Kanji - Level 25 - Vocab Flashcards
絶対
Absolutely
Kanji: 絶 extinction + 対 versus
Extinction will happen as you go versus extinction. It will happen absolutely. It will happen without fail. There’s nothing you can do to stop extinction.
Reading: ぜったい
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. Be careful though, 絶 is normally read as ぜつ, but in this case it is shortened to ぜっ.
告訴
Accusation
Kanji: 告 announce + 訴 sue
I’ve announced I’m going to sue you. The accusation and charge I have against you for suing you? Uh… You suck.
Reading: こくそ
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.
現役
Actively working
Kanji: 現 present time + 役 service
At the present time you’re providing a service, so you’re actively working. 現役 means you have a certain role (such as school teacher or a high school student, etc.) and you’re still active in that role, as opposed to being retired or having graduated.
This word is also often used to describe students who are taking or have passed a university entrance exam while they were still high school students.
Reading: げんえき
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. You learned the readings for both of these, but 役 uses a less common reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this:
You’re actively working at the 駅 (えき) and you plan to remain active there forever! You sure do love that 駅, it’s like you’re inseparable.
女優
Actress
Kanji: 女 woman + 優 superior
Remember how 男優 was “actor”? Well, I bet you can extrapolate what this one means because it now has woman in it. This is an actress.
Reading: じょゆう
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.
所属
Affiliation
Kanji: 所 place + 属 belong
Your place of belonging describes your affiliation. It’s where you belong to.
This is often used to describe a person’s affiliation or membership to a particular organization, team, or group.
Reading: しょぞく
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.
効果
An effect
Kanji: 効 effective + 果 fruit
The fruit of something that’s effective is an effect.
Reading: こうか
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.
逮捕
Arrest
Kanji: 逮 apprehend + 捕 catch
When you apprehend and catch someone, that leads to an arrest.
Reading: たいほ
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.
票
Ballot
Kanji: 票 ballot
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. It can also be a vote, because that’s what ballots tend to do.
Reading: ひょう
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.
賞与金
Bonus
Kanji: 賞 prize + 与 give + 金 gold
It’s a prize where you are given gold. In business, this is called a bonus. You didn’t expect it (not your salary) and it is given to you (and is gold, if you’re lucky).
Note that you’ll more commonly see its shorter version 賞与.
Reading: しょうよきん
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.
名刺
Business card
Kanji: 名 name + 刺 stab
Take your name and stab someone with it… using your business card. Your business card has your name on it. Also, you “stab” it at people who are willing to take it and read it. Not a real stab, but a metaphorical.
Reading: めいし
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. You haven’t learned this reading for 刺 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
After doing business in Japan, you’ll have so many business cards you can count them like sheep (し) when you’re trying to get to sleep. One business card, two business cards… See them leaping over the sheep fence as you begin to nod off.
景況
Business climate
Kanji: 景 scene + 況 condition
Take a look at this scene and the condition it’s in. This is the climate of the situation, but more specifically the business climate. This word is really only used to talk about the state of business and economic stuff, and tends to appear in technical writing.
Reading: けいきょう
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.
候補者
Candidate
Kanji: 候 climate + 補 supplement + 者 someone
The candidate is someone who’s a supplement to the entire political system. Despite being a supplement, they’re still a candidate nonetheless, unless they can win!
Reading: こうほしゃ
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.
気候
Climate
Kanji: 気 energy + 候 climate
The energy of the climate is the climate. High energy? Climate. Low energy. Climate.
Reading: きこう
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.
衣
Clothes
Kanji: 衣 clothes
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
In modern Japanese, 衣 is more often used to describe the clothes your food is wearing, i.e. the coating on tempura or the breading on deep-fried foods.
Readings: ころも, きぬ
What are clothes, really? Some people say clothes are the chromosomes (ころも) of your personal style — each garment carries information about your unique identity. Other people say clothes are simply the key to not being nude (きぬ). What do you think?
Both ころも and きぬ mean “clothes,” but these usages are old-fashioned. Also note that the more modern meaning of “coating” or “breading” uses only the ころも reading!
構成
Composition
Kanji: 構 set up + 成 become
If you set up something so that it becomes a certain way, that’s the composition of this thing. That’s its structure.
構成 refers to the process of assembling several elements to create a cohesive whole or the assembled whole itself. It can be applied to various contexts, such as social structures, family compositions, artistic works, or the configuration of materials.
Reading: こうせい
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.
習慣
Custom
Kanji: 習 learn + 慣 accustomed
I’ve learned to be accustomed to this. It has become my custom and habit.
Reading: しゅうかん
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.
捜査
Criminal investigation
Kanji: 捜 search + 査 investigate
When you search and inspect things, you are probably part of a criminal investigation. You may even be subject to a manhunt.
Reading: そうさ
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.
状況
Condition
Kanji: 状 condition + 況 condition
The condition condition is the condition. It’s also the circumstances if you can remember that. It’s like saying “What’s the condition!??” which is similar to saying “What’s the circumstances?”
Reading: じょうきょう
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.
涼しい
Cool
Kanji: 涼 cool + 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 cool? It’s cool.
涼しい is used to describe a comfortable level of coolness, particularly one that’s pleasant and refreshing.
Reading: すずしい
The reading is the kun’yomi reading, but that’s the reading you learned with the kanji so you should be able to read this one too. If you need a refresher, here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Looking for a place that’s cool and refreshing? Go to the Sue Zoo (すず). Imagine swimming with Sue the penguin in the refreshing water of her pool. Feels good!
期限
Deadline
Kanji: 期 period of time + 限 limit
The period of time limit is the deadline for a certain thing. Alternatively, this can describe a term for something, like the repayment of debts, or some sort of due date.
Reading: きげん
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.
絶望
Despair
Kanji: 絶 extinction + 望 hope
When hope has died out, you have no more hope, only despair.
Reading: ぜつぼう
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.
割引
Discount
Kanji: 割 divide + 引 pull
Divide that price and pull it apart. You only have to pay for one part! What a discount.
Reading: わりびき
The readings are the ones you learned with the kanji. き from ひき kind of just gets stuffed into the 引 and hidden away like that strange collection of fingernails you have hidden in your closet drawer inside of a 35mm film container. Also remember that the reading gets changed to びき here because of that pesky rendaku.
区分
Division
Kanji: 区 district + 分 part
Think about a part of the district. Separate them out in your mind (these parts). Each part is a division of the district. You can also take each division and create a classification of them. Go ahead and classify each one.
Reading: くぶん
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.
地
Earth
Kanji: 地 earth
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
地 is often used in formal contexts or literature to refer to the Earth’s surface, the ground, or land in a more abstract or overarching sense. To say “earth” or “ground” casually, use 地面. For “land,” it’s 土地.
Reading: ち
Although this is a single kanji all alone, it uses the on’yomi reading. This is the reading you learned with the kanji, you lucky duck.
反響
Echo
Kanji: 反 anti + 響 echo
An anti echo is still an echo! It’s just going back and forth with a normal echo. Together they get a weird reverberation going.
Reading: はんきょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
効率
Efficiency
Kanji: 効 efficient + 率 percent
Your effective percent shows how effective you are. If you’re at an effective percent of 80%, that’s your efficiency.
Reading: こうりつ
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.
年輩
Elderly person
Kanji: 年 year + 輩 comrade
Someone who is a comrade with years has been around a lot of said years. They are an elderly person.
Reading: ねんぱい
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. The はい goes to a ぱい, because elderly persons love pie, right?
結構
Fine
Kanji: 結 bind + 構 set up
Bind and set up everything so it is fine and fairly sufficient.
This word is often used to express that something is adequate or satisfactory, to politely decline an offer or invitation, or to indicate a relatively high degree or extent of something, like:
“No thank you” 結構です
“That’s fine, no more” もう結構です
“It’s fairly big” 結構大きい
etc.
Reading: けっこう
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. The けつ shortens to けっ.
防火
Fire prevention
Kanji: 防 prevent + 火 fire
Trying to prevent fire? Better get into fire prevention.
Reading: ぼうか
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.
上巻
First volume
Kanji: 上 above + 巻 scroll
The above scroll is the top scroll, the one you read first. It’s the first volume. Many Japanese books come in parts, so look for this if you want to get the first one.
Reading: じょうかん
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.
まぐれ
Fluke
Kanji: No kanji (be happy!)
Somebody tried to mug Remi (まぐれ), your friend, but by chance they managed to escape! Their escape was a fluke, but what a relief they didn’t get mugged.
This word can be written in kanji, but the kana version is way more common. In fact, it’d be quite a fluke if you saw it in kanji.
Reading: まぐれ
〜毎に
For every
Kanji: 毎 every + に
Add a に to every and you get for every. This means something happens at intervals of a certain time frame or milestone, like once every year, month, day, etc.!
Note that this is very frequently written in hiragana, but you’ll encounter the kanji version as well, especially when it follows a number.
Reading: ごとに
This uses the kun’yomi reading of 毎, which you haven’t learned yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
For every kanji you burn, you go to (ごと) Tokyo Disneyland as a reward. It’s a bit of an expensive habit, but I think you deserve it.
新鮮
Fresh
Kanji: 新 new + 鮮 fresh
New and fresh is fresh (has to be new if you want it to be fresh, after all).
This word is used to describe fresh vegetables, fish, air, and new ideas or experiences, but is not commonly used to describe freshly made food or drinks. This is because the word emphasizes the inherent freshness of the thing being described, rather than its recent production.
Reading: しんせん
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.
鮮魚
Fresh fish
Kanji: 鮮 fresh + 魚 fish
Fresh fish is fresh fish (and the best fish, nom nom nom).
This is a fairly specialized word that you’d mostly see at a market. To describe fresh fish more generally, you can just say 新鮮な魚.
Reading: せんぎょ
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.
満員
Full house
Kanji: 満 full + 員 member
Full of members, so sorry, no more room. This place is a full house. That means there is no vacancy here.
Reading: まんいん
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.
満月
Full moon
Kanji: 満 full + 月 moon
The full moon is a full moon.
Reading: まんげつ
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.
公用
Government business
Kanji: 公 public + 用 task
A public task is going to be government business. You have to think of this public as government to know the meaning of this word easily.
Reading: こうよう
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.
素直
Honest
Kanji: 素 element + 直 fix
All your dishonest elements are fixed, making you more honest than ever.
This is mostly used to describe people as being honest and upfront about their thoughts and emotions. While mostly being positive, it can also be used in a slightly negative way to describe people as being obedient and compliant, following instructions and rules without resistance.
Reading: すなお
The reading for this is a bit of a weird one. It uses on’yomi for 素, then it uses the kun’yomi for 直. You know both readings, but it’s all a little strange, so here’s a mnemonic help you:
To present yourself as an honest person, you should hurry up and change into a suit now (すなお). We all know that people in suits look more honest and upfront, so go get suited up now!
光栄
Honor
Kanji: 光 sunlight + 栄 prosper
When a light shines on how much you’ve prospered, it’s a great honor. You don’t feel like you did anything so special, but it’s really a privilege for the light to come down on you like this.
Reading: こうえい
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.
莫大
Huge
Kanji: 莫 endless + 大 big
Something that is endlessly big isn’t just big, but huge and enormous.
This word is often used in contexts that involve money, but it can also be used for other things like time, energy, and data.
Reading: ばくだい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
含意
Implication
Kanji: 含 include + 意 idea
Include your ideas here, but think about the implications they will result in too, especially considering you’re just including them now. They have implications!
This word is quite formal, and therefore commonly used in academic or professional contexts.
Reading: がんい
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.
無限
Infinite
Kanji: 無 nothing + 限 limit
The limit is nothing. What? No limit? That means it will never stop! It is infinite!
Reading: むげん
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.
影響
Influence
Kanji: 影 shadow + 響 echo
In the shadows you still echo. Your echo leaves the shadows and hits people, creating an influence on them. You’re like the shadow person pulling the strings, making things do what you want… influencing them.
Reading: えいきょう
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.
不規則
Irregularity
Kanji: 不 not + 規 standard + 則 rule
You know that 規則 means “rule” or “regulation.” So a not “rule” or “regulation” is an irregularity.
Reading: ふきそく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
後輩
Junior
Kanji: 後 behind + 輩 comrade
The comrade who’s behind you is your junior.
Reading: こうはい
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. The reading for 後 is the long こう reading, though. Just think of your junior being こういち.
下巻
Last volume
Kanji: 下 below + 巻 scroll
The scroll that’s below is the last scroll you read, making it the last volume.
Reading: げかん
The 下 uses the alternative reading of げ but 巻 is all good and normal.
訴訟
Lawsuit
Kanji: 訴 sue + 訟 lawsuit
If you sue and bring about a lawsuit, you are bringing about a lawsuit.
Reading: そしょう
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.
