Final_Simplified_Kanji_Mnemonics Flashcards
男
Man, male.
The kanji 男 combines 田 (field) and 力 (power). Imagine a man working hard in the rice field, showing his strength and masculinity.
Onyomi (だん): Picture a “DANdy” man working in the fields.
Onyomi (なん): Think of a “macho NAN” (grandfather figure) who works tirelessly in the fields.
Kunyomi (おとこ): A strong 男 (man) says, “Oh, TO COmpete, I must work harder!”
子
Child.
The kanji 子 looks like a child with outstretched arms.
Onyomi (し): Imagine a “SHy child” hiding behind their parent.
Onyomi (す): Think of a “SUper cute” baby.
Kunyomi (こ): A child loves to play with KOlorful toys.
性
Gender, nature, essence.
性 combines 忄 (heart/mind) and 生 (life). Gender and nature are part of one’s heart and life.
Onyomi (せい): Imagine gender as part of your “SElf Identity.”
Onyomi (しょう): Gender is also a “SHOw” of one’s true essence.
Kunyomi: -
電
Electricity.
Onyomi: でん (den)
Kunyomi: (No common kunyomi)
電 combines 雨 (rain) and 申 (lightning). Imagine a thunderstorm with lightning powering everything around you.
Onyomi (でん): Picture plugging in a “DEN of devices” to an electric outlet.
辞
Resign, word, expression.
Onyomi: じ (ji)
Kunyomi: や (ya) (as in 辞める, to resign)
辞 combines 舌 (tongue) and 辛 (bitter). Resigning or using words can sometimes leave a bitter taste on your tongue.
Onyomi (じ): When you “JIve” with your decision, it’s easier to resign gracefully.
Kunyomi (や): Think of resigning as saying, “YAh, I’m done with this job!”
書
Write, document.
The kanji 書 depicts a hand holding a writing tool over paper.
Onyomi (しょ): Imagine a SHOrt story you’re writing in a document.
Kunyomi (か): When you write, you always “KArve” your thoughts into the paper.
先
Previous, ahead.
Onyomi: せん (sen)
Kunyomi: さき (saki)
先 depicts someone walking ahead of others (with 儿 as legs and a line representing their path).
Onyomi (せん): Imagine someone shouting “SENd me ahead!”
Kunyomi (さき): Picture pointing ahead and saying, “SAKI leads the way!”
生
Life, birth.
Onyomi: せい (sei), しょう (shō)
Kunyomi: い-きる (ikiru), う-まれる (umareru)
生 looks like a plant sprouting from the ground, symbolizing life and growth.
Onyomi (せい): Life is about finding your “SElf.”
Onyomi (しょう): Life “SHOwcases” growth.
Kunyomi (いきる): To live is to “IKI” through challenges.
Kunyomi (うまれる): Birth is the moment you’re “UMAre into the world.”
学
Study, learn.
Onyomi: がく (gaku)
Kunyomi: まな-ぶ (manabu)
学 resembles a roof covering a child learning something new (冖 over 子).
Onyomi (がく): Students carry “GAKu” (backpacks) to school to study.
Kunyomi (まなぶ): Imagine a student saying, “I study to MANAge my future.”
校
School.
Onyomi: こう (kō)
Kunyomi: (No common kunyomi)
校 combines 木 (tree) and 交 (mix/cross). Think of a school as a place where ideas grow (trees) and people mix (交).
Onyomi (こう): Schools are places where “KOhorts” of students learn together.
部
Section, Part
Onyomi: ぶ (bu)
Kunyomi: (No common kunyomi)
部 combines ⻖ (village) and 咅 (divide). Imagine dividing a village into sections or parts.
Onyomi (ぶ): Think of a department as a “BUbble” within an organization.
留
Stay, detain.
Onyomi: りゅう (ryū), る (ru)
Kunyomi: と-める (tomeru), と-まる (tomaru)
留 combines 田 (field) and 卯 (to stop). Imagine being stopped in a field and asked to stay.
Onyomi (りゅう): Imagine someone saying, “Stay here for RYUmors of the best view.”
Onyomi (る): To detain someone is to say, “RU not leaving yet?”
Kunyomi (とめる/とまる): “TO MERely stay is better than rushing.”
