Kanji - Level 23 - Vocab Flashcards
吸収
Absorption
Kanji: 吸 suck + 収 obtain
You suck something in and obtain it. Shhheewwwwww! When you suck something in and obtain it into your body, you have done absorption because it’s been sucked inside of you.
Reading: きゅうしゅう
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.
演技
Acting
Kanji: 演 acting + 技 skill
Your performance skill allows you to be great at acting and doing awesome performances.
Reading: えんぎ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
俳優
Actor
Kanji: 俳 haiku + 優 superior
A superior haiku requires someone really famous and well known to read it… it’s just on that level. Who is super well known and who deserves to read this superior haiku? A great actor, perhaps?
Reading: はいゆう
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.
男優
Actor
Kanji: 男 man + 優 superior
A man who is superior to us is an actor, or more specifically a male actor.
Just a word of warning: over the years this word has taken on the connotation of “adult film actor” so most people would use 俳優 for “actor” now. You’ll be learning that word very soon!
Reading: だんゆう
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.
現に
Actually
Kanji: 現 present time + に
The present time is the time you’re actually in. You aren’t really in any other time, because that’s not how time works!
Reading: げんに
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!
沢山
A lot
Kanji: 沢 swamp + 山 mountain
Swamps and mountains happen a lot in Japan. That’s why we use this to mean many! Because there are many of them!
Reading: たくさん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. This word is usually written in kana though, so keep that in mind when you’re writing it to use kana and not these kanji!
建築家
Architect
Kanji: 建 build + 築 construct + 家 house
You know that 建築 is architecture. So, someone of house architecture is someone who does architecture. They are an architect.
Reading: けんちくか
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. It will also help if you know how to read 建築 already.
弁護士
Attorney
Kanji: 弁 dialect + 護 defend + 士 samurai
A samurai who uses speech to defend people. This samurai does their battle in the court of law. This “samurai” is an attorney or a lawyer.
Reading: べんごし
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.
本棚
Bookcase
Kanji: 本 book + 棚 shelf
A book shelf is a bookcase or bookshelf.
Reading: ほんだな
The readings are the ones you learned with the individual kanji. Be careful of the rendaku.
新幹線
Bullet train
Kanji: 新 new + 幹 tree trunk + 線 line
This is one of those words that makes more sense when you look at the reading first. Technically this is the “New Tree Trunk Line” but you wouldn’t realize this is the Japanese bullet train aka Shinkansen from that, would you? Maybe going to the reading will help you after all.
Reading: しんかんせん
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. Read this to be able to remember the meaning, too, which is Shinkansen.
出張
Business trip
Kanji: 出 exit + 張 stretch
You exit the building and stretch in preparation for your business trip. This is the routine you always follow for your business trips: exit, and stretch.
Reading: しゅっちょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Just be careful about しゅつ becoming しゅっ here!
バス停
Bus stop
Kanji: バ + ス + 停 halt
This is where the bus (バス) halts. It’s the bus stop.
Readings: ばすてい, バスてい
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.
戸棚
Cabinet
Kanji: 戸 door + 棚 shelf
A door shelf is a shelf with a door on it. What kinds of shelves do you know of that have doors on them? How about cabinets? Or maybe cupboards?
Reading: とだな
These readings are the ones you learned with the kanji. Just keep in mind that 棚 gets rendaku’d to だな.
崎
Cape
Kanji: 崎 cape
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
In modern Japanese, this word is not commonly used as a standalone term. However, it is often found as part of proper nouns that refer to geographic locations that have a cape, as well as family names that are associated with capes.
Readings: さき, みさき
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.
城
Castle
Kanji: 城 castle
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: しろ
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.
更衣室
Changing room
Kanji: 更 renew + 衣 clothes + 室 room
A renew clothes room is a changing room or a locker room.
更衣室 is a room where people change their clothes, commonly found in places like gyms, swimming pools, schools, or workplaces.
Reading: こういしつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
委員会
Committee
Kanji: 委 committee + 員 member + 会 meet
There are member(s) of a committee (委員) all getting together to meet. This is the committee itself.
Reading: いいんかい
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. Of course it will help to know 委員 as well, since it’s 2/3rds of the word.
了解
Comprehension
Kanji: 了 finish + 解 untie
When you’ve finished solving something, you’ve come to a point of comprehension and understanding. Also, used in (often radio) communication to signify you know what’s up. It’s like saying “roger!”
Reading: りょうかい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
保守主義
Conservative
Kanji: 保 preserve + 守 protect + 主 master + 義 righteousness
You know that 主義 is “-ism.” Add that ism to people who want to protect and conserve their country so it stays just the way it is (forever). That’s conservatism and they’re conservative people.
Reading: ほしゅしゅぎ
This word uses the reading of 保守的 for the first half and then the regular kanji readings for the second half. Combine those things and you’ll be a master of righteousness and / or kanji.
鬼
Demon
Kanji: 鬼 demon
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: おに
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it probably uses the kun’yomi reading. You did not learn this reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you to remember:
Demons are mean. This particular demon bites you on the knee, creating an “O” shape on your knee. He tells you he has cursed you with the “O” knee (おに).
脱線
Digression
Kanji: 脱 undress + 線 line
When you’re trying to escape from the line, you’re trying to make a digression. I mean, that’s basically what a digression is—an escape from the main line of thought.
In a completely different context, this word is also used to refer to train (and other sorts of) derailments. Try to keep that one in the back of your mind.
Reading: だっせん
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.
割り算
Division
Kanji: 割 divide + り + 算 calculate
Divide and calculate? Why, that’s just division!
Reading: わりざん
This is the kun’yomi reading for 割 and the on’yomi for 算. And the さん reading is rendaku’d into ざん. This is the same for all the math-ish words (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), so try to remember that, because you’ll see it again!
医師
Doctor
Kanji: 医 medicine + 師 teacher
A medicine expert is someone who knows a lot about medicine. Those people are (I hope) generally doctors.
Reading: いし
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.
住宅
Dwelling
Kanji: 住 dwell + 宅 house
If you dwell in a house, that house is your dwelling, or residence.
Reading: じゅうたく
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.
経済的
Economic
Kanji: 経 passage of time + 済 come to an end + 的 target
経済 is economics. So, something that has to do with economics is the economic or financial situation.
Reading: けいざいてき
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. It will help to know 経済 as well.
作用
Effect
Kanji: 作 make + 用 task
When you make a task you’re looking for a certain effect or action. What task can you make right now to get the effect of learning more kanji?
Reading: さよう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 作 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
What’s the effect of a saw on yogurt (さよう)? What will the action of the saw on the yogurt do? Seems futile, but you’re going to try anyway. For science.
有職
Employed
Kanji: 有 have + 職 employment
When you have employment you are probably employed.
Reading: ゆうしょく
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.
施行
Enforcement
Kanji: 施 carry out + 行 go
If you carry out something and go, the result is still enforcement, carrying out, or implementation of whatever it is. There’s no point hanging around after you’ve enforced something! So you always carry out and go.
Readings: しこう, せこう
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.
You might sometimes see せこう as an alternative reading, but しこう is the more common version.
羨ましい
Envious
Kanji: 羨 envy + ま + し + い
This is a single kanji with hiragana that ends in an い, meaning you know it’s probably an adjective. What’s the adjective form of envy? It’s also envious!
Reading: うらやましい
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 when you learned 羨む, but here’s a reminder just in case:
Those uranium Yankees (うらや) are making you more envious and jealous by the day. They’re the new Yankees team that was manufactured in a lab and fed uranium. Their skills are unparalleled because of their metallic strength. Go ahead and feel envious, they’ll definitely be #1 this year.
表現
Expression
Kanji: 表 express + 現 present time
When you express something that’s of the present time, you are saying something that only people of the current time understand. These are expressions or figure of speech. You say these things during the present time, not the future, not the past, the present time. Otherwise nobody would understand.
Reading: ひょうげん
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.
反則
Foul
Kanji: 反 anti + 則 rule
An anti rule is when you break the rules. It’s when you do a foul.
Reading: はんそく
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.
優しい
Gentle
Kanji: 優 superior + し + 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 gentle? It’s gentle (but also kind or warm hearted).
Reading: やさしい
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: What do people who are gentle and kind say when someone asks of them a favor? Always “yessir” (やさ). Always, always “yessir”!
公社
Government-run company
Kanji: 公 public + 社 company
A public company is a government-run company or a government-owned company. In other words, it’s a company that’s run by national or local government in the interests of the public.
Reading: こうしゃ
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.
指導
Guidance
Kanji: 指 finger + 導 lead
Take your finger and lead with it. Just point at things. Tell people where they need to go, what they need to do, all with your finger leading them. This is guidance you are providing.
Reading: しどう
The reading is the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should know them both already!
俳句
Haiku
Kanji: 俳 haiku + 句 paragraph
A haiku paragraph is just a haiku. Haikus are little haiku paragraphs.
You will learn kanji
The Crabigator watches
He feeds on reviews
Reading: はいく
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.
〜宅
House
Kanji: 宅 house
Just like its kanji, this word means house or home. By extension, it also sometimes means household. It can go after someone’s name to say whose house it is, as in 山田宅 (Yamada’s house), and after words that give more information about the house, such as 女性宅 (women’s homes).
Reading: たく
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. Go home now.
収入
Income
Kanji: 収 obtain + 入 enter
Please enter what you’ve obtained in here. We’ll divvy it all up later. But we have to enter it all here so we know our income.
Reading: しゅうにゅう
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.
施設
Institution
Kanji: 施 carry out + 設 establish
Go ahead and carry out the task and establish the institution. To carry out and establish something is to institute it too. What do you institute? An institution.
Reading: しせつ
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.
痒い
Itchy
Kanji: 痒 itchy + い
You can guess this is an adjective from the い at the end. The meaning for the kanji is itchy, and the adjective version is itchy too.
Reading: かゆい
This word uses the same reading as the one you learned with the kanji: かゆ.
求職
Job hunting
Kanji: 求 request + 職 employment
Ugh, time to request employment again. Time to go job hunting.
Reading: きゅうしょく
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.
川崎
Kawasaki
Kanji: 川 river + 崎 cape
This is one of those words that’s easier to know if you jump to the reading first. Why? Because it’s the name of a city. It’s Kawasaki.
Reading: かわさき
The readings are the ones you learned with the kanji, making it Kawasaki.
法律
Law
Kanji: 法 method + 律 law
Though there’s no law about two kanji with the same meaning producing the same meaning, a law law is probably a law.
Reading: ほうりつ
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.
皮革
Leather
Kanji: 皮 skin + 革 leather
Skin leather is really just leather because leather is also skin. It’s also hides.
Reading: ひかく
The reading is the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should know them both already!
革
Leather
Kanji: 革 leather
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: かわ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it probably uses the kun’yomi reading. You did not learn this reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember:
Leather is the skin of a cow, right? How do you say “skin” in Japanese? Remember 皮 aka かわ? It has the same reading as that, and they’re both skin, so hopefully that makes it easier to remember.
各駅停車
Local train
Kanji: 各 each + 駅 station + 停 halt + 車 car
At each station someone keeps halting the car . What is this, a local train?! Yes, yes it is. You’re on a local train. People use it when they get on (or off) at the smaller stations.
If you’re not used to train travel, just remember that a “local train” is one that stops at every station on a line.
Reading: かくえきていしゃ
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.
贅沢
Luxury
Kanji: 贅 extravagant + 沢 swamp
You live in the most extravagant of swamps, which means you’re completely surrounded by luxury and extravagant things.
Reading: ぜいたく
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.
牛乳
Milk
Kanji: 牛 cow + 乳 milk
Cow milk is cow’s milk, though most people just call cow’s milk milk.
Reading: ぎゅうにゅう
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.
