serving
maids who bring in the dining trays
are especially virtuous and never let
any man touch their flesh.
The virtuous vegan will not touch
this dining tray because it has had a
piece of meat on it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2468
: meat : I; myself; katakana

mu radical (no. 28)
armrest
An armrest is something that lets
you rest the flesh of your arm by
keeping your elbow by your side.
Story2:
heisig:
You are sitting in a nice easy chair

and all of a sudden there's a loud fart
sound. Everyone looks at you, but
you shrug your shoulders. They go
back to what they're
doing..."pyuuuun!" They look back
at you. "It's not me," you say, "it's
just this armrest rubbing against my
flesh." They seem satisfied, and go
back to their work. Little do they
know that you're making armpit farts
(my primitive for the right side) and
2469
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
barbarian, foreign
: old : meat
uncivilized
Only uncivilized people eat old flesh.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Tip: uncivilized appears as part of

four other kanji in Heisig, but is not
named as such in the text. REF: lake
(#148), coral reef (#2562), paste
(#2650), ghee (#2749). (P.S. As a
primitive I call this "zombie",
because when the moon shines on
the gravestones the zombies arise.
And, zombies do tend to be
uncivilized.).
2470
maple
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : wind; air;

style; manner
maple tree
How do you know if a tree is a
maple tree? Easy: Just stand next to
the tree on a windy day, and if you
get covered in maple syrup, it's a
maple tree.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Maple tree helicopter seeds twirling

in the wind:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnewto
n/441336070/.
2471
pillow
: tree; wood : wa-shaped
crown radical (no. 14) : eight;
eight radical (no. 12)
8
keyword:
Story1:
pillow
The guy who was thrown into the
river to sink was given one last
request. "If Im gonna be sleeping
with the fishes," he said, "can I at
least have a pillow? Im real
sensitive." The mafia bosses
laughed. "Look, my doctor said I can
only use wooden pillows, I have a
real serious condition. Can I at least
die comfortable-like?" The mafia
dudes said fine, and let him have his
pillow. They tossed him the river
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
WOODEN PILLOWS do not sink

(#1888) in water.
2472
willow
: tree; wood : open; sun
purple willow
Because it's easy to spot, a purple
willow is the tree that marks where
my piggy bank is.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Normally, I can resist the cries of a

weeping willow, but this one, she
was a purple willow! I just couldn't
let the poor tree sit there, so I gave
her my piggy bank.
2473
type of deciduous tree, grey starling

: tree; wood : capital;
10**16
Oriental elm
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The Oriental elm is, of course, a tree

fairly representative of the Orient
and thus it is common in the capital
in order to show ambassadors what
the Orient is all about.
In the Japanese remake "A
Nightmare on Oriental Elm Street",
an anthropomorphic tree wreaks
havoc on Kyoto. They should never
have sold the film rights.
2474
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
hazelnut, filbert
: tree; wood : Manchu
dynasty; name given to naturalized
foreigners
hazel
Story1:
Tip: bonsai and wheat are later

combined into Manchu dynasty
(#2877). Story: I come across lots of
trees all planted in the Manchu
dynasty. Then I notice every single
one is a hazel tree. I wonder why? In
the Manchu dynasty people must
have been hazel nuts.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I love hazelnuts so much that I had a

hazel tree installed in my backyard.
Mostly it's just for decoration, like a
bonsai plant, but I harvest it like
wheat every so often: there's just
nothing better than homemade
Nutella.
2475
comb
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tree; wood : node; season;

period; occasion; verse; clause;
stanza; honor; joint; knuckle; knob;
knot; tune; melody
comb
This magic comb will comb the
nodes out of wood/trees (and make
the grain straight).
A comb used to be a wooden tool
with many nodes.
2476
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
hammer, mallet
: tree; wood : chase; drive
away; follow; pursue; meanwhile
wooden hammer
Sick of being chased, the maestro
grabs a wooden hammer to fight
back with.
When the trees rebel, they will chase
us with wooden hammers.
2477
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : char; hurry;

impatient; irritate; burn; scorch; singe
mallet
Mallet seems to be a poor word
choice for this A lumberjack won't
cut down a charred tree as they're
not useful for anything.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A charred tree can be toppled with a

mallet.
2478
ladder, stairs, insatiable drinking

: tree; wood : younger
brother; faithful service to elders
ladder
The tree was a little too high, but,
hey, no problem, I'll just use my
younger brother as a ladder!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The only one who really needs the

LADDER to climb onto our TREE
house is my LITTLE BROTHER.
The rest of us can just scramble up.
2479
chair
: tree; wood : strange;
12
chair
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To the Japanese, the first time they

saw a chair, it looked like a strange
use of wood! Probably why they still
like to sit on the floor...
A strange kind of tree grows in the
shape of a chair.
2480
persimmon, shingle
: tree; wood : market; city;
town
9
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
persimmon
Nobody buys persimmons at the
market, because theres a tree in the
middle where you can pick them for
free.
The guy at the market says: Ill give
you one persimmon tree per every
Simon you bring me!
2481
citrus, orange
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: tree; wood : sweet; coax;

pamper; be content; sugary
citrus tree
Behold! The sweetrus tree!
The fruits from the citrus tree taste
sweet.
2482
beam, girder, spar, unit or column

(accounting)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tree; wood : going; journey

10
girder
Girders are support beams that are
nowadays mostly made out of steel.
But in the ancient houses that are
placed at the boulevard the girders
will be made out of wood.
When the wooden girders start to
snap, the workmen shout "Run!
Lets go!".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2483
stake, post, picket

: tree; wood : high spirits
picket
Use pickets to hold down the tree in
times of whirlwind.
After the whirlwind hit, the wooden
pickets from his fence were scattered
all over his yard.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2484
holly
: tree; wood : winter
holly
The holly tree has leaves which are
always green. This is very practical
in winter, when so much isn't, so
that's why it became very popular as
christmas decoration.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
All the best holly-days are during the

winters, x-mas, new
years...emperor's birthday?
2485
citron
: tree; wood : wherefore; a
reason
citron
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The citron is relatively unknown

overseas, but citron trees are
beginning to sprout up everwhere in
Japan.
In keeping with the move to greener
autos Citron has introduced its new
line which instead of oil (#1107)
runs on an extract from citron trees.
2486
wooden or lacquered bowl
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tree; wood : address; just

like; fortunately
wooden bowl
Wooden bowls made of wood have
the address of the maker on the on
the side.
This is a specially hand-crafted
wooden bowl. If you turn is over,
you can see the address of the
craftsman on the bottom.
2487
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
hemlock, (kokuji)
: tree; wood : mother
hemlock
The tree your mother warned you
about is the hemlock.
Mother called me out to the tree in
order to partake of some delicious
hemlock tea.
2488
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
straight grain, spindle tree, (kokuji)

: tree; wood : correct;
spindle tree
Give the spindle tree a spin, if you
can guess where it lands correctly,
you'll get a prize!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
I am not sure if tree is the correct

term. It looks more like a plastic
hedge. Spindle little more and get a
real
tree.
http://www.flickr.com/photos
/koichiwb/2433102011/.
2489
sacred Shinto tree, (kokuji)

: tree; wood : gods; mind;
soul
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
sacred Shinto tree

The sacred Shinto tree is a tree of the
gods.
The sacred Shinto tree is of course a
tree that is dedicated to the gods.
2490
evergreen oak, (kokuji)

: tree; wood : strict; hard;
solid; tough; tight; reliable
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
evergreen oak
The evergreen oak is a tree most
strict with its leaves: they must be
evergreen, or else!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A very strict master dictates that the

slaves must ensure that the
evergreen oaks are ever green. One
day a slave notices, to his terror, that
one of them has turned brown! Not
wanting to get buried up to his
crotch in soil, he quickly pulls out a
can of green spray paint and paints
the entire tree. Even if that tree
wasn't ever green before, it certainly
is now!
2491
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
twig, ornamental evergreen

: tree; wood : true; reality;
Buddhist sect
Chinese black pine
Truth is that all Chinese secretly
pine for black "trees" if you get what
I mean!
The tree of white lies is the Chinese
white pine. The tree of truth is the
Chinese black pine.
2492
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
oak
: tree; wood : chieftain
Japanese oak
The special brand Horned Whiskey
is riped in special oak caskets made
of the Japanese oak tree.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Wood from the Japanese oak is very

valuable. That's why the chieftain
(#2906) demands that his house be
made from the Japanese oak.
2493
mandarin orange
: tree; wood : halberd;
arms; festival float : light;
clear; bright
keyword:
Story1:
mandarin orange
The tachibana, or mandarin orange,
is a type of tree which sometimes
yields poor quality fruit. In such
times, instead of simply standing up
and inviting customers to make a
deal, you must force the sale of your
mandarin oranges by brandishing a
halberd and forcing the customer to
make a deal with you by purchasing
your substandard fruit. [Note: along
with citrus tree (#2482), this is
used to describe all citrus plants -
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
To get MANDARIN ORANGES off

the tree use your HALBERD, then
MAKE A DEAL to sell them.
2494
Japanese cypress
: tree; wood : meeting;
meet; party; association; interview;
join
Japanese cypress
Story1:
The Japanese cypress is a good tree

to meet at: the Japanese covers the
atmosphere and the cypress presses
on any spies. Hey, I tried.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
According to the Wikipedia article,

Japanese cypress (hinoki) is grown
for its high-quality wood, which is
used in the building of "temples,
shrines, traditional noh theatres,
baths" etc. So, this tree is vital to the
construction of many of the major
meeting places in Japanese society.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamae
cyparis_obtusa.
2495
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
live, dwell
: tree; wood : wife; spouse
roost
His wife wanted the chickens in the
hen house to be housed properly, so
she chopped up a tree and made
wooden roosts for them to sit on.
My wife wanted a special place to
roost, so I built her one - on the top
of that tree.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2496
nest, rookery, hive, cobweb, den

: tree; wood : cover; place
on top of; west radical variant (no.
146)
nestle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
For nestling, the west side of the tree

is best otherwise you get woken up
by the sun in the morning.
Remember: West is best for your
nest.
Its a secret that Nestl chocolate
syrup is drawn from chocolate trees
that are found in the west.
2497
for the most part, close up
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : grow late;

night watch; sit up late; of course;
renew; renovate; again; more and
more; further
11
spiny
I learned this one from the movie
Evil Dead, but when it grows late,
trees change shape and become
spiny creatures! Lesson: dont go out
at night.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
With the safety of darkness as it

grows late, spiny little insects start
crawling out of the trees.
2498
used in plant names

: tree; wood : good luck;
joy; congratulations
bellflower
When you see bellflowers next to a
tree, ring them for good luck.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When you see bellflowers growing

under a tree, it means good luck.
2499
woods, grove
: tree; wood : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
temple grove
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A normal grove is , so in a temple

grove half the trees have been
removed and replaced by soil
(presumably for graves).
A simple Zen temple grove: A single
tree with soil.
2500
kind of rake
: tree; wood : comma-design
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
grain rake
All the grain that was spilled under
the tree looked like a mosaic, but
someone took a grain rake and
disposed of it.
Dad gave me a grain rake and told
me to go and rake the grain, but
since this is the most boring task in
the whole world, I climbed a tree
and played with my Rubik's cube
instead.
2501
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
sculling oar
: tree; wood : tail; end;
counter for fish; lower slope of
mountain
oar
An otter's tail like an oar, which he
uses to help move trees into his dam.
An oar looks a little like a wooden
tail.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2502
wooden pestle
: tree; wood : noon; sign of
the horse; 11AM-1PM; seventh sign
of Chinese zodiac
wooden pestle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Tree, horse: At cooking school, I

learned that there's always a relation
between the item you will pestle and
the size of the pestle itself. When I
read in a cooking book that I had to
mash up a horse with a wooden
pestle, naturally a tried to obtain a
tree to do the job.
Ah, nothing like using a wooden
pestle to mash up some horse meat
on a Sunday afternoon.
2503
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
staff, cane
: tree; wood : length;
10feet; measure; Mr.; Ms.; height;
stature; all (one has); only; that's all;
merely
cane
Wood of a certain length can be used
as a cane.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A length of wood will be suitable as

a cane, a walking stick or even a
weapon (a jo).This is from
the martial art Joudou . Ten
make up a . Also, walking stick,
.
2504
oak, mallet
: tree; wood : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
sweet oak
Why is the sweet oak so sweet? Not
sure, but to me it tastes just like
turkey (with gravy and cranberry
sauce!) Now that is sweet.
Sweeter than Shiit~ake? Turkeys
gobble Shiitake mushrooms off
the sweet oak tree.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiny
hare/13963627/.
2505
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
barrel, cask, keg

: tree; wood : revered;
valuable; precious; noble; exalted
barrel
The revered horned whiskey is riped
in special barrels made out of
Japanese Oak trees.
The most revered tree is one that can
be used as a wine barrel.
2506
onyomi:
english:
stockade, fence, wier, entwine around

: tree; wood : tome; counter
for books; volume
component:
strokes:
keyword:
9
palisade
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A palisade is a "fence of stakes

especially for defense," usually the
stakes are very strong, set closely
together, and pointed on top. Tome
can be seen as a pictograph of
several close-set wooden stakes,
braced by one horizontal bar.
An army of scholars build a wooden
palisade to protect their precious
tome of literature.
2507
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
oar, tower
: tree; wood : foolish;
Russia
turret
The village that made its living out
of catching fish above all was prone
to be raided by pirates. So they made
a watch turret out of trees and would
look every day if the pirates were
coming.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
They were stuck in that wooden

turret for ages, with nothing but
sundried fish to eat.
2508
oak
: tree; wood : one; one
radical (no.1) : rice field; rice
paddy : one; one radical
paddy : one; one radical (no.1)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
sturdy oak
A sturdy oak was the tree I tried to
build with my stack of pancakes and
waffles, but it didn't turn out to be so
sturdy.
How does an oak tree become
sturdy? By eating pancake stacks for
breakfast every morning. That's a
sturdy oak.
2509
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: tree; wood : ladle; one

tenth of a go; dip
wooden ladle
A wooden ladle is of course a ladle
made out of wood.
A wooden ladle is a wooden ladle is
a wooden ladle.
2510
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
plum
: tree; wood : child; sign of
the rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of
Chinese zodiac
damson
A kid falls out a tree and the father
exclaims, "Damn, son! Watch where
you're going when you go plumpickin'!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Children like to stand under the

damson tree and hope the plum fruits
will fall into their mouths.
2511
: tree; wood : cloth

raw cotton
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Before cotton (#1367) is made into

thread for Spider-Man's white
towels, it simply grows on a tree as
raw cotton.
The raw cotton that is ultimately
made into white towels does not
grow on trees, but on a kind of bush
instead.
2512
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: tree; wood : shield;

escutcheon; pretext
escutcheon
Escutcheons are noble shields that
depict the coat of arms of a family.
They are usually made out of wood.
Escutcheons are heraldic displays,
often found on shields and made of
wood.
2513
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
lotus tree
: tree; wood : summer
hackberry
A Japanese hackberry tree is a type
of tree that only has full foliage in
the summer. It loses its foliage in the
winter.
If you hack into the hackberry tree
with ur PC, you can program it to
grow berries even in summer. What
a cool hack!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2514
birch
: tree; wood : splendor;
flower; petal; shine; luster;
ostentatious; showy; gay; gorgeous
birch
A birch tree can have a great aura of
splendor with it's shiny white coated
trunk.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The headmaster walks past and

notices a teacher beating a student
with a wooden birch stick. "Splendid
work old chap! As you were!".
2515
spear, lance, javelin

: tree; wood : godown;
warehouse; storehouse; cellar;
treasury
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
lance
When Sir Lancelot wants a new
lance he goes down to the godown
(they have a nice selection for sale)
and tries some out by thrusting them
into a nearby tree.
Sir Lancelot gets wood when she
godowns. -or- Lance Bass gets wood
thinking about Sir Lancelot
godowning on him.
2516
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
wild mulberry
: tree; wood : stone
wild mulberry
The mulberry (#698) may be nice
and let you dance around it, but if it
were a wild mulberry tree it would
try to protectiself by throwing rocks
at you.
If you smoke the leaves of the wild
mulberry tree, you'll get stoned fo
sho coz that tree is wild, brother.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2517
pack, tie up, bale

: tree; wood : quandary;
become distressed; annoyed
bale
You would be in a quandary if you
had to bale trees.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
How do make a bale? Simple. You

take a tree, like the one on the left,
and you pent it up like the one on the
right. Just like that.
2518
spoon
: tree; wood : compare;
race; ratio; Philipines
loquat
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A loquat is a tropical fruit tree, that

compared to other trees has an odd
seasonal pattern: it's fruit is ripe in
late winter or early spring.
The loquat tree is very rare. To
loquate it, you need to compare it to
the trees next to it.
2519
water pipe, gutter, downspout,

conduit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tree; wood : traffic; pass

through; avenue; commute; counter
for letters, notes, documents, etc.
downspout
A downspout is made by hollowing
out a tree and placing it to carry
water "traffic" from your rooftop
down to the ground.
My downspout empties into a bucket
(#2530) beside the road.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2520
: tree; wood : nap; down;

fluff
sled
Santa needs to wear 3 fur coats when
he rides his wooden sled.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A dog sled is made of wood and has

to be pulled by at least 3 ultra furry
dogs whose fur can withstand the
arctic cold.
2521
: carrier; carry; all : tree;

wood
enjoyment
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
To the enjoyment of humans, many

trees are carriers of delicious fruits.
Just for some fun and enjoyment, the
crew put their carrier on top of a tree
as an April Fool's prank.
2522
: put together : tree; wood
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
bookmark
Two birds high up in a tree drying
out after flying through a storm.
"How will we get back on track? We
lost our bearings!" number one cries.
"Don't worry," the other one says, as
he flips out his mobile. "I have it
bookmarked.".
He was reading his book up a tree,
and used clotheslines for a
bookmark.
2523
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: tree; wood : question mark
coconut tree
coconut tree
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
(Note: ear + city walls = exclamation

(#2680)). I see a tree with an
exclamation mark painted on it.
"Why is that?" I think, "An
exclamation mark indicates danger,
but it's only a tree". Then a coconut
drops on my head. Ah, it's a coconut
tree.
A coconut tree drops a coconut on
your head, causing you to make an
obscene exclamation (#2680).
2524
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
cedar, sandlewood, spindle tree

: tree; wood : truly; wholly;
cordial
sandalwood
Sandalwood is the ideal wood for a
podium: it's easy on your sandals!
The gunslinger raises the smooth
sandalwood grip of his revolver just
as the corrupt "Big Boss" politician
ascends his podium for a victory
speech.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2525
: tree; wood : rain :

two; two radical (no.2)
plotosid
We were seeking shelter for the rain
under the plotosid tree, but someone
had put a double snare there. As if
that foul smelling tree wasn't enough
trouble already.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
~~ Keyword should be sumac ~~

Sumacs are worthless trees. They
don't protect from rain so you
shouldn't use them for a ceiling - and
they stink so you can't use them to
make snares.
2526
Zelkova tree
: tree; wood : standard;
measure
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
zelkova
The zelkova is a sort of elm tree that
is very good for making bonsais,
setting a standard for other trees, so
to speak.
The zelkova is like the standard tree
people think of when they think of
Japan.
2527
Japanese cedar, cryptomeria
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tree; wood : prosperous;

bright; clear
cryptomeria
Due its tendency to encrypt all its
messages, the cryptomeria has been
a fairly prosperous tree whereas all
the other trees have already fallen
prey to espionage.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The cryptomeria [ - also written

(encrypted) as cedar (#1713)] is a
valuable timber tree so growing
them would naturally lead to
prosperity.
2528
refined, gentle
: grove; forest : cedar;
cryptomeria
copious
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Cedar trees are so copious they only

come in groves.
How to make a grove: Take a sheet
of carton, fold it, cut out one tree in
the shape of a cedar, unfold. You'll
get copious amounts of trees in no
time.
2529
tub, bucket
: tree; wood : road with
walls on both sides
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
bucket
One of my favourite pastimes is that
I like to jump out of a tree on my
pogo stick and try to land in a
bucket. When successful it makes a
very satisfying "clang". (Note: new
primitive pogo stick = chop seal +
utilize, for explanation see my entry
at traffic (#1408).).
As if in a cartoon, my pogo stick got
stuck in a wooden bucket, causing
me to fall over.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2530
ellipse
: tree; wood : left :
month; moon
ellipse
The lazy (#629) way to draw an
ellipse requires two wooden pegs
and some string
(http://tinyurl.com/252zgx).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When tasked with planting the trees

to form a circle, the somewhat lazy
gardener just winged it (instead of
measuring) and the result was an
ellipse of trees.
2531
: tree; wood : secrecy;

density (pop); minuteness;
carefulness
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
star-anise
The star-anise is an evergreen tree
kept in secrecy for it's aromatic oil.
Before Anise was a star she lived
openly in town, but now that she is
star-Anise she lives in secrecy in the
woods.
2532
burr, ball
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: fur; hair; feather; down :

request; want; wish for; require;
demand
furball
I requested that the cat do something
and he spit up a furball.
For her birthday, your pampered
girlfriend's request is, "Something
made of fur". So you get the cat to
cough her up a furball.
2533
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: fire : feathers; counter for

birds, rabbits : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
twinkle
New primitive; let futon = feathers +
turkey (i.e. my futon is made with
turkey feathers). Then: Twinkle,
twinkle little star, oops my futon is
on fire.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
With a twinkle in my eye, I set my

turkey feather futon on fire for no
apparent reason.
2534
: fire : large; big :

days : little; small
watchfire
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The fires outside the puptent of the

sentinel are watchfires.
Watchfire is what you must do if you
light a fire outside your pup tent, in
case it sets it alight.
2535
torch, signal fire

: fire : gigantic; big; large;
great
torch
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A gigantic fire was started by the

Olympic torch.
The olympic torch is a fire carried on
a gigantic journey from olympus to
wherever the games are.
2536
burn, kindle, build a fire, boil, cook

: grove; forest : fire
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
kindle
A fire was kindled by the insane
arsonist under a grove of trees.
Unable to escape the ensuing
inferno, he was burned alive.
I'm really bad at making fires, I
needed kindling from a whole grove
of trees before I managed to kindle
the fire.
2537
moxa cautery, chastisement
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: long time; old story : fire

moxa
A mummy is running around the
room on fire after his moxa
treatment goes wrong.
Moxa is a therapy involving burning
a plant with fire together with
acupuncture or shiatsu. It simply
burns for a long time.
2538
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
light, candlepower
: fire : green caterpillar;
Szechwan
candlelight
Fire, voiced - water: After the
incident where the insect made a
pitiful voiced sound, you decide to
free it. Immediately it is attracted to
the candlelight and flies into the fire.
Bugger!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
:(Green
caterpillar)If you are trying to
view a green caterpillar late in the
evening, use the fire of a candlelight.
They are tough to
spot:http://www.flickr.com/photos/
moozkat/1606476712/.
2539
fan, flap, instigate, agitate, bolster

up, gulp down
: fire : fan; folding fan
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
fanning
Fanning the flames with a fan.
With a fan you can be fanning the
fire into a bigger fire. Just make sure
it doesn't get out of hand...
2540
: fire : so-and-so; one; a

certain; that person
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
soot
The so-and-so from Mary Poppins
was covered in soot because he was
a fire chimney sweep.
Teacher: "How is soot formed?"
Student: "Well, there is a fire, soand-so, and then there is soot!".
2541
refine metals, kneading over fire
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: fire : east
firing
The East are the best at tempering
(#2030) because their fires are the
best at firing.
The process of firing, that is, glaze
bricks or refine metals, is well
known in the east, and of course fire
is used for it.
2542
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
brilliant
: fire : bright
dazzling
After the evening rice, the guest set
out to entertain the children of the
house with a dazzling show. He
pulled a wand seemingly from out of
his crotch and suddenly it appeared
to be on fire! Ohs and ahs ensued.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Tip: The wand + evening + crotch

combination appears again in repast
(#2798).
2543
miraculous
: fire : ladle; one tenth of a
go; dip
refulgent
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The cook just got a new set of pots

and pans from the master of the
house. Putting them on the fire, they
shined so much the refulgent shine
blinded him until he blocked it from
his view by holding up his ladel.
He used a ladle to protect his eyes
from the refulgent light of the fire.
2544
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: fire : each; every; either

branding
With an iron that has been in the
fire, each beast is subjected to
branding.
Branding with FIRE - EACH animal.
2545
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: fire : wrapping enclosure;

wrapping radical (no. 20) :
old times; old things; old friend;
former; exflames
When The Pinnacle collapses,
there'll be plenty of flames for sure.
She's a witch!!! Bind her up and set
her on fire like they did in olden
days so she can feel the flames of
hell.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
2546
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: fire : contain; form; looks

fuse metal
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The fire was contained in the valley

(they put a roof over it to keep it
from spreading) but it grew hot
enough in there to fuse metal... when
it was over, the valley looked like a
giant mirror!
If you contain a fire, you can fuse
metal with it.
2547
broil, parch, roast, boil

: in front; before : fire
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
13
roast
In many asian restaurants, meat is
roasted right in front of you over
flames.
At the roast, they make the roastee
sit in front of everyone else, over the
flames to speak, as the comedians
roast him a new one!
2548
boil, cook
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: pass through; go
smoothly : fire
stew
If a fire goes smoothly you will have
stew in no time.
Tip: tall and complete can be
combined into go smoothly (#3001).
2549
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

refer to
cow
tug
I tugged at the the cow's udder but
mysteriously no milk came out. I
then noticed the crown of his head.
It was a bull!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mysterious, crown, cow: In Kazaddum, Gandalf had found a

mysterious crown. It really helped
his magic, but when they came back
to Rivendell, he had become
unresistable to the cows (small sideeffect). He tried to tug the crown off,
but did not succeed...
2550
female
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: cow : spoon; spoon or

female animal
The cow in this frame is filling a
spoon with milk from its udders, so
it must be a female animal. (The cow
in the next frame is rolling
around in the soil and is, not
surprisingly, a male animal.).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
While the bull wants rough sex, the

cow would rather spoon, I guess all
female animals are the same.
2551
male
: cow : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
male animal
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Male animals are dirty pigs in

English, but in Japanese they are
dirty cows - -.
That cow is staring at me and
kicking up soil... hold on that's a
male... animal... Oh shit! Run!
2552
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: jewel; ball : claw; nail;

talon : tin can; container; jar
radical (no. 121)
precious stone
That condor is a hoarding creature, it
will pick up any precious stone and
hoard it with the rest of its jewels as
if it were a dragon!
The king entrusts his most precious
stone to his pet condor. It quickly
flies off to the mountains if anyone
else tries to take it.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2553
: jewel; ball : grove; forest

chime
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The mechanism in my old

grandfather clock suddenly broke
with an almighty chime and one of
the jewels was thrown out through
the window into a nearby grove of
trees. I'm now searching for the
jewel in the grove while the clock
continues to chime incessantly.
The king knew playtime in the grove
was over when he heard the clock
tower chime.
2554
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
lapis lazuli
: jewel; ball : detain; fasten;
halt; stop
14
marine blue
The king has been detained by
some marines! How do you know
they were marines? Because they
were wearing marine blue..
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The king was detained, by men in

marine blue; Must be the marines,
planning a coup. (thx
Katsuo/gavmck).
2555
spot, blemish, speck, patches

: jewel; ball : sentence;
literature; style; art; decoration;
figures; plan; literary radical (no.
67) : jewel; ball
12
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
speckled
Speckled is a pattern, like plaid, but
with lots of little balls all over the
place.
The sentences exchanged between
the two kings got more and more
heated, finally leading to a fight
which left the whole area speckled
with blood.
2556
lapis lazuli
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: jewel; ball : a cup with

uncultivated
lapis lazuli
The king was given two choices by
the abductor: either the king gives
him the lapis lazuli jewels, or he
throws the king's infant son into the
stream.
This kanji should be "Ryukyu
Islands" or something similar and
should be Lapis Lazuli.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2557
play with, tamper, trifle with

: jewel; ball : twenty; 20;
twenty or letter H radical (no. 55)
7
tinker with
The king used both hands to tinker
with himself in his spare time.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Picture the king holding a large pan

in his two hands and tinkering with
it, wishing he could lead the itinerant
life of a tinker. As a rhyme: The
king, he uses his two hands, To
tinker with his pots and pans . . .
2558
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: jewel; ball : distinction;

difference; variation; discrepancy;
margin; balance
burnish
The king appreciated the distinction
of burnished jewels.
Most can not tell the distinction
between a precious jewel and an
ordinary rock until it has been
burnished.
2559
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
polish
: jewel; ball : pig; hog; pig
radical (no. 152)
hone
I hone my skills by skillfully
separating real jewels from the fake
junk worn by fat sows!
King Henry VIII was keen on
hunting wild boar. Here we see him
first honing his skills on a sow.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2560
: jewel; ball : tome; counter

for books; volume
coral
The coral is not found in this tome of
jewels since it's really not a mineral,
but the remains of small animals.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The greet coral reef () forms

a palisade (#2507) encrusted with
the finest jewels the ocean ca offer.
2561
: jewel; ball : barbarian;

foreign
coral reef
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Coral reefs are a like a jewel of the

ocean. Though our uncivilized
behavior is causing them to die off.
The king had a coral reef installed in
his lake.
2562
congratulations
: jewel; ball :
mountain : rake
fortunate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The king wished he was as

handsome as Fabio standing on the
edge (#1167) of a mountain combing
his hair, but he realized he was
fortunate in other ways.
How most fortunate! After gambling
his life on the edge (#1167), Indiana
Jones discovers that the comb is
studded with countless jewels.
2563
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: jewel; ball : square jewel;

corner; angle; edge
silicon
In Silicon Valley, people live like
kings in ivy-clad mansions.
Ivy from Soul Calibur has big balls
of silicon in her chest.
2564
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
beautiful black jewel, nine

: jewel; ball : long time; old
story
jet
Mummies are adorned with jet
jewels to connote death, or
something. Oh, yeah, 'cause King
Tut was a big fan of jet planes.
Public airlines fly slow and take a
long time to arrive so the king has a
private jet.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2565
sparkle of jewelry, crystal

: jewel; ball : England;
English
crystal stone
He who possesses the crystal stone is
the rightful king of England.
King Arthur of England pulls the
sword from a crystal stone and
embarks on his destiny.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2566
play, take pleasure in, trifle with,

make sport of
: jewel; ball : beginning;
former time; origin
8
toy
The ball was the only thing that
people at the beginning of time had
to use as a toy. Poor cavemen.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
And so it was, the ball marked the

beginning of all the toys that were to
come.
2567
sound of jewels
: jewel; ball : orders;
tinkling
The king orders his penis, "Start
tinkling!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the king barks out his orders,

all the chandeliers and other
ornaments in the palace start tinkling.
2568
fear, majestic, graciously, be

apprehensive
one; one radical (no.1)
9
apprehensive
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The girl was apprehensive about

going home, having lost her precious
hairpin in the paddy field. But then,
it wasn't like she'd lost both, just
ONE...
I ran out of Q-tips...then I noticed a
hairpin lying on the counter that was
about the same size as a Q-tip. I was
apprehensive at first, but I thought
"what the hell". Unfortunately I
ended up stabbing my brain!
2569
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

lastly
First, we sow the rice field, then we
plant the flowers, and lastly we plant
the corn. (Stroke order and story in
one).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Lastly, let me mention that my

ricefield and silage stack are
amongst the top ten in the country...
2570

paddy-field ridge
Story1:
Ivy grows on the paddy-field ridge

encircling the rice field as opposed
to the intra-field paddy ridge that
divides it in half.
Story2:
heisig:
[+mantixen] The ordinary paddyridge (#1204) dissects the field by

dividing it in half, but the paddyfield ridge runs around the outside &
is covered in ivy. Disambiguate by
noting that the hyphen in 'paddyridge' divides the word itself in half
(five letters each side) but 'paddyfield ridge' has five extra letters on
the right, the ridge itself, in fact, the
part covered in ivy.
2571
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
itchy
(no. 104) : sheep
itch
Scrapie is a disease sheep sometimes
catch. It causes them to itch so
unbearably that they scrape
themselves to death.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you think wearing a wool sweater

is itchy, just think of how sheep
must feel! They must be so sick of
wearing that itchy wool all the time!
2572

(no. 104) : inflammation;
flame; blaze
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
phlegm
When your sickness involves
inflammation, you will produce
phlegm (perhaps inphlegmation?).
If I'm sick, and have an
inflammation of my lungs, I cough
up a lot of phlegm.
2573
measles, sickness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 104) : three; hair
(no. 59)
measles
He had a curious form of measles :
the red marks on his skin were all in
the shape of an umbrella. The
doctors of course couldn't explain it...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I'm sick with the measles. Whenever

I go out, I carry my parasol to try
and cover up the rash.
2574

(no. 104) : Buddhist temple
hemorrhoids
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
"Hemorrhoids are the sickness

suffered by people who sit in
meditative poses for long periods at
Buddhist temples ." ( Joseph De
Roo's "2001 Kanji").
Hemorrhoids is a sickness.
Mnemonic 'holy hemorrhoids' and
picture a monk at a Buddhist temple.
This is a word that kids find funny,
pronounced .
2575
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
cancer, cancerous evil

(no. 104) : rock
cancer
The SICKNESS called cancer works
by self-replication, so that its bad
GOODS grow more & more until a
vertiable MOUNTAIN of them
forms on you-- that's the tumor, the
awful sign of cancer.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You may have a mountain of goods,

but cancer is a sickness that strikes
the rich and poor with equal
contempt.
2576
get thin
(no. 104) : old person
12
lose weight
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The most horrific way to lose weight

is from that devastating sickness that
came from a monkey's crotch.
The poor monkey obviously had a
sickness. He was scratching his
crotch the whole time and when he
started to lose weight heavily, the
caretakers knew they couldnt save
him anymore.
2577
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mark, foot print

138)
11
scar
I suffer from silver-sickness, that is,
if anything made of silver even
touches my skin it leaves a scar.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I got sick and needed surgery, but

the silver lining is that now I have
these awesome scars I can show off!
2578

(no. 104) : lowly; base; vile;
vulgar
paralysis
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This sickness seems to prey upon the

lowly of society mostly, and causes
paralysis in its final stages.
Caveman, lowly: Caveman was just
a lowly Neanderthaler, trying to
survive. But he had healing hands
and people were brought in from far
to have him cure their paralysis.
2579
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

experience; care; favor : pupil
(eye); moo (cow sound)
apple of the eye
Here you have a picture of him with
his apple of the eye: you see him
keeping an eye upon his favourite
cow, while leaning on it with his
elbow.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Barnyard romance: The big bull

winked with his EYE and let out a
MOO ( 2961) toward the cow and
said, "Your the APPLE OF my EYE
baby!".
2580

mysterious; occultness
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
dizzy
If you see mysterious things in front
of your eyes you're definitely dizzy.
When you see mysterious stars from
your eyes, it's a sign that you're
dizzy - Maybe
becuase you're fighting off a face
hugger who has its tail round your
neck!
2581
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
clear
large; big : day; sun; Japan;
counter for days : little; small
17
obvious
Open your eyes, it's obvious that not
all of us can fit into that small
puptent!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Its obvious that the pup tent with a

huge eye on the side belongs to the
dark lord Sauron.
2582
eyebrow
4) : eye; class; look; insight;
9
eyebrow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The eyebrows hover over the eyes

like a divided flag.
Pictograph: opera glasses over eyes
.
2583
: dart; arrow : bird; old bird

radical (no. 172)
pheasant
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I threw my dart at a pheasant during

the hunt, but hit a turkey instead.
A pheasant is like a small wild
TURKEY except you can kill it with
a DART.
2584
: dart; arrow : gigantic; big;

large; great
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
carpenter's square
That carpenter can never remember
where his tools are, so there is a
gigantic arrow pointing to his
carpenter's square.
My carpenter's square is hanging on
that gigantic dart.
2585
rock, crag, cliff, wall (in a mine)

: carrier; carry; all : stone
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
crag
Last time I was on crag's list, I found
someone selling an aircraft carrier
they carved out of stone! A crazy
lawn ornament I suppose.
If you want to take all the stones out
of this crag, you'll need a large
carrier.
2586
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: stone : determine; fix;

establish; decide
grapnel
A grapnel is a small anchor with
several hooks, used for anchoring
small boats, or to pull up sunken
objects (it looks very much like a
grappling hook). The position of
stones underwater determines where
the grapnel will catch.
He was determined to climb this
rock, so he used a grapnel.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2587
blue, green
: jewel; ball : day; sun;
Japan; counter for days : stone
blue-green
Story1:
Story2:
Notes: (not in Heisig) means

"amber". Story for both: A bus is
stopped at some traffic lights in
Japan. Inside, King Henry VIII and
Barry White are arguing over
whether the lights are yellow or
amber. The lights change to "Go",
and Mick Jagger (stone) then joins a
new argument over whether the
lights are blue or green. They
compromise on blue-green.
The king gets stoned on white
powder and sees little blue-green
men.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2588
: stone : see; hopes;

visible
inkstone
This is not an ordinary rock, if you
look carefully you will see that it is
an ancient inkstone.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A rock that you often see (in

writing) is an inkstone.
2589
whetstone, grindstone
: stone : family name;
surname; clan : one; one
radical (no.1)
grindstone
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
My calling card is made of rock,

which is a bit inconvenient because
it is so big & heavy. So Im using a
grindstone to grind it down in size.
In Bedrock, people had business
cards made of rock and engraved
using a grindstone. (Big ups to
Katsuo).
2590
porcelain bowl, tea cup
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: stone : address; just like;

fortunately
teacup
Teacups at the Japanese restaurant
are usually made of stone and have
the name and address of the
restaurant written on them.
Teacup = .
Pieces of stone(?) that everyone has
at their address.
2591
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: stone : daybreak; dawn;

morning : measurement;
foot/10
obstacle
Those gremlins! At night break they
insist on coming out and gluing
stones all over the place. These
obstacles make it nearly impossible
for me to get to work!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Getting stoned until night break

glued to your couch is a major
obstacle to success.
2592
large, great, eminent

: stone : page; leaf
illustrious
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Mount Rushmore is a place in the

US where the heads of illustrious
presidents are carved into the stone
of a cliff.
The stone heads at Mt. Rushmore are
of illustrious historical figures.
2593
seashore, beach
: stone : how many; how
much; how far; how long; some;
several
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
rocky beach
To qualify as a rocky beach (as
opposed to a sandy beach), how
many stones does the beach need?
"How many stones can you find at a
rocky beach?" the Zen Master asked
his baffled pupil.
2594
whetstone, polish
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: stone : wild goose;

ten thousand; 10,000
whetstone
A whetstone so notorious that it had
destroyed ten thousand cliffs.
Whatstone would make the best
whetstone? I wandered ten thousand
cliffs in search of an answer.
2595
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: stone : bird; old bird

radical (no. 172)
mill
Some mills use an animal, typically
an ox or donkey, to rotate the stone.
But in this mill the stone is being
pulled round by a turkey.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
I can tell you, it was a big mess

when a turkey accidentally came
between the stones of the wind mill.
We had to clean the blood and
feathers away for ages.
2596
: honorable; manipulate;
govern : show; indicate; point
out; express; display
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
fend off
The beautiful woman has to fend off
honorable admirers every day, who
want to drag her to the altar and
marry her.
An honorable Catholic girl will fend
off sexual advances until she
exchanges vows at the altar.
2597
pray
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

express; display : longevity;
congratulations; one's natural life
beseech
If you want longevity, go to an altar
and beseech the gods.
Altar, longevity: Having seen all his
friends and family die so long ago,
the ancient sage visited the altar and
beseeched the gods to put an end to
his longevity.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2598
help
express; display : right
ancestral tablet
Picture a Japanese altar that contains
ancestral tablets, placed on the right
(on the left would be the incense).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
On the lower right of each altar,

there is a small ancestral tablet. Its
purpose is to record all of the past
converts to Buddhism - they are the
ones who chose the right path before
you and should be respected.
2599
national or local god, peaceful, great

express; display : family
name; surname; clan
strokes:
keyword:
local god
Story1:
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto:
Whenever a child is born in Japan, a
local Shinto shrine adds the child's
name to a list kept at the shrine and
declares him or her a "family child"
( ujiko?). After death an ujiko
becomes a "family spirit", or "family
kami" ( ujigami?). Therefore, if
your family name is inscribed in the
altar, then you will become a local
god.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The altar dedicated to this local god

has the family names of all the
villagers inscribed in it, so that the
god knows whom he should favour.
2600
ancestral shrine
express; display : you; that
ancestral shrine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The ancestral shrine has an altar that

shows little reclining figurines of
ancestors.
In countries where ancestors are
worshiped, small children are taught
to lie down (prostrate themselves) at
the altar that is their ancestral shrine.
2601
fief, allowance, pension, grant,

happiness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

express; display : pig's head
radical variant (no. 58) : water
salarium
Ancient Japanese officials collected
their salarium in the shrines. A priest
would collect their rice grains with a
broom, and sweep it unto the altar,
where the officials could collect
their rice.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Rather than cold hard cash, the rice

that the altar boys could sweep up
became their salarium.
2602
happiness
express; display : upright;
chastity; constancy; righteousness
felicitation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When the wheelchair-bound Felicity

was healed at the altar (by one of
those healer priests), she was finally
able to stand upright and was
overcome by felicitation.
On the special festival day, the altar
of the local shrine contains the
felicitations of local upright citizens,
thanking their local gods for doing
such a good job.
2603
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
balances, scales, steelyard

115) : even; flat; peace
balancing scales
I use balancing scales to make sure
everyone gets an even amount of
Wheaties.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
He didn't have a balancing scales to

figure out how much his wheat
weighed, but he came up with a
solution: he loaded a vessel with
wheat and let it float in his lily pond,
and then he measured how deep the
vessel would be in the water.
2604
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

115) : water
millet
Millet is a small grain whose
importance was greater in prehistoric
times. Nowadays, it has been
supplanted in the West by wheat,
and in the East ("under the bamboo
umbrella"), by rice.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Millet is grown primarily in African

countries where there is little rain.
As opposed to wheat and rice grains
which are grown in areas one would
need an umbrella.
2605

115) : eight; eight radical (no.
12)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
bald
The dude was so upset about going
bald that he covered himself with a
wheat sack so that only his legs were
showing.
Because the poor guy went bald, he
made a big, big hat out of wheat
stalks. But it was so big, that it
covered his whole torso, so that
basically only his walking legs were
visible under it.
2606
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
harvest, ripen
115) : wish; sense; idea;
thought; feeling; desire; attention
bear fruit
Every day, the farmer works in his
wheat field, making a wish that his
hard labor will bear fruit.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I wish Wheaties would bear fruit...

Then I wouldn't have to add any
myself!
2607
humble, deccan grass

115) : lowly; base; vile; vulgar
crabgrass
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Crabgrass is lowly wild grass,

quickly spreading with nasty roots,
and difficult to remove out of your
wheat field.
A lowly wheat field only grows crap
grass.
2608
good crops, prosperity

115) : rise; raise
keyword:
Story1:
bumper crop
A bumper crop is a very full crop. In
this particular case, the bumper crop
is a wheat crop, grown by this
excentric guy in a grass skirt, who
has gone completely native, but
knows the secrets of how to get a
good crop!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
On the tropical island of JOU, lots of

crops are grown - coconuts, bananas,
pineapples, etc - but these are really
just for show to get lots of tourists.
The real bumper crop that feeds the
islanders is wheat.
2609
angle, edge, corner, power, majesty
component:
strokes:
keyword:

Turkey : legs radical (no.
imperial authority
Story1:
Story2:
Wheat, rice seedling, walking legs:

The next hurdle for mission of the
rice seedlings with walking legs was
the imperial authority. They had to
cross through a wheat field, but the
imperial authority didn't give
permission for rice seedlings and
wheat to mix. How to solve this...?
The greatest threat to a imperial
authority is famine. If those
seedlings do not become wheat
crops, walking legs will storm the
Imperial Palace.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2610
rare, phenomenal, dilute (acid)

115) : hope; beg; request;
pray; beseech; Greece; dilute (acid);
rare; few; phenomenal
sparse
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This region only has sparse

agriculture. The few farmers hope
their wheat crops will do well, but
the soil isn't really good.
Scarce is a better keyword since this
really means rare. Here, the farmer
hopes he gets some wheat during the
harvest since food is scarce.
2611
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

counter for days : little;
small : three; hair ornament;
obeisant
I'm being obeisant to Doctor's orders
-- trying to get into shape by eating
only wheat and drinking only from
that spring.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The wheat farmers are obeisant

towards the shape of the white little
goddess.
2612
lie in wait, spy on, reconnoiter

den : standard; measure
peep
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Ladies, I apologize for peeping

through the hole, but, you know, it's
just standard protocol.
A husband is peeping at his wife
undressing through the key hole.
"What the heck are you doing? You
can see me naked anytime!".
2613
narrow, fold, furl, shrug, pucker,

shut, close
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

den : though;
both; all
tight
That hole is still too tight. Bring the
saw to enlarge it!
Use a saw to enlarge a hole that's too
tight.
2614
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
cavern
den : yield; bend; flinch;
submit
13
cavern
After Osama blew a hole in NY, the
counterreaction forced him to yield
and retreat into caverns.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In "The Empire Strikes Back", the

Milennium Falcon flies into a large
hole, of what they think is a cavern,
because they dont want to yield to
the forces of the Empire. Turns out
its not a cavern at all, actually...
2615
put on (to the feet), dig, pierce, drill
component:
strokes:
keyword:

den : tusk; fang; tusk radical
(no. 92)
drill
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
There's a knock on my door, and it's

the local dentist accompanied by an
elephant. The latter is a patient, and
the dentist explains that he wants to
drill a hole in its tusk, but his normal
dentist's drill is too small, so could
he borrow my big DIY drill.
Anyway, I drill the hole in the tusk
for him.
No drill? Pfft, just use this here tusk
as a drill and make all the holes you
can!
2616
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:

den : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey : day; sun; Japan;
kitchen stove
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The original Japanese kitchen stoves

were powered by electric eels (hey,
Edison never made it to the far
east!), so a small hole had to be
placed in the dirt under the stove (for
the eels to swim around in).
We finally found the tortoise that
escaped (straw rope (#1377)), it has
somehow crawled into a hole just
above the kitchen stove and had
become quite dirty.
2617
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
length, height, warp

hand : stand up; rise; set up;
erect
longness
In the slave's crotch there something
standing with a vase-like longness.
What could it be?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sitting cross-legged or standing, the

longness of a slaves workday doesn't
change.
2618
suddenly, smoothly
erect : wind; air; style; manner
rustling
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When I hear rustling in the night I

stand up and go to check out what it
is but it's always just wind.
Vase, wind (with gnats): He heard a
rustling outside and when he
checked, saw a host of killer gnats
riding the wind in the direction of
his house. He quickly jumped into
the large standing vase and put the
stopper in, to ride it out...
2619
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:

erect : fortune-telling;
have; get; take
outpost
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Stand up, fortune telling: Something

scary happened at the Mars outpost
near the alien ruins. Suddenly, one
of the soldiers stood up and started
to tell fortunes. (Which weren't all
that positive for mankind). Then he
fell down and never spoke again.
A characteristic of an outpost is the
lack of usual facilities. Here we see a
fortune teller with no crystal ball
having to make do with a vase.
2620
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
peaceful
erect : blue; green
repose
Many repose peacefully in a blue
vase after being cremated.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Standing in the blue ocean with sand

between my toes, dolphins
swimming and palm trees rustling in
the breeze. I Soak in this repose
dreamscape.
2621

erect : woman; female
concubine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
It's a concubine: feel free to touch

(#672) her all you want.
A concubine is a woman you can
stand on and walk all over. She does
not have the same status as a wife.
The contrast can be seen in the
compound: (one's wife and
mistresses). Both are women;
however, the wife gets a brush for
her hair; whereas the concubine is
stood upon and trampled.
2622
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : now
lapel
Cloak, clock: The cloaks of Muslims
have a tiny clock on their lapel, so
that they can keep track on when to
pray...
The lapel of a cloak sometimes has a
clock pinned on it for meditation
sessions.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2623
cuff, hem, foot of mountain

: garment; clothes;
dressing : reside; to be; exist;
live with
13
hem
Something is residing in the hem of
your cloak. Maybe you should
consider cleaning it?
cuff; hem; foot of mountain.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
If you reside in the slums, you start

off as a small child with a very large
cloak. As you grow it gets hemmed.
The rich kids just get new cloaks.
2624
: garment; clothes;
dressing : fit; suit; join; 0.1
lined kimono
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Cloak, fit: The lined kimono was

lined in such a way that it made
people appear to be slimmer than
they really were. Even people who
didn't fit in the accompanying cloak
still bought the lined kimono...
Girls all lined up in front of the
cloakroom in the department store to
be fitted with lined kimonos for their
coming of age ceremony.
2625
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
men's formal divided skirt

: garment; clothes;
dressing : boast
pleated skirt
You can boast (#1244) with
words, or you can instead show off
your expensive cloak and hakama.
I wear a cloak with a pleated skirt so
that my girlfriend can easily put her
jaws around my big one.
2626
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
opaque sliding door

: garment; clothes;
dressing : heart; interior
sliding door
Story1:
Story2:
The safety violations at Japanese

nuclear power plants are egregious!
Not only are they built inside ancient
Japanese castles, there are no
considerations for contamination. I
was visiting last month when I
opened a sliding door to reveal the
cloak room. All the scientists had
haphazardly piled their cloaks on the
CORE itself!
Before you open the sliding door to
the core of the nuclear reactor, you'd
better put on your anti-radioactivity
cloak.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2627
: bamboo : life; genuine;

birth
Chinese panpipe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The Chinese panpipe is an old

musical instrument made of bamboo.
People practiced the Chinese
panpipe their whole life just so that
they could play for the emperor,
often a bad performance would have
the emperor take their life away from
them.
The Chinese panpipe is made by
using different sized cells of bamboo.
2628
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
raft
: bamboo : fell; strike;
attack; punish
raft
The bamboo was felled to make a
raft.
Bamboo, fell: To escape the
forestfire, the pandas felled some of
the bamboo to make a raft and
escape.
2629
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
bamboo screen, rattan blind

: bamboo : bargain; reason;
charge; suspicion; point; account;
purity; honest; low price; cheap;
rested; contented; peaceful
bamboo blinds
I see a load of bamboo for sale at a
bargain price and decide its so
cheap that Ill buy it and make my
own bamboo blinds.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Buy bargain bamboo blinds at Panda

Palace.
2630
bamboo rice basket

: bamboo : simple; one;
single; merely
rattan box
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
If you are making a rattan box, then

the best advice I can give you is to
use bamboo and keep it simple.
The bamboo rice basket is a simple
basket made of bamboo.
2631
pole, rod, scale beam, violin neck

: bamboo : dry; parch
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
pole
In Japan they use bamboo poles to
dry their clothes on.
bamboo cane (#2642) + bamboo
pole = bamboo clothlines.
2632
: bamboo : compare; race;

ratio; Philipines
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
spatula
Compared to before when Japanese
mothers used to throw a hood over
their naughty kids and beat them
bloody with bamboo, the modern
"kitchen-discipline by spatula"
seems much more civilized.
Compare the effectiveness of beating
a person with bamboo, a belt, and a
spatula.
2633
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
foil, gilt
: bamboo : overnight; put
up at; ride at anchor; 3-day stay
foil
If I have any bamboo shoots left
over from my stirfry I wrap them up
in foil to keep them moist overnight.
Then I can use them the next day.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I always roll up my foil and hide it in

sticks of bamboo overnight. This is
to foil any attempt to steal it.
2634
lunch box, clothes chest

: bamboo : director;
wardrobe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The film director is making a new

low budget version of "The Lion the
Witch and the Wardrobe". As we
watch him, he appears to be
constructing something out of
bamboo. Finally the director says,
"Well, no lion or witch yet, but
thanks to this bamboo at least the
wardrobe is finished".
A director of a samurai war film has
his actors fitted in a bamboo armor
wardrobe.
2635
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
arrow
: bamboo : in front; before
arrow shaft
Bamboo, in front: Martial arts
movie. The hero walks through a
bamboo forest, and suddenly an
arrow shaft stands quivering in the
bamboo tree just in front of him.
Time for some action scenes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Bamboo forms the arrow shaft you

shoot in front of you.
2636
an ancient musical instrument

: bamboo : craft;
48) : mediocre
ancient harp
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I can't play this ancient harp! It's

craftsmanship is so mediocre! The
bamboo is hard and stiff! Give me a
new koto any day of the week.
Musical instruments are so mediocre
these days. I call for a return to the
ancient harps crafted from genuine
bamboo.
2637
seclude oneself, cage, coop, implied
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: bamboo : dragon; imperial

cage
The only cage that can keep a
dragon is made of bamboo.
A bamboo cage won't hold a dragon!
2638
also N3428, bamboo grass
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: bamboo : article; ray of

light
slender bamboo
Mr T uses a stick of slender bamboo
to beat his taskmaster that he chased
up into the tree.
The wise sensei instructs Mr. T
while they perch atop a tree: Oh, you
must be supple and thin like the
slender bamboo!
2639
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: bamboo : someone; person
chopsticks
15
chopsticks
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Bamboo, lovedoll: At dinner, my

lovedoll decided to eat her meal the
Japanese way using chopsticks. But
well, what a problems she had
getting those bamboo shoots into her
mouth (which should not be that
difficult, I would say!).
Ive always wanted to use bamboo
chopsticks to eat sushi off a naked
woman. Unfortunately, there is no
woman in my life, so this love doll
will have to do.
2640
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: calculate; divining; number;

abacus; probability : thread
redaction
Story1:
During post-production of a movie,

redaction is required for "red
action", or action that results in a
bloody accident, like when they
miscalculated how large an object
Spider-Man could hold up with both
hands.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Calculate, st bernard, venom:

Venom had made an insidious plan
to strike at the redaction office of the
Daily Bugle, to scare the free press.
He plans to leave corpses of dead
St.Bernards on every desk of the
news office. Now, he still needs to
calculate how many St. Bernards are
required...
2641
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: bamboo : two; two radical

(no.2)
bamboo cane
My bamboo cane is collapsible. It
can fold into two separate bamboo
sticks.
This bamboo cane is too short for
me; it's made of only two feet of
bamboo.
2642
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
winnowing
: bamboo : that
winnowing fan
A winnowing fan made of bamboo is
used to cool off the basketball player.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The hard working peasants get a

little annoyed watching the
aristocrats sitting around playing
chess, so they start a revolt and
whack the chess board and pieces
away with their bamboo winnowing
baskets..
2643
: bamboo : reach out; exert;

exercise; cause
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
backpack
I see a panda wearing a backpack,
and every so often something inside
the backpack reaches out and grabs
bamboo. (its acutally a baby panda
reaching out to grab bamboo to eat).
When I encountered an ravenous
panda, I just reached back to my
backpack and pulled out two
bamboo katanas.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2644
volume, chapter, book, editing,

compilation
: bamboo : level; small
livraison
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Each livraison (installment) of the

scrapbook is delivered by post, and
sits resting on your doorstep for
when you get home. Of course, it
might blow away so the postman has
put heavy bamboo blocks on top of
it.
A limited livraison (edition) of
manga made of bamboo.
2645
notch of an arrow, ought, must,

should be, expected
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: bamboo : tongue; reed;

clapper
should
Should you put bamboo through
your tongue? If you don't already
know the answer yourself, you
shouldn't even ask.
In some tribes, it is fully expected
that you should put bamboo through
your tongue.
2646
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
winnow, fan
: bamboo : that :
pelt; skin; hide; leather; skin radical
(no. 107)
winnow
To winnow you need two things: a
winnowing fan (no. 2643 ) and a
pelt (to use as a bag to collect the
grain you winnowed).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
After Bobby Fischer's winnowing

fan (#2643) winnowed Spassky's
bamboo pawn from the other pieces
in the famous game three, the rest
was history: Spassky returned to
Moscow in disgrace & was pelted by
fruits & vegetables.
2647
scrap, waste
: rice; USA; metre : day;
sun; Japan; counter for days
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
settlings
Settlings at the bottom of sake are
white and made of rice.
Scrap, waste, settlings. Think of
scrap or waste paper - like the
confetti or rice thrown at a wedding it is white.
2648
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: rice; USA; metre : cadet;

friend
lees
The other cadets are really cruel:
giving this cadet only the lees of the
sake to drink.
New cadets aren't allowed to drink
with the seniors, so they have to
settle for the rice lees at the bottom
of the empty sake bottles.
2649
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
paste, glue, sizing

barbarian; foreign
paste
The uncivilized used rice as paste.
It would be uncivilized to eat rice
without natto, that delicious bean
paste! (I think I just vomitted a little
in my mouth).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2650
: rice; USA; metre : blade;

sword; edge
unhulled rice
Unhulled rice still needs a blade
taken to it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
What's all this unhulled rice still

doing here? You were supposed to
hull this yesterday! Pick up that
blade and get to work immediately!
2651
rice bran
: rice; USA; metre : ease;
peace
rice bran
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Rice bran is for old people: its

benefits to sanity in additional to
being delicious rice make it an
instant sell.
Rice bran keeps you sane. But only
if it's made from real rice. None of
that fake stuff.
2652
shit, feces, excrement
component:
strokes:
keyword:

uncommon; queerness; strangeness;
wonderful; curious; unusual
Story1:
excrement
Rice is easy to digest, so if you poke
through your excrement, finding bits
of rice is uncommon.
Story2:
It is uncommon to find rice in your

excrement. Corn, on the other hand...
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2653
millet
rice; USA; metre
foxtail millet
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Maybe the Japanese ought to rethink

their nickname for America.
Seriously, the only "rice" I have seen
in the wild west is foxtail millet.
West, rice: In the old west there was
a special type of plant (it's now
extinct): the foxtail millet. It
behaved like regular millet, but
when somebody wanted to reap it, it
ran away as quick as a fox, leaving a
small trail of rice.
2654
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tie, fasten, chain, tether, connect

: car : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79) : thread
link up
This should do the trick:
http://tinyurl.com/dzhu4g.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In one of those ridiculous sentai TV

programs, after the "car rangers" fire
their missiles at the enemy monster,
you can clearly see the thread that
pulls them together when they link
up to form CAR-RANGER-MON.
2655
thread, silk cloth

: thread : think; be
methodical
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
twine
Spidey assists the older ladies at the
twine convention by providing them
with a continuous line of twine to
knit with. They thank him for the
twine with some wine.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Spiderman + methodical: If you

want to be like Spiderman, you'll
have to be methodical and start from
the beginning by learning how to
make webs with twine. Note: is
an extremely rare kanji meaning
"methodical", I remember this with:
"A meeting of scrapbookers who are
very methodical".
2656
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: thread : warrior; arms;

barbarian; Ainu
carpet yarn
Spiderman, burgler - money (burglar
(#357)): When the old lady returned
from visiting the fiesta, she found a
burglar in her home tied up with
carpet yarn. A note said: Regards
from you friendly neighborhood
Spiderman. Well, she was not
amused when she saw the remains of
her carpet.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The burglar isn't getting SpiderMan's money, but he can get tied up
with carpet yarn if he wants.
2657
bonds, fetters
: thread : half; middle; odd
number; semi-; partties
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Spiderman, half: Since only half of

his family was left (aunt May, uncle
died), Spiderman kept strong ties
with her.
I must buy some more ties half of
mine are in threads. (Edit: All the
kanji dictionaries I have checked
classify this character as thread +
half. Depending on the font, though,
the right side often appears as a
variant of with the top two
strokes sloping outwards).
2658
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
scarlet, cardinal
: thread : un-; mistake;
negative; injustice; nonscarlet
Spiderman is put in a jail cell by the
fashion police for wearing scarlet.
(His fellow inmates include Scarlet
O'Hara, Scarlett Johansson, Captain
Scarlet, The Scarlet Pimpernel, etc).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn.

Here we see Scarlet O'Hara going to
visit Rhett in his jail cell (damn
those yankees!) wearing her new
(green, and velvet incidentally)
threads, created from Tara's (the
manor) drapes.
2659
rule
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: thread : religion; sect;

denomination; main point; origin;
essence
synthesis
Spiderman, religion: Spiderman
discovered that the Scientology
religion (which just opened a
chapterhouse in his city) was a
synthesis of idiotic believes and a
little mystery. Everything to obtain
large sums of money from its
'believers'.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spider-Man's religion is a synthesis

of spirituality and scientific proof.
2660
string, cord, braid, lace, tape, strap,

ribbon
: thread : sign of the ox or
cow; 1-3AM; second sign of
Chinese zodiac
string
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
A vegetarian replaces all his leather

bootlaces with string, saying
Theres no sign of the cow in this
thread!.
Spider-Man suspects there's a cow
walking through his room while he's
asleep, but when he wakes up he
sees no sign of the cow. He decides
to tie string around everything in the
room, which will create a boobytrap
for the cow.
2661
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
large
: thread : I; myself;
chinstrap
Spiderman tries out for a football
team. He fastens his chinstrap and
tackles runners with webs from his
forearm.
(Forearm)"arm".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spider-Man poses with his hands on

his hips to convey being larger than
life.
2662
wear, wrap, tie, follow around,

collect
: thread : fine residence;
shop; store
summarize
Story1:
Spiderman, cave, computer, human

legs, soil: To summarize the newest
Spiderman comic: Spidy needs to
turn off a computer in a cave
(countdown clock for nuclear
bomb). However, his human legs get
stuck in the soil (some kind of
quicksand). The situation seems
hopeless... but somehow at the end
of the comic, Spiderman has saved
the day.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
To summarize the story of

Spiderman, he was a computer geek
who lived in a cave. Then he got
super powers and his human legs
rarely touch the ground anymore.
2663
kimono design
: thread : decameron; 10day period; season (for specific
products)
strokes:
keyword:
gorgeous
Story1:
Spider-Man is quite the womanizer.

When he sees a hot babe, he whistles
and calls, 'Hey, gorgeous, how'd you
like to be bound up with Spidey for a
decameron?' Unfortunately most of
the women he whistles at don't know
what a decameron is; some of them
think it's a hot car.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
According to societys twisted

ideals, if Black Widow went without
eating for a decameron, she would
be gorgeous.
2664
sew, figured cloth

: thread : solemn; quietly;
softly
embroidery
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Spiderman solemnly swears that he

hates embroidery, but everyone
knows he loves it, he's always got
the sewing machine out when
nobody else is around.
Because of the special thread
Spiderman uses for embroidery, and
the special location from which it is
produced, he is always solemn when
he does embroidery, because it
makes him hemorroidery.
2665
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
pongee (a knotted silk cloth)

: thread : wherefore; a
reason
pongee
Story1:
Story2:
Spiderman, sprout: Pongee is a soft

thin woven cloth. Spiderman - a
textile buff in his own right- found
out that the mold growing on rotting
Brussel sprouts may also be used to
make pongee. And it's much cheaper
than silk!
Spiderman decides to try a new diet
of sprouts to see how it affects the
consistency of his web. To his
surprise (150m above ground) a
lovely line of pongee comes out
instead. Time to think quickly.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2666
figured cloth, beautiful

: thread : strange;
ornate
Spiderman's a strange guy, wearing
such ornate outfits to make himself
look .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
SPIDERMAN wears such

STRANGE outfits, that they seem
almost ORNATE compared to the
thugs he captures.
2667
design, figured cloth, twill

: thread : soil; earth;
34)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
damask
The rice seedlings notice that
Spiderman's blocking their path to
the promised land. So they put on da
mask which was made of a figured
cloth and managed to outsmart
spidey.
Those rice-seedlings on walking legs
had to carry this thread all the way
from the middle east to introduce the
beautiful damask to the Japanese.
2668
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
string, cord, samisen music

: thread : mysterious;
occultness
catgut
The thread with a mysterious
origin... hint: its not from a plant!
Spiderman tries the mysterious meat
threaded into a pasta form at the
Korean market... "You prepared this
dish purrrrrfectly!".
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2669
be rent, ripped, unravel, run, begin

to open, smile
: thread : determine; fix;
establish; decide
14
come apart at the seams
Even though his costume is coming
apart at the seams as he chases the
bad guys, Spiderman is still
determined to catch them.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Spidermans costume has come apart

at the seams and here he is, mending
it in his house, determined to make it
stronger than before.
2670
stripe
: thread : tall; high;
expensive
stripe
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you wear clothes with vertical

stripes, those threads will make you
look taller.
Spiderman, tall: Spiderman seemed
taller than he really was, due to the
stripes in his uniform. As is to be
expected from our textile expert...
2671
ribbon
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: thread : accept; undergo;

answer (phone); take; get; catch;
receive
gimp
No one can accept the fact that
Spiderman is a gimp.
I cannot accept that Spiderman will
star in the remake of Forrest Gimp.
2672
gauze, gossamer
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: thread : few; little

gossamer
If there are very few threads, then
the light will come through and the
fabric be considered to be a
gossamer.
Because it has too few threads,
Spider-Man decided not to use
gossamer to make his skin-tight
costume.
2673
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rudder, helm, wheel

: boat; ship : other
rudder
A household spoon is used for the
rudder of your model boat.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Tip: house + spoon : This

four times in Heisig. REF: snake
(#519), rudder (FRAME 2674),
prevarication (#2718), Shakyamuni
Buddha (#2955).
2674
gunwale
: boat; ship : mysterious;
occultness
11
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
gunwale
The gunwale is perhaps the most
mysterious part of a boat for it is
neither a gun nor a whale.
Gunwale (rhymes with "tunnel") is
the top edge of the side of a boat, for
example the widened lip on the sides
of a canoe. The mysterious origin of
this part of a boat comes from the
strengthened sides of warships that
used artillery (it means "gun ridge").
2675
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
party, gang, clique

: ear : short thread radical
(no. 52) : short thread radical
(no. 52) : saguaro-like kanji;
horn-shaped locks of hair; young;
tender
strung together
My friend's new dangly earrings are
interesting--cacti strung together
with butterfly cocoons.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
While practicing slicing a cactus in

half, you accidentally cut Venom
from ear to ear, but he's strung
together by his tar-like symbiote.
2676
wise, fast learner

: ear : public; prince;
official; governmental : heart;
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
attentive
Policymakers' ears have to be
attentive to the heart of the public.
If you open your ears
(), you can be
attentive to the public's heart. ------------- OR -------------- It only takes
one ear that is attentive to the public
heart to win them over.
2677
invite
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: ear : wherefore; a reason

summons
Ear, sprout, snare: When the
summons reached his ears, he sprang
up and started running. However, he
suddenly noticed a delicious cooked
meal of Brussel sprouts. He started
to eat it, but it was snared!
Appearantly, his loyalty had been
tested and it was clear which was
more important to him...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When my parents asked me to eat

my sprouts, I threw a snare at their
ears. The next day I received a
summons to appear in court.
2678
: ear : wa-shaped crown

radical (no. 12)
addiction
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Fearful that I was addicted to ear

piercings, my dad put a crown
around one of my legs so that I
couldnt go to the piercing dude.
Ear, crown/human legs (also in sink
(#1888)): After they had recovered
the body that had been sunk by the
mafia, the autopsy revealed that the
victim had been addicted to drugs.
This, they could see from the form of
her ear! I love CSI!
2679
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
question mark
: ear : village; rural
163)
exclamation
Quiet!!!! The city walls have ears he
exclaimed.
The city walls have ears!? Did you
say that with an exclamation or
question mark?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2680
flea
: fork in road; crotch : dot;
tick or dot radical (no. 3) :
dot; tick or dot radical (no.
3) : insect; bug; temper
flea
Fleas jump onto your crotch, take
two drops of blood, and then go on
their merry way: what vile insects!
Story2:
heisig:
Right side of boisterous (#1985) (but

without the drops there). A flea is an
insect that is depicted here as
jumping from (or to) a crotch (the
two drops). Note: this is indeed flea,
not louse, which has its own
character (). I'm not sure of the
stroke order, but by the rule of
drawing from top to bottom, the
crotch drop should come first. The
louse () then is of course a droplike insect that attaches itself to body
2681
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
crab
: unravel; notes; key; explanation;
understanding; untie; undo; solve;
answer; cancel; absolve; explain;
minute : insect; bug; temper
crab
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The crab isnt truly an insect, but

certainly looks like one. Theyre real
tasty, too, but you have to unravel it
if you want to eat it.
You unravel a crab leg, but insects
fall out of it. It's probably too old to
be edible.
2682
barbarian, egg
: head; counter for
animals : insect; bug; temper
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
protein
At the zoo, most animals think of
insects as just good sources of
protein.
Insects are fed to the critters at the
zoo for protein.
2683
hibernation of insects
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tenacious; take hold; grasp; take

to heart : insect; bug; temper
hibernation
Rather than die, tenacious insects go
down into hibernation.
Many animals go into hibernation
over the winter due to lack of food.
The most tenacious remain and dig
in the icy ground for insects.
2684
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: insect; bug; temper : day;

sun; Japan; counter for days :
housefly
I unbind my tortoise to let him catch
that pesky insect the housefly.
The housefly was bugging the
tortoise so it tucked its head inside.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2685
ant
righteousness; justice; morality;
honor; loyalty; meaning
ant
The ant is an insect of righteousness,
putting the group before its
individual concerns.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In Aesop's stories, the ant is often

considered righteous.
2686
bee, wasp, hornet

winter radical (no. 34) :
radical (no. 2)
13
bee
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A bee is an insect with a pointy (see

summit (#1562)) stinger.
The insect that interrupted our tryst
(#2417) was a bee!
2687
: insect; bug; temper : rat;

mouse; dark gray
wax
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
While Im game-hunting, I cover my

dogs with wax so that they wont be
bother by insects.
I like to go game-hunting (#1940)
for exotic insects and then store
them in wax.
2688
shrimp, prawn, lobster

: insect; bug; temper : or
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
shrimp
Shrimp are the only insects that I
can eat in my spare time: anything
else requires way too much
willpower.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Tip: Many different Kanji for

shrimp: ,, . This
particular Kanji is likely to be seen
as the old name for the Ainu: Ezo
, and the land associated with
them Ezochi (now called
Hokkaido). A kanji you are likely to
see for Shrimp on menus and such is
(). Those kanji are also
used for Tiger Prawns
() Co.
2689
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

resemblance
octopus
The octopus holds up two of his legs
so that they look like antennas and
then walks on the other six. He bears
a strong resemblance to an insect
when he does that.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Insect, candle: As insects are drawn

to candles, so, also are deep sea
divers drawn to the legend of the
huge octopus living in the deep
waters of the sea. (They also don't
come back).
2690
a small, edible, helical fresh water

mollusk
accumulate; involvement; trouble;
tie up; continually
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
screw
() is a fresh water mollusk
with a shell like a screw. When the
mollusk has died the shell is used by
insects like a house. Thus, insects
accumulate in the screw shell.
Insects accumulate if a screw is
missing.
2691
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
cicada
simple; one; single; merely
cicada
Cicadas are simple insects: they just
pop out of the ground, mate, and die,
albeit only every ten years or so.
The cicada is a simple insect,
making noise, mating, and dying.
2692
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
frog
frog
There he sits, eating insects with his
long tongue and blending in with the
green ivy. It may no be easy being
green, but it is easy being a frog.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A frog hides in the ivy to catch

insects.
2693
: insect; bug; temper : ego;

I; selfish; our; oneself
moth
The moth is an insect that affects
your ego by eating holes in your
clothes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The moth is an insect with an ego -always looking for the (lime)light.
2694
: insect; bug; temper : fit;

suit; join; 0.1
clam
An insect fits right into the clam's
mouth before it clamps shut.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
For contraband purposes, I tried to

fit insects into a clam, but that didnt
work out too well.
2695
leech
climax; arrive; proceed; reach;
attain; result in
leech
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The leech is an insect that sucks on

you, but good luck reaching climax
with all that blood being lost.
The climax of this little insect's life
is sucking your blood. Leeches suck.
2696
oyster
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: insect; bug; temper : wild

27) : ten thousand; 10,000
oyster
An insect crosses ten thousand cliffs
to make it to sea, only to be eaten by
an oyster.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Slogan at The Cliffs Piano Oyster

Bar: "Because it is ten thousand
times better to have oysters on your
piano than crabs on your organ".
2697
ruled line
122) : a divination sign
ruled lines
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Keeping my eye fixed directly over

the paper, I hold down the ivy and
melt the strands with my magic
wand. Viola, ruled lines are created!
I bet most people think a machine
does it.
The cyclops couldn't make ruled
lines with his wooden wand because
it wasn't smooth, so he had to use a
square jewel.
2698
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
abuse, insult
122) : horse
15
insult
In ancient Japan, the most grievous
insult was to poke a rivals horse in
the eye (consider how rare an
expensive a steed was in those days).
It was the final step in preparation
for a duel to the death.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In Japan, is is considered insulting to

look at someone from atop your
horse. You have to step down and
face people properly.
2699
a coarse camlet
include; Canada : garment;
clothes; dressing
stole
Story1:
Story2:
In Japanese RPGs, you are well

advised to add a stole to your
clothing as a "freebie" way to add
defensive points without swapping
out some other garment. But since
you can't find them in the shops, you
have to "stole" that stole from a
glamorous NPC who is ostensibly
there to aid your quest.
That Buddhist priest stole that stole:
it was like he subtracted some
clothes from me and added some
clothes to him.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2700
Buddhist surplice
: sand : garment; clothes;
dressing
monk's sash
A monk's sash is a garment that has
grains of sand in it from beachside
meditations.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The monk stashes grains of sand in

his sash and hides it under his
garment. Probably emptied the
hourglass to hasten dinner time.
2701
be crowned with, live under (a

ruler), receive
: tailor; judge; decision; cut out
(pattern)
17
accept humbly
Story1:
At Thanksgiving, its uncommon for

people to accept humbly the food:
most people just dig in.
Story2:
heisig:
Youre invited to a Thanksgiving

party in Japan! Awesome! Youre so
happy that your Japanese friends are
trying to make you feel at home
(youve been homesick recently).
You sit down to the table, and they
bring out some..uh...uncommon
food. Really uncommon. Like just
imagine the most uncommon
Thanksgiving food ever, and thats
what youre given (i dont know, a
frisbee or something?). Of course,
2702
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: tailor; judge; decision; cut out

(pattern)
incision
Ill do the honors! So, I grabbed the
knife and made an incision into the
Thanksgiving turkey.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The surgeon scrubs up & puts on

plastic gloves before making his first
incision in the Thanksgiving turkey.
9th of 14 RtK3 turkeys lost to other
primitives.
2703
how, what, alas, "?" (question mark)

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I wonder
At Thanksgiving, theres a pretty
common bet: I wonder how much
you can stuff into your mouth!
In rikaichan this means "how! what!
alas!" . Alas! How did my mouth
end up unfed at this thanksgiving
feast? I wonder.
2704
consult with
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: say : decameron; 10-day

period; season (for specific products)
counsel
In order to provide superior counsel,
I spoke to him for ten days.
I was counselled for ten days about
my bad language. It was f**king
horrible.
2705
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: say : receive; undergo;

polite
When receiving a gift, you should
say something polite.
How about 'tedious' instead. Think
of all those tedious things you have
to say when you receive something.
2706
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
enemy, revenge
(no. 172) : say
vendetta
In many Sicilian villages, when
words are spoken which can never
be taken back, a vendetta exists until
this retribution - "a turkey for a
turkey" - can be extracted.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Two turkeys (one from Foster Farms

and the other from Butterball)
exchange words that cause a
vendetta.
2707
admonish, dissuade
: say : east
remonstrate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Words in the East remonstrate those

who stand out.
While talking to an eastern man: "I
will remonstrate to you how to draw
this kanji." "Don't you mean
'demonstrate'?" "No, I mean
REMONSTRATE!" remonstrated
the man.
2708
riddle, puzzle, enigma, hint, tip
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: say : astray; be perplexed;

in doubt; lost; err; illusion
17
riddle
Words meant to lead you astray are
those of a riddle.
I led Socrates astray with my riddle.
He quit philosophizing and thought
only about the riddle.
2709
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
fact, reality, understand, appreciate

: say : capital; 10**16
verify
When a Japanese person says they'll
meet you at the capital, it's best to
verify whether they mean Tokyo or
Kyoto.
You sure that the capital said that?
Sorry, but I'll have to go verify that.
2710
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
praise, title on a picture

: say : approve; praise; title
or inscription on picture; assist;
agree with
compliment
Compliments are words of approval.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The words spoken between the two

husbands who approve of how each
spends their wife's hard earned
money are nothing but compliments.
"Good job old chap!" "A fine car
you purchased on her credit!" "What
nice designer pants, won't she be
miffed!".
2711
who, someone, somebody
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : bird; old bird radical

(no. 172)
15
who?
Do you remember that song where
they say "Who let the turkeys out!?
Gobble.. gobble.. gobble"?
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
[who; someone; somebody] Youre

alone when, suddenly, you think you
hear someone speaking. "Whos
there?", you say, but there is no
answer. Then you find out it was
only a turkey gobbling. You feel
relieved (and ashamed to tell this
story). (Based on raulir).
2712
request, question, investigate
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : the latter; duplicate;

5) : ten
query
Word, needle, fishhook: The
prisoner didn't speak a word in
response to our query, so we got out
our needles and fishhooks to get
things going.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
I needed to query as to how much

ten fishhooks costs so I said to the
shopkeeper "How much for ten
fishhooks?".
2713
separation, part, secret

: say : decide; determine;
archery glove
split up
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When you split up from your

partner, you say words that cut
things off for good, like a guillotine.
Words, guillotine: The prisoner was
given the opportunity to speak a
final word, before the guillotine
would do its' work. He made a
morbid joke, saying to his chest:
"Here's head speaking. Let's split
up.".
2714
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
visit a temple
: say : delicious; relish;
clever; expert
13
visit a shrine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
To fat, effete Japanophiles (cheerily

munching on in the back of
the tour bus) hearing the words of
the tour guide "Now we will visit a
shrine" elicits squeals of joy.
"Oooooh, how absolutely delicious!".
You visit a shrine to say your wishes
and offer delicious offering to the
gods.
2715
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
abandon, give up
: say : sovereign; the
emperor; god; creator
16
give up
The words of the sovereign king
inspire the people: never give up!
Never surrender! Okay...maybe it
wasnt a king.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Anytime I think to give up Japanese,

I remember giving my word that I
would become sovereign of
Japanese! And I watch to get
pumped about it. Note: to give up is read ).
2716
discussion, methods called for,

selection, result
: say : whole; entire; all;
complete; fulfill
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
13
elucidate
Words that tell you the results of the
whole story really elucidate.
Elucidate me. Tell me, in your own
words, the whole story.
2717
: say : other
keyword:
prevarication
Story1:
In my house, when I prevaricate (say

false words) my mother smacks me
with a nasty big cooking spoon.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Your girlfriend texts you and asks

what you're doing. You're out with
another girl on a date, but you can't
tell her that! So you go with a
prevarication. "n/much just stng @
hm. u?". "o ok", she replies. Looks
like your prevarication worked! You
go home later, only to find her
sitting there, waiting for you - maybe
you shouldn't have brought the girl
back home this time...
2718
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : best regards; good

familiarity
After someone moves into the house
next door, and after you give them a
best regards gift (something they can
fill their shelves with) the words you
can now speak are those of
familiarity. No more ""
ect.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When you tell your buddy, "Best

regards to the wife", you don't care
about his wife. Unless, you know,
you had some "familiarity" with her.
2719
: say : feathers; counter for

birds, rabbits : three; hair
(no. 59)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
fallible
Check-up (check-up (#1724)),
feathers: When, during the check-up,
I noticed that the doctor had feathers
sticking out of different bodyparts, I
decided that his diagnosis would be
fallible, since he obviously was a nut.
At my check-up, the doctor tickled
me with feathers and I laughed. Doc
says it means I'm fallible.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2720
deceive, delude, apologize

: say : home; house;
residence; our house; my husband
beg pardon
"I'm going out with an otaku" "I beg
your pardon! What did you just
say?!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A strange person suddenly emerges

from the shower in your house,
naked and bald, saying how you
need to help him because his only
lock of hair got washed down the
drain. "Beg your pardon?".
2721
consult
: say : take; fetch; take up
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
advise
You should take the words of
someone who advises you with a
grain of salt.
Words, take: The gnarled old man
gave some advise to the newlywed
couple: "Just take my words of
advise: try to keep your relationship
interesting.".
2722
proverb
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : lad; boy (ancient)

proverb
Proverbs are profound words of
wisdom so simply put even a lad can
understand their meanings.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Words, lad: The lad keeping watch

at the cliff came running to town and
began pouring out words. Leader:
"What? I don't understand a word
you're saying. Oh yeah, now I
remember... you're the lad who
speaks in proverbs.".
2723
ridicule, slander
: say : un-; mistake;
negative; injustice; non-
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
slander
If you slander someone with your
words, you could end up in jail Jeffrey Archer.
SLANDER is WORDS that can
UNdo one's good reputation.
2724
reason, origin, history, oral tradition

: say : stomach; paunch;
crop; craw
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
so-called
That so-called specialist's exact
words were "don't worry, its just an
upset stomach!" When it turned out
to be cancer, his words dried up
quick.
The so called flattering WORDS
made me sick to my STOMACH.
2725
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: say : generation; world;

society; public : tree; wood
secret agent
Words, generation, tree: You see
that guy over there having words
with that tree? That's a secret agent.
And you see that tree there? That's a
secret agent too: the new generation
of secret agents is not limited to the
human race anymore.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Secret agents are taught never to

chatter (#2158) . When their
'mouths' open only carefully chosen
words emerge.
2726
: say : lord; chief; master;

footnote
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A study Bible has many footnotes

under the words of the Lord.
The footnote's words were buried so
far below the page that I had to pull
out a candlestick in order to read it.
2727

say
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
parable
A parable is like putting ketchup on
words to make them easier to
swallow.
Ketchup, words: Do you know the
parable of "The Ketchup and the
Holy Word"? No? Well, it's about a
boy who spilled ketchup on the Holy
Word and then got punished by a
priest. Lesson: don't use ketchup
above the scripture.
2728
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: car : car : car

rumble
Many cars rumble through the
streets as the bousouzoku ride
through.
When you get three cars going at
once at a monster truck rally, you
can feel the ground rumble.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2729
help
: car : for the first time; not
until
reinforce
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Car, dog tag: A car hung with

hundreds of military dog tags passed
by the police station. The officer on
duty immediately called in for
reinforcements: the notorious
veteran soldier killer had just passed
by.
Two kinds of reinforcement the
army needs: military cars (tanks)
and, of course, offspring (#2097):
more soldiers.
2730
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: car : one; one radical

(no.1) : mouth : rice
field; rice paddy
spoke
Wealthy people tend to have cars
with solid gold spokes, sometimes
they even spin with the car's not in
motion, kinda cool.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Wealthy people can afford vintage

cars, which have wheels with spokes
in them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:192
6_Bentley.jpg.
2731
: car : mouth : ear

assemble
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
When they offered a really cheap

Porsche, my mouth dropped open
and I bought that car immediately,
but if I had had my ears open, I
would have heard, "Some assembly
may be required.".
You must interpret the assembley
instructions carefully in order to
build your own car [or you could
end up losing a finger].
interpretation (#2263).
2732
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
form, appearance, countenance

countenance; appearance
14
countenance
Story1:
Story2:
Anyone who watched a looney tunes

cartoon know those kind of scene :
pepe embraces a poor kitty mistaken
for a SKUNK and the smell of pepe
make the unfortunate girl loose all
countenance : she turns WHITE then
runs as fast as her LEGS can carry
her . So much for cat s dignity and
countenance.
The shocked countenance on girl's
face when Pepe started to hump her
white legs.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2733
leopard, panther
ladle; one tenth of a go; dip
panther
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Imagine that in the cartoon series the

pink panther is in a dispute with a
skunk. Picture the skunk filling a
ladle with its stink liquid and then
emptying it onto a snoozing pink
panther.
Someone drew a white line down the
female black panther's back by
pouring white paint from a ladle, and
then Pepe mistook the panther for a
skunk and started chasing her.
2734
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shellfish : damage;
remain; slight
despicable
When they toss metal, that's all fine
and dandy, but when those float
people toss down shellfish, ugh!,
that's just despicable!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Money, float: It's despicable. They

throw down money off the carnaval
float, while there are so many people
in this world living in poverty. Just
give it to them. Despicable!
2735
stick, paste, apply

: shellfish : fortune-telling;
have; get; take
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
12
affix
Fortune teller writes your fortune on
a piece of paper and tells you to affix
it to a shell and throw into the ocean
for it to come true. Picture licking
the back of the shell like a stamp and
affixing it to the fortune.
I gots a fix for your current bad luck:
just pass some extra clams over to
the fortune teller, and they will make
sure you have a very bright fate
instore.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2736
get, have, obtain

: generation; world; society;
public : shellfish
get
You get money from the generation
above you.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You get the generation above you to

give you money. (note: I've modified
the keyword a bit after having just
read "Making Sense of Japanese"
because it's important to me to
integrate into the idea that
getting in this sense is to get
someone else to give it to you.
2737
bribe
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: shellfish : each; every;

either
13
graft
It might sound simple to bribe
someone, but then you have to graft
the guy above him and the guy
below him, and soon youre just
giving shells to each and everyone!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
When I was caught by the police

doing some graft (graffiti), I gave
each cop some clams and told them
to be on their way.
bribe.
2738
flourish, be bustling, prosperity

: shellfish : sign of the
dragon; 7-9AM; fifth sign of
Chinese zodiac; shin dragon radical
(no. 161)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
bustling
Bruce Lee has money because he is
always bustling about.
Bruce Lee made his clams in the
bustling city of Hong Kong.
2739
stumble
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

substance; quality; matter;
temperament
stumble
At the border crossing, a man was
trying to smuggle a controlled
substance in his wooden leg. He
would have made it too had he not
stumbled and spilled the contents.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Wooden leg, substance: The pirate

was in port to visit the red light
district. It was a difficult going in
there with his wooden leg: he
stumbled over passed-out people and
slippery substances were smearing
the streets.
2740
hoof
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

sovereign; the emperor; god; creator
hoof
After He lost a leg in combat, our
sovereign king got a wooden leg as a
replacement. Since He thought it
was a little boring, he added a hoof
for kicks. (Wow, that was totally
unintentional, I like).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Our sovereign is horse-crazy and

even had her own wooden leg fitted
with a hoof.
2741
kick
concerning; settle; take position;
depart; study; per
19
kick
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The soccer player was concerned

that his peg leg would affect his
ability to kick.
I kick with my FEET in the
CAPITAL of all the ONE LEGGED
CHIHUAHUAS. It is such a great
fun, since they cannot kick me back!
lol.
2742
remains, traces, footprint
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

for pairs of footwear : blame;
condemn; censure
vestiges
The man who lost his leg in a
accident now has to attach a wooden
leg to the vestiges of his old leg. He
only has himself to blame for
drinking and driving.
Upon finding the vestiges of your
peg leg, you blame it on poor
craftsmanship.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2743

for pairs of footwear : boast
straddle
The amputee boasts about how the
ladies just love to straddle his
wooden leg.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Same right side as boast (#1244).

The big one that got away (so big
you couldn't straddle it) took your
leg with it. .
. . be; sit or stand
astride; extend over; straddle.
2744

dangerous; fear; uneasy
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
kneel
It's dangerous to kneel with a
wooden leg. It might fall off.
It's dangerous to kneel before a
pirate with a peg leg: They might
take offense.
2745
a kind of miso
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: leader; commander; general;

admiral; or; and again; soon; from
now on; just about : west;
bird; sign of the bird; 5-7PM; tenth
sign of Chinese zodiac; sake radical
(no. 164)
soy sauce
The leader's whiskey bottle is filled
with soy sauce since he doesn't drink
alcohol but likes to pretend he's one
of the boys by making a strained
face when he takes a swig.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The leaders of Japan use to trade soy

sauce for whiskey when foreigners
first entered Japan.
2746
whey, good Buddhist teaching

sake radical (no. 164) : just
so; this; right; justice
whey
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
When filling a whiskey bottle with a

whey mixture, you've got to get the
proportions just so or it will just
taste like curdled milk.
If you hold the whiskey bottle just
so, it scoops up the 'isk' out of the
'whiskey' and you're left with 'whey'.
'No way!' 'Whey!'.
2747
sake
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
10
hooch
While the keyword is "hooch", this
usually means . It has similar
effect as whiskey and sniffing glue
has: you get intoxicated.
This thick, illicitly-made beverage is
actually just whiskey mixed with
glue!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2748
boiled butter
barbarian; foreign
ghee
Drinking ghee out of a whiskey
bottle is rather uncivilized (#2470).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
GHEE (clarified butter) if stored in a

WHISKEY BOTTLE or some other
air tight container will not get OLD
and has a shelf life of many
MONTHS at room temperature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee.
2749
awake, be disillusioned, sober up
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
sake radical (no. 164) : star;
spot; dot; mark
16
awakening
On awakening the first thing I notice
is a (nearly empty) whiskey bottle by
my bed. Then I see the stars are still
shining. I think Ill go back to sleep
and try awakening again later..
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Youll need an awakening after the

whiskey bottle makes you see stars.
2750
pure sake', purity, affection

receive; undergo; answer (phone);
take; get; catch
strong sak
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Whiskey bottle, receive: When you

receive a bottle of whiskey from a
Japanese person, large chance it is
strong sak. It seems that giving
'sissy' sak is considered impolite.
Now we know why the tall child is
so polite (#2706) &
considerate (#2279): the effect of the
the strong sak. He receives it at cost
in the licensed quarters (#2235)
he set up in the cave, of course.
2751
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
noodles, wheat flour

: wheat : mask; face;
features; surface
16
noodles
#NAME?
There is a certain restaurant in WestShinjuku that serves its noodles
made of BARLEY in a MASK
instead of a plate. I love these themerestaurants!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2752
malt, yeast
: wheat : wrapping
20) : rice; USA; metre
malt
Malt made from barley is often
bound up with rice for brewing.
Story2:
heisig:
This means kouji mould, so I think

malt is a poor keyword. Sake,
shochu and other East Asian spirits
use this mould in place of yeast,
which is used to make most other
alcoholic spirits in the world. Mould
and yeast are two different types of
fungus. Yeast might have been a
better keyword, as it is the organism
doing the fermenting. Story: Kouji
mould is grown on rice specially
bound up to form a starter culture.
2753
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gold : mouth
button
A button is metal that requires an
opening in order to function.
Once you can get the metal button
through the mouth, it's fastened.
2754
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
sake bottle
: gold : portent; 10**12;
trillion; sign; omen; symptoms
keg
A big metal keg portends a good
party.
The most expensive keg ever made:
solid gold with tortoise-shell inlay.
2755
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: gold : help; rescue; assist

plow
Tilling a field by hand is very tough.
A handy piece of metal to help get
the job done, is the plow.
15 strokes, not 14!
2756
pot, pan, kettle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gold : crooked mouth;

evil; dishonest
17
pot
A gruesome kind of cauldron that
Snape might have used is a metal pot
in the shape of a skull.
A metall pot with nonthermoconductive jawbones as
handholds.
2757
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
arrowhead
: gold : kettle lid radical
arrowhead
Metal arrowheads are considered
antiques.
I have an antique arrowhead made of
solid gold.
2758
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
saw (cuts wood)

: gold : reside; to be; exist;
live with
handsaw
A handsaw is a piece of metal that
helps you fix up the place you reside
in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Metal, reside: In that mansion

resides a creepy man. In the last
year, a few people have gone
missing, so at one night we decided
to sneak into his toolshed. There we
found a metal handsaw and other
equipment, all covered with
bloodstains...
2759
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: gold : bird; old bird

radical (no. 172)
awl
I used a metal awl to drill right
through this here turkey: it was so
much easier than using a knife to cut
it open!
The only way to hobble the gobble
of the metal turkey is to run him
through with a golden awl.
2760
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
key
: gold : build
17
key
The metal thing you need in order to
enter things you build is a key.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
key (#2761) , ...

Parts: , ... Story: The most
important Metal in any building is
the lock on the front door, and
without a key you aint getting in.
This kanji means both lock and key
to most Japanese people. is
technically the word for lock but its
not used in daily conversation. ...
: ... cf: .
2761
hoe with long blade at acute angle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: gold : autumn
hoe
A metal object often used in autumn
is the hoe.
The hoe is a metal tool used in
preparation for the autumn harvest.
2762
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: gold : soldier; private;

troops; army; warfare; strategy;
tactics
rivet
Metal soldiers (toy ones) make good
rivets.
In medieval times, soldiers used
metal rivets to build their suits of
armor.
2763
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
copper, tin
: gold : easy; ready to;
simple; fortune-telling; divination
tin
Tin is soft, bends easily, and melts at
a low temperature. Hence tin is
written as the metal that is easy to
work with.
Metal tin cans are sometimes far
from easy to open.
2764
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: gold : seedling; sapling;

shoot
anchor
An anchor is metal planted like a
seedling.
"The golden city of Ankor Wat" was
misunderstood as "The golden
seedling of anchor cat (#244)".
2765
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
nail, tack, peg

: gold : street; ward; town;
4th calendar sign
nail
A nail is a metal spike.
A nail is a metal, well, nail.
2766
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: gold : dispatch; despatch;

send; give; donate; do; undertake
javelin
A javelin is a piece of metal used for
dispatching enemies or athletics
judges if theyre not careful.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A javelin is a metal object you

dispatch.
2767
dagger, sword's point, festival car,

float
: gold : winter radical (no.
34) : three : number
sword's point
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A pointy (see my explanation in

summit (#1562)) bit of metal is a
sword's point.
A metal sword's point is pointed at
the lovers having a tryst. Looks like
someone got caught!
2768
: gold : chase; drive away;

follow; pursue; meanwhile
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
hammer
The maestro grabs a metal hammer
to get back at those chasing him
down the road.
The hammer is the same as the
wooden hammer (#2477), except it's
made out of metal.
2769
bell, gong, chimes

: gold : correct; justice;
righteous; 10**40
strokes:
keyword:
carillion
Story1:
The church carillion was composed

of metal bells that informed when it
was the correct time to go to church.
Story2:
heisig:
Wtf is a carillion? How about

"gong" instead. Picture a game show
where they bang on the gong every
time you get the correct answer. Or,
if you want to go with the book
explanation, carillion is the
"western" bell which is struck from
the inside rather than outside. Story:
just like everything else in the East
(writing, utensils, etc) bells are
harder to work than necessary, being
hit from the outside and all. The
2770
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
tarnish
: gold : blue; green
rust
The easiest place to spot rust is when
it grows on blue metal. All of my
cars have been blue, and as soon as
the first red rust appears, its off to
the scrapheap.
The blue oxidation that forms on
metals like copper is a form of rust.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2771
spindle, gather, collect

: gold : heavy; heap up;
pile up; nest of boxes; -fold
cluster
The heavy metal band explode
cluster bombs as part of their act.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
1) Metal seems more heavy when it's

balled up in a cluster.2) Fans cluster
around the stage at the heavy metal
concert.
2772
: gold : insert between

scissors
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
On the St. Bernard assembly line,

the dogs pass by and the workers
clip their fur with metal scissors.
At the grand opening, they had metal
scissors so big that it required two
people to cut the ribbon and let the
first batch of customers in.
2773
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: gate; counter for

cannons : person
flash
The lesbians flash a person with
their "gates".
The flasher hung out by the gates.
Whenever someone emerged, the
flasher opened his cloak, flashed the
unsuspecting person, and ran off in a
flash!
2774
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
be in agony, worry
: gate; counter for
cannons : heart; mind; spirit;
agony
The gates suddenly slam shut,
squashing your heart. Needless to
say, this is agony.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Because her child is out several

hours past his curfew, the mother
waits in agony at the gates, her heart
pounding as she imagines the worst.
2775
small side gate

: gate; counter for
cannons : fit; suit; join; 0.1
side gate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
If you can't fit through the gates due

to your size, try the side gate.
Apart from the big gates of hell,
there are many side gates leading out
of hell. But they're designed to
always be too little for the person
trying to escape to fit through.
Invented by the devil to drive the
humans to despair.
2776
get dark, gloom, disorder
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: gate; counter for

cannons : sound; noise
17
pitch dark
I like to think of a horror movie
where the protagonists enter a
graveyard when suddenly their
flashlights go out and it becomes
pitch dark, whereupon they hear the
sound of the gate creaking shut
behind them.
Through the gates of hell there is no
sound, no light, its all pitch dark.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2777
drop, trickle, dripping

: rain : below; down;
descend; give; low; inferior
trickle
Is it raining? Hmm...I can see some
clouds up there, but I can't feel much
down here: must be just a trickle.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Rain trickles downwards.

2778
be hazy, grow dim, blurred

: rain : or again;
haze
Jimi Hendrix works as a weather
forcaster in his spare time. Today he
predicts a (purple) haze.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
What a coincidence that work should

give me time off only days that have
rain or haze but no sun.
2779

feathers; counter for birds, rabbits
quill
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
How to obtain quills for free: Wait

for a misty day, then under cover of
the mist creep up on an unsuspecting
bird and quickly cover it with your
umbrella. The bird will flap around
wildly trying to escape and while
doing so will shed a number of
feathers. You can use these as quills.
The latest quills are feathers with an
umbrella-like point that sprays mist
you can write with.
2780
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
go around, rule, administer

Big Dipper; 10 sho (vol); sake
dipper; dots and cross radical (no.
68)
auspices
Under the auspices of the local
observatory, we looked at the Big
Dipper on a misty night, huddled
under an umbrella.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Under the auspices of NASA, we

explored the Big Dipper -- it was
misty but NASA placed a giant
umbrella over the Big Dipper to
keep us dry.
2781
saddle
hide; pelt : relax; cheap; low;
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
saddle
A saddle is leather that helps you
relax on horseback.
Save a horse, ride your woman
inside your house in a leather saddle
instead. (Just to pick up competition
with mantixen's story ^_^).
2782
whip, rod
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:

hide; pelt : convenience
whip
There's a leather section in the
convenience store now that's
where I got this whip.
A whip is leather that makes others
do things at your convenience.
2783
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
sheath, case, margin, difference,

shells (of beans)
hide; pelt : resemblance
saddle straps
Originally, the leather saddle straps
were for holding candles, but now
they're more commonly used for
holding swords, like scabbards.
A scabbard is a leather sheath that
should to resemble the blade it's
going to hold.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2784
suitcase, bag, briefcase

hide; pelt : wrap; pack up;
cover; conceal
briefcase
The first briefcase was a piece of
leather used to wrap documents.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The businessman likes to make out

he's important but the only thing his
leather briefcase keeps wrapped up
his the lunch his wife made.
2785
soft, pliable, quiver

hide; pelt : blade; sword; edge
pliable
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A leather blade would make for a

poor sword, because it's too pliable.
A leather blade is liable to be too
pliable to be viable in a fight.
2786

hide; pelt : wrapping
20) : rice; USA; metre
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
terminate
Wtf terminate? This is "ball". Use
"leather ball" for keyword, imagine a
leather american football packed
with bound up rice.
Rice bound up with leather makes a
good hacky sack. The game
terminates when the ball touches the
ground.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemari.
2787
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
suddenly, immediately, in a hurry

: barracks; police station;
camp : page; leaf
13
immediate
Ever chopped the head off an
earthworm? Notice how it will grow
back immediately! Beware the killer
earthworms...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
When someone in the barracks tells

you to come immediately, youll lose
your head for sure
. . .
. suddenly;
immediately; in a hurry.
2788
overturn, summit, origin

: true; reality; Buddhist
sect : page; leaf
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
overturn
The DNA evidence reveals the truth
about the crime but its too late to
overturn the sentence now - they
already chopped off the innocent
prisoners head.
If you come to learn the truth, you
can overturn any unjust verdict on
its head.
2789
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: time; about; toward : 2branch tree radical (no. 115) :

page; leaf
Story1:
brush tip
A cheap brush tip is just wheat
attached to the head of a spoon.
Story2:
Attach a head of wheat to the handle

of a spoon and voila! A brush tip
that can draw a
head--if little else.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2790
time, about, toward

11
about that time
An alarm clock with a unique
design: You set it for, say, 7:00 am,
and at about that time the clock
reaches out with a spoon and hits
you on the head.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
After spooning for hours its about

that time he got some head. Dayum
woman.
2791
cheek
: insert between : page; leaf
cheek
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Your cheeks contain your jawbones,

which are known as the "scissors of
the head.".
The Joker from Batman had his
cheeks cut with scissors to give him
that eternal smile. Now the Joker
isn't right in the head.
2792
prejudiced, exceedingly
: pelt; skin; hide; leather; skin
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
exceedingly
Donald Trump is exceedingly
wealthy, but wears a really bad
toupee -- he has an exceedingly large
collection of pelts to place on his
head.
Story2:
Pelt, head: The guy had an

exceedingly quick hairgrowth. That's
why it always seemed like he was
carrying a pelt around his head.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2793
: public; prince; official;

governmental : page; leaf
accolade
Accolades are bestowed on your
head in public.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You gotta wear your public head

when you receive accolades -- inside
you're proud as can be but you gotta
keep the cool with your public head.
2794
jaw, chin, gill

: outspokenly : page; leaf
18
chin
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Your chin is the part of your head

under your nostrils that forms the
double snare that is your jaw.
Left side is crocodile primative.
crocodiles heads most prominent
feature is his jaw.
2795
neck, head
other hand : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey : page; leaf
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
neck and throat

I soiled my de crotch when I got
head and stuck it all the way down
her neck and throat.
Your neck and throat gag as the
smell of soiled crotch hits your head.
2796
food, bait, prey, tempting profit
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: eat; food : ear

15
feed
Food made of ears is animal feed.
Do you know Mike Tayson favorite
feed? Ears! He eats ears!
2797
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (n. 78) : or again;
hand : eat; food
repast
Remember that dazzling evening
where you found the magic wand
and used it on your crotch to make it
bigger? Well this time you use the
wand to disguise your little guy as
food so that she thinks it's a repast.
dazzling (#2543).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
What dazzling food! This shall be

the most splendid repast yet!
2798
banquet
: home town; village; native place;
district : eat; food
feast
After journeying the world wide, I
returned to my hometown and was
met with an incredible feast.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hometown food.
2799
eclipse, occultation, be defective

: eat; food : insect; bug;
temper
eclipse
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
To enjoy watching the eclipse, you

go on a picnic with your friends. But
due to the dim light, you
accidentally pick up and eat an
insect.
You eat an insect by accident while
watching the jaw-dropping eclipse.
2800
rice jelly, candy
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: eat; food : pedestal; a

vehicles
sweets
The only food at the pedestal is
sweets to keep the lecturer's energy
up.
Of all the foods, sweets are
definitely the ones kids put on a
pedestal.
2801
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
mochi rice cake

: eat; food : put together
15
mochi
Call your friend and he answers the
phone "Mochi, mochi!" whatever he
is eating sure is making it hard to
understand. I will puzzle over the
content of our conversation for some
time to come.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Mochi ice cream is a puzzling food,

I still have no idea how they get that
ice cream in there, but it sure tastes
good.
2802
vehicle, palanquin, litter, hitch up an

animal
include; Canada : horse
stretcher
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
This man is too heavy! We can't

move the stretcher! Quick, add a
team of horses to the ambulance!
The final addition to the Trojan
Horse was a stretcher (laid across the
top). Hey, if the plan doesn't work,
better be safe than sorry!
2803
dappled grey horse

: horse : simple; one;
single; merely
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
piebald
Yep, old Piebald was the simplest
horse in the book, just sitting there,
eating bald pies.
Being just black and white, the
piebald is a simple horse.
2804
run, gallop, sail, drive (a wagon),

win (fame), dispatch
: horse : to be (classical)
strokes:
keyword:
rush
Story1:
Use a scorpion to make a horse rush.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The soldiers in the Trojan Horse

were supposed to wait several hours
before coming out, but when they
spotted a scorpion in the horse with
them, they all rushed out at once.
2805
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
deceive
: horse : level; small
cheat
Story1:
Story2:
This character is , which

means to trick or fool someone. The
Greeks tricked (cheated) the Trojans
by hiding in the Trojan Horse, which
actually had a secret door from
which the hidden soldiers would
emerge. It was a brilliant tactic that
would be recorded in the tomes of
history.
I got caught by my ex- with a pack
of Trojans and a Hentai mag... of
course she broke up with me, how
the hell could I have convinced her I
was not a cheat?!?
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2806
get used to, experienced, tamed

: horse : curving river
radical (no.47)
tame
The guy who said that you can take a
horse to a river, but you can't make it
drink obviously has never
encountered a tame horse.
Story2:
heisig:
The process to getting a tame horse

is a bit like getting a tame Christian baptizization! you take it into the
river at a young age (just after it's
born is best) and dunk it in until it is
almost drowned. Then at the last
possible moment, when its life is
flashing before its eyes (good
baptizers know when this is), you
pull it back above water. The first
thing it sees is its "rescuer" and
"savior", and it will be tame and
2807
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
refutation, contradiction
: horse : to mix with; to
associate with; to join; double X
radical (no. 89)
rebuttal
Story1:
Wolverine's had charges placed on

him for murdering a horse, but he
make's a rebuttal stating that he
couldn't have been in two different
places at the same time (i.e. There
cannot exist two Wolverines). He
was having dinner with his Aunt
Margaret at the time, it's impossible.
Story2:
heisig:
Trojan horse, 2 sheafs: Proponents

of taking the Trojan Horse into the
city employed convincing arguments
in their rebuttal. They put 2 sheafs
next to the Trojan Horse and put
them on fire. 'You see, if it were a
trap, and enemies were inside, they
would surely come out right now.'
However, during the rebuttal,
nobody noticed the caughing coming
from inside the Trojan Horse....
2808
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
run, gallop, advance

: horse : hill; knoll
gallop
The team of horses slowed to a
gallop as they started up the hill.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Trojan Horse, hill: The anchoring of

the Trojan Horse had broken, and
now it was accelerating down the
hill. To save the men inside, riders
were galloping down the hill to get
them out in time.
2809
: horse : hut
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
donkey
The team of horses is nervously
asking a tiger not to eat them. "Don't
worry", says the tiger, "over in that
paddyfield I can see my favourite
dish donkey!".
The team of horses ran when they
saw the tiger. But the stubborn
donkey continued drinking from his
dish in the open field. Talk about
easy prey.
2810
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
eel
: fish : wide; beautiful
eel
The only fish that Nelson Manadala
got to eat in prison was
eel...sounds like punishment to me!
Manga fish: picture a manga version
of an eel and you're done.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2811
sea bream, red snapper

: fish : circumference;
circuit; lap
sea bream
The sea bream is a fish
that often goes around the
circumference of a
a
number of mes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sea Bream (fish) found on the

circumference of Australia and New
Zealand waters.
2812
sardine, (kokuji)
: fish : weak; frail
sardine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
This is a weak fish -- you just open a

can of sardines and there they are,
weak and defenseless, ready to be
eaten.
Due to its small size, the sardine is a
weak fish.
2813
salmon trout
: fish : revered; valuable;
precious; noble; exalted
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
trout
Fish, revered: The fish tribe revered
a fat trout, living in an aquarium in
the temple. One morning, they woke
up, smelling a funny smell. It
appeared as if a jungle explorer had
found the trout's temple....
Trout are a fish often revered for
their beauty (especially rainbow
trout).
2814
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
salmon
: fish : square jewel;
corner; angle; edge
salmon
Salmon are fish that go over ivy
trying to get back to their breeding
grounds, killing bears along the way.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
, salmon are fish that go to

higher ground (ground on ground) to
spawn.
2815
tuna
: fish : possess; have; exist;
happen; occur; approx
tuna
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Tuna is the fish that posesses the

most toxins (heavy metals,
pesticides, mercury).
Maguro tuna is a must-have
(possess) fish.
2816
freshwater trout, smelt

: fish : fortune-telling;
have; get; take
keyword:
Story1:
sweet smelt
A fish arrives at the fortune-teller's
who, without looking, says
"Welcome, Sweet Smelt". "That's
amazing", says the fish, "how did
you know I was a sweet smelt?"
"Well, most fish smell bad, but you
smelt sweet.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The fortune teller turned to me

smiling, "Ah you () will do
well. I can sense the sweet smell of
success. And what better way to
celebrate than with that sweetest of
fish the sweet smelt!".
2817
horse mackerel
: fish : nonplussed; three;
going; coming; visiting; visit; be
defeated; die; be madly in love
strokes:
keyword:
horse mackerel
Story1:
Fish, visit: Mother to daughter: "I

bought you a hors...". The girls
started a joyous screaming. "Let's
visit it", the girl says. Daughter
follows mother to.. the kitchen,
showing her the fish she bought.
Mother: "I wanted to tell you that I
bought a horse mackerel for dinner!".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The horse mackerel is the fish that is

nonplussed it isn't sure whether it's
a horse or a mackerel.
2818
codfish, (kokuji)
: fish : snow
cod
Cod is a fish that is packed in snow
to reach the inland parts of Japan.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
, cod is a beautiful fish whose

flesh is the colour and texture of
snow.
2819
mackerel
: fish : blue; green
mackerel
Holy mackarel! That fish just turned
blue!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Fish, blue: After the young girl

found that disappointing mackerel
fish (see story horse mackerel
(#2818)), she felt a bit blue.
2820
: fish : mingle; mixing;

shark
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Ever noticed how tiny fish will often

mingle around a shark for protection?
A shark tries to mingle with other
fish to get close enough to eat them.
2821
bonito
: fish : strict; hard; solid;
tough; tight; reliable
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
bonito
The bonito is a fish with strict
preparation procedures for making
and
.
Fish, strict: La Isla Bonito. Madonna
is very strict on the type of fish
imported to the island. Only the best
is good enough...
2822
bullhead
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: fish : autumn
bullhead
Fish, autumn: Old man to his son:
"You are bullheaded if you think
you can catch a bullhead fish in the
middle of autumn. It's out of
season!".
Story2:
heisig:
Perhaps a bit of a misnomer.

Bullhead is a river fish ().
This kanji is most likely to refer to
young Japanese yellowtail or
amberjack. It is a fish of many
names depending on age: fry
(), young ( or
), mature (). I
suppose these kanji might crop up
on a fish menu. STORY: Young
Amberjack is not at its best in
summer. Eat from autumn onwards
2823
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: fish : outspokenly
alligator
"Dude! What happened to your
chin?" "Well, I was out fishing...".
Saltwater crocs swim in the sea like
fish. Right side = crocodile
primative. Pictograph - 2 big eyes
and one massive snare for a mouth.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2824
: fish : adhere; attach; refer

to; append
crucian
Due to its oxygenating properties, it
is crucial that you adhere to a
crucian fish if you plan on spending
a long time underwater.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
The crucian fish adheres strongly to

Crucianism principles.
2825
: fish : delicious; relish;

clever; expert
sushi
Japanese consider fish to be most
delicious when eaten as sushi.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
SUSHI is FISH that is DELICIOUS.

2826
: fish : senility
fish fin
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Fish, old man, sun: An ominous fish

fin approaches the old man, who
went for a swim as the sun was
going down. Soon, he'll sleep with
the fishes.
The old man thinks fish fin sushi is
delicious.
2827
seagull
: ward; district : bird;
chicken
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
seagull
A bird that goes to the inland wards
for food is the seagull.
Wolverine had enough of this ward
and hence went to the seaside with
his cardboard box. Now he always
kills a bird, a seagull, when he
wakes up and eats it for breakfast,
while listening to the sound of the
sea.
2828
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
phoenix
: companion; friend : bird;
chicken
roc
Companion, bird: Roc, the mythical
bird, was searching for a companion
for as long as he existed. Little did
he know that he was the only one of
his kind.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The roc is a large and intimidating

bird. Because of this, the roc has a
hard time finding a companion.
2829
parrot, parakeet
: sharp (music); baby : bird;
chicken
parakeet
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The parakeet is a bird that acts like a

suckling infant when it drinks from
the water dropper.
Ariel, that little mermaid with the
shells over her "ha-ha" 's is good
friends with a parakeet voiced by
Gilbert Godfried... or wait, is that
some other Disney film?
2830
cockatoo
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: warrior; military; chivalry;

arms : bird; chicken
parrot
A parrot is a bird of the warrior, for
example pirates.
A parrot makes a terrible bird for
any warrior. As soon as the warrior
tries to sneak up on its enemy, Polly
wants a freaking cracker.
2831
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
cormorant
: younger brother; faithful service
to elders : bird; chicken
cormorant
Story1:
[+brose] The cormorant was

historically used in Japan and China
to catch fish. The fisher would use
some rope or something to tie its
throat so that it could only swallow
small fish. If it caught something too
big to swallow, it would take it back
to the fisher's boat and the fisher
would take it out. This particular
cormorant is going after bigger and
bigger prey - but one day it goes too
far, and tries to swallow your little
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The cormorant is a bird you use like

your younger brother to fetch things
for you.
2832
heron
: path; route; road;
distance : bird; chicken
heron
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
As I was walking I noticed hair-on

the path! When I bent to see what
was up, I realized that they were in
fact fine feathers poking through someone had paved over a large bird!
The heron is a bird large enough to
walk on both paths.
2833
eagle
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: concerning; settle; take position;

depart; study; per : bird;
chicken
eagle
Concerning, bird: The US senate had
a meeting concerning the eagle.
Although symbol of the US, this bird
is close to extinction.
Matters concerning a bird in the
capital are usually about the eagle.
2834
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wild duck, easy mark

: armor; high (voice); A grade;
first class; former; instep;
carapace : bird; chicken
wild duck
Due to its waterproof armor, the wild
duck is a bird that resurfaces even if
you push it underwater.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
, or wild duck, is a Japanese

term that means an easy mark or a
sucker because wild ducks are
considered to be easy to catch. This
kanji shows a duck that is wearing
some armor to avoid being an easy
mark.
2835
: piling; ceremony radical (no.

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
kite falcon
The kite falcon is a majestic bird that
flies in the sky as fast as an arrow.
So much so that its feathers are often
used to make arrows.
Arrow, bird: The black kite is a bird
of prey (like the raptor). You can see
it approaching its target, like an
arrow speeding through the air.
2836
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: bird; chicken : tree; wood

owl
The owl, being wise, is hiding its tail
feathers in a tree so that its prey can't
tell what kind of bird it is.
The owl is a very snooty bird, one
could say that it has a tree stuck up
it's ass. .
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2837
dust, trash, garbage

: deer : soil; earth; ground;
Turkey
dust
A deer stomps on the soil and dust
rises from the ground. (big ups
mantixen).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
On the ground, we found the whole

body of a deer covered in dust.
2838
foot of a mountain
: grove; forest : deer
19
foot of a mountain
Many deer can be found in the grove
at the foot of a mountain.
Story2:
heisig:
Deer are well known for frolicking

in groves of trees. However, they are
not well known for actually
watching where the heck they are
bounding about. Here we have a
bunch of dead deer bodies that you
find at the foot of a mountain. You
are trying to figure why there are so
many dead deer in one spot, and then
you trace a line up the mountain leaves and such are scattered all the
way up...to a grove. Looks like they
2839
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: deer : that
giraffe
A deer standing on a bushel basket
still isn't tall enough to be mistaken
for a giraffe.
A giraffe is like a deer except that
when it plays chess it has a better
overview of the board.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2840
dark
14) : day; sun; Japan; counter
for days : six
10
Hades
The beast of hades one day will wear
a crown, and the number of the beast
is 666.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In Hades you have to work six days

a week before crowning it with
something vaguely resembling a
weekend. Oh wait, thats Japan.
2841
sleep, dark, close eyes

experience; care; favor : dark
close the eyes
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When you close the eyes of someone

who just died...
It's as dark as Hades when you close
your eyes.
2842

days : dark
murky
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Hades is normally very dark, and

even when the sun shines in it is still
murky.
The Sunshine looks Murky in Hades.
2843
sit
: two people : soil; earth;
ground; Turkey
sitting in mediation
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The cave was too dark for my tastes,

so I went out to sit in mediation.
The cave of ignorance was lifted for
these two monks sitting in
meditation on the ground.
2844
crush, break, sprain, discourage

: hand : sit
10
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
sprain
I sprained my fingers when I sat in
meditation (by sitting in a strange
position).
I sprained in my finger doing a
complicated mudra while sitting in
meditation.
2845
conjunction (astronomy), first day of

month
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: left hand; old grass radical (no.

45) : meat
first day of the month
On the first day of the month a
mountain goat lets out a "Baah" as it
jumps over the moon.
The female mountain goat can only
give milk on one day of the month:
on the first day of the month. Her
milk cycles are controlled by the
moon.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2846
go upstream, retrace the past

: conjunction (astronomy); first
day of month : walk; walking;
14
go upstream
Story1:
You decide to go salmon fishing, so

you ride a mountain goat to the top
of the road. Under the light of the
moon, as it's illegal, you catch the
salmon going upstream.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
In this kanji we see a mountain goat

that decided to go upstream along a
road, but for some reason it will only
go upstream when the full moon is
up. It's actually stubborn like a
mountain goat about not going
upstream along the road at any other
period of time. The road itself is also
very confused about this.
2847
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

refer to
: say; reason; pretext; history;
past; flat sun radical (no. 73) :
2) : katakana no radical (no. 4)
drag
The day seems to drag when it keeps
you from having a fiesta.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Bored with the sun always going the

same way (its such a drag), I tuck
the sun under my arm and try to drag
it in the opposite direction to usual.
EDIT: Notes (1): tucked under the
arm is reversed here, i.e. a mirror
image of the usual primitive. Note
(2): Tow might be a better keyword:
see my note at dribble out (#2849).
2848
leak, escape
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: water : pull; tug; jerk;

admit; install; quote; refer to
dribble out
Tip: Heisig has duplicated a
primitive name here by calling the
right side drag. We already have a
two-stroke primitive called drag (see
numbers 1853-1861 ,,,,).
I suggest calling "tow" instead.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Good water flows and thus keeps on

moving, but here, the water has too
much drag and thus can dribble out
of its tube.
2849
comet
: three : number one; line;
rod radical (no. 2) :
strokes:
keyword:
comet
Story1:
A comet flew by and knocked down

two bushes, so I went out there and
swept up the mess, cursing
astrological bodies along the way.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Broom is . The lower primitive

here resembles a rake without a
handle (vertical stroke). STORY:
Comets actually have 2 bushy tails
(http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/97
03/halebopp4_aac.jpg). Imagine a
NASA probe with an attachment like
a rake head designed to catch (rake
up) the fine particles streaming from
the tails for later analysis.
2850
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
wise
: comet : heart; mind;
astute
Comet, heart: Heisig: "The astute
reader will notice that the second
stroke in the broom element of
comet doesn't pass through. The
astute reader will take this
observation to heart".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
The astute astral observer Edmond

Halley put his heart into his work.
And in return, we named a comet for
him.
2851
applaud, praise, esteem

: good luck; joy;
congratulations : add;
addition; increase; join; include;
Canada
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
applaud
Add a drum when you really want to
applaud.
The drummer wasn't very good so he
had a speaker built into the bottom
of the drum which automatically
added applause.
2852
wickedness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: villain; evil; bad luck;

disaster : legs radical (no. 10)
evil
Think of Mike Myers' Dr. Evil
standing in an identity parade of
intergalactic criminals. Evil is the
only villain with human legs.
The evil villain's favorite hobby is
breaking human legs.
2853
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
helmet, head piece

: white : legs radical (no.
10)
helmet
The overly-cautious white geek
protects his entire upper body with a
special helmet he constructed out of
two cardboard boxes, unfortunately
his human legs could still be easy
targets for bullies.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
To protect my very white skull from

the sun while standing on my legs, I
fashioned a helmet by placing boxes
all around my head.
2854
refreshing, bracing, resonant, sweet,

clear
: large; big : to mix with; to
associate with; to join; double X
radical (no. 89) : to mix with;
to associate with; to join; double X
radical (no. 89)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
11
bracing
The St Bernard is bracing itself for
an operation requiring four stitches.
St. Bernard dog had a refreshing
bracing bath and now is shaking all
the water out of his fur. The drops
are thrown in all direction and that's
why the have an x shape in the
pictogram.
2855
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: to mix with; to associate with; to

join; double X radical (no.
89) : tree; wood : tree;
wood : net; net or net crown
radical (no. 122) : northeast
(Oriental zodiac); stopping; good
depressed
Story1:
The baron crashed his plane across

enemy lines. Pulling himself out of
the wreck, he looked up to see a
nearby grove of trees. However he
turned depressed as he realized the
two flashes of light were actually
reflections from the steel as
Wolverine deployed both of his
razors for action. Out of the frying
pan...
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The baron is depressed because he

lost his pet vulture. He wandered
around a grove, where he rummaged
through two sheaves, but still he
couldn't find his darling vulture.
2856
threat, long ages
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: gone; past; quit; leave; elapse;

eliminate; divorce : power;
kalpa
kalpa is a Sanskrit word for a long
period of time, sort of like "aeon."
Once a kalpa has gone (passed),
there will be no more fossil fuels for
power.
When a kalpa passes, all forms of
power we see today will be gone.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2857
suddenness, rise
: comet; dark; obscure :
up; exert
9
erection
An erection can shoot like a needle
from its crown and has the power to
make a child.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The erection is the crowned needle

thats got the power to make
children.
2858

140) : mouth :
husband; man : lack; gap; fail;
bemoan
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Audrey II yawns, bemoaning being

stuck in the flower shop with
nothing to eat.
A scarecrow bemoans that it lacks
legs.
2859
palanquin, bier
: mortar : car : eight;
eight radical (no. 12)
palanquin
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I hop into my palanquin, my car of

sorts, such that I may be transported
to my next location of entertainment.
A palanquin is a car used for the
entertainment of royalty when they
want to take a joyride.
2860
southeast
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: self; snake; serpent : self;

snake; serpent : together;
both; neither; all; and; alike; with
southeast
Two snakes are strung together. One
is trying to head south, the other to
go east. But as they are strung
together they have to compromise,
"Let's go Sssssssouth-East.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The two snakes Noah elected (1804)

for his Ark came from the southeast.
2861
warp, bend, strained, distort

: large; great; grand; glorious;
distinguished : correct;
warped
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
In the debate, your political

opponent's has such a warped sense
of perspective, that he believes the
negative is actually correct.
On standardized tests they use
negative questions that are so
warped you don't know which
answer is correct.
2862
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

rabbits : graduate; soldier;
private; die
jade green
You're so jaded by the time you
graduate that when you finally
spread your wings, your feathers are
all jade green.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This what the valedictorian wears in

Chinese high school graduations. It's
a beautiful cap with jade green
feathers covering it. No tassel, just
those pretty feathers.
2863
blackened eyebrows
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

black; dark; evil; sinister
blue-black
A good substitute for black is blueblack, like the color women try to
substitute for their black eyebrows
with a pencil.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Substitute + black= blue-black or

blackened-eyebrows. A close
substitute for the color black is the
color blue-black. Also, women in
Japan sometimes have blackenedeyebrows, since their color is
naturally a faint blue-black.
2864
three legged kettle

strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
tripod
Here we have two people sitting on
chairs, trying to set up their camera
on a tripod and periodically
checking the viewfinder with their
eyes.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
(NB: I use THREE-LEGGED

KETTLE for , and reserve
TRIPOD for Unicode-0x9b32
(#39730).) This THREE-LEGGED
KETTLE is used for sacrificial
incense-burning. shows a
watchful EYE carefully putting the
offering material in the opening of
the KETTLE, which is shown as
being squarely supported ON EACH
SIDE.
2865
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: divination : box or
enclosure radical (no. 31); box
rocksalt
The fortune-teller tells Wolverine
that in a past life, she sees him
covered in rocksalt from working in
a salt mine.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
You see a block of rocksalt

containing a pent-in ladybird (US =
ladybug). Touch it with your magic
wand and the ladybird is set free.
(Note: Let ladybird = sheaf + four
drops. It's pictographic: the sheaf
showing the curved back and the
four drops the spots on the ladybird).
2866
saltiness
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: salt : all
lye
Lye is white like rocksalt and sharp
like an awl.
Lye is white like rocksalt and can be
broken up with an ice pick.
2867
respect
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

sentence; literature; style; art;
radical (no. 67)
reserved
"That tiger at the zoo was so
reserved. He didn't say so much as
one sentence." "Um, you know tigers
can't talk, right?".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The death row inmate acts reserved

when staying at the magic house of
seven tigers!
2868
swallow (bird)
: twenty; 20 :
mouth : north : fire
swallow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Twenty birds (swallows) are perched

at the north exit () of the
station. I light a fire underneath
them, and as they wilt and fall in the
heat, passing commuters swallow
them whole. Well, they are swallows.
Twenty swallows are perched atop
the station's raining droppings
all over everyone. Keep your mouth
closed so you don't swallow any.
(Thanks Katsuo).
2869
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
once, before, formerly, ever, never,

ex-, lick, lap up, burn up, taste,
udergo, underrate, despise
yet : delicious; relish; show a
liking for; purport; will; clever;
expert
lick
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
There are things in the outhouse that

may appear delicious, and you may
even want to lick them, but I assure
you: they ain't delicious.
Those big white "mints" in the
outhouse urinals may look delicious,
but it's best not to lick them.
2870
almost, quite, really
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

radical (n. 78) : pedestal; a
vehicles
almost
A pedestal in an Indiana Jones
movie is littered with the bones of
people who almost seized the
treasure.
I see a some bones near the pedestal
of immortality: someone almost got
there!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2871
chief, beginning
zodiac : dish; a helping; plate
start
This is how things looked at the
start, before the fierce (#1456)
wild dogs showed up.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
You are choosing a start(er) at the

cannibal restaurant: "I think I'll start
with that child dish".
2872
label, signboard, medal, mahjong

tiles
kata radical (no. 91) : lowly;
base; vile; vulgar
mahjong tiles
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Mahjong tiles, to the best of my

understanding have only one side
and are considered a lowly use of
time.
Mahjong tiles are one-sided, and
only lowly people who don't play
mahjong don't know this.
2873
bone, body, corpse
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: skeleton; bone; remains;

frame : sign of the hog; 911PM; twelfth sign of the Chinese
zodiac
16
remains
The remains consisted of a skeleton
which had the remains of some
acorns in its stomach area. Whether
it died from eating the acorns
remains to be seen.
Hint: The remains of a chipmunk.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2874
peep, peek, come in sight

: director; official; govt office;
rule; administer : see; hopes;
visible
peek
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Sneak preview - peek - director lets

you see his new movie - have a
quick noze/look in a shop (nozoku).
If a director lets anyone see his film
before it's finished, it's only a sneak
peek.
2875
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: tiger; drunkard : three;

radical (no. 59)
mottled
It's fun to look at the tiger's mottled
leg and pick out shapes, sort of like
looking at clouds.
The T-1000 has a hard time shape
shifting into a tiger. The stripes
always come out mottled.
2876
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Manchu dynasty, name given to

naturalized gaijin
2-branch tree radical (no. 115)
Manchu dynasty
Story1:
What did man chew in the Manchu

dynasty? Well, first man chew
bonsai, but he find that rather tough,
so next man chew wheat. EDIT: I
think the keyword should really be
Qin dynasty. So how a about new
story based on Bob Dylan's song
"Mighty Quinn": "Bonsai without,
wheat plants within, you'll not grow
nothing like the mighty Qin.
(dynasty).".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
(thx Katsuo) The so-called 'mighty'

Qin dynasty died a nasty death from
starvation because they focused on
growing bonsai instead of wheat.
2877
sparrow
: few; little : bird; old bird
radical (no. 172)
sparrow
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
There are relatively few turkeys

compared to the widely familiar
sparrow.
There are few turkeys available this
Christmas/Thanksgiving, so we're
having to make do with sparrow.
2878
falcon
172) : ten
strokes:
keyword:
peregrine falcon
Story1:
My peregrine falcon recently has

been having confidence issues recently it dives out of the sky and
misses the target completely. To
boost its confidence, I got a nice, fat
turkey, killed it, and then set it up on
a big needle so it looked like it was
still alive - just loafing about. Then I
went to my peregrine falcon - "hey
buddy, look! A nice fat turkey. I bet
you can get it!" It goes for it, but it
spears itself on the needle!!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The peregrine falcon is the fastest

animal in the world. It can reach
speeds of over 322 km/h in a dive over ten times as fast as a turkey!
2879
shine, sparkle, gleam, twinkle

: ray; light : feathers;
counter for birds, rabbits :
bird; old bird radical (no. 172)
shimmering
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Rays of light hit the futon, making it

shimmer. Think maybe somebody
wet the futon last night..
Once it had been in a state of twinkle
(#2534) for awhile, the turkey's
feathers began to a-shimmering with
some strange light.
2880
barbarian, savage, Ainu
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: large; big : bow; bow

(archery, violin)
ebisu
When passing through Ebisu in
Tokyo (one stop south of Shibuya)
you see a St. Bernard that has
swallowed a bow (you can see the
shape of the bow sticking through its
skin).
Story2:
heisig:
() This is
the 'i' part of the full name of the
ancient shoguns. Sei i tai shougun
(Great general who subdues the
eastern barbarians). This Kanji is the
"eastern barbarian" part. Being the
shogun, the most powerful military
leader in all of Japan, it is only
fitting that he also have a very large
bow to go along with his office. So
large in fact, that it was given to him
2881
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
grieve
(no. 27) : halberd; arms;
radical (no. 62) : above;
up : little; small
11
relatives
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Your half-uncle is leading a parade

of your relatives. (Note: +
makes up part of "uncle" , so Ive
called it "half-uncle".).
Your uncle organizes a parade of all
your relatives, which he himself is
only half in because hes busy taking
pictures of it.
2882
pouch, purse, bag
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: garment; clothes;
dressing : mouth :
2) : wa-shaped crown radical
(no. 14) : eight; eight radical
(no. 12)
cyst
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Grass skirt, middle, crown: The girl

wearing the grass skirt had a cyst
growing in the middle of her head,
seeming like a crown. A sign she
will be the new village elder, I heard
later.
The hula girl got a cyst on her lips
after she placed her mouth on my
"crown" ten times.
2883
bowl, bowl of food
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: well; well crib; town;

community : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
5
domburi
A little one is eating a domburi
while standing over, looking down
into, a WELL. He drops it, and it
falls down & down until it looks like
nothing more than a DROP, landing
at the bottom of the well!
I drop a domburi down into the well
for the goblin living there.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2884
stretch
: have the honor to; sign of the
monkey; 3-5PM; ninth sign of
Chinese zodiac : open; sun
carefree
The monkey is carefree with his
piggy bank, tossing it at whatever
financial opportunity he stumbles
upon.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
As a carefree person, I'm always

using my piggy bank to monkey
around.
2885
round, game, revolve, go around,

circumference
: -times; round; game; revolve;
counter for occurrences : long
stride or stretching radical (no. 54)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
circling
A dishonest taxi driver is circling to
increase the fare -- trying to stretch
out the ride, going around the block
many times.
A taxi driver stretches out the time it
takes to get to Times Square by
circling around it (thanks mcfate).
2886
capital, suburbs of capital
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: sign of the dog; 7-9PM; eleventh

15
capital suburbs
People aside, I wonder how many
rice fields there are in the capital
suburbs.
How many brains does it take to run
the capital suburbs?
2887
take pleasure in, rejoice
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:

69) : lack; gap; fail; yawning
radical (no. 76)
elation
I was bored, yawning and such, so I
picked up my axe and was suddenly
filled with much elation.
I feel elation when I realize the axe
murderer is lacking his axe.
2888
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
strong
erect : pig; hog; pig radical
(no. 152) : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79)
stalwart
A stalwart sow stands up against a
missile.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Stand up, sow, missile: See our

stalwart hunter standing upon the
sow he just shot, his missile launcher
still smoking. (Nothing much left of
the sow by the way).
2889
this, thus, such, verbal pause

: that : axe; 1.32 lb; catty;
radical (no. 69)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
this
Tip: Learn "this" and "that" at
the same time. ("that", , is not in
Heisig, but is probably more
common than ). Stories: This
bushel basket comes with an axe to
open it, but that one doesn't.
(Thx Kats) THIS AXE can beat any
CHESS peice... except for maybe
THAT ROOK.
2890
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: just so; this; right;

justice : spoon; spoon or
wooden spoon
After you get the wooden spoon in
the "egg & spoon" race another
competitor explains that you need to
hold the spoon "just so".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A spoon used to measure ingredients

just so is a measuring spoon.
2891
correct, save, assist

(no. 22) : jewel; ball
set straight
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
After the revolution, the king was

put into a box so that the
government could be set straight.
Walking through the park, I see
many large boxes where homeless
people live. But there's one guy
dressed as a king, who seems to be
arranging them all, i.e. he's setting
the boxes straight. "Surely you're not
a real king?" I ask. He replies, "Let
me set you straight, I'm king of the
boxes".
2892
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
beginning
folding chair radical variant (no.
66) : brush; finally; self;
relate; follow; here; fast; writing
brush radical (no. 129)
founding
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Founding of a nation is usually done

by the taskmasters in charge behind
closed doors. They sign some papers
with their writing brushes and voila..
After the founding of Post Secret,
people started to disclose things with
a brush instead of their mouths.
2893
I, you, (kokuji)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: hemp; flax : spine;

backbone
Utamaro
Bending over constantly to cut all
those woodblocks has given
Utamaro a bad back. Now he smokes
hemp while he works to ease the
pain in in his spine.
A soft Mashimaro doll made with a
hemp spine for some semblance of
posture.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2894

3) : sheep : take; fetch;
take up
conglomerate
Story1:
I have a huge conglomerate

(collection) of old books I'm looking
to get rid of. They're not in any
particular order... some are upside
down in a row, some are soiled... just
look through them and take
whatever you want.
Story2:
This is similar to
business/profession (#1792), with
"not yet" replaced by "take." A giant
company that takes up many
companies with different
professions, is called a conglomerate.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2895
accompaniment for drinks

possess; have; exist; happen; occur;
approx
entreat
Tip: "snack" or "appetizer" would be
better keywords for this kanji.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Wolverine posesses the most treats

at the party because he's entreated
for being famous.
2896
beautiful, patterned
non- : sentence; literature;
style; art; decoration; figures; plan;
literary radical (no. 67)
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
symmetrically patterned
The murderer who carved
symmetrical patterns into all his
victims was sentenced life in a
jailcell. (thanks tomusan).
Chun-Li gave the death row inmate a
symmetrically patterned footprint on
the top of his head with a foot stomp
cross-up.
2897
you, lord, secretary, state minister
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

4) : instant; namely; as is;
conform; agree; adapt
magistrate
British magistrates wear wigs made
of silver hair. But picture an
eccentric magistrate who instead
wears a silver hare on his head.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Slight modification of katsuo

(kiddo): british magistrate wear wigs
made of silver hair . But just because
they re compelled to do so doesn t
mean they re necessarly comfortable
with . If you saw the wig of mozart
in Amadeus it s not very hard to
picture a judge who wears his wig so
badly that it looks like two huge
hare/Bunny ears.
2898
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: learn : beginning; former

time; origin
Story1:
fiddle with
In the beginning you learn by
fiddling with things.
Story2:
Emperor Nero fiddled with his fiddle

while Rome burned. When he was
later asked to explain himself he
said, Well, I was learning how to
play this piece and had to keep going
back to the beginning.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2899
at, in, on, as for

alternative : two-stroke water
radical or ice radical (no. 15)
within
Image: An Arctic explorer frozen
within ice, within his hands are an
umbrella and a compass.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Within minutes the weather changed

and ice blew in from all directions
making my umbrella useless
2900
hackneyed
: large; big : long; leader
hackneyed
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The hackneyed hangover cure is to

have "some hair of the dog that bit
you.".
You may think you're being original
by sporting an afro, but it's
hackneyed to have big poofy long
hair.
2901
isobey, defy, go back on, rebel,

rebellion
: half; middle; odd number; semi-;
part- : anti-
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
rebellion
The half that was anti- started a
rebellion.
The rebellion was unpopular and
HALF the population was
AGAINST it.
2902
be pointed, sharp, taper, displeased,

angry, edgy
: little; small : large; big
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
sharp point
A small tip on something large
creates a sharp point.
Little, St Bernard: In primary school,
I had a pencil sharpener shaped as a
little St. Bernard. I put in my blunt
pencil, and it came out with a sharp
point.
2903
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

radical (no. 14)
crock
The samurai's crock was so old it
was a crowned a heritage item of
Asia, and he wouldn't sell it.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The E-mail read: "Hello, my name is

Ubuntu Nonga, crowned samurai of
a small Asian country. I have $5
million that I need to move to a safe
place ..." But I knew that advancefee scams are a crock.
2904
intelligence, imperial
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: intelligence; imperial : or
sapience
The magic wand in a guy's crotch is
crowned with one eye, and contains
a certain sapience... but they should
try not to "think with the little head.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Magic wand, crown, 1-eyed valley,

crotch: The archeologist was
searching for the birthplace of the
homo sapience. Wearing his magic
wand and his divining crown, he was
able to located it in the 1-eyed
valley, somewhere in Bolivia. His
crotch got all excited, thinking on all
the publicity of finding the
birthplace of homo sapience.
2905
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

12) : west; bird; sign of the
bird; 5-7PM; tenth sign of Chinese
zodiac; sake radical (no. 164)
chieftain
Only the chieftain could drink
horned whiskey since he was the one
responsible for procreation.
I have used Red Bull as a primitive
since furthermore/waver (#1438), so
now it is easy to remember the
chieftain's name: Chief Red Bull!
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2906

nightingale
The nightingale is a bird that goes to
a schoolhouse at night to learn to
sing.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
This character is actually a

(unofficial simplification) of the
character . As such, it is actually
far less common than the traditional
character according to a google
search. Story for the correct
character: The nightingale is bird
with a crown (mane) as bright as a
deep fire (two fires).
2907
suddenly
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: red : red
incandescent
Incandescent red is naturally twice
as bright as ordinary red ().
Alternatively, this is a picture of
spreading (already doubled),
incandescent red fire. Note: This is
used by far most commonly to write
(), although dictionaries do
not recognize such a reading (except
for kanji dictionaries).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Rosy cheeks are incandescent,

glowing red with heat.
2908
bend down, bow, lie prostrate

: retainer; subject : person
supinate
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
If a person has retainers, then he can

spend his life supinate (i.e. lying on
his back doing nothing). (note: for
the writing order think: SuPinate =
Slave-Person).
Mr. Garrison gets Mr. Slave to
supinate while he watches. (notice if
you look at sideways it looks like
a person bending over with a cock
and balls.).
2909
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
nephew
: life; genuine; birth : male
nephew
A nephew is someone you can watch
grow into a man over his lifetime.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Life, male: During a visit to your

family, you meet your nephew. You
find out that in his short life, your
nephew already has collected a great
many male things in his room, such
as 'dirty' magazines, etc.
2910
gourd
: ballot; label; ticket; sign :
melon
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
gourd
I enter a ballot to try to win a melon,
but end up with a gourd.
With its protective hard rind, a gourd
is a melon used to deposit ballots in
during elections.
2911
glissando on strings, lute

ball : compare; race; ratio;
Philipines
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
biwa
The two kings play their biwa,
comparing each other's skill.
When choosing new instruments,
Tenacious D compared the biwa to
the harp (#1591).
2912
lute
ball : comma-design
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
lute
When she's playing the lute between
your two balls Japanese censors
mosaic it out.
The lute is a good name for the thing
between your TWO JEWELS, which
is often behind a pixel MOSAIC on
film.
2913
fork of road, crotch
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

other hand : dot; tick or dot
radical (no. 3)
forked
Think of this as "tuning fork"
(). Then, touching a vibrating
tuning fork against a crotch causes it
to drip drops.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
You are looking for a bathroom, but

the path in front is forked and you
don't know which way to go.
Suddenly a drop begins to appear on
your crotch over your pants...
2914
english:
type of morning glory, rose of

Sharon, althea
component:

14) : dancing radical (no. 136)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
rose of Sharon
Elton john takes off his birdhouse
sunglasses as he winks and gives a
rose to sharon.
You can't wink (#817) if you're
minus an eye, but you can still hand
out a rose of Sharon to get attention
from the ladies.
2915
field, farm, garden, (kokuji)
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

days : rice field; rice paddy
dry field
You see a white dove about to land
in a paddyfield, and, believing that
field to be under water, expect to
hear a "plop". But the plop doesn't
come, so you think to yourself, "Ah,
that must be a dry field".
A rice field turns white as shit
(literally) it is such a dry field.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2916
fist
person : hand
10
fist
1) I hold a roll of quarters in my
hand when I make a fist. 2) I hold a
quarter in my hand as I prepare to
play the Iron Fist Tournament:
at the arcade.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Quarter, hand: If you have a roll of

quarters in your hand, your fist will
deliver a much more effective punch.
2917

box : for the first time; not
until
vegetable patch
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Think of a vegetable patch owned by

a perfectionist, where every group of
crops is pent in and separated
accordingly, and every single crop is
dogtagged and earmarked.
My offspring is supposed to be
weeding my vegetable patch, but he
keeps running off to play. So I put
an electric fence around the veggie
patch to pent him in. Now he's hard
at work in there!
2918
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
help
: complete; finish :
water : one; one radical (no.1)
helping hand
If water completely covers the floor,
you will need a helping hand to
clean it up.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Water is completely covering your

floor, and no matter how fast you
mop it up it makes no difference. In
desperation you cry, "Can someone
give me a helping hand?".
2919
clear, help
mouth : wa-shaped crown
radical (no. 12)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
translucent
Let crown + human legs = Miss
World. Then the very tall Miss
World won the title due to her
translucent dress.
A tall girl in a translucent mini
skirt... Hell yes.
2920
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: legs radical (no. 10) :

short thread radical (no. 52) :
month; moon
blood relative
The body part between Venom's legs
can produce blood relatives.
I think Halpern's keyword "progeny"
is a better fit for this kanji. Then:
Progeny a cocoon-like piece of
flesh that drops out between two
human legs.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2921
: head; counter for

animals : a cup with pendants;
a pennant; wild; barren; uncultivated
transcription
The zoo needed a transcription of
the accident report involving the
infant caught in the flood.
Story2:
heisig:
Imagine spending your whole

summer learning two ancient arts first, the art of speaking to animals at
the zoo (this is a bunch of different
languages - no small feat), and the
art of writing your name in urine
(you go see the Mannequin de Pis
for this - just sitting there and
observing for hours on end).
Anyway, you decide to put these two
together, and go to a zoo cage, and
ask the animal to tell its story. You
2922
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: tall; high; expensive :

month; moon
ointment
Your body parts will become tall if
you apply a special ointment.
The tall Heisig swapped his hood for
a crown before applying ointment on
his body parts to make them smooth
as silk (#1368).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2923
charging ahead of others

: ghost; devil : Big Dipper;
10 sho (vol); sake dipper; dots and
cross radical (no. 68)
pioneer
The ghost who went to the Big
Dipper was a pioneer.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The Ghostbusters were pioneers,

being the first people ever to capture
a ghost in a measuring cup.
2924
fragrant, balmy, favourable

: voice : pike; windy-again
radical (no. 79) : incense;
smell; perfume
ambrosial
Story1:
Voice, missile, incense: Before they

were going to launch the missile,
they were having a service to beg
favor of the Gods. Then, when they
lit the incense, a booming voice
came out of nowhere: "Hmmm... this
smell is great, no, ambrosial. Really
worthy of the Gods...".
Story2:
[+abaddon] An ambrosial voice, like

a missile from the Gods, said: 'That
incense is positively ambrosial'.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2925

kata radical (no. 91) :
generation; world; society;
public : tree; wood
label
Story1:
Tip: New primitive: Let Tarzan =

generation + tree -- because Tarzan
lives with several generations of his
family at the top of a tree. (This
combination appears five times: leaf
(#228), butterfly (#521), chatter
(#2158), secret agent (#2726), label
(FRAME 2926)). Story: You notice
Tarzan is wearing his shirt inside-out
and explain to him that clothes are
one-sided and that he can tell by
looking at the label.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
It is with mindless chatter (#2158)

that one-sided labels are attached to
good, honourable people.
2926
glance at
defeated : eye; class; look;
glimpse
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
My sharp eye caught a glimpse of

the confidential information before it
went through the shredder.
As the taskmaster makes me get
down on my knees to clean the floor
with rags, my eye catches a glimpse
of her panties.
2927
hill, mound (left-side B radical)

: None : ten
8
keyword:
Story1:
large hill
The maestro lives on top of a large
hill so that he can play music at over
ten decibels without anyone giving a
damn.
Story2:
heisig:
Note to those who have not got this

far in the book: This is the full kanji
for the Pinnacle primitive (i.e. only
the left-hand version of the
primitive). The full kanji for the City
Walls primitive is city walls
(#2180). Beyonce went for an
invigorating walk up a large hill on a
summers afternoon. Since the grass
was so lush and cool, she took off
her sandals and immediately stepped
on a used hypodermic needle.
2928
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
testicles
: blood : happiness;
blessing; fortune
testicle
Tip: primitives given in the book
are: blood + happiness. But should
be: drop + eye (/net) + happiness.
Story: As you squeeze the last drop
out of your testicles you go crosseyed with happiness.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sometimes I teabag my friend,

dropping my testicles on his eyes,
because it brings me happiness.
2929

radical (no. 48) : two people
sorceress
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Craft, assembly line: The sorceress

was very good at her craft. She
magicked an assembly line to
produce all kinds of sorceress'
merchandise. Shrewed
businesswoman, I'd say.
When assembly lines first became
popular, they were so quick at their
craft that some swore they had to be
the work of a sorceress.
2930
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
industry, kindliness
: receive; undergo; answer
(phone); take; get; catch :
strike; hit; folding chair radical (no.
66)
empathetic
A taskmaster can be empathetic if
she receives something.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The taskmaster was very empathetic

when the tall kid explained how his
dog had eaten his homework. Yeah,
right. And if you believe that one ...
2931
star, god of literature

: large; big : square jewel;
corner; angle; edge
Andromeda
Story1:
Story2:
(From Greek mythology). When

Perseus goes to rescue Andromeda,
he finds he's made a mistake. What
looked from a distance like a
beautiful maiden chained to a rock
turns out to be a St. Bernard tangled
up in some ivy. (Andromeda was
chained up a bit further down on
another beach).
Andromeda is a large constellation
that represents the god of literature
thought to inhabit Ivy League
schools.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2932
soar, fly
: sheep : feathers; counter
for birds, rabbits
soar
If a sheep had feathers, it could soar.
Icarus' wings made him soar across
the ocean (#549) without becoming
wet.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2933
white, clear
days : revelation; tell; inform;
announce
beaming
The revelation brought back by the
dove left Noah beaming -- the flood
waters were receding.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The holy white dove surrounded by

beaming light came down from the
sky with a revelation to tell us.
2934
dark, black, many

: millet : water
tenebrous
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
"tenebrous" = "dark" or "obscure."

In tenebrous nights, millet is found
tied in slipknots, in crop circles.
The tenebrous Slipknot forces their
way into the millet of Iowa.
2935
strong and brave

: run : number one; line;
rod radical (no. 2)
bold
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
Run, cornucopia: The thief was bold,

but stupid. He was running away
with the cornucopia he just stole
from the feudal lord. However, he
was leaving an easy track to follow
as the cornucopia was pouring out
its riches. So, bold, but stupid.
A marathon runner bold enough to
race the Fantastic Four.
2936
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
stop, halt, previously, already, long

ago
: self; snake; serpent
stop short
This character would be the sign of
the snake if the last stroke didn't stop
short.
Igor ()'s move to steal a snake's
girl was to stop short.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx
GRE2wpjsY.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2937
thorn, splinter, spine, biting words,

briers
: thorn : thorn
thornbush
The belt of thorns around a tree is
doubled in a thornbush.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A thornbush so thorny, even its

thorns have thorns. Note: A good
example is gorse
http://www.weeds.asn.au/gifs/line_ar
t/gorse.gif.
2938
: take; fetch; take up :

person
crowd
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Zombies love a good crowd, as they

can take as many ears and crotches
as they want.
The crowd of zombies goes for the
ears and crotches first. mmmmm.
2939
be resuscitated, revived
: grow late; night watch; sit up
late; of course; renew; renovate;
again; more and more;
further : life; genuine; birth
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
resucitate
Grow late, life: It had nearly grown
too late to resucitate the halfdrowned man, but a passer-by was
able to breath life back into him,
thus resucitating him.
To breathe life into someone after it
might have grown (too) late is to
resuscitate them.
2940
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: in front; before : sword;

saber; knife
pruning
Lazy guide to pruning: Grab a
dagger and slash everything in front.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
In front (drops), dagger: The

gardener is pruning his roses. He
closes up to the one in front of him
until he can see the dewdrops on the
petals. Then he gets out his dagger
and prunes.
2941

in life : beauty; beautiful
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
upbringing
With the right upbringing, you might
become somebody beautiful.
Guys don't care about what kind of
upbringing the woman had, they just
want somebody with a beautiful
body.
2942
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: fruit; reward; carry out; achieve;

complete; end; finish;
succeed : many; frequent;
much
plentiful
There are many fruits when they're
plentiful.
When fruit is plentiful, it feeds many
mouths. This could mean anything
that is vast or abundant.
2943
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: nose; snout : dry; parch

snore
If you snore, your nose becomes dry.
I try to remember the slightly
different bottom part by wanting to
hit the snoring nose with two hands
but can't quite reach. KUN yomi
reading .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Stay dry (from alcohol) and wear a

nose plug if you tend to snore.
2944
curse, haunt
: exit; leave; go out; come out; put
out; protrude : show; indicate;
point out; express; display
cast a spell
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
Beings exit the spirit world through

the altar when you cast a spell.
SPOILER: The trophy in the
Triwizard Tournament was just for
show, in reality Barty Crouch Jr. had
cast a spell on the trophy so it would
be a Portkey that would make
anyone who touched it exit the
school grounds and teleport to the
graveyard where Voldemort was
waiting.
2945
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

thousand
kilometer
If you mark each meter with a grain
of rice, after 1,000 grains of rice you
have measured out a kilometre.
A kilometer is made of one thousand
meters.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2946
: rice; USA; metre : rin;

1/10sen; 1/10bu
centimeter
A rin of a meter is a centimeter.
Centimeter is spelt the American
way. As mantixen says, it is a rin of
a meter.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
2947
: rice; USA; metre : fur;

hair; feather; down
millimeter
The portion of a meter the width of
fur is a millimeter.
RICE and cheap FUR are about 1
MILLIMETER thick.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2948
: mouth : suddenly;
immediately; in a hurry
ton
Unsuccessful dieter's excuse: "If I
put anything in my mouth, I
immediately put on a ton.".
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A mouth that says things

immediately without thinking gets
into a ton of trouble.
2949
: mouth : ri; village;

mile
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
Mouth, computer: The mouth on my

navigation computer tells me it's
only a mile left to my destination.
A computer with a mouth could talk
a mile a minute.
2950
: water : ri; village; parent's

home; league
keyword:
nautical mile
Story1:
Water, computer: Some water leaked

into my navigation computer and
now it expresses all distances in
nautical miles. Very annoying!!
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
A ri on water is about a nautical mile.

2951
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: mouth : measurement;
foot/10
inch
If you GLUE your MOUTH shut,
you can't open it one INCH.
To glue your mouth shut it only
takes an inch of it.
2952
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mouth : shaku; Japanese

feet
Mouth, shakuhachi: The hookers
mouth was huge and also she was
very skilled in 'shakuhachi': she
could hold up to one foot.
Whenever my girlfriend puts a
footlong in her mouth I want her to
give me a shakuhachi.
2953
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Sanskrit, purity, Buddhist

: grove; forest : mediocre
brahman
Story1:
This is a Brahman, a fully

enlightened one. He's sitting in front
of a grove of trees, legs open (looks
like wind), just meditating. You run
up to him asking him all sorts of
crazy questions, and he looks at you
and smiles. "Brah, man, just chill,
man. Braaaaah#." Apparently he's a
surfer brahman. You ask him the
meaning of life, and he smiles, and
waits...waits...waits...until a bit of
wind blows by. He lets out a small
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Brahman who are mediocre don't get

the sweet meditation spots on the
beach. Instead, they have to settle for
a grove of trees.
2954
steep
(no. 170) : other
Shakyamuni Buddha
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At the pinnacle of enlightenment,

Shakyamuni Buddha had the ability
to bend common household spoons.
Shakyamuni Buddha sits in his
house at the pinnacle.
2955
Buddha
component:
strokes:
keyword:

140) : hill; mound; left village
radical (no. 170) : products;
bear; give birth; yield; childbirth;
native; property
bodhisattva
Story1:
[+megaqwerty] This is the

Bodhisattva, who wants to help
release the wicked from the painful
cycle of life. Of course, the most
vain and wicked are the pathetic
lamers in the Pinnacle. He goes to
register to stand at the station and
hand out products. The registrar "Okay, buddy, what are you
selling?" "Nothing," he says. "I am
giving out physical products to
entice true enlightment." "Whatever,
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Flower, pinnacle, product: I didn't

understand the terrorist:
bodhisattva... body fatwa? Hmm..
just to be sure, I gave him the booby
trap flower (a product of the
Pinnacle). Later, I learned that
bodhisattva is someone who
postpones his or her own
enlightenment to help others. Oops...
2956
kind of grass, sacred tree
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

140) : stand up; rise; set up;
erect : mouth
bo tree
The flower shop has put a muzzle on
Bo Derek and is selling her as a bo
tree.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
A wannabe buddhist buys a tree and

tries to give it to Buddha as a gift,
"Yo Bo, 'sup, I got yo a tree!"
Buddha gracefully accepts the gift
and gives him a flower in return to
shut him up (muzzle him).
2957
: mouth : Asia; rank next;

come after; -ous
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
babble
Babble is what comes out of Asian
people's mouths until you learn their
language.
The kanji has the meanings of
"mute" () and "speechless"
(), like "dumb" used to ("struck
dumb" etc). Asian mouth is mute in
a way, because they don't babble so
much as they do in some parts of the
world.
2958
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
(used phonetically)
include; Canada : walk;
162)
Sanskrit ka
You wanna drive a Sanskrit ka? Just
add it to the road.
Story2:
heisig:
Ford didn't know what to call their

next car, and it was ready to be
released. A quick-witted Indian
employee thought to himself, "why
don't they just call it the 'car', so they
can get this show on the road?" He
raised his hand at the meeting and
said, "I propose we call it the Ford
Ka. No, not like 'car', the Sanskrit ka
invokes a sense of reliability, safety,
performance and beauty. Add to that
the fact that nobody will forget its
2959
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
what?
7
interrogative
If you arrive with two swords at the
city walls, expect some
interrogatives before theyll let you
in.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
Interrogation at the city walls: "Any

weapons, question mark." "Just a
blade." "Why the two scratches on
the blade, question mark." "To
remind me that I cut off my other ear
too, exclamation mark (exclamation
(#2680)).".
2960
pupil (eye), moo (cow sound)

(no. 28) : cow
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
moo
If you elbow a cow it's will moo. (or
alternatively, a cow mooing, the
sound being somewhat like ).
Turns out that raulir is correct,
According to RTK2[2nd ed. Frame
41] this is the root of the katakana
.
2961
ornamental hairpin
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: jewel; ball : add; addition;

increase; join; include; Canada
jeweled hairpin
To cut down on ries, the king
adds a jeweled hairpin to his coffee
rather than sugar.
When the Jewish king added jewels
to his jeweled hairpin he was lauded.
When the Palestinian king put beads
on his beaded hairpin (#2963) he
was jailed.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2962
string of many pearls

: jewel; ball : un-; mistake;
negative; injustice; nonbeaded hairpin
The king is in the jail cell and is
trying to escape by picking the lock
with his beaded hairpin.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Every king wants to add a jewelled

hairpin to their collection of crown
jewels. No kings want beaded
hairpins though, because they're
uncool.
2963
Japanese cypress
: tree; wood : meet; party;
association; interview; join
Japanese cypress [old]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
It used to be that for a meeting [old]

you'd meet for a day to get the small
details pent in. Even then such
meetings were still held under the
Japanese cypress [old].
You wait as days pass, pent in a little
wooden cage, until you are
summoned for a meeting with the
old Japanese Cypress in which she
sets you free.
2964
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: car : thread :
thread : mouth
bridle's bit
This is a picture of a horse cart ()
from which the reins () go to the
mouth () of the horse, in which is
the bit.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
A bridle's bit was put in the mouth

of the horse and connected by two
threads back to the horse-drawn car.
2965
abyss, edge, deep pool, the depths

: water : katakana no
radical (no. 4) : number one;
line; rod radical (no. 2)
abyss [old]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The abyss [old] used to be the water

you were pushed into if you lost in
the arm wrestling match. (the
primitive to the right screams two
guys arm wrestling on a table, any
one else see it?).
Be careful on the suspension bridge
lest you fall into the water of the
abyss [old].
2966
5, 5-man squad, file, line
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : five
V
Mr T knows that the Roman
Numeral for five is V.
Yoda figured out what the V in V for
Vendetta meant within the first 5
minutes. He ain't no fool.
2967
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
: person : ten
X
Mr T also knows that the Roman
Numeral for ten is X.
Mr. T gives ten reasons he looks up
to Malcolm X, then wonders out
loud what happened to the other IX
Malcolms.
2968
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
10000
140) : long-tailed monkey
ten thousand [old]
Story1:
Story2:
This is actually the old ten thousand

yen bill in Japan - Jiminy Cricket
surrounded by a wreath of flowers.
It's pretty uncommon to see
nowadays since it was only in print
for a few days immediately after the
war (MacArthur wanted a way to
make sure that even the rich kept
their atrocities in their consciences).
Your flowers will not be safe if ten
thousand [old] Jiminy Crickets come
to town.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2969
: ten thousand; 10,000 :

(no. 162)
pass through
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I see lots of 10,000 yen notes just

lying on the road and think, "Should
I stop and pick them up?" But then I
realise they are old 10,000's (i.e.
worthless) and decide Ill just pass
through.
I wonder if I can pass through this
old road, it looks 10000 years old.
2970
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: display; offer; present; send;

exhibit : walk; walking; road
tough
Tough guys like to display there
force on the road.
An especially TOUGH form of
discipline was used in old Japan.
Criminals would be tied up or
crucified on posts and put on
DISPLAY and their blood would
DROP onto the ROAD.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
2971
nonstandard for J825

: fire : ascend; climb up
lamp [old]
In old style street lamps, to light the
fire you had to ascend them.
Fire can ascend from the ground and
hang in a lamp [old].
2972
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
reverse, inside, palm, sole, rear,

lining, wrong side
: garment; clothes;
dressing : ri; village; parent's
home; league
back [old]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
In the old days, instead of having a

micro-computer sewn into the suit of
the master spy, a whole computer
was carried in the back of his cloak,
although it was clearly obvious that
he was a spy. "What's that um..
enormous computer doing in the
back your cloak?".
Prior to donning a hat and cloak to
protect his back, the evil cyborg
simply kept a cloak to the side to
protect his back [old].
2973
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
garden, yard, farm

140) : park; garden; yard; farm
park [alternate]
Parks in Japan are designed around
water, rocks and trees. A park with
flowers is considered to be an
alternate park.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In the old days parks had more

flowers.
2974
: gold : for the first time;

not until
shop [alternate]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
At an alternative shop you can buy

strange items like metal dogtags
from wars, active grenades, torture
sets, etc.
Understandable that the alternate
shop is more successful than the
regular shop (#1839): trendy
metal motif instead of that dingy
cottage look.
2975
island
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: mountain : bird; chicken

island [alternate]
Mountain, bird: On the alternative
island, birds could just breed beside
the mountains instead of upon one.
The hippies didn't do any harm.
The bird got tired of the mountain he
lived on, so now he's flying away
searching for an alternative island.
2976
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
peak, summit
: mountain : winter radical
(no. 34) : three :
summit [alternate]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The alternative summit is so steep

that the mountain is above you rather
than beside you. People usually just
go with the regular summit.
Mountain, walking through the
bushes: The hippies didn't want to
climb the entire mountain and
decided to go to the 'alternative
summit' which involved walking
through the bushes below the
mountain.
2977
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
rock, crag, boulder

: mountain : stern;
strictness; severity; rigidity
boulder [old]
Mountain, stern: Below the
mountain, a stern owl was sitting on
an old boulder. 'Don't go up there', it
said. 'There's danger of old boulders
rolling down'.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A stern mountain ready to send [old]

boulders down at climbers.
2978
: grove; forest : soil; earth;

ground; Turkey
plains [old]
A grove now grows on the soil of
[old] plains.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The old plains natives continue to

inhabit the groves & work the soil.
The lucky ones are helped by their
daughters & sons who work the new
plains (#1596) on computers &
know already beforehand to whom
& what they owe their joy.
2979
mansion, large building, palace
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: inn; hut; house; mansion :

bureaucrat; the government
Bldg. [old]
When the bureaucrat first moved to
his [old] Bldg., people walking by
under umbrellas would secretly stick
their tongue out at him, wishing he
hadn't retired from being a musical
maestro.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
In the old building there used to be

no water fountains, so the
bureaucrats would lick water off
their umbrellas with their tongues.
Thankfully, water fountains are now
installed.
2980
dragon, imperial
erect : month; moon
keyword:
Story1:
dragon [old]
An ancient Japanese dragon,
beautiful and terrifying. Here it is
depicted standing on a piece of meat
(its prey) and a description is written
on the right margin. It is said to be
like a snake that has three toes on its
feet and can sometimes use its head
as a flamethrower (kind of like a
sling, but with fire instead of
stones). (Note: The Japanese dragon
has three toes, unlike other Asian
dragons. Asian dragons generally
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
(insp by raulir) The ancient Japanese

Dragon, now extinct, is depicted in a
book of lore STANDING on a pile
of freshly slaughtered MEAT. The
column describes how the last
Japanese Dragon was killed by a
party of adventurers, who struck its
SNAKE body simultaneously with a
SLINGSHOT and THREE swords.
2981
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

(no. 40) : dragon; imperial
patronage
House, dragon [old]: The house of
the old dragon was filled with art
pieces: he was very active in
patronage, i.e. supporting artists. (He
had to do something with his hoard).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
A Chinese dragon's house enjoys a

lot of patronage from would-be
disciples.
2982
: dragon; imperial : ear

deafness
A Chinese dragon flying overhead
can cause deafness to your ears.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
When the old dragon roared into my

ears I suffered from a little deafness.
2983
: longing; covetousness; greed;

passion; desire; craving :
61)
longing [old]
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The old longing is a longing

(#792) of the heart.
As you get old, you develop a
longing for a new heart.
2984
range, reach, extend, cover

: mutually; reciprocally;
together : pig's head radical
variant (no. 58) : dot; tick or
dot radical (no. 3) : dot; tick
or dot radical (no. 3)
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
span [old]
I drop two five cent pieces on the
ground, and a span of old homeless
men coming diving in my direction.
In olden times, the span of a day
seemed different when it looked like
it was going to rain.
2985
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:

in life : ward; district
body [old]
I may have an old body, but I am
somebody in this ward (in this ward
I am somebody).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
An old body of somebody was found

in Minato ku, killed by a hinge
(#1697) gun in a drive (#1983)by shooting. Note that this took
place on the West side (i.e., left side,
for placement of the non-ward
primitive). It is on the East side that
the seagull (#2828) lives, plotting
her assault (#1698) on Europe
(#1699).
2986
peak
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
: mountain : prison; jail

Point [old]
A long time ago the Monkey King
was kept in prison under a mountain
Point.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
It's an old point to say that land

developers don't always provide full
disclosure. Brochures touting the
'New Point', an artificial hill atop the
mountain, fail to mention the
notorious prison on the Old Point
just below.
2987
country
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

box : some; one; or; possibly;
a certain
country [old]
Russia, an old country, has everyone
pent-in and drinking vodka saying
"aaaaaaaaa". See mantixen's story, a
(#2091).
It used to be you were pent in by a
certain country. Now we have global
travel and dual citizenships.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2988
: meat : one; one radical

(no.1) : curving river radical
(no.47) : craft; construction;
shin
Story1:
[+brian44] is right - so I'll try using

the right primitive as sewers. I've
been using Ninja Turtles and stuff
though, so I'll have to use this as a
series of narrow, long, lead pipes
that bring floods of water to the city.
Here, someone has taken a lead
sewer pipe and hit you in the part of
your flesh that is most vulnerable to
impact: your shin (after years of
soccer/football, I can't think of the
word shin without thinking of pain).
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
The body part that gets wet when

you wade through the sewers (a
crafted flood underneath the ground)
is your shin (thanks brian44).
2989
strong
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:

curving river radical (no.47) :
craft; construction; katakana e
radical (no. 48) : power;
formidable
The powerful stench coming from
the sewers is formidable.
The legendary barge (see shin
(#2989)) owned by Cleopatra was a
symbol of her formidable power.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2990
paper, label, letter, composition

: bamboo : damage;
remain; slight
14
stationary
Note: the spelling should be
stationery (= paper, office supplies),
not stationary (= not moving). The
error is in the original book.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
The two fiestas communicated to

each other on their respective floats
by using bamboo stationery.
2991
enshrine, worship
express; display : sign of the
snake or serpent; 9-11AM; sixth sign
of Chinese zodiac
enshrine
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Old evil altar, sign of snake: In the

ancient temple, they found and old
evil altar with the sign of the snake
imprinted on it. What evil could be
enshrined within it???
An altar with the sign of the snake
etched into it enshrines a serpent god.
2992
component:
strokes:
keyword:

express; display : dog :
katakana no radical (no. 4)
exorcism
Story1:
Old evil altar, chihuahua with extra

leg: They opened up the old evil
altar in the ancient temple. Nothing
inside. But suddenly, their
chihuahua grew an extra leg, and
started speaking in a strange
language. Time for an exorcism, one
would say.
Story2:
When grandma's chihuahua

developed the extra leg we thought
an exorcism in order. We did it on a
very old altar. It was not successful.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
2993
hesitate
renowned; publish; write;
remarkable; phenomenal; put on;
don; wear; arrival; finish (race);
counter for suits of clothing; literary
work
dither
Story1:
People with wooden legs are

renowned for dithering over whether
to decorate them with a drop of paint
or not.
Story2:
heisig:
Make the story as you need, but

hesitate (#2996) and this kanji
dither (#2994) mean the same
thing and are used as a unit
exclusively.....
()=
()= hesitate, falter,
waver. (Heisig RTK2 error:
does not mean 'warning') My stupid
suggestion for a story: Give flowers
to your Peg-Legged love doll. If you
diddle (I mean dither) her, maybe
2994
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
longevity, congratulations
Turkey : craft; construction;
katakana e radical (no. 48) :
one; one radical (no.1) :
mouth : measurement; foot/10
longevity [old]
Story1:
A samurai wearing a broken crown

crafted an inch-thick floor under
which to hide with his mouth glued,
giving him longevity as his enemies
failed to find him.
Story2:
heisig:
This is an old samurai who's seen a

lot of longevity. He has been sitting
in the same spot, on his torn Burger
King Crown, for ages. He's
something of a local landmark, so
when a construction site is set up
around him, they simply put a
ceiling over his head and build
around him. A gum company puts
him in their CM for Longevity Gum.
In the CM, he eats a stick of gum
and rambles something foreign (he's
2995
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
hesitate
longevity; congratulations
hesitate
I hesitate to have a wooden leg fitted
as I'm not sure how it will affect my
longevity.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
The man suffering from gangrene

hesitated a bit, but knew he'd have to
choose the peg leg if he wanted
longevity.
2996
same kind
58) : wa-shaped crown radical
(no. 14) : fruit; reward; carry
succeed
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
13
glossary
People who read the glossary are
mutually exclusive (exclude the top
line of mutually (#757) ) from those
who eat crowned fruit
same kind .
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
I was having mutual difficulties in

my relationship. She was always the
one wearing the crown and I was the
one picking the fruit. In order to fix
the problem I checked the glossary
for "mutual difficulties" but found
nothing. I guess were going to have
to mutually end our relationship.
2997
bean-jam dumpling, manjuu
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
: eat; food : wide; beautiful

bean jam
A bit of old food is stuck on one of
my mandalas. What could it be? I
scrape it off and taste it . . . Hmm,
bean jam, I reckon.
Steamed bean jam dumplings were
invented as a form of Chinese takeout that could be eaten while
meditating on a mandala (thanks
dihutenosa).
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
2998
: mouth : ward; district

retch
The mouth on the left eats a whole
box full of goods and then starts to
retch them out again.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
In my grandmother's attic, I found a

box of goods from WWII. I put some
in my mouth and started to retch.
2999
snapping turtle
defeated : green frog; industry
snapping turtle
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
The snapping turtle is ordering lunch

at a restaurant, "I'll have the
shredded old eel -- and make it
snappy!". (Picture the waiter putting
old eels through the shredder before
serving them).
(Note: Bottom means Green frog
/industry. Check your Japanese
dictionary.) Story - The Snapping
turtle eats through green frogs like a
shredder eats through paper.
3000
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
undergo, answer (phone), take, get,

catch
mouth : complete; finish
go smoothly
It's a tall order, but we can complete
it if things go smoothly.
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
Remember the Tall & Wide

Receiver from receive (#308)?
Things have gone pretty smoothly in
his life. He's grown up, graduated,
and now is a COMPLETE man,
TALL and respected as his life and
career go smoothly on to great things.
3001
urge to eat
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: person : possess; have;

exist; happen; occur; approx
condone
Person-possession (i.e. slavery)
cannot be condoned.
Mr T doesn't condone possession of
drugs.
3002
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
: tree; wood : I; my; our;

one's own
parasol tree
If I could be a tree, I'd be a parasol
tree to give others shade.
A parasol tree can be closed like a
parasol. It is then shaped like the
letter "I", i.e. an "I-tree" = .
3003
respect, revere, long for
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
: gold : lack; gap; fail;

circumspect
The Golden Rule: "He who has the
gold, makes the rules." Those who
lack gold must remain circumspect.
If you show a lot of gold when you
yawn, then you need to be more
circumspect because a criminal
might yank your teeth out.
3004
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
shine
(no. 22) : sign of the snake or
serpent; 9-11AM; sixth sign of
Chinese zodiac : fire
cheer
Story1:
Story2:
heisig:
onyomi:
The slave, despite being thrown over

a fire and getting horribly deformed,
and getting bit by a full-grown snake
so badly it left a permanent slit,
managed to survive and tell the tale.
You can't help but cheer for him.
Picture a deformed retainer with a
sign of the snake tattoo working at a
barbecue (fire) behind the bar in tv
series "Cheer(s)".
3005
english:
rake
component:
strokes:
keyword:
: upside-down box radical (no. 13)
Story1:
Story2:
and then
If you lose your comb, there is no
point just hoping it will turn up. You
must carefully comb the whole
house looking for it, and then you
will find it.
First it was a mask, and then it
became a comb.
heisig:
onyomi:
english:
component:
strokes:
keyword:
Story1:
Story2:
3006
law, commandments, regulations

: hand : determine; fix;
establish; decide
mandate
Congratulations. Now get into that
AJATT!
Mandates are often decided by a
show of hands, but in this case is
finger-determined.
heisig:
3007

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onyomi:

To learn this one kanji, I recommend

I imagine a giant devouring a human

Warning - naughty reminder A

Two needles crossing marks the

day, sun, Japan

Open the window, new day.

Am I the only one who sees this as

rice field, rice paddy

eye, class, look, insight, experience,

I, my, our, one's own

risk, face, defy, dare, damage,

: day; sun; Japan; counter for

: day; sun; Japan; counter for

chant, recite, call upon, yell

sparkle, clear, crystal

goods, refinement, dignity, article,

Three hungry mouths waiting for the

The spine goes from one opening

prosperous, bright, clear

: day; sun; Japan; counter for

I kept getting this mixed up with

rising sun, morning sun

generation, world, society, public

They SAY a generation is

stomach, paunch, crop, craw

: rice field; rice paddy<br>:

nightbreak, dawn, morning

: day; sun; Japan; counter for

It may be easier to think of the

gall bladder, courage, pluck, nerve

: two; two radical (no.2)<br>:

concave, hollow, sunken

convex, beetle brow, uneven

old times, old things, old friend,

To use an eyedropper by oneself,

Even a small drop () of the sun ()

That dirty ceiling was painted

in, inside, middle, mean, center

My GF lets me come in her mouth

One T = one thousand.

tongue, reed, clapper

Kissing a thousand mouths

measuring box, 1.8 liter

I can fit a thousand needles into my

This kanji does not mean "get up" or

round, full, month, perfection, -ship,

Watch out for plump (#120). Here

specialty, exclusive, mainly, solely

10 brains glued together allows you

Dr., command, esteem, win acclaim,

Ten specialties grants you the title of

fortune telling, divine, forecast,

Above all else, be grounded if you

below, down, descend, give, low,

Roots are below the ground.

eminent, table, desk, high

The most eminent magician is he

morning, dynasty, regime, epoch,

only, free, in addition

upright, chastity, constancy,

employee, member, number, the one