Kanji - Level 14 - Vocab Flashcards
能力
Ability
Kanji: 能 ability + 力 power
Your ability power is what you can do. This is your ability. It is also your capability.
Reading: のうりょく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
約
About
Kanji: 約 promise
The kanji means promise, but the meaning of this word is about, which is a little different. Just think about promises. When you promise something you really need to follow through… but only about as much as you need to for the other person to be happy. Someone asks for a puppy for Christmas, and you get them a stuffed animal puppy. It’s approximately the promise you made. Close enough. wink
Reading: やく
The reading for this is actually the same one that you learned with the kanji, so no need to memorize anything new!
知り合い
Acquaintance
Kanji: 知 know + り + 合 suit + い
You’ve probably seen the words 知る and 合う by now. This is someone you “know” because you have “come together” before, but that’s pretty much it. You don’t really know them well, you just met them a couple times so you know who they are. This person is an acquaintance.
Reading: しりあい
The readings are that of 知る and 合う. So long as you know those words, you should be able to read this one too.
〜的
-al
Kanji: 的 target
This is a strange word, I’m afraid. You’ll have to bear with it. This, when added onto a word, is like adding an -al or a -like to the end of it—or when something is typical of something else. For example, add it onto 日本 (Japan) and you have “Japanese-like”, or “typically Japanese”. It’s a weird sort of modifying word that really depends on each situation it’s in. For now, just know this word means these things. We’ll start applying it to various words in the future, slowly but surely.
Reading: てき
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji, probably because this is usually added onto other words, making it behave like a jukugo.
周年
Anniversary
Kanji: 周 circumference + 年 year
When you wrap around the entire circumference of the year you’ve come back around to the start of it. This is the anniversary.
This word is commonly used with numbers, like 10周年 (10th anniversary), or combined with other words, like 周年事業 (anniversary project).
Reading: しゅうねん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
協会
Association
Kanji: 協 cooperation + 会 meet
When you meet for cooperation, you’re coming together to help each other. One form of this is when people form associations. They’re all cooperating and coming together to help each other and themselves.
Reading: きょうかい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
雰囲気
Atmosphere
Kanji: 雰 atmosphere + 囲 surround + 気 energy
The surrounding energy in the atmosphere is what makes up the atmosphere. I love it when it takes three kanji to represent what one of the three kanji already represents.
Reading: ふんいき
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
自動
Automatic
Kanji: 自 self + 動 move
Something that can move by its self is something that’s automatic.
Reading: じどう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
気持ち悪い
Bad feeling
Kanji: 気 energy + 持 hold + ち + 悪 bad + い
The 気持ち (feeling) is bad. So, you can imagine how you feel isn’t good, it’s a bad feeling. You’re feeling terrible, in fact.
Reading: きもちわるい
The readings come from the words 気持ち and 悪い. Hopefully you’ve seen both and can combine them together to know the reading automatically. No bad feelings with this word, right?
悪口
Bad-mouthing
Kanji: 悪 bad + 口 mouth
Your bad mouth produces nothing but bad-mouthing and trash-talk.
悪口 often targets someone’s character, appearance, or abilities, with the intention of hurting them or damaging their reputation, sometimes to their face, but often behind their back. It gives rise to unfavorable information that can spread through gossip.
Reading: わるぐち
The reading is the kun’yomi vocab readings for these two kanji, probably because this word is just two words put together into one (bad + mouth). Use your knowledge of the vocab words 悪い and 口 to learn the reading of this word.
Okay, I lied. You should actually do わるぐち instead. わるくち is possible, but the rendaku version is way more common. Sorry to say such bad things before.
骨
Bone
Kanji: 骨 bone
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ほね
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word: Take a look at your own bones. They have been upgraded with special technology, allowing you to hone (ほね) in on targets, then shoot your bones at them. Go ahead and imagine yourself using this crazy new bone technology. Wolverine is jealous.
骨折
Broken bone
Kanji: 骨 bone + 折 fold
When your bone breaks, you end up with, well, a broken bone or fracture.
Reading: こっせつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well. Just watch out because こつ is shortened to こっ here.
束
Bundle
Kanji: 束 bundle
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: たば
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word: You are counting your bundles. There are a lot of them, so you have to create tabs (たば) in your notebook to properly categorize everything. Imagine yourself doing this (physically creating the tabs in your notebook, even though your notebook didn’t come with tabs).
世話
Care
Kanji: 世 care + 話 talk
Older generations mostly talk about one thing: care. Everybody wants to receive care once they’re older, don’t they?
Reading: せわ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well. Just remember that 世 is せ here, and not せい!
人参
Carrot
Kanji: 人 person + 参 participate
What do you use to get a person to participate in something? A carrot, of course. You’ve heard of “the carrot and the stick,” right? So next time you want a person to participate, offer them a carrot.
Reading: にんじん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. You haven’t learned this reading for 参 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You’re craving a carrot, but you can’t seem to find any. You look in your fridge, in your garden, and even in the trash. Finally you give up your carrot search and sit down when… ouch! The carrot was in your jeans (じん) the whole time!
場合
Case
Kanji: 場 location + 合 suit
What location suits a situation the best? That always depends on the case or circumstance. You can’t know the suitability of the location until you have all the facts about the circumstances.
Reading: ばあい
This word uses the kun’yomi readings for both kanji. You haven’t learned this kun’yomi reading for 合 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
To know exactly what case or circumstance you’re dealing with, you keep a close eye (あい) on things. Imagine your eye really close up to the circumstances, trying to figuring out exactly what’s going on.
人格
Character
Kanji: 人 person + 格 status
Your person status is where you, yourself, are a person. This is more than skin deep, though, this is your status after all. This is your character and personality. What’s the status of your character? Good? Bad? Getting there?
Reading: じんかく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
周り
Circumference
Kanji: 周 circumference + り
This is the noun version of the kanji circumference, so it means circumference too.
Reading: まわり
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You really want to measure the circumference of something but there doesn’t seem to be anything round around. That’s when you remember, “Mah Walnuts! (まわ).” The walnuts in your pocket have an easy edge to measure.
芸人
Comedian
Kanji: 芸 art + 人 person
What is the greatest art a person can possess? It’s got to be the art of making people laugh. That’s why this means comedian, though it can also mean a performer or entertainer more generally.
Reading: げいにん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
完全
Complete
Kanji: 完 perfect + 全 all
When something is all perfect it is complete. Not only that, but it’s perfect (because it’s ALL perfect, not just partially so).
Reading: かんぜん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
完了
Completion
Kanji: 完 perfect + 了 finish
A perfect finish is when everything is at total completion. Nothing is left over and all is done.
Reading: かんりょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
完成
Completion
Kanji: 完 perfect + 成 become
When something has become perfect it has reached completion.
Reading: かんせい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
妥協
Compromise
Kanji: 妥 gentle + 協 cooperation
When you have gentle cooperation nobody has their way. You’re very gently coming towards the middle, coming to a compromise. (Whether you like it or not.)
Reading: だきょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
具合
Condition
Kanji: 具 tool + 合 suit
You have to find the right tool to suit your condition or state. If you have a health condition, the tool is a pill, or exercise, or real life friends. But it always depends on the condition you’re in.
Reading: ぐあい
This word consists of the on’yomi reading for 具 and the kun’yomi reading for 合. You’ve learned them both, so you should be able to read this word too!
料理
Cooking
Kanji: 料 fee + 理 reason
There is a reason for this fee that you have to pay to get in here. We are cooking cuisine for you to eat while you’re watching the show. If we weren’t cooking a dish for you, we probably wouldn’t charge you this fee!
Reading: りょうり
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
協力
Cooperation
Kanji: 協 cooperation + 力 power
Cooperation power is your level of cooperation. It’s how much collaboration or assistance you provide.
Reading: きょうりょく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
周期
Cycle
Kanji: 周 circumference + 期 period of time
If you follow the circumference of a period of time, you end up back at the beginning and it makes a full cycle. Events in history always repeat, right?
Reading: しゅうき
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
明後日
Day after tomorrow
Kanji: 明 bright + 後 behind + 日 sun
Things will be bright after the next day. Or you can think of it as adding an 後 in between your 明日. And what comes after tomorrow? It’s the day after tomorrow.
Reading: あさって
Unfortunately, the reading for this is a complete exception, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
“What do you want to eat the day after tomorrow?”, your mom asks you. You answer, “Ah, satay (あさって)?” You’re not so confident because you never know what you want to eat the day after tomorrow, but you absolutely love satay, the Indonesian skewers. Ah, satay it is!
深さ
Depth
Kanji: 深 deep + さ
This is the noun version of the kanji deep, so it means depth.
Reading: ふかさ
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You already learned this reading when you learned 深い so you should be able to read this one too!
願望
Desire
Kanji: 願 request + 望 hope
The hope you request is your desire. Just imagine yourself hoping and requesting some higher power for something you really want. What is this? It’s your desire or wish.
Reading: がんぼう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
言葉つき
Diction
Kanji: 言 say + 葉 leaf + つ + き
Remember how 言葉 means “language?” Well, the way you “attach” (付き) language to things is your diction. Everyone has their own 言葉つき when they speak. How would you describe your 言葉つき?
言葉つき refers to the characteristics of how one speaks, including the words they choose, how they say them, and their overall speaking style.
Reading: ことばつき
The readings for this word are both kun’yomi readings. You’ve learned both of these readings by now so you should be able to read this on your own.
失望
Disappointment
Kanji: 失 fault + 望 hope
There is fault in your hope. It breaks, and everything falls apart. You feel massive disappointment and despair.
Reading: しつぼう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
消しゴム
Eraser
Kanji: 消 extinguish + し + ゴ + ム
You’ve seen the word 消す, I hope. This comes from that. You’re extinguishing something with ゴム. ゴム is a word for either gummy or rubbery things. So, this is a gummy thing that extinguishes something. This is an eraser that extinguishes pencil markings.
Readings: けしごむ, けしゴム
The reading comes from 消す, so make sure you know that word so you can read this one!
悪気
Evil intent
Kanji: 悪 bad + 気 energy
Someone with bad energy is someone who has evil intent, malice, or ill will. Hopefully you don’t have too much 悪気.
Reading: わるぎ
The reading itself has a lot of 悪気 with all the exceptions it has. The 悪 part is read like 悪い. Then, 気 is rendaku’d. What an evil reading. Just think “what’s the most evil reading I can come up with?” when you see this word. Then you should hopefully be able to read it.
例文
Example sentence
Kanji: 例 example + 文 writing
Example writing is a piece of writing that is an example for maybe a word or a kanji or something like that. This is an example sentence.
Reading: れいぶん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
例外
Exception
Kanji: 例 example + 外 outside
Something that’s outside the example doesn’t follow the rules. It’s not what it’s supposed to be (the example), it is the exception.
Reading: れいがい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
女性
Female
Kanji: 女 woman + 性 gender
Someone who’s of the woman gender is probably going to be female.
Reading: じょせい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
例えば
For example
Kanji: 例 example + え + ば
This has almost the same meaning as the kanji it comes from. Instead of just simply being “example,” though, it’s for example. It can also sometimes mean supposing that when talking about hypothetical scenarios. So, supposing that I start a sentence with this, I can be all like “例えば, I am using 例えば in a sentence.”
Reading: たとえば
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you: Using all kinds of “for examples” like this, you were taught (たと) many things throughout your life. For example, you were taught about…
基本
Foundation
Kanji: 基 foundation + 本 book
The origin of your foundation is where you have to work from when learning something new. For example, the 基本 portions of WaniKani are the earlier levels, especially the radicals. They are the foundation you need to learn your kanji and vocab later on.
Reading: きほん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
毛皮
Fur
Kanji: 毛 hair + 皮 skin
This word is pretty straightforward. You have fur and skin, making a word meaning fur or pelt, like the kind that can be used to make garments.
Reading: けがわ
This is a special case because both kanji use kun’yomi readings in this word. Luckily, you already know the kun’yomi reading from learning the vocabulary 毛 and 皮 previously. Just be careful with the rendaku on the second kanji, 皮.
試合
Game
Kanji: 試 try + 合 suit
An attempt to join together isn’t just any get together. Imagine two people boxing. They attempt to knock each other out when they join together. That’s why this word is game or match. Did you watch the 試合 today? No! Don’t tell me what happened, I recorded it on the VHS.
Reading: しあい
This word uses the on’yomi し for 試 and the kun’yomi あい for 合, which you learned with 場合. So you should be able to put them together!
芸者
Geisha
Kanji: 芸 art + 者 someone
The arts are performed by someone. Who is that someone? Well, think about the reading for this kanji. Do you recognize the word? It’s geisha.
Reading: げいしゃ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
性
Gender
Kanji: 性 gender
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: せい
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!
良好
Good
Kanji: 良 good + 好 like
A good like is something you like really good, if that makes any sense. This thing is a good and favorable thing.
Reading: りょうこう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You’ve learned them already, so you should be able to read this on your own!
卒業
Graduation
Kanji: 卒 graduate + 業 business
The business of you graduating is your graduation. If you think about it, it’s kind of a big business, getting you graduated from expensive schools. The graduation business focuses on graduations, and getting you there (hint: this business is a school, probably).
Reading: そつぎょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
固い
Hard
Kanji: 固 hard + い
This is a single kanji with an い on the end, meaning you know it’s probably an adjective. What’s the adjective form of hard? It’s hard, firm, or tough.
Reading: かたい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You need something really hard to put in your catapult(かた). Look around you for something hard and imagine putting it in your catapult!
念願
Heart’s desire
Kanji: 念 thought + 願 request
What your thoughts request inside your head, nonstop like a crazy person, are your heart’s desires.
Reading: ねんがん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
希望
Hope
Kanji: 希 wish + 望 hope
Both your hopes and wishes are held within this vocab word. So, what is the meaning of this word? It is both hope and wish. Either will work.
Reading: きぼう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
消化不良
Indigestion
Kanji: 消 extinguish + 化 change + 不 not + 良 good
You’ve hopefully seen 消化 by now and know that it means “digestion.” If you know that, then you can see that the “digestion” is not good. When your digestion is not good, what do you have? Indigestion. Excuse me, I have to run to the restroom…
Reading: しょうかふりょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well. Knowing 消化 and 不良 will help as well.