Kanji - Level 26 - Vocab Flashcards
事故
Accident
Kanji: 事 action + 故 circumstance
An occurrence that only results because of circumstances is also called an accident. You didn’t want this bad thing to happen, it was just an occurrence of circumstance! Everything aligned in the worst way.
事故 is mostly used to refer to physical accidents, like traffic accidents (交通事故) or construction accidents (建設事故). Sometimes other kinds of mishaps get the 事故 label too, like broadcast mishaps (放送事故), where something inappropriate or unplanned happens on air.
Reading: じこ
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.
針医
Acupuncturist
Kanji: 針 needle + 医 medicine
Needle medicine is when you stick needles into people to cure them. This is done via an acupuncturist.
Reading: はりい
This word uses the kun’yomi reading for 針 and the on’yomi reading for 医. You haven’t learned this reading for 針 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
If you do acupuncture and stick a bunch of needles in your back it’s going to look really hairy (はり). Needles look just like metal hairs when they’re coming out of someone. Just picture hairy little needles all over your body and you’ll never forget this reading!
再度
Again
Kanji: 再 again + 度 degree
Again with that occurrence? That occurrence has now happened again.
Note that this word is relatively formal.
Reading: さいど
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 there’s a い hiding in there!
独り
Alone
Kanji: 独 alone + り
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
While 一人 simply means “one person,” 独り carries a stronger sense of being alone, often with connotations of solitude. It can also mean someone is single (as in not married).
Reading: ひとり
The reading is different from the one you learned (this is kun’yomi). There’s an easy way to remember it, though. 一人 and 独り share the same readings and mean almost the same thing. Just try to remember that this ひとり is used to emphasize solitude.
間違い
A mistake
Kanji: 間 interval + 違 different + い
We waited an interval of time, and at each interval it was different. They’re all supposed to be the same. Is there some kind of mistake?
Reading: まちがい
Take the reading of 間 (ま from 間に合う) and 違う and you’ll have the reading for this word too.
獣
Beast
Kanji: 獣 beast
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: けもの
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:
A beast… what do you think of when you think of a beast? How about a thing (物, もの) full of fur (毛, け), aka a けもの (fur thing)? A beast is a fur thing, and in Japanese that’s けもの. Punnnns.
獣類
Beasts
Kanji: 獣 beast + 類 type
Things that are of the beast type or animal type are within the beasts and animals category.
獣類 refers to four-footed mammals with fur. It’s a technical term generally used in the fields of biology and zoology to categorize animals.
Reading: じゅうるい
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.
大違い
Big difference
Kanji: 大 big + 違 different +
違い is difference, so a big one of those is a big difference.
Reading: おおちがい
The reading is 違い plus 大 of 大きい (おお) put together. You can remember this because when you see the difference (the BIG difference), you say “oohhhhh” (お), because you were surprised you didn’t see it before.い
酒造
Brewing
Kanji: 酒 alcohol + 造 create
The act of alcohol creation is done via brewing and distilling.
Reading: しゅぞう
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.
運河
Canal
Kanji: 運 carry + 河 river
It can carry a river. It’s a canal.
Reading: うんが
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 か goes to が, probably while floating down said canal.
お祝い
Celebration
Kanji: お + 祝 celebrate + い
This is the noun version of the kanji celebrate, so it means celebration!
お祝い is also used to mean a congratulatory gift itself.
Reading: おいわい
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!
特徴
Characteristic
Kanji: 特 special + 徴 indication
A special indication on something or yourself is a special characteristic. It’s a distinctive feature that exists.
Reading: とくちょう
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.
比較
Comparison
Kanji: 比 compare + 較 contrast
A compare and contrast will give you a comparison of something.
Reading: ひかく
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.
株式会社
Corporation
Kanji: 株 stock + 式 ritual + 会 meet + 社 company
This company (会社) has done the ritual required to create stocks for their company. When a company has stocks, they become a corporation.
Reading: かぶしきがいしゃ
The readings for everything here are the readings you learned with the individual kanji, though not all are on’yomi. This word is usually rendaku’d too, but sometimes you’ll see the non-rendaku version in romaji when it comes to English language legal stuff, so keep that in mind.
気違い
Crazy
Kanji: 気 energy + 違 different + い
Your energy is … well … different. That’s the nice way to put it. You’re crazy, actually.
WARNING: We’re teaching you this word because it’s used quite a bit still (especially online) and we want you to be able to understand it if you see it. But please keep in mind that this is considered to be a discriminatory word against people with mental illnesses, so we strongly recommend you do not use or direct this word toward anyone. Think of it like a really inappropriate swear word that makes you really uncool if you say it. Please!
While you still see the kanji version, this word is commonly written in katakana.
Reading: きちがい
The reading is 気 plus 違い.
創造
Creation
Kanji: 創 create + 造 create
Create! Create! If you do this, you are doing creation.
Reading: そうぞう
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.
討論
Debate
Kanji: 討 chastise + 論 theory
I’m going to chastise you about this theory. When I do this, this is a debate. Doesn’t it feel like you’re being chastised when people are debating with you sometimes, especially with your own theories? I think so.
Reading: とうろん
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.
独裁
Dictatorship
Kanji: 独 alone + 裁 judge
When one person is in a position to judge everyone alone by themselves, they’re definitely a part of a dictatorship. One person should never be alone to judge everyone because that’s how dictators are made and they’re not so great.
Reading: どくさい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
直接
Direct
Kanji: 直 fix + 接 adjoin
I’m going to direct and adjoin the routes together. No more multiple stops. This is direct.
Reading: ちょくせつ
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.
障害
Disability
Kanji: 障 hinder + 害 damage
There is damage that hinders you from doing things normally. This is a disability.
Reading: しょうがい
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.
創立
Establishment
Kanji: 創 create + 立 stand
Create it and stand it up. This is your establishment, your founding.
Reading: そうりつ
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.
第一印象
First impression
Kanji: 第 ordinal number prefix + 一 one + 印 seal + 象 elephant
The first (第一) phenomenon is what’s sealed into your head. This is your first impression of something.
Reading: だいいちいんしょう
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.
占い
Fortune telling
Kanji: 占 fortune + い
Although this has a い on the end it’s tricky and not an adjective. The kanji is fortune, and the vocab word is fortune telling.
Reading: うらない
I’m going to do some fortune telling on you… hmmm… I see… ohhhh… Looks like you’ll be living on Uranus (うらな) in your near future, that will be $50. What a dumb fortune telling for $50, you definitely won’t be living there, unless he meant your butt, then maybe.
万年筆
Fountain pen
Kanji: 万 ten thousand + 年 year + 筆 writing brush
The only kind of writing brush you can use for ten thousand years is a fountain pen! All other pens run out of ink and then you’re out of luck. But fountain pens can be refilled, making them work for pretty much exactly ten thousand years.
Reading: まんねんひつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
河豚
Fugu
Kanji: 河 river + 豚 pig
The river pig is what’s known as fugu or blowfish. You may know it from our mascot and best friend, the Tofugu!
But why does “river pig” = fugu? It’s true that fugu usually live in the ocean, but sometimes they make their way into rivers near the ocean too. The “pig” part probably comes from their round, puffed-up appearance.
Reading: ふぐ
The reading makes no sense, really. Neither kanji readings work. But, if you remember that a river pig is a fugu, you can know the reading is ふぐ as well! YOU ARE A BLOWFISH, JESSE!
怪談
Ghost story
Kanji: 怪 suspicious + 談 talk
If you have a suspicious talk, you’re talking about something that may or may not be real. One of those things you could be discussing is a ghost story.
Reading: かいだん
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.
怪獣
Giant monster
Kanji: 怪 suspicious + 獣 beast
Look at that suspicious beast… it’s Godzilla, walking around looking suspicious. What is Godzilla? He is a giant monster.
Reading: かいじゅう
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.
氷河
Glacier
Kanji: 氷 ice + 河 river
An ice river is some ice that moves (very slowly) like a river. That is a glacier. In fact, many inlets and sounds were created with glaciers, because glaciers moved through them like rivers… not very quickly, though.
Reading: ひょうが
The reading for 氷 is the one you didn’t learn. Think of the glacier coming slowly to your door. It rings your doorbell and says heyo (ひょう). Note that the か becomes が here.
お誕生日おめでとう
Happy birthday
Kanji: お + 誕 birth + 生 life + 日 sun + お + め + で + と + う
誕生日 is birthday. おめでとう is like “congratulations.” So, congratulations for your birthday is like happy birthday!
Reading: おたんじょうびおめでとう
The reading is the same as 誕生日, so if you know that you know this!
我
I
Kanji: 我 I
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
我 is an old-fashioned pronoun and isn’t commonly used outside of set phrases like 我を忘れる (to forget oneself or be utterly absorbed) or 我に返る (to come back to reality or return to one’s senses).
Reading: われ
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:
It is I! Due to my ego, I love the Wii and no other gaming device. I love playing all the Wii-ware (われ) that’s available, and everything else sucks.
輸入
Import
Kanji: 輸 transport + 入 enter
The transport of things that enter your country are imports.
Reading: ゆにゅう
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.
独立
Independence
Kanji: 独 alone + 立 stand
Alone I stand. I have independence!
独立 often implies both being autonomous and independent. While it can also refer to self-reliance, it’s more commonly associated with political independence or independence from organizations.
Reading: どくりつ
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.
人差し指
Index finger
Kanji: 人 person + 差 distinction + し + 指 finger
Your person distinction finger is the finger you use to point at people to distinguish them from other people. This is your pointer finger… your index finger.
Reading: ひとさしゆび
The readings are all the kun’yomi readings of everything. The word 人, the word 差す, and the word 指. Take your time with this one, it’s kind of weird.
間接
Indirect
Kanji: 間 interval + 接 adjoin
After an interval of time it will adjoin, but not right away. That is because it was being indirect.
Reading: かんせつ
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.
激しい
Intense
Kanji: 激 fierce + 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 fierce and violent? Fierce and violent! That’s intense.
Reading: はげしい
What is fierce and violent? That old hag (はげ). Imagine her coming at you attacking you violently!
故意
Intentional
Kanji: 故 circumstance + 意 idea
The circumstance was caused by the idea I had. Because I had this idea before the circumstance, it shows I was intentional in doing it. I did it on purpose.
Note that 故意 is mostly used in formal contexts.
Reading: こい
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.
面接
Interview
Kanji: 面 face + 接 adjoin
Our faces have adjoined in this one room to talk. You did the telephone interview where you didn’t show the face of your face. Now you’re showing it, so we can begin the real interview.
面接 generally refers to a job interview or an oral examination. For conversations between media professionals and people of public interest, インタビュー is used instead.
Reading: めんせつ
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.
河童
Kappa
Kanji: 河 river + 童 juvenile
A river juvenile… not what you think. It’s a kappa, a mythological Japanese creature. That being said, it lives in / around rivers and is about the size of a juvenile, so maybe this makes sense.
Reading: かっぱ
The reading for 河 makes sense. The reading for 童 however is weird. Since the meaning is “kappa” though you can use that to remember the reading as well. If you don’t know what a kappa is do some research on the internets and figure out about them. It’s interesting, and it will help you to remember this word.
造園
Landscape gardening
Kanji: 造 create + 園 garden
Create a garden? You’ll have to know a lot about landscape gardening.
Reading: ぞうえん
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.
鉛
Lead
Kanji: 鉛 lead
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: なまり
Lots of lead, all in bullet form. That’s what it was like in nam, ‘arry” (なまり).
鉛管
Lead pipe
Kanji: 鉛 lead + 管 pipe
A lead pipe is a lead pipe. Don’t hit people with this in the knees.
Reading: えんかん
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.
鉛毒
Lead toxicity
Kanji: 鉛 lead + 毒 poison
Lead poison is lead toxicity.
This word generally refers to the toxicity of lead. While it can also refer to lead poisoning, 鉛中毒 (なまりちゅうどく) is the more common word for that.
Reading: えんどく
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.
授業
Lesson
Kanji: 授 instruct + 業 business
The instruction business is when you give a lesson or class to someone.
Reading: じゅぎょう
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.
限定
Limit
Kanji: 限 limit + 定 determine
A specific limit has been determined. This is the limit of a certain thing, which can’t be exceeded.
This word means placing a particular limit or restriction on the quantity, scope, or availability of something for a special or exclusive purpose. This is often used for things like sales or products that are only available for a limited time or in restricted quantities.
Reading: げんてい
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.
郵便
Mail
Kanji: 郵 mail + 便 convenience
Mail (or post) has convenience because it is sent for you in the mail (or the post!).
Reading: ゆうびん
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. The reading of 便 (びん) in this vocabulary is an exceptional reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you out. You get a lot of junk mail so you throw it in the waste bin (びん). The waste bin is where junk mail goes.
故障
Malfunction
Kanji: 故 circumstance + 障 hinder
By some circumstance, the thing you’re using is hindering you. Usually it works, but now it’s out of order and has a malfunction.
Reading: こしょう
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.
人造
Man made
Kanji: 人 person + 造 create
A person created item is man made. It’s synthetic and artificial.
Wonder what makes 人造 different from 人工? While 人工 means “artificial” in general, 人造 specifically refers to something that is produced or constructed by humans. It’s not as commonly used as 人工 and is often found in creative writing when talking about 人造人間 (androids).
Reading: じんぞう
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.
