Kanji - Level 15 - Vocab

Question 1

飲み放題

Answer 1

All you can drink
Kanji: 飲 drink + み + 放 release + 題 topic
Drinking as much as you want is nice and all, but don’t get sick. When you see this word, you know you’re at an all you can drink place. Tip: Usually there’s a time limit, so drink up!
Reading: のみほうだい
The reading comes from the word 放題 (ほうだい) and 飲む (のむ). So long as you know those vocab words, you’ll be able to read this one as well.

Question 2

食べ放題

Answer 2

All you can eat
Kanji: 食 eat + べ + 放 release + 題 topic
When you eat as much as you want, you are getting an all you can eat deal.
Reading: たべほうだい
The reading consists of the readings of 食べる and 放題. If you know those you should be able to read this too.

Question 3

変人

Answer 3

An eccentric person
Kanji: 変 change + 人 person
A strange person is an eccentric. They are also an oddball.
Reading: へんじん
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.

Question 4

建築

Answer 4

Architecture
Kanji: 建 build + 築 construct
When it comes to building and constructing, the thing that encompasses both of them is architecture.
建築 refers to the design and construction of buildings. Occasionally it can also refer to a physical building itself, but for that it’s more common to use 建築物.
Reading: けんちく
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.

Question 5

お願い

Answer 5

A request
Kanji: お + 願 request + い
The noun form of request (don’t be tricked by the い on the end, it’s not an adjective). So, request goes to a request.
Reading: おねがい
The reading is the same like お願いします. Hopefully you’re able to read that by now so you’re able to read this too.

Question 6

軍

Answer 6

Army
Kanji: 軍 army
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ぐん
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!

Question 7

芸術

Answer 7

Art
Kanji: 芸 art + 術 technique
You need art techniques to make art. Without art techniques, the arts and fine art simply wouldn’t exist.
Reading: げいじゅつ
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.

Question 8

秋

Answer 8

Autumn
Kanji: 秋 autumn
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: あき
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji, あき.

Question 9

上司

Answer 9

Boss
Kanji: 上 above + 司 director
The director who is above you is your boss or superior.
Reading: じょうし
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.

Question 10

岩

Answer 10

Boulder
Kanji: 岩 boulder
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: いわ
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji, so you can read this one!

Question 11

英国

Answer 11

Britain
Kanji: 英 England + 国 country
The England country is where England is. This word can refer to Britain, the United Kingdom and England!
Note that イギリス is more common for “England” - but, since this is a kanji learning website you should learn this word.
Reading: えいこく
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.

Question 12

仏

Answer 12

Buddha
Kanji: 仏 buddha
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ほとけ
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 go up to Buddha. You want to rub his head for good luck, because that’s what you hear is good to do. Right before you touch him, he backs off and says, “Whoa! I’m hot, okay?” (ほとけ). You touch him and it burns your hand clean off.
Imagine saying “hot, okay?” in a strange accent to help you to remember.

Question 13

仏教

Answer 13

Buddhism
Kanji: 仏 buddha + 教 teach
The buddha teachings are what you have to learn when you’re studying Buddhism.
Reading: ぶっきょう
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. Note that 仏 gets changed to ぶっ for this one.

Question 14

計算

Answer 14

Calculation
Kanji: 計 measure + 算 calculate
When you measure and then calculate something, you are making a calculation. For example, you measure the length of a frog, then you calculate how many frogs you’d need to reach the moon. What is that? A calculation, of course.
Reading: けいさん
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.

Question 15

猫

Answer 15

Cat
Kanji: 猫 cat
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. Meow!
Reading: ねこ
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. Neko neko neko! Kawaiiiii.

Question 16

世紀

Answer 16

Century
Kanji: 世 world + 紀 account
The account of a generation… this covers a whole generation, and considering how long Japanese people live, this account totals a whole century.
Reading: せいき
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.

Question 17

式

Answer 17

Ceremony
Kanji: 式 ritual
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: しき
The reading is the same as what you learned with the kanji. In fact, this kanji’s on’yomi AND kun’yomi are しき, so you can never go wrong.

Question 18

変化

Answer 18

Change
Kanji: 変 change + 化 change
Change and change equals even more change.
変化 generally refers to a natural or spontaneous change, like changes from growth or aging, alterations in weather conditions, or shifts in one’s emotions.
Reading: へんか
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.

Question 19

晴れ

Answer 19

Clear weather
Kanji: 晴 clear up + れ
If you say something is going to clear up, you’re usually talking about the weather. That makes it clear weather.
This can also mean formal or public. After all, you’ll want anything formal or public to happen when it’s clear weather! And finally, you can use it to say that someone has been cleared of suspicion.
Reading: はれ
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!

Question 20

不器用

Answer 20

Clumsy
Kanji: 不 not + 器 container + 用 task
You know how 器用 means “dextrous” and “skillful”? Well, this is when you’re not those things. When you’re not dextrous, you’re clumsy and when you’re not skillful you’re unskillful.
Readings: ぶきよう, ぶきっちょ
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 keep in mind that the reading of 不 changes from ふ to ぶ. If you’re clumsy you’ll get a lot of boo-boos (ぶ), get it?

Question 21

紀元後

Answer 21

Common era
Kanji: 紀 account + 元 origin + 後 before
What does the narrative origin have coming after it? Well, the way we’ve counted years for the past couple of millenia has a specific narrative at its origin, and everything that comes after it is the Common Era, aka AD, or anno Domini.
Just in case you don’t know what narrative we’re talking about: it’s the narrative of Jesus’s birth, which is the year that we say the Common Era started.
Reading: きげんご
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.

Question 22

自信

Answer 22

Confidence
Kanji: 自 self + 信 believe
When you believe in your self you have plenty of confidence (or self confidence). This is a good thing to have!
Reading: じしん
How much 自信 do you have that you know how to read this word already? I bet you have some, at least! 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.

Question 23

区

Answer 23

District
Kanji: 区 district
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: く
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji!

Question 23

勇気

Answer 23

Courage
Kanji: 勇 courage + 気 energy
That feeling of courage is courage.
Reading: ゆうき
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.

Question 23

地区

Answer 23

District
Kanji: 地 earth + 区 district
The earth district isn’t our solar system or something like that. We’re talking about a specific portion of earth, and naming it as a district. So, what is this patch of earth? It’s a district, area, or zone.
Reading: ちく
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.

Question 23

不信

Answer 23

Distrust
Kanji: 不 not + 信 believe
When you can’t (not) believe in someone, it’s because you distrust them. Maybe someone discredited them and now you mistrust everything they say.
Reading: ふしん
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.

Question 23

トランプ

Answer 23

Deck of cards
Kanji: No kanji (have fun with it!)
トランプ comes from the English word “trump”, as in “a trump card”, but it means deck of cards or playing cards in Japanese.
The Japanese meaning probably comes from card games played by English-speaking Westerners back in the day. Japanese people heard the word “trump” a lot, and assumed it meant a deck of cards.
Reading: トランプ

Question 23

英会話

Answer 23

English conversation
Kanji: 英 England + 会 meet + 話 talk
English meeting and talking with each other. This is English Conversation. This is used a lot when talking about “speaking in English” for studying English and whatnot.
Reading: えいかいわ
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.

Question 23

英和

Answer 23

English Japanese
Kanji: 英 England + 和 peace
This is seen on things like dictionaries. When you have an English and Japanese (style) dictionary, for example. You’ll see it the other way around too, but this particular one is English Japanese.
Reading: えいわ
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.

Question 24

英語

Answer 24

English
Kanji: 英 England + 語 language
The English language is the language you’re reading right here and now. This is the English language. It is English.
Reading: えいご
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.

Question 25

英文

Answer 25

English writing
Kanji: 英 England + 文 writing
England writing is English Writing (or if you want to be fancy, English Composition).
Reading: えいぶん
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.

Question 26

毎晩

Answer 26

Every night
Kanji: 毎 every + 晩 night
Every night is simply every night. What do you do every night?
Reading: まいばん
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.

Question 27

信心

Answer 27

Faith
Kanji: 信 believe + 心 heart
What you believe in your heart, and not in your head, is your faith. This is something that doesn’t follow logic, it’s all heart belief, it’s all faith.
Reading: しんじん
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. Just note that しん changes to じん.

Question 28

美術

Answer 28

Fine art
Kanji: 美 beauty + 術 technique
When you create beauty with your techniques, that’s fine art, or simply art.
Reading: びじゅつ
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.

Question 29

食中毒

Answer 29

Food poisoning
Kanji: 食 eat + 中 middle + 毒 poison
Poison inside the food is food poisoning. No fun when you get this :(
Reading: しょくちゅうどく
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.

Question 30

四匹

Answer 30

Four small animals
Kanji: 四 four + 匹 small animal
Four small animals is four small animals. Use this to count four dogs, or cats, or whatever else.
Reading: よんひき
This is a jukugo word that uses the kun’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 31

福島

Answer 31

Fukushima
Kanji: 福 luck + 島 island
The luck island wasn’t actually too lucky. This is Fukushima where the nuclear meltdown happened after the 2011 earthquake. So, when you think of “luck island” this is where you should think.
Reading: ふくしま
The readings are the readings you learned with the kanji. If one thing is lucky, it’s probably that.

Question 32

大仏

Answer 32

Giant buddha statue
Kanji: 大 big + 仏 buddha
A large Buddha doesn’t make sense if you don’t know the context. There are giant statues of Buddha, and these are called Daibutsu, making this word translate to the Great Buddha or Giant Buddha Statue.
Reading: だいぶつ
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.

Question 33

今晩は

Answer 33

Good evening
Kanji: 今 now + 晩 night + は
This word is made of now and night with the hiragana は at the end. The は here is pronounced as わ (the old pronunciation). When you say “now night!” you’re really saying good evening.
Reading: こんばんは
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 be aware that the は at the end is actually the particle は so it’s pronounced like わ.

Question 34

文法

Answer 34

Grammar
Kanji: 文 writing + 法 method
The method of writing is how you write. You can have vocabulary words, but you have to be able to put them together using some kind of method. This method happens to be grammar.
Reading: ぶんぽう
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. The ほう changes to ぽう.

Question 35

丈

Answer 35

Height
Kanji: 丈 height
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This word is usually used for clothing height and length.
Reading: たけ
The reading is different from what you learned with the kanji. Remember the word 竹? It has the same reading as this. Just think of everyone measuring the heights of things with bamboo (たけ) poles with markers on them. Okay, this one is 5 bamboo poles high!

Question 36

乗馬

Answer 36

Horseback riding
Kanji: 乗 ride + 馬 horse
If you ride a horse, that’s horseback riding or, in some parts of the world, simply horse riding.
Reading: じょうば
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You haven’t learned this reading for 乗, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Know who loves horseback riding? That’s right, Jourm (じょう) the farmhand. It makes sense, with him being a farmhand and all.

Question 37

夫

Answer 37

Husband
Kanji: 夫 husband
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: おっと
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: Think about your husband even if you don’t have one. What’s his name? It’s Otto (おっと), and he’s always leaving you at home because he’s working at the auto (おっと) shop.

Question 38

不法

Answer 38

Illegal
Kanji: 不 not + 法 method
A not law is something that’s against the law. It’s illegal or unlawful.
Reading: ふほう
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.

Question 39

事変

Answer 39

Incident
Kanji: 事 action + 変 change
An action that takes place that could change the locale or even the world has got to be a big incident. You’ll sometimes see this on the ends of “incident” names, like the “Manshuu Jihen” (満州事変), aka the “Manshuu Incident.” You know that it isn’t an unusual or strange incident (like 変事) because the “strange” kanji (変) doesn’t come first with this word. Instead, it comes after and means “change” in this case.
Reading: じへん
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.

Question 40

伝

Answer 40

Intermediary
When you get someone to transmit information, they’re a type of intermediary, a go-between, if you will.
Reading: つて
When a vocab word is a single kanji with no okurigana, it takes the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn this one yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember:
When the go-between gets back and is about to tell you everything the other group said, it takes him two takes (つて) to get it all right. The other group had a lot to say and he had trouble getting it all on the first take, but he totally nailed it on the second.
Little side note: this word is actually more common in katakana, as in ツテ, or hiragana, as in つて. Still, you might see it in kanji too, and it’s good if you can read it!

Question 41

子猫

Answer 41

Kitten
Kanji: 子 child + 猫 cat
A child cat is an adorable kitten. D’awww!
Reading: こねこ
The reading is the vocab word 子 (こ) and the reading for cat (ねこ).

Question 42

昨年

Answer 42

Last year
Kanji: 昨 previous + 年 year
Yesterday’s year was actually last year. Today must be New Years then!
Reading: さくねん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 43

列

Answer 43

Line
Kanji: 列 row
When things are put in a row they end up forming a line. This can be a line of people or a line of random stuff.
Reading: れつ
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!

Question 44

昼休み

Answer 44

Lunch break
Kanji: 昼 noon + 休 rest + み
Remember how you learned that 休み means “break?” When you take a break at noon it’s your lunch break! Or, if you aren’t hungry, it’s a noon break instead.
Reading: ひるやすみ
The readings for this word are both kun’yomi readings. You learned them already, so you should be able to read this too!

Question 45

飯

Answer 45

Meal
Kanji: 飯 meal
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. It also refers to cooked rice, because you gotta eat cooked rice with every meal, so it’s basically synonymous with “meal” itself.
This word has a slightly gruff feel to it so it’s used mostly in informal situations.
Reading: めし
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’re eating a meal… MMmm, delicious! What are you eating? Well, it’s a Mesh (めし) net. Taste the mesh net. It tastes terrible. This is a bad meal. Feel it in your mouth. It’s weird and meshy.

Question 46

ご飯

Answer 46

Meal
Kanji: ご + 飯 meal
The ご just makes this word more polite and fancy. When it comes to food, it’s nice to be those things. This has the same meaning as the kanji (meal) making it meal, but it also refers to cooked rice as well. So, “Come eat your ご飯” can be both “come eat your rice” and “come eat your meal.” Really, since most Japanese meals come with rice, though, you can see how the overlap happens.
Reading: ごはん
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. Now how about you “hand” me another bowl of rice?

Question 47

方法

Answer 47

Method
Kanji: 方 direction + 法 method
The way method or the method way is the method or way. This is a good word for talking about how to do something. What’s the 方法? Well, first you…
Reading: ほうほう
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.

Question 48

情けない

Answer 48

Miserable
Kanji: 情 feeling + け + な + い
You’ve seen how the word 情け means pity, so adding ない to that turns it into an adjective meaning pitiable and miserable.
Reading: なさけない
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You learned this reading already so you should be able to read it!

Question 49

映画館

Answer 49

Movie theater
Kanji: 映 reflect + 画 image + 館 public building
You’ve hopefully seen 映画 in level 13. A public building for movies (映画) is a movie theater.
Reading: えいがかん
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.

Question 50

人殺し

Answer 50

Murder
Kanji: 人 person + 殺 kill + し
When you kill a person that’s murder.
Reading: ひとごろし
The readings are the kun’yomi vocab readings. So, if you know 人’s reading as a vocab word and 殺す’s reading, you should be able to read this word. Just note that ころし goes to ごろし due to rendaku.

Question 51

殺人者

Answer 51

Murderer
Kanji: 殺 kill + 人 person + 者 someone
You’ve hopefully seen 殺人 (murder) from level 13. So, someone who does murder is what? A murderer.
Reading: さつじんしゃ
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.

Question 52

海軍

Answer 52

Navy
Kanji: 海 sea + 軍 army
The sea army are the branch of the military that has boats and does ocean/sea things. What’s that? The navy.
Reading: かいぐん
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.

Question 53

新築

Answer 53

Newly built
Kanji: 新 new + 築 construct
Something that’s newly constructed is something that’s newly built.
Reading: しんちく
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.

Question 54

晩

Answer 54

Night
Kanji: 晩 night
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ばん
The reading here is the same as the kanji reading!

Question 55

昼

Answer 55

Noon
Kanji: 昼 noon
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This can also mean lunch, especially when used with the honorific prefix お, as in お昼.
Reading: ひる
The reading for this word is the same as the kanji it comes from, so you should be able to read it!

Question 56

オノマトペ

Answer 56

Onomatopoeia
Kanji: No kanji (have fun with it!)
オノマトペ comes from the French word “onomatopée” which, as you can probably guess, means onomatopoeia.
オノマトペ has a wider meaning than its English equivalent, and it also covers mimetic words, which are words that evoke ideas and actions rather than sounds.
Reading: オノマトペ

Question 57

由来

Answer 57

Origin
Kanji: 由 reason + 来 come
What’s the reason that something comes into being? Its origin, of course. Nothing can come into the world without a source, because it’s always coming from somewhere.
Reading: ゆらい
You didn’t learn this reading for 由 so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
The best way to get close to the origin or source of something is to move into a yurt (ゆ). Yurts are easy to move around, so you can always get close to the source, wherever that may be.

Question 58

相手

Answer 58

Partner
Kanji: 相 mutual + 手 hand
Remember how 手 can mean a “doer”? Now, what do you think your mutual doer might be? It’s someone who shares the same activities or tasks with you. This person could be your partner, companion, or even an opponent in certain situations.
Reading: あいて
The readings are the kun’yomi readings. For 手, that’s no problem for you. For 相, that’s more of an issue since you learned the on’yomi reading for it. Think of it this way:
Your partner wouldn’t be your partner without you. Your partner is: I (あい) and you. Remember that as you gaze into your partner’s eyes. “I and you.”

Question 59

乗客

Answer 59

Passenger
Kanji: 乗 ride + 客 guest
If you take a ride as a guest (or a customer), that makes you a passenger.
Reading: じょうきゃく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You hopefully learned the on’yomi for 乗 with the word 乗馬, but here’s a mnemonic to help you just in case:
You notice a passenger getting on at your stop. Who is it? The distinct smell of barn animals and manure gives it away immediately: it’s Jourm (じょう), the farmhand!

Question 60

計画

Answer 60

Plan
Kanji: 計 measure + 画 drawing
You need measurements and drawings to make a plan. You can’t follow a plan without measurements and drawings to refer to, right? Any good plan has measurements and drawings.
Reading: けいかく
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. The reading for 画 is the secondary reading though (かく), so take note of that.

Question 61

毒

Answer 61

Poison
Kanji: 毒 poison
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: どく
The reading for this word is the same as the kanji’s reading.

Question 62

毒ガス

Answer 62

Poison gas
Kanji: 毒 poison + ガ + ス
Poison Gas is a nasty thing. It is poison gas.
Reading: どくがす, どくガス
The reading is the same as the kanji it comes from. The ガス is of course “gas.”

Question 63

中毒

Answer 63

Poisoning
Kanji: 中 middle + 毒 poison
When poison is put inside of something, that is a poisoning.
Reading: ちゅうどく
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.

Question 64

有毒

Answer 64

Poisonous
Kanji: 有 have + 毒 poison
When something has poison it is poisonous and toxic.
Reading: ゆうどく
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.

Question 65

比例

Answer 65

Proportion
Kanji: 比 compare + 例 example
This is a tough one. When you compare examples (in this case of numbers) you are figuring out the proportion / ratio. A ratio, for example, has one number on top of another. They are examples being compared. Same with proportions. Without two things to compare, proportion doesn’t make sense. That’s why when you compare examples, you are dealing with proportions or ratios.
Reading: ひれい
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.

Question 66

返信

Answer 66

Reply
Kanji: 返 return + 信 believe
You gotta believe it will return. What are you believing in returning? The reply. You made a request for something (come up with something you want really bad but have to ask for). Now you wait for the reply.
Reading: へんしん
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.

Question 67

指輪

Answer 67

Ring
Kanji: 指 finger + 輪 wheel
A finger ring is the kind of ring you’d put on your finger. That’s just simply a “ring” though, so you’ll have to know what “ring” this is via context.
Reading: ゆびわ
The readings come from the individual vocab readings, 指 and 輪. In English we don’t distinguish some other ring from a “finger ring” but in Japanese, you can think of this as two separate words coming together to form one word, which is why it uses the kun’yomi vocab readings like this. So, if you know the individual words, you should be able to figure out this word is read as ゆびわ.

Question 68

輪ゴム

Answer 68

Rubber band
Kanji: 輪 wheel + ゴ + ム
A ring of gum (ゴム) (which is what Japanese people call rubber quite often) is a ring of rubber. What is a ring of rubber that people use often? It’s a rubber band.
Reading: わごむ, わゴム
The reading for 輪 is the kun’yomi vocab reading, which is わ, making this word わゴム.

Question 69

大変

Answer 69

Serious
Kanji: 大 big + 変 change
A big change is a really serious thing. And people don’t like change, either, making it a terrible event.
Also, in more recent history this has come to mean very as well.
Reading: たいへん
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.

Question 70

浅い

Answer 70

Shallow
Kanji: 浅 shallow + 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 shallow? It’s shallow.
Reading: あさい
The reading is the one you learned with the kanji, making this あさい

Question 71

単に

Answer 71

Simply
Kanji: 単 simple + に
If you’re moving towards (に) simple, you’re saying simply, merely, or only.
Reading: たんに
If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 72

技能

Answer 72

Skill
Kanji: 技 skill + 能 ability
Your skill and ability are kind of similar things. That’s why this word means either or. Your skill ability is your skill and ability.
Reading: ぎのう
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.

Question 73

坂

Answer 73

Slope
Kanji: 坂 slope
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: さか
The reading you learned with the kanji is the same as this one.

Question 74

〜匹

Answer 74

Small animal counter
Kanji: 匹 small animal
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ひき
The reading is the same as what you learned with the kanji.

Question 75

軍人

Answer 75

Soldier
Kanji: 軍 army + 人 person
An army person is someone in the army. What are those people called? They’re soldiers.
Reading: ぐんじん
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.

Question 76

頑丈

Answer 76

Solid
Kanji: 頑 stubborn + 丈 height
A stubborn height is a shorter, stockier height. It makes a person especially solid, firm, and stout.
Reading: がんじょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 77

初耳

Answer 77

Something heard for the first time
Kanji: 初 first + 耳 ear
The first time something reaches your ear, it’s something heard for the first time. If it’s never entered your ear before, it’s news to you!
Reading: はつみみ
This is a jukugo word that uses kun’yomi instead of on’yomi readings, because 初 behaves more like a prefix here. You already know how to read 耳, but you haven’t learned the kun’yomi for 初 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember it:
Whatever it is, this something heard for the first time, be sure to hold onto your hats (はつ)! It’s going to be something big, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be news to me, too.

Question 78

特技

Answer 78

Specialty
Kanji: 特 special + 技 skill
Your special skill is your specialty. So, what is your 特技?
Reading: とくぎ
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.

Question 79

春

Answer 79

Spring
Kanji: 春 spring
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: はる
The reading for this word is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. Ah, the beauty of spring! Err… はる, I mean.

Question 80

春休み

Answer 80

Spring break
Kanji: 春 spring + 休 rest + み
You’ve seen 夏休み and 冬休み. If that isn’t enough, you can see that this is a spring rest of some kind. That would be a spring break or spring vacation.
Reading: はるやすみ
The reading for 春 is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. The 休み part is the same as the vocab word 休み, which hopefully you can read! If you know those readings, you can read this too.

Question 81

変

Answer 81

Strange
Kanji: 変 change
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This is more the “strange” meaning though, not the “change” one. As in, you 変な猫！
Reading: へん
The reading is the one you learned with the kanji. How strange! Or not.

Question 82

変事

Answer 82

Strange incident
Kanji: 変 change + 事 action
A strange action that takes place is something that shouldn’t have happened (but it did). This is a strange incident. The difference between this and 事変 is that while 事変 can also be used to describe a strange incident, it also can be used to talk about another type of incident as well. For example, the “Manshuu Jihen” is the “Manshuu Incident.” This word, 変事 is more just a strange or unusual incident.
Reading: へんじ
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.

Question 83

丈夫

Answer 83

Sturdy
Kanji: 丈 height + 夫 husband
With the height of my husband, he’s very firm. Try to push him over. Impossible. He’s so tall and sturdy due to his height.
Reading: じょうぶ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Watch out for the rendaku.

Question 84

同期中

Answer 84

Syncing
Kanji: 同 same + 期 period of time + 中 middle
Something is making one thing the same as another inside a period of time. You’ll see this word on computer-ish things a lot. This is syncing.
Reading: どうきちゅう
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.

Question 85

美味しい

Answer 85

Tasty
Kanji: 美 beauty + 味 flavor + し + い
Something with a beauty taste is something that is really tasty or delicious. Mmmm, yum!
While 美味しい mostly describes tasty food, you may also occasionally see it being used for a sweet deal or situation that benefits you.
Reading: おいしい
The reading for this makes no sense at all. You’ll have to learn it straight up, that is, unless you know the word おいしい already, which many people do as it’s used in every other sentence in every Japanese variety show. If you don’t know this word already, just think of yourself eating something delicious. It’s so delicious it makes you mad, I have no idea why. You yell at the chef: “OI (おい). OI! WHY IS THIS SO DELICIOUS????”

Question 86

技

Answer 86

Technique
Kanji: 技 skill
What is a skill? It’s something you can do, and do quite well. It is a technique that you can make happen with ease.
Reading: わざ
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 do your technique on a bad guy, coming at you. You flip him over and knock him out. He was (わざ) a threat, but now he’s not. You look closer at the bad guy. Turns out it’s Woz, the Apple Co-founder. He was just trying to hand you an iPhone12, not grab your wrist. Whoops!

Question 87

寺

Answer 87

Temple
Kanji: 寺 temple
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: てら
The reading is the same as the kanji too! You must have been praying to the kanji Gods at the local お寺.

Question 88

昨今

Answer 88

These days
Kanji: 昨 previous + 今 now
Previous from now are the times around now. They’re these days, nowadays, or recently.
Reading: さっこん
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. Just note that さく changes to さっ as many K-column sounds do in situations like this.

Question 89

受け入れる

Answer 89

To accept something
Kanji: 受 accept + け + 入 enter + れ + る
Remember 受ける (to receive something) and 入れる (to put in)? This just combines those two. You receive something, and put it into your heart. You accept it. So this verb means to accept something or to take in.
You can use this verb for all kinds of acceptance, such as accepting an apology, accepting exchange students to your school, etc.
Reading: うけいれる
You should know how to read both 受ける and 入れる, so you should be good to go!

Question 90

整える

Answer 90

To arrange
Kanji: 整 arrange + え + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means arrange, and the verb version also means to arrange or to put in order. This has to do with putting things in their rightful place, getting affairs in order, or even preparing equipment.
Reading: ととのえる
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:
Everything in your room has finally been put in order. Just as you finish, you hear a crash and turn to see your dog has jumped up onto your desk. “Toto no (ととの)!” you yell as he knocks everything over. Guess you have to arrange it all over again. Dammit Toto.

Question 91

好む

Answer 91

To be fond of
Kanji: 好 like + む
You know that 好き is “like.” Although 好き is kind of like a verb already, this is definitely a verb. It can be to be fond of or to like.
Reading: このむ
The reading is a strange one, different from anything you’ve learned, kanji on’yomi or vocab kun’yomi. The reading is この, so think of this:
What’s something easy to be fond of? 子? No (この), not for you. You’re always saying “子? No!” Most people are fond of kids, at least their own, but not you. Noisy, germy, needy 子? No, no thank you!

Question 92

信じる

Answer 92

To believe
Kanji: 信 believe + じ + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means believe so the verb vocab version is to believe.
Reading: しんじる
The reading for 信 is しん no matter what! See, if you believe, good things will happen. You should be able to read this.

Question 93

建てる

Answer 93

To build
Kanji: 建 build + て + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means build so the verb vocab version is to build.
Reading: たてる
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: Think about what happens when you build something. What are you doing? You’re standing it up. How do you say “to stand” in Japanese? たてる. That’s the reading of this word as well. If you think about it they’re similar!

Question 94

変える

Answer 94

To change something
Kanji: 変 change + え + る
The kanji is change, and this verb is to change something. If you change one thing for another thing, you are going to change it, after all. This word refers to changing one thing for a similar thing.
変える and 代える sound the same and are sometimes used in similar contexts, but are different in nuance. 変える refers to the act of making something different, and involves altering the nature or state of something. For example, changing the layout of a room or changing one’s perspective on an issue. 代える means to substitute or exchange one thing for another that is expected to fulfill the same role, use or purpose, such as replacing a worker with a substitute.
Reading: かえる
This word uses the kun’yomi, which you didn’t learn with the kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you out.
I don’t like this car. I would like to change it for another car (か).

Question 95

晴れる

Answer 95

To clear up
Kanji: 晴 clear up + れ + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means clear up, so the verb vocab version is to clear up. It also means to become sunny as well.
Reading: はれる
The reading you learned with the kanji is the one you use here. One of those words where the kun’yomi’s going to be more useful.

Question 96

泣く

Answer 96

To cry
Kanji: 泣 cry + く
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means cry so the verb vocab version is to cry.
Reading: なく
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. If you remember the kanji reading you’ll have no problem with this word.

Question 97

外す

Answer 97

To disconnect something
Kanji: 外 outside + す
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji 外 means outside, and the meaning of this verb is somewhat related. It means to disconnect something. Think of it like this, if you disconnect a plug from a socket, you are taking the plug “outside” of the socket, right? Depending on the context, this verb can also mean to miss something (like the target during archery practice), to remove something, or to exclude something.
This is a transitive verb. That means it takes a direct object. You disconnect something, like a plug, or remove something, like your dog’s leash. It’s worth mentioning that most verbs ending in す are transitive, so you’ll start seeing this pattern as you learn more!
Reading: はずす
Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it’s probably going to be a kun’yomi reading. You haven’t learned this one yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
If you’re going to disconnect something, it has (はず) to be the right thing! Don’t go disconnecting the wrong plug, you’ll cause no end of trouble!

Question 98

疑う

Answer 98

To doubt
Kanji: 疑 doubt + う
The kanji means doubt, so this is just that as a verb. So this means to doubt, to suspect, or to be suspicious of.
Reading: うたがう
There’s reason to doubt that you can teach an uni Tagalog (うたが), but once you try, it’s actually not that hard. They’re very good listeners after all.

Question 99

放つ

Answer 99

To fire
Kanji: 放 release + つ
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. You already learned the verbs 放す and 放れる but this one is a little different. This is a specific kind of releasing. It means to fire an arrow, to hit a baseball, or to emit light. It even works when you’re releasing a fart. Yes, it means to break wind too. What a great word!
Reading: はなつ
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You learned this reading already so you should be able to read it!

Question 100

下りる

Answer 100

To go down
Kanji: 下 below + り + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji means below, which is a clue to the direction this movement verb takes: this is to go down or to descend. In some cases, this can also mean to be issued, mostly in situations where some sort of grant or allowance is issued by an authority.
You might notice that this is similar to 下る (くだる), and you can use either to describe going down a mountain. The difference is that 下る implies a gradual sloping motion, like floating down a stream, whereas you’d say 下りる if you’re jumping out of trees!
Reading: おりる
Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji), you know that it’s probably going to be the kun’yomi reading, which you didn’t learn with the kanji. Here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You’re stuck on a huge mountain, and the only way to go down is by using your obi (お). So you’ll have to descend this entire mountain with nothing but your obi, acting as a rope. Good luck!

Question 101

暗記する

Answer 101

To memorize
Kanji: 暗 dark + 記 write down + す + る
Hopefully you’ve seen 暗記 before now. It means “memorization.” So, turn that into a verb and you have to memorize.
Reading: あんきする
The reading comes from 暗記. It also is the reading you learned with the kanji too.

Question 102

払う

Answer 102

To pay
Kanji: 払 pay + う
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means pay so the verb vocab version is to pay.
Reading: はらう
The reading comes from the one you learned with the kanji.

Question 103

練習する

Answer 103

To practice
Kanji: 練 practice + 習 learn + す + る
You’ve hopefully seen 練習, which means “practice.” So, if you make it into a verb, you have to practice.
Reading: れんしゅうする
The reading comes from the kanji as well as from the vocab word 練習. You should be able to read this!

Question 104

映す

Answer 104

To project
Kanji: 映 reflect + す
You know that 映る is “to be reflected.” Now you’re doing the reflecting, which is really projecting (light). That’s why this word is to project.
Reading: うつす
The reading is the same as 映る. So long as you know the reading of 映る you should be able to read this one too.

Question 105

帰る

Answer 105

To return home
Kanji: 帰 return + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means return home so the verb vocab version is to return home, to return, or to go home.
Reading: かえる
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. You can return home happily, knowing how to read this word!
This word has a pair verb though, so you’ll want to remember the る ending. Just imagine how rude (る) it is when someone goes home without saying goodbye. The nerve!

Question 106

見返す

Answer 106

To show someone what one can do
Kanji: 見 see + 返 return + す
When you see someone doubting you and return something successful instead, that is to show someone what one can do or more simply to show someone. In other words, you show someone who doubted you or treated you unfairly what you’re really capable of.
There are a couple of other meanings, too. It can mean to look back over something, like the answers to your kanji test you want to double check, and sometimes to return someone’s stare. You can see how all of these meanings relate to the kanji, right?
Reading: みかえす
The readings are from the words 見 and 返す put together.

Question 107

合計

Answer 107

Total
Kanji: 合 suit + 計 measure
When you join all your measurements together you have yourself a total.
Reading: ごうけい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 108

信号

Answer 108

Traffic light
Kanji: 信 believe + 号 number
If you believe in the numbers, there will be no traffic because the traffic light will be functioning properly. Traffic lights are based all off of traffic data and numbers. You just have to believe and hope it all works out in terms of these traffic lights.
Reading: しんごう
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.

Question 109

信用

Answer 109

Trust
Kanji: 信 believe + 用 task
Your task is to believe. In order to do that, you have to have plenty of trust in what you believe in… not to mention confidence.
Reading: しんよう
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.

Question 110

変死

Answer 110

Unnatural death
Kanji: 変 change + 死 death
A strange death is one that doesn’t seem right. It’s an unnatural death, and probably an accidental death (ie wasn’t caused by natural causes).
Reading: へんし
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.

Question 111

時計

Answer 111

Watch
Kanji: 時 time + 計 measure
A thing that gives you time measurements is a watch or clock. Most people have these in their phones instead of on their wrists now.
Reading: とけい
The reading for this is pretty weird. 計 is all nice and normal, but 時 is と for some reason. It probably is coming from the vocab word 時 (とき), is my guess. But even if it is, it’s shortened, making it a step more complicated. Maybe it’s just better to imagine that your watch is a walky talky (とけい) and run with that?

Question 112

単語

Answer 112

Word
Kanji: 単 simple + 語 language
The simple bits of language are the individual words. If you think about it, this is true. First of all, there are a ton of them. Second, they’re tiny. They’re just little bits of language and the “word” for these little bits is word.
So what’s the difference between this and 言葉? Well, 言葉 can cover any meaningful set of words – anything from words, sentences and paragraphs, to whole texts and even languages. 単語, on the other hand, is a subset of 言葉 that specifically refers to single, distinct words.
Reading: たんご
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.

Question 113

昨日

Answer 113

Yesterday
Kanji: 昨 previous + 日 sun
The yesterday day is yesterday. What a blast from the past!
Readings: きのう, さくじつ
Oof. The reading for this word makes no sense. You’ll have to forget everything you’ve learned about the readings of the kanji and just go straight up mnemonic for the word on its own. Okay. Think about what you did yesterday, all day. You played keno (きのう), gambling away your grandmother’s money. Yesterday was the worst day ever because you lost everything playing Keno. Today is different, not like yesterday, right?