Kanji - Level 27 - Vocab Flashcards
健忘症
Amnesia
Kanji: 健 healthy + 忘 forget + 症 symptom
A healthy bit of forgetting symptoms means you might have amnesia.
健忘症 often refers to short-term memory loss, either full or partial, but some people might also use it in a sort of joking way for everyday forgetfulness.
Reading: けんぼうしょう
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.
南極
Antarctica
Kanji: 南 south + 極 extreme
The extreme south is the extreme of south. It’s about as south as you can go. That place is known as Antarctica.
Reading: なんきょく
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.
取り決め
Arrangement
Kanji: 取 take + り + 決 decide + め
You’ve taken a decision from someone. By doing this, you’ve created a kind of arrangement with them. Imagine yourself pulling this decision out of the person. They don’t want to necessarily give it to you, but they’re letting you pull it out of them, kind of. When you’ve pulled it out, you’ve come to an arrangement, though they’ve pulled some of your decision out too.
Reading: とりきめ
This word uses the kun’yomi reading for both kanji, which you might have guessed already since there’s hiragana sticking out of both of them. The 取り comes from 取る and the 決め comes from 決める. Put them together and what have you got? Bibbidi bobbidi とりきめ!
訪問
A visit
Kanji: 訪 visit + 問 problem
A visit problem is when someone makes a visit, because you’re the type of person who doesn’t like visitors, since they’re usually so inconsiderate and you have to feed them. That’s why a visit is a visit problem.
Reading: ほうもん
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.
悩み
A worry
Kanji: 悩 worry + み
This is the noun version of worry, making it a worry, or a trouble.
Reading: なやみ
The reading is the one you learned with the kanji. Nicely done, no need to have a worry about it.
悪影響
Bad influence
Kanji: 悪 bad + 影 shadow + 響 echo
影響 is “influence,” so an evil influence is a bad influence.
Reading: あくえいきょう
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.
野郎
Bastard
Reading: 野 field + 郎 guy
Ugh, that field guy. He’s the worst. Always in the fields, making us look bad, quite the bastard. Really though, he’s just this guy, but for some reason I sometimes don’t like him.
Reading: やろう
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.
腹
Belly
Kanji: 腹 belly
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: はら
If anyone ever tries to touch your belly make sure you yell “Sekuhara (はら)! Sekuhara!” Sekuhara is short for sexual harassment in Japan. And if you don’t want someone to touch your belly, but they’re trying to, then that’s sekuhara!
退屈
Boring
Kanji: 退 retreat + 屈 yield
I retreat! I yield! I can’t take it anymore, it’s so boring. Just imagine yourself giving up on whatever you’re doing because you’re so darn bored. You can’t stand it. You have to retreat. You are ready to yield. Booooooring.
Reading: たいくつ
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.
両替
Change money
Kanji: 両 both + 替 replace
Coins? Bills? Both can be replaced if you want to change money at this money exchange. Just don’t do your currency exchange at the airport — the rates aren’t so great.
You’ll probably see this word the most in arcades where you can go to the 両替 machine and get coins to feed your crane game addiction.
Reading: りょうがえ
The reading here is a bit weird. Instead of just being か (it changes to が for the rendaku), it is がえ. Just think that if you want change exchanged, I’m your guy (がえ).
着替え
Change of clothes
Kanji: 着 wear + 替 replace + え
You know how 替える is “to replace”? Well, you’re replacing what you wear. That’s a change of clothes, or spare clothes.
Reading: きがえ
The reading is 着る and 替える put together. The か goes to が.
手掛かり
Clue
Kanji: 手 hand + 掛 hand + か + り
It was a hand which hangs the things we’re looking for: a clue! Clues really are usually put down by people quite often. Or, perhaps, think of a hand hanging on something as your clue.
Reading: てがかり
The reading is 手 plus 掛かる put together. Just watch out for that rendaku.
腰抜け
Coward
Kanji: 腰 waist + 抜 pull out + け
You learned that 抜ける is “to fall out.” If your waist falls out, you can’t remain standing. You have to curl up on the ground, like a coward.
Reading: こしぬけ
This word uses the kun’yomi readings for both kanji, which you’ve learned already. Go you!
濃い
Dense
Kanji: 濃 dense + い
This is a single kanji with an い on the end, meaning it’s probably an adjective. The kanji means dense, and this can also mean dense or thick in some contexts, like if you’re describing fog, or body hair! More generally, it can be used for anything that’s highly concentrated, so you can use it for things like deep colors, or strong coffee too!
Reading: こい
What’s the most dense thing you can think of? A 子 (こ). Children are so full of joy, you can practically see how dense, thick and concentrated the joy is.
濃度
Density
Kanji: 濃 dense + 度 degree
When something is dense to a certain degree, you’re talking about the density or concentration of something.
Reading: のうど
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.
お構いなく
Don’t mind me
Kanji: お + 構 set up + い + な + く
Remember how 構う is “to care about”? You can convert it into お構いなく to politely tell someone not to care about you. So this means, don’t mind me.
It can also mean without regard for, especially when someone keeps doing something without caring about other people, their surroundings, or unfavorable conditions.
Reading: おかまいなく
The reading comes from 構う, so if you know that you know this!
頑張れ
Do your best
Kanji: 頑 stubborn + 張 stretch + れ
Remember 頑張る means “to persevere” or “to do one’s best”? This time you’re telling someone to 頑張る, so this word means something like do your best, hang in there, or good luck! Speaking of which, 頑張れ, you!
Reading: がんばれ
The reading comes from 頑張る.
端
Edge
Kanji: 端 edge
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This refers to a literal edge, not a figurative one.
端 refers to the edge or end of something, like the edge of a table, the far end of a bridge, or even the corner of a page.
Reading: はし
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:
If you’re on edge, just eat some hash (はし) browns to feel better! And if you’re going to the edge of the world, hash browns will probably help you make it there too. Hash browns are so useful!
効果的
Effective
Kanji: 効 effective + 果 fruit + 的 target
Remember how 効果 means “effect”? Add ~like to that and it’s effective!
Reading: こうかてき
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.
限定販売
Exclusive sale
Kanji: 限 limit + 定 determine + 販 sell + 売 sell
When a 限定 (limit) is applied to 販売 (selling), it’s a sort of exclusive sale or limited offer.
限定販売 is a sales strategy where companies limit the availability of their products to certain regions, stores, time frames, or club members.
Reading: げんていはんばい
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.
極端
Extreme
Kanji: 極 extreme + 端 edge
At the extreme edge, which is just the extreme.
極端 means something is taken to the extreme without moderation, so it generally has a negative connotation.
Reading: きょくたん
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.
就職
Finding employment
Kanji: 就 get a position + 職 employment
Getting a position of employment means finding employment, or getting a job.
Reading: しゅうしょく
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.
栄光
Glory
Kanji: 栄 prosper + 光 light
You helped your city prosper, and a light shines out of you, so that the entire city can bask in your glory.
Don’t confuse this with 光栄! With that one, light is shining on you, and you receive honor from it. With this, you made things prosper and the light came after, making you look glorious.
Reading: えいこう
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.
段々
Gradually
Kanji: 段 step + 々 repeater
Step by step. If you take things step by step, you’re moving up gradually, taking steps.
段々 is often used to describe gradual progress. But sometimes you’ll see it used for terraced fields or buildings too, since they sorta resemble steps!
Reading: だんだん
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.
中途半端
Half finished
Kanji: 中 middle + 途 route + 半 half + 端 edge
Take the middle route, half to the edge. You don’t do anything the full way. Just to the middle. Just to the half. Not to the edge. This was really half finished and half assed of you.
Reading: ちゅうとはんぱ
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 ぱ at the end is the only tricky part here since that isn’t a common reading (or the one you learned before) for the kanji. Just think of your ol’ Pa (ぱ), who is the biggest half-asser you know.
頭痛
Headache
Kanji: 頭 head + 痛 pain
Head pain is when you have a headache.
Reading: ずつう
The reading for 痛 should be okay. The reading for 頭 isn’t one you’ve learned before, however. Just think, every time you go to the zoo (ず) you get a terrible headache. Must be the animal feces floating around in the air.
健康
Health
Kanji: 健 healthy + 康 ease
You’re so healthy it puts you at ease. That’s your health! So healthful, go you!
Reading: けんこう
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.
間抜け
Idiot
Kanji: 間 interval + 抜 pull out + け
You learned that 抜ける is “to fall out.” If an interval of time falls out of you, you’re totally spaced out. You won’t learn anything and you’ll become an idiot.
間抜け can refer to both a person who does something foolish and to the foolish actions themselves. It’s often used to criticize dumb behavior.
Reading: まぬけ
The readings come from the ま reading of 間 and from 抜く.
不眠症
Insomnia
Kanji: 不 not + 眠 sleep + 症 symptom
The not sleep symptom shows you have a disorder that involves not sleeping. That is insomnia.
Reading: ふみんしょう
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.
居酒屋
Izakaya
Kanji: 居 alive + 酒 alcohol + 屋 roof
An alive alcohol shop is a place that does a lot of alcohol. In Japan, these places are often izakaya, or, if you don’t know Izakaya already from English, you can consider it to be a Japanese Style Bar.
Reading: いざかや
The readings here are all kun’yomi, but this is the first time you’ve seen the さか reading for 酒, which rendaku then turns into ざか in this word! If you know what an izakaya is already, it will help you to remember the reading, but if not here’s a mnemonic to help you:
After soccer (さか) practice, you always go to your favorite izakaya!
昇進
Job promotion
Kanji: 昇 ascend + 進 advance
Ascend and advance! Congratulations, you ascend and advance by getting a new job promotion.
Reading: しょうしん
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.
景観
Landscape
Kanji: 景 scene + 観 view
Quite the scene, this view is. So what you’re looking at is a landscape. This often refers to a cityscape or the general scenery of an area.
This is a formal word that’s commonly used in the context of urban planning or environmental design.
Reading: けいかん
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.
大規模
Large scale
Kanji: 大 big + 規 standard + 模 imitation
Remember how 規模 is scale? Well, this is a big scale, which is on a large scale.
Reading: だいきぼ
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.
早退
Leave early
Kanji: 早 early + 退 retreat
An early retreat means that you leave early.
Note that 早退 means leaving school or work earlier than usual. It’s not used for leaving hangouts or parties early.
Reading: そうたい
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.
お任せ
Leaving decision to someone else
Kanji: お + 任 duty + せ
This word comes from 任せる, but without the る on the end it’s a noun. You also have the honorific お on the beginning, which is a clue that you’re addressing someone else. So you’re entrusting something to the person you’re talking to, and this means leaving decisions to someone else. This is used a lot in restaurants, where it means chef’s choice or simply omakase. In other words, you’re leaving the choice of food to the chef.
It can be used in other contexts, too, like if you leave your haircut up to your stylist or a flower arrangement up to the florist, or even if you follow the recommended program at the gym.
Reading: おまかせ
You learned this reading with the word 任せる, so I’ll leave this one to you.
居間
Living room
Kanji: 居 alive + 間 interval
A room that comes alive in intervals is your living room, or sitting room. You don’t spend all your time in there, so it can only be alive sometimes.
Note that 居間 is a little old-fashioned. These days, the more common word for a living room is リビングルーム.
Reading: いま
The readings for this word are both kun’yomi readings. You’ve learned both of these readings by now so you should be able to read this on your own.
理屈
Logic
Kanji: 理 reason + 屈 yield
Reason yields to logic and more reasoning.
理屈 can be neutral, but it often has negative connotations too, like when it refers to an argument that contains questionable logic, pretexts, or too much pedantry.
Reading: りくつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
迷子
Lost child
Kanji: 迷 astray + 子 child
A child that’s astray is a lost child. Help them home, don’t invite them into your windowless van, please.
Reading: まいご
The reading for 迷 is an exceptional reading. The ご comes from こ. Think of the まい as the child asking: “Where is my (まい) mommy???”
迷路
Maze
Kanji: 迷 astray + 路 road
A road where you’re astray is a road that goes all around in different ways, tricking you and making you lost. This is a maze.
Reading: めいろ
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.
再来月
Month after next
Kanji: 再 again + 来 come + 月 moon
The next month (来月) isn’t enough… one more next month, please. Let’s do it again. That month is the month after next.
Reading: さらいげつ
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.
結構です
No thank you
Kanji: 結 bind + 構 set up + で + す
結構 is something like “fine” or “alright.” This is just a little more polite. You can use this to say no thank you to someone trying to offer you something.
Reading: けっこうです
The reading comes from 結構.
客観的
Objective
Kanji: 客 guest + 観 view + 的 target
Remember 主観的 meaning “subjective”? This is the counterpart to that. And since guests’ and customers’ views are always objectively right, this means objective.
Reading: きゃっかんてき
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.
途中
On the middle
Kanji: 途 route + 中 middle
If you’re on a route, right in the middle, you’re on the way or en route.
途中 can also be used figuratively to say you’re in the middle of doing something or something is half done.
Reading: とちゅう
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.
組織
Organization
Kanji: 組 group + 織 weave
A group that’s weaved together so tightly with hierarchy and everything else is a little more complicated than a group. It’s an organization.
Reading: そしき
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. You didn’t learn that reading for 組, so here’s a mnemonic to help:
You start an organization for soap (そ). You’re all about soap and making it more effective through your organization. So you call it the Soap Organization for Antiseptic Progress, or S.O.A.P. for short.
痛い
Painful
Kanji: 痛 pain + 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 pain? It’s painful.
痛い is commonly used to say that some part of the body hurts or feels sore.
Reading: いたい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you: An eater (いた) is someone who eats. But, the eater hurt his mouth. So now it’s painful to eat.
