Mastering Japanese Kanji

Volume 1
By Jeremiah Bourque
http://learnoutlive.com/japanese
 About The Author
• Jeremiah Bourque is a blogger, author,
linguist, philosopher, and student of
strategy (Sun Tzu and so forth). A former
Japanese to English translator who has
turned to education to help others help
themselves.
 Table of Contents
• How To Use This Booklet – 4
• Kanji Section – 7
• Important Common Adjectives – 43
• Special Guest Compound – 44
• Verbs For This Lesson – 46
• Sentence Exercise Section – 51
• Free Sentence Evaluation Offer – 65
 How To Use This Booklet
• This booklet provides a reference for the
first lesson in the “Mastering Japanese
Kanji” series.
• The first lesson is free. Others are not.
• Each kanji comes with a beautifully large,
wood background slide for visual power,
and an explanation page displaying
readings, core meaning, and etymology
(background of the character).
 Teaching Philosophy
1. FOCUS on a limited number of kanji.
2. VISUAL POWER to create a visceral
connection to the symbol.
3. EXPLANATION to get the logical part of
the brain involved.
4. PRACTICE makes perfect.
5. EXPANSION in small increments.
 Online Exercises
• In the future, this book can be used with
online exercises at:
http://learnoutlive.com/japanese
• While you can always flip around and look
only at the big kanji, these images can be
easily used as part of a flashcard-like
training process.
• Read further in this booklet for more
information about sentence exercises.
 (The Kanji)
• (1) “On” Reading (2) “Kun” Reading
• (3) Core Meaning of the Kanji
• (4) Etymology (background) of the Kanji
• (5) Examples, If Space Permits
 日
• On: ニチ・ジツ (nichi/ jitsu). Kun: ひ (hi).
• Core Meaning: Sun.
• A pictograph of the sun, and its reflection
on water as the sun rises. (The Pacific
Ocean is to the East of China…)
• 日々 ( ひび、 hibi): Day by Day (or: Daily,
Everyday)
 木
• On: ボク・モク (boku/ moku). Kun: き (ki).
• Core Meaning: Tree.
• This kanji is, quite simply, a pictograph of
a tree large enough that its branches offer
shelter to creatures beneath it.
• 木馬 ( もくば、 mokuba): Tree + Horse =
Wooden Horse, such as those used in
gymnastics; or, The Trojan Horse.
 土
• On: ド・ト (do/ to). Kun: つち (tsuchi).
• Core Meaning: Soil.
• A pictograph of piled soil.
• I prefer not to use the word earth, not
because it is incorrect, but because of
easy confusion with “The Earth” which is
related to a different kanji.
 月
• On: ゲツ・ガツ (getsu/ gatsu). Kun: つき
(tsuki).
• Core Meaning: Moon.
• This is a pictograph of a shimmering
crescent moon.
• Because Asian nations were originally on
lunar calendars, this kanji is also used to
indicate months.
 森
• On: シン (shin). Kun: もり (mori).
• Core Meaning: Forest.
• In kanji, a group of three indicates “many.”
Thus, this kanji indicates many trees,
meaning a dense forest, something larger
and grander than a grove.
• This kanji is used as part of many
Japanese names.
 空
• On: クウ (kuu). Kun: そら・から (sora/
kara).
• Core Meaning: Sky/ Empty.
• The kanji itself is “a hole” above “a
connecting pipe.” Thus, it represents the
empty space inside a hollow tube.
• 空 ( そら、 sora): Sky. The “empty” space
above us all.
 風
• On: フ・フウ (fu/ fuu). Kun: かぜ (kaze).
• Core Meaning: Wind.
• This is an insect ( 虫 ) being fluttered by
the wind as if it is a cloth (the other part of
the kanji).
• As a suffix, “fuu” is a figurative term for
style (the figurative flow of the air).
 水
• On: スイ (sui). Kun: みず (mizu).
• Core Meaning: Water.
• This is a pictograph of water following a
winding course across low ground.
• 水色 ( みずいろ、 mizuiro): Lit.: The Color
of Water. Fig.: Light Blue.
 Stand-Alone Readings 1
• 日 ( にち )
• 木 (き)
• 土 ( つち )
• 月 ( つき )
• 森 ( もり )
• 空 ( そら )
• 風 ( かぜ )
• 水 ( みず )
 Stand-Alone Readings #1
• 日 ( にち、 nichi)
• 木 ( き、 ki)
• 土 ( つち、 tsuchi)
• 月 ( つき、 tsuki)
• 森 ( もり、 mori)
• 空 ( そら、 sora)
• 風 ( かぜ、 kaze)
• 水 ( みず、 mizu)
 山
• On: サン･セン (san/ sen). Kun: やま
(yama).
• Core Meaning: Mountain.
• This is a pictograph of a finely chiseled
mountain.
• 山々 ( やまやま、 yamayama): (Figurative)
Mountains of something. (For example,
mountains of cash.)
 川
• On: セン (sen). Kun: かわ (kawa).
• Core Meaning: River.
• This represents not only a gentle river
boring its way through the earth, but the
channel that the water creates in the
process.
• 川下 ( かわしも、 kawashimo): River +
Down = Downstream.
 天
• On: テン (ten). Kun: あまつ・あめ・あま
(amatsu/ ame/ ama).
• Core Reading: Heaven.
• A line above an outstretched person (the
usual character for big, 大 ) indicating
what is grander than grand, vaster than
vast, i.e. the heavens. The “on” reading
can be used even if the kanji is stand-
alone.
 気
• On: キ・ケ (ki/ ke). Kun: いき (iki).
• Core Meaning: Breath.
• Vapor + Rice, such as the vapor rising
from steamed rice, used for the concept of
breath. However, this is figurative breath:
the breath of life, the spirit, vitality, and
mood. This kanji can be read stand-alone
as “ki” (which is uncommon).
 石
• On: セキ・シャク・コク (seki/ shaku/ koku).
Kun: いし (ishi).
• Core Meaning: Stone.
• This is a stone at the base of a cliff. This
kanji is used for things like cobblestones,
not boulders.
• 隕石 ( いんせき、 inseki): Fall + Stone = A
Meteorite.
 岩
• On: ガン (gan). Kun: いわ (iwa).
• Core Meaning: Rock.
• A simplified version of a mountain with
many rocks strewn about. This implies
larger and less tidy objects than stones.
• 岩穴 ( いわあな、 iwaana): Rock + Hole =
Cavern or Grotto.
 雨
• On: ウ (u). Kun: あめ・あま (ame/ ama).
• Core Meaning: Rain.
• A modern version of a pictograph showing
rain falling from the heavens. (Note the
top, horizontal line such as in 天 .)
• 雨雲 ( あまぐも、 amagumo): Rain + Cloud
= Raincloud.
 雪
• On: セツ (setsu). Kun: ゆき (yuki).
• Core Meaning: Snow.
• This combines rain ( 雨 ) with “a broom,”
for snow is something that sweeps in and
cleanses the earth, eliminating filth. (This
kanji comes from pre-industrialization!)
• 雪白 ( せっぱく、 seppaku): Snow + White
= Snow White, pure, immaculate.
 Stand-Alone Readings #2
• 山 ( やま、 yama)
• 川 ( かわ、 kawa)
• 天 ( てん、 ten)
• 気 ( き、 ki)
• 石 ( いし、 ishi)
• 岩 ( いわ、 iwa)
• 雨 ( あめ、 ame)
• 雪 ( ゆき、 yuki)
 Important Common Adjectives
• 小さい ( ちいさい、 chiisai, small)
• 大きい ( おおきい、 ookii, large)
• 中々 ( なかなか、 nakanaka, so-so)
• 少し ( すこし、 sukoshi, a little/ a bit)
• 多く ( おおく、 ooku, many)
• 太い ( ふとい、 futoi, fat)
 Special Guest Compound
• 天気 ( てんき、 tenki): Weather.
• Heaven + Breath. The breath of heaven.
• 気 is used for many figurative
expressions. It is the “ki” in “kibun” for
mood. Thus, we might see it as
disposition: the disposition (or mood) of
heaven.
 Key Verb:
見る ( みる )
• 見る (miru). To See.
• Not to be confused with 見える (mieru, to
be visible) or 見せる (miseru, to show).
• Conjugations follow in katakana: 
 見る
• Plain Present: 見る ( みる )
• Polite Present: 見ます ( みます )
• Plain Past: 見た ( みた )
• Polite Past: 見ました ( みました )
• Plain Negative: 見ない ( みない )
• Polite Negative: 見ません ( みません )
• Plain Neg. Past: 見なかった ( みなかった )
 見る
• Polite Neg. Past: 見ませんでした ( みませ
んでした）
• Continuative: 見て ( みて )
• Conditional: 見れば ( みれば )
• Volitional: 見よう ( みよう )
• Passive & Potential: 見られる ( みられる )
• Causative: 見させる ( みさせる )
• Imperative: 見ろ ( みろ )
 Other Verbs
For This Lesson
• 行く ( いく、 iku, To Go)
• 戻る ( もどる、 modoru, To Go Back)
• 帰る ( かえる、 kaeru, To Return)
• 来る ( くる、 kuru, To Come)
• 歩く ( あるく、 aruku, To Walk)
 Sentence Practices
• “Mastering Japanese Kanji” was originally
meant for intermediate students seeking to
master kanji that had been learned, but
which were “floating around” in the head.
• This is an extremely common problem
that has not been adequately addressed
by most books and programs.
• This section is meant to prod the student
to form his or her own sentences.
 Help For Beginners
• Those who are not intermediate students,
or who are still uncomfortable with
Japanese sentence structure, go right
ahead and visit:
http://learnoutlive.com/japanese
• The tutoring offered runs from Zero to
Hero, complete beginner status on up.
Field-tested lessons are available to
provide real help for the real world.
 The Mixed Language Method
• It’s simply not possible to master basic
kanji and have all the words we would
want to go with these kanji ready for
action. Therefore, we must substitute
English as required, chiefly in two areas:
• 1. Verbs
• 2. Nouns
• We will, however, strive to respect
Japanese grammar at all times.
 Readings Recap #1
• 日 ( にち、 nichi)
• 木 ( き、 ki)
• 土 ( つち、 tsuchi)
• 月 ( つき、 tsuki)
• 森 ( もり、 mori)
• 空 ( そら、 sora)
• 風 ( かぜ、 kaze)
• 水 ( みず、 mizu)
 Readings Recap, #2
• 山 ( やま、 yama)
• 川 ( かわ、 kawa)
• 天 ( てん、 ten)
• 気 ( き、 ki)
• 石 ( いし、 ishi)
• 岩 ( いわ、 iwa)
• 雨 ( あめ、 ame)
• 雪 ( ゆき、 yuki)
 Important Common Adjectives
• 小さい ( ちいさい、 chiisai, small)
• 大きい ( おおきい、 ookii, large)
• 中々 ( なかなか、 nakanaka, so-so)
• 少し ( すこし、 sukoshi, a little/ a bit)
• 多く ( おおく、 ooku, many)
• 太い ( ふとい、 futoi, fat)
 Verbs For This Lesson
• 見る ( みる、 miru, To See)
• 行く ( いく、 iku, To Go)
• 戻る ( もどる、 modoru, To Go Back)
• 帰る ( かえる、 kaeru, To Return)
• 来る ( くる、 kuru, To Come)
• 歩く ( あるく、 aruku, To Walk)
 Fill In The Blanks
• In this section, I (the sensei) will offer up a
sentence with a ____.
• That is, a blank.
• You will be called upon to fill this blank (or
blanks, multiple) with the vocabulary you
have been striving to retain and master.
• Our default character for sentence
purposes is named Hiroshi.
 Hiroshi Looks
• Hiroshi looks at the ____.
• There are many valid answers from this
lesson. You can try to fill this blank with
any of the possibilities, and try this
multiple times to remember the stand-
alone readings of the kanji.
 Hiroshi Saw
• Hiroshi saw the ___ and ___.
 Hiroshi Is Looking At
• Hiroshi is looking at the ___ ___.
 Hiroshi Went To
• Hiroshi は ____ に行きました。
 Hiroshi Walks To
• Hiroshi は ___ ___ に歩く。
 Free-Form Sentences
• You can use Hiroshi, or any 1st person
pronoun, to create your own sentences as
well. Why not try it out? 
• When you’re ready, read on: 
 Free Sentence Evaluations
• If you are a reader and Japanese student
and have formed your own sentences,
why not give the author a look for a free
evaluation?
• Subject to a reasonable limit (5 to 10)
• Constructive criticism only 
• jeremiahbourque@gmail.com
 Master Japanese
One Step At A Time
• Please consider Learn Out Live’s
Japanese department for your Japanese
learning needs.
• http://learnoutlive.com/japanese
• Thank you very much.