Kanji - Level 33 - Vocab Flashcards
異常
Abnormal
Kanji: 異 differ + 常 normal
When something differs from normal it’s called abnormal or strange.
Reading: いじょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
異状
Abnormality
Kanji: 異 differ + 状 condition
It differs from the normal condition of things, making it weird. It is an abnormality. There is something wrong.
Reading: いじょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
忠告
Advice
Kanji: 忠 loyalty + 告 advice
A loyalty announcement is the kind of announcement you give to someone who you’re loyal to. To this type of person, your announcement would come in the form of advice or maybe admonishment, if you’re upset with what they’ve done.
Reading: ちゅうこく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
裏通り
Alley
Kanji: 裏 backside + 通 pass through + り
A backside street (or “avenue”) is a street that’s not a main street… it’s hidden and behind everything, making it an alley.
Reading: うらどおり
The reading is 裏 and 通り put together into one word.
年次
Annual
Kanji: 年 year + 次 next
The year that is next is coming up. What will you do in the year that is next that you did this year too? What do you do that is annual?
年次 is a formal term typically used in business settings, such as in 年次報告書 (annual report) or 年次休暇 (annual leave).
Reading: ねんじ
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.
武装
Arms
Kanji: 武 military + 装 attire
The most important part of your military attire are your arms (not the ones attached to your body, your guns and stuff). Arms are what make you a real military person.
Reading: ぶそう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
灰
Ash
Kanji: 灰 ash
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: はい
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.
灰皿
Ashtray
Kanji: 灰 ash + 皿 plate
An ash plate is a plate you use for ashes. That’s an ashtray.
Reading: はいざら
The reading is the two vocab words, 灰 and 皿, put together.
不振
A slump
Kanji: 不 not + 振 shake
If something does not shake, it’s probably in a slump. If nothing’s shaking, things must be sluggish.
不振 is used for times when things are slower or worse than usual. For example, 業績不振 is when a business isn’t doing as well as it usually does, and 食欲不振 is when you don’t feel like eating as much as you normally would.
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.
服装
Attire
Kanji: 服 clothes + 装 attire
Your clothes which attire you is your attire. It’s how you dress.
Reading: ふくそう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
装い
Attire
Kanji: 装 attire + い
This looks like it’s an adjective, but it’s just a tricky word. It’s a noun, and it means the same thing as the kanji, making it attire.
Reading: よそおい
“Yo, so, oh, you gonna wear that attire today or what?”
著者
Author
Kanji: 著 author + 者 someone
Someone who is an author is an author.
Reading: ちょしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
裏口
Back door
Kanji: 裏 backside + 口 mouth
The backside mouth (think: entrance) is the back door or rear entrance.
Reading: うらぐち
The reading is 裏 and 口 put together into one word.
裏
Backside
Kanji: 裏 backside
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: うら
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji as well.
裏切り
Betrayal
Kanji: 裏 backside + 切 cut + り
From the backside you cut someone. Wow. What a jerk. What betrayal and treachery.
Reading: うらぎり
This word is 裏 and 切る’s readings, put together.
体操
Calisthenics
Kanji: 体 body + 操 manipulate
Take your body and manipulate it around for exercise. This is Calisthenics or gymnastics.
Reading:たいそう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
操
Chastity
Kanji: 操 manipulate
This takes the second meaning of the kanji you learned, chastity.
Reading: みさお
Who is doing the chastity thing? That missa, oh (みさお), yes she is.
熟語
Compound word
Kanji: 熟 ripen + 語 language
Ripened languages are words that have taken some time to come into their form. They ripened up, starting with just one kanji, but then became two, or three, or more. That is a compound word or compound kanji. You know that “jukugo” thing I talk about so much? That’s this!
Reading: じゅくご
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
股間
Crotch
Kanji: 股 crotch + 間 interval
The groin interval is simply the groin or crotch.
Reading: こかん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
皇太子
Crown prince
Kanji: 皇 emperor + 太 fat + 子 child
The emperor’s fat child is the crown prince, not because he’s fat, but because he’s the emperor’s child.
Reading: こうたいし
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
否定
Denial
Kanji: 否 not + 定 determine
No! I will not determine that. In fact, I deny it. This is my denial.
Reading: ひてい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
異性
Different gender
Kanji: 異 differ + 性 gender
Someone who differs in gender from you is of a different gender. This is often used to mean the opposite sex in the sense of men as viewed by women and vice versa.
Reading: いせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
異義
Different meaning
Kanji: 異 differ + 義 righteousness
My idea of righteousness is different from yours. Really, it’s just a different meaning.
Reading: いぎ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
変装
Disguise
Kanji: 変 change + 装 attire
Change your attire to look like someone else. This is a disguise.
Reading: へんそう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
編集者
Editor
Kanji: 編 knit + 集 collect + 者 someone
An edit is 編集. Someone who does those edits is an editor!
Reading: へんしゅうしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Also, the readings from 編集 should help you.
天皇
Emperor of Japan
Kanji: 天 heaven + 皇 emperor
The Japanese emperor is supposed to have come from the heavens, so that just makes this heaven emperor the emperor of Japan.
Reading: てんのう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You just have to remember that 皇 is read as のう here. You just found out you can never be the Emperor of Japan because you aren’t Japanese. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO~ (のう).
拡張
Enlargement
Kanji: 拡 extend + 張 stretch
Go ahead and extend it and stretch it. That’s how we’ll do this enlargement, expansion and extension.
Reading: かくちょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Of course, just to be dirty, the people who made up this word decided to use a kanji that read as かく. Dirty old monks that could see the future and speak English, ugh.
装置
Equipment
Kanji: 装 attire + 置 put
This attire is put inside this equipment, where it’s changed into something else. This attire device is strange and interesting. Imagine something that it does to your attire.
Reading: そうち
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
除いて
Except
Kanji: 除 exclude + い + て
除く is “to exclude.” This is the te-form, and it means “except.” So, something like “please get everything except broccoli,” because who wants broccoli?
Reading: のぞいて
The reading comes from 除く. It’s just the te-form of it.
忠実
Faithful
Kanji: 忠 loyalty + 実 truth
I have loyalty to you, so I always tell you the truth. I am very faithful and devoted to you!
Reading: ちゅうじつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
屁
Flatulence
Kanji: 屁 flatulence
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: へ
You already learned this reading with the kanji, so you should be good to go!
居候
Freeloader
Kanji: 居 alive + 候 climate
To stay alive in some climates, some have no choice but to be a freeloader. That is, a lodger who pays nothing. If you live somewhere with an inhospitable climate but you can’t afford to pay rent, your only option is to live with someone for free.
Reading: いそうろう
This is a slightly unusual case because both kanji use the kun’yomi. You haven’t learned that reading for 候 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
What? You’ve become a freeloader? I can’t believe you’ve gone so low (そうろう)!
貨物船
Freighter
Kanji: 貨 freight + 物 thing + 船 boat
A freight things ship is a boat that freights things. It’s a freighter.
Reading: かもつせん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. The 物 takes its もつ reading, which makes sense since it sounds like 持つ, which is “to hold.” What is this freighter doing? It’s holding freight! So, that’s how you can remember that bit.
果糖
Fructose
Kanji: 果 fruit + 糖 sugar
A fruit sugar is the type of sugar that’s more commonly known as fructose. Mmm, delicious fructose.
Reading: かとう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
園
Garden
Kanji: 園 garden
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
This word is generally used in the names of gardens, like エデンの園 and 桜の園. It’s also used in phrases like 学びの園, which means “school” and carries the connotation of being a haven for learning.
Readings: その, えん
This word uses the kun’yomi reading, which you didn’t learn the kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Which garden is the Garden of Eden? その garden! That garden right next to you is the Garden of Eden!
It can also use the on’yomi, though, which you’ve already learned. When it takes the on’yomi and is used as a standalone word, it usually refers to some kind of institution, like a 幼稚園.
諸君
Gentlemen
Kanji: 諸 various + 君 buddy
My various buddies! Wait, that didn’t come out right. Gentlemen! My friends! There we go, much better.
Reading: しょくん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
華々しい
Gorgeous
Kanji: 華 showy + 々 repeater + し + い
華やか is “showy.” Now we’re doubling it, making it doubly showy. If you make something showy enough, it becomes gorgeous, but it also becomes pretty flamboyant. So, so, so flamboyant.
Reading: はなばなしい
The reading comes from 華やか. Note the second はな becomes ばな, to be はなばなしい.
墓場
Graveyard
Kanji: 墓 grave + 場 location
A grave location is a place where there are graves. It is a graveyard.
This word is more direct and informal than 墓地, so using 墓場 for an actual cemetery might come off as disrespectful. It’s commonly used in phrases like ゆりかごから墓場まで (from the cradle to the grave) or 墓場まで持っていく (take a secret to the grave).
Reading: はかば
This word uses the kun’yomi for both kanji, which is fairly unusual, but then graveyards are unusual and special places. You’ve learned both of these readings before, so you should be able to read this on your own, but here’s a reminder for 墓 just in case:
When you’re finally dead and buried in a graveyard, your one wish is for the New Zealand All Blacks to do the Haka (はか) over your grave. If you don’t know what the haka is, look it up, it’s pretty neat.
灰色
Gray
Kanji: 灰 ash + 色 color
Ash color tends to be a kind of gray color, wouldn’t you say? That makes this word gray (or grey, depending on where you’re from).
Reading: はいいろ
This is a jukugo word that uses the kun’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
股関節
Hip joint
Kanji: 股 crotch + 関 related + 節 season
Did you know that your crotch is connected via various joints? That makes this word your hip joints or, more generally, just your hip.
Reading: こかんせつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
敬語
Honorific
Kanji: 敬 respect + 語 language
Respect language is what you speak to someone you respect and want to elevate. You can do this using this type of Japanese, which is known as honorific language.
Reading: けいご
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
家賃
House rent
Kanji: 家 house + 賃 rent
Your house rent is your house rent, though it can be your apartment rent too.
Reading: やちん
The reading for 家 is an exceptional one. It is や, because when your landlord asks if you paid your rent, you always say yah (や), whether you did or not.
屁理屈
Illogical argument
Kanji: 屁 flatulence + 理 reason + 屈 yield
You already know that 理屈 means “theory”. So what’s flatulence theory? It’s an illogical argument, a far-fetched argument, or sometimes a lame excuse. It’s all just hot air!
Reading: へりくつ
You’ve already learned all these readings. You should be able to read this on your own. And no, that’s not a far-fetched argument, or a lame excuse for not writing a mnemonic.
真似
Imitation
Kanji: 真 reality + 似 resemble
You’re taking reality and trying to resemble it. To do this, you have to do an imitation, mimicry, or an impersonation.
Reading: まね
This word uses the kun’yomi reading for 真 and an irregular reading for 似. You’ve already learned the reading for 真, but here’s a mnemonic to help you with 似:
What are you doing an imitation of? A horse! You gallop around neighing (ね) at the top of your lungs! That’s a pretty good imitation.
皇室
Imperial family
Kanji: 皇 emperor + 室 room
The emperor’s room is where the Imperial Family gathers.
Note that 皇室 refers to the Imperial Household as a family unit, rather than a physical space.
Reading: こうしつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
皇族
Imperial family
Kanji: 皇 emperor + 族 tribe
The emperor’s tribe is his family. This family is known as the imperial family.
Reading: こうぞく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
地蔵
Jizo
Kanji: 地 earth + 蔵 storehouse
The ground storehouse refers to a person’s name. It may be easier to learn this one reading first because of that. Anyways, this person is Jizo(u), a Bodhisattva, and protector of children.
Reading: じぞう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
散らし
Leaflet
Kanji: 散 scatter + ら + し
What do people usually scatter in a rush (らし)? Leaflets and flyers. Handing them out takes way too much time, so if you just scatter them all over the place your job will be done so much faster!
Reading: ちらし
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 the 散る, so you should be able to read it already!
Note that this word is almost always written in kana, and チラシ is much more common than ちらし.
肺
Lung
Kanji: 肺 lung
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: はい
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji. OH HAI THERE LUNG. OH HAI THERE YOU.
肺がん
Lung cancer
Kanji: 肺 lung + が + ん
肺 is lung, がん is “cancer,” I suppose because you want it gone (がん) from you. That makes this word lung cancer, which, with all the smoking in Japan, happens a decent amount.
Reading: はいがん
The reading is the same as what you learned with the kanji.
肺病
Lung disease
Kanji: 肺 lung + 病 sick
A lung sickness is bad for those lungs of yours. It means you have lung disease.
Reading: はいびょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
雑誌
Magazine
Kanji: 雑 random + 誌 magazine
Random magazine is pretty much all magazines. Just a bunch of random stuff inside, making it a magazine.
Reading: ざっし
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
温厚
Mild-mannered
Kanji: 温 warm + 厚 thick
When a warm temper is applied extra thick, it leads to a person having a mild-mannered or gentle personality.
Note that this is a more formal term, so you’ll usually encounter it in writing.
Reading: おんこう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You already know the on’yomi for 温, but not for 厚, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember it:
The most mild-mannered Tofugu staff has to be onion こういち. It’s an onion that jumps in for こういち whenever he’s not at the office. He’s the most gentle soul you could imagine, never yelling at anyone. The ideal boss, really.
沢
Mountain stream
Kanji: 沢 swamp
The kanji and the word share the meaning of swamp, but this word is primarily used to mean mountain stream. Think of it this way, the water for a swamp has to come from somewhere right? It starts out up in the mountains and drains out into a swamp in the valley. The life cycle of a mountain stream into a swamp!
Reading: さわ
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 to remember: The beginning of the word swamp is actually pretty similar to this word’s reading. さわ = “swa”? I’d say it’s close enough to make a mnemonic out of in your head.
筋肉
Muscle
Kanji: 筋 muscle + 肉 meat
Your muscle meat is your muscle.
Reading: きんにく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
天然
Natural
Kanji: 天 heaven + 然 nature
Something of heaven’s nature is indeed natural, with no human intervention involved.
Although this word is technically a noun, it’s often used as an adjective. That’s also what distinguishes it from 自然. So you’ll often see 天然 used to say that something is “natural” or “of nature”, while 自然 will often be used to talk about nature in general, like saying that nature is beautiful.
Reading: てんねん
You know the reading for 天, but 然 uses a different reading from what you learned. So here’s a mnemonic to help you:
One thing that definitely isn’t natural are nendoroids (ねん). Remember, the little plastic figurines? Have you ever seen an anime figurine growing naturally in a field before? Yup, me neither. Not very natural.
否
No
Kanji: 否 not
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Note that 否 ( いな ) is very formal and somewhat archaic. Today, it’s most commonly used in the expression 〜か否か (whether… or not).
Readings: いな, いや
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:
Instead of saying “no” you say “na,” and instead of saying “na” you say いな.
Note that 否 can also be read いや, which is a common way to say “no” in modern Japanese, but that reading is almost always written in kana.
操作
Operation
Kanji: 操 manipulate + 作 make
If you manipulate the things you make, you are in operation of said things.
This can not only refer to the operation of devices and machinery, but also the manipulation of various elements, such as markets, stock prices, and more, with the intention of furthering one’s own interests.
Reading: そうさ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
納入
Payment
Kanji: 納 supply + 入 enter
When you enter your supply into the machine, that is your payment for the day. Every day you have to enter your supply, otherwise they crack down on you.
Reading: のうにゅう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
宣言
Proclamation
Kanji: 宣 proclaim + 言 say
You proclaim things by saying them. This is a proclamation or declaration.
Reading: せんげん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
宣伝
Propaganda
Kanji: 宣 proclaim + 伝 transmit
All the things the leader proclaims are transmitted to the people. It’s all propaganda, which is why you transmit it.
Reading: せんでん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
泥沼
Quagmire
Kanji: 泥 mud + 沼 bog
A muddy bog is a way of describing a quagmire. It’s a bog with almost no water left, having become all muddy and sticky. Gross (and dangerous)!
This word is typically used figuratively to describe a situation where a conflict becomes messy and difficult to resolve, or a problem from which it is difficult to extricate oneself.
Reading: どろぬま
The readings are the vocab readings of the two words, 泥 and 沼.
冷蔵庫
Refrigerator
Kanji: 冷 cool + 蔵 storehouse + 庫 storage
A cool storehouse storage is a place you put things (like food) to keep them cool. This is a refrigerator.
Reading: れいぞうこ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
否決
Rejection
Kanji: 否 no + 決 decide
“No” is the decision I’ve made. Sorry, but this is rejection.
Reading: ひけつ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
著しい
Remarkable
Kanji: 著 author + し + い
The kanji means author, but if you think about it, what do authors do? They write about remarkable or marked things, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.
Reading: いちじるしい
Something is so remarkable you let out one jeer (いちじる) at the opposing team. Just one, because you’re not that mean.
賃貸
Rental
Kanji: 賃 rent + 貸 lend
Rent it and I will lend it to you. This thing that is being lent and rented? It’s a rental.
Reading: ちんたい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You just have to remember that 貸 is read as たい for this one. What is your rental? It is a tie (たい) fighter. Sweet.
尊敬
Respect
Kanji: 尊 revered + 敬 respect
You are revered and you have my respect. This is respect.
Reading: そんけい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
尊い
Revered
Kanji: 尊 revered + 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 revered? It’s also revered!
Reading: とうとい
You are revered because of your Toe toe (とうと), which is a toe on your toe. It’s weird, but people seem to like it.
成熟
Ripen
Kanji: 成 become + 熟 ripen
To become ripe(n) is to ripen and mature.
Reading: せいじゅく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
泥棒
Robber
Kanji: 泥 mud + 棒 pole
I don’t know why a mud pole is a robber, but for some reason it is. Just imagine a robber covering himself in mud and standing behind a pole to hide, then jump out, then rob you of everything you’ve got.
Reading: どろぼう
The reading is 泥 plus the reading for 棒 put together.
噂
Rumor
Kanji: 噂 rumor
The kanji and the word are exactly the same.
Reading: うわさ
You learned this reading with the kanji, so you should be able to read it already!
簡単
Simple
Kanji: 簡 simplicity + 単 simple
Simplicity is simple, making this simple as well.
Reading: かんたん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
簡易
Simple
Kanji: 簡 simplicity + 易 easy
It has simplicity and is easy. Whatever it is, it is simple and easy.
Reading: かんい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
蒸気
Steam
Kanji: 蒸 steam + 気 energy
Steam energy is steam or vapor.
Reading: じょうき
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
収納
Storage
Kanji: 収 obtain + 納 supply
When you obtain supply, you have to put it all together somewhere. You have to put it in storage.
Reading: しゅうのう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
蔵
Storehouse
Kanji: 蔵 storehouse
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Curious about the difference between 蔵 and 倉? Traditionally, the 蔵 kanji was used for sturdy buildings that stored important items. This is where samurai kept their valuables! On the other hand, 倉 originally referred to places to store grain, and usually weren’t as robustly made. They’re basically interchangeable now, but the 蔵 kanji is more commonly used.
Reading: くら
The reading is the same as the other storehouse reading you learned earlier with 倉 and 庫. They’re all basically the same thing, and lucky for you they share the same reading too (くら).
砂糖
Sugar
Kanji: 砂 sand + 糖 sugar
A sand sugar is just sugar. Nom nom nom, sugar.
Reading: さとう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
無糖
Sugar free
Kanji: 無 nothing + 糖 sugar
Something with not sugar is something that is sugar free or unsweetened.
Reading: むとう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
里芋
Taro
Kanji: 里 hometown + 芋 potato
A hometown potato is a taro. In Japan, taro is the kind of potato that everyone has in their hometown, because it’s been around for such a long time and it’ll grow anywhere.
Reading: さといも
This is a jukugo word that uses the kun’yomi readings of the kanji.
筋
Tendon
Kanji: 筋 muscle
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well, at least on the tendon side of things.
Reading: すじ
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:
You get a horrible tendon injury, making it so you can’t walk anymore. You’re so upset that you blame it on Jesus. So, you go and sue Jesus for this tendon injury, and win in court, amazingly.
窓口
Ticket window
Kanji: 窓 window + 口 mouth
A window mouth is where you go to buy tickets out of the window. You know how there’s those windows with holes in them, or the window is the hole itself? That’s the kind of ticket window I’m talking about.
Reading: まどぐち
The reading is the readings for 窓 and the reading for 口.
裏切る
To backstab
Kanji: 裏 backside + 切 cut + る
If you cut someone from the backside you’re doing a backstabbing, making this word to backstab or to betray.
Reading: うらぎる
The reading is 裏 plus 切る put together into one word.
掃除する
To clean
Kanji: 掃 sweep + 除 exclude + す + る
掃除 is cleaning, so the verb version would be to clean.
Reading: そうじする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Also, it’ll help to know the word 掃除 as well.
垂らす
To dangle something
Kanji: 垂 dangle + ら + す
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means dangle so the verb vocab version is to dangle or to dangle something. You’re doing the dangling.
Reading: たらす
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 are you trying to dangle? You’re dangling a taco (た) in front of a hungry person. He just wants the taco, and you keep dangling it like that.
異なる
To differ
Kanji: 異 differ + な + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means differ so the verb vocab version is to differ.
Reading: ことなる
Look at your coat (こと), now look at mine. They are different. If you look at them, they are going to differ.
乾かす
To dry something
Kanji: 乾 dry + か + す
乾く is “to be dried.” This is the version where you’re doing the drying, making this to dry something.
Reading: かわかす
The reading comes from 乾く.
編集する
To edit
Kanji: 編 knit + 集 collect + す + る
編集 is edit, so the verb version is to edit.
Reading: へんしゅうする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
拡がる
To extend
Kanji: 拡 extend + が + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means extend so the verb vocab version is to extend.
Does the kanji look familiar, kind of like 広い, perhaps? 拡がる is the less common and narrower counterpart of 広がる. It’s used to describe the enlargement or extension of the size, area, or range of something.
Reading: ひろがる
This word shares the same reading as 広い. That means 拡がる is read as ひろがる.
蒸れる
To get hot and sticky
Kanji: 蒸 steam + れ + る
Anywhere with lots of steam is going to get hot and sticky, so this word means… to get hot and sticky!
With 蒸れる, something gets hot and sticky due to trapped heat and moisture, like sweaty armpits under a shirt on a humid day, or a sticky bottom after sitting at a desk for a while.
Additionally, 蒸れる can mean to be steamed, like what happens to rice as it softens in a rice cooker.
Reading: むれる
What is making things get hot and sticky? Not many people know this, but it’s actually all of the cows going moo (む). With how much they moo, they create so much steam that everything is turning hot and sticky. Who could’ve known?!
散歩する
To go for a walk
Kanji: 散 scatter + 歩 walk + す + る
散歩 is “a walk.” Make that into a verb and you have to go for a walk or to go for a stroll.
Reading: さんぽする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. It will help to know 散歩 as well.
盛る
To heap up
Kanji: 盛 pile + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means heaps, so the verb vocab version is to heap up. It can also mean to serve food, as in you’re heaping on food onto someone’s plate.
Reading: もる
Please keep heaping up the food. I want more (もる), more, more.
暮らす
To live
Kanji: 暮 livelihood + ら + す
ecause the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means livelihood. The verb version is to live. It’s not really “to live” literally, though. It’s more like to live one’s life, rather than just to live.
Reading: くらす
If anyone is going to live one’s life, it’s gotta be the great Kublai Khan (く). He conquered most of the world and was super badass.
操る
To manipulate
Kanji: 操 manipulate + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means manipulate, so the verb vocab version is to manipulate.
Reading: あやつる
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: A guy using eye arts (あやつ) isn’t a great guy, it’s the type of guy who might try to manipulate you via hypnosis of the eyes.
妨げる
To obstruct
Kanji: 妨 obstruct + げ + 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 obstruct, so what is the verb vocab version? It’s to obstruct.
Reading: さまたげる
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:
You try to obstruct a woman coming your way (see kanji). As she gets close, she roars, “I am Sama(n)tha!” (さまた) You shall let me pass!” You don’t argue with Samanthas. Get out of her way!
熟れる
To ripen
Kanji: 熟 ripen + れ + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means ripen so the verb vocab version is to ripen.
Reading: うれる
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: If something starts to ripen too much, it gets all gross, and you’re all like, “ew (う), that’s gross.”
散らかす
To scatter
Kanji: 散 scatter + ら + か + す
散る is “to be scattered.” This is when you’re doing the scattering. You know that because you’re causing a ruckus (らかす) from all the scattering of money you’re doing, down on the people below.
Reading: ちらかす
The reading of the 散 comes from 散る. So, go ahead and scatter more memories around your brain, you got this already.
離す
To separate
Kanji: 離 detach + す
Remember how 離れる is “to separate,” where something is just separating and you’re not doing the separating? Well, this one has the same meaning, but now you’re doing the separating. This word is 離す, and you know that you’re doing the separating because if you don’t, that person will sue (す) you for grabbing onto them and not letting go.
Reading: はなす
The reading comes from 離れる.
納める
To supply
Kanji: 納 supply + め + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means supply so the verb version is to supply.
Reading: おさめる
So you’re supplying something… let’s say nuclear warheads… to Osama Bin Laden. You gonna be in soooo much trouble, especially since it’s zombie Osama Bin Laden.
驚かす
To surprise
Kanji: 驚 surprised + か + す
Remember how 驚く is “to be surprised”? This is when you are surprising someone else, doing the surprising, making this word to surprise or to shock.
Reading: おどろかす
The reading comes from 驚く. Don’t be surprised if you remember the reading of this word because of your past knowledge.
野暮
Unrefined
Kanji: 野 field + 暮 livelihood
A field of livelihood is so lively! Look at everything jumping around. It is so fresh and new and awesome! That being said, being so lively and fresh and new, it’s pretty unrefined and rustic.
Reading: やぼ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
未熟
Unripe
Kanji: 未 not yet + 熟 ripen
Something that has not yet ripened, is, well, unripe. This is often used figuratively to say that someone is either immature or inexperienced, so you’ll often encounter those usages!
Reading: みじゅく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
掃除機
Vacuum cleaner
Kanji: 掃 sweep + 除 exclude + 機 machine
A cleaning (掃除) machine is a vacuum cleaner. Suck that dirt up!
Reading: そうじき
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
諸〜
Various
Kanji: 諸 various
This has the same meaning as the kanji. Stick this onto another word and you have “various _____.”
Reading: しょ
The reading is the same as what you learned with the kanji as well.
垂直
Vertical
Kanji: 垂 dangle + 直 fix
Something is dangling in front of you, so you fix it so it’s straight and not moving. It becomes perfectly vertical, perpendicular to the floor.
Reading: すいちょく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
小麦粉
Wheat flour
Kanji: 小 small + 麦 wheat + 粉 powder
Small wheat powder is wheat flour, or flour.
Reading: こむぎこ
This word uses the kun’yomi readings of all three kanji. The 小 and the 粉 both use kun’yomi that you haven’t learned yet, but luckily they are both the same! Just think about how “small” things are like 子 (こ), and “powder” is also small. So both 小 and 粉 are read こ.
窓
Window
Kanji: 窓 window
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: まど
The reading is the same as the kanji reading you learned.
著作
Writing
Kanji: 著 author + 作 make
An author makes writing in an activity known as authorship.
Note that this word isn’t a general term for writing! 著作 has a more specific nuance — it’s mostly used to talk about a work or the writings of a particular author.
Reading: ちょさく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
拡大
Zoom
Kanji: 拡 extend + 大 big
Extend the lens nice and big to zoom in on the subject, please. That’s magnification, enlargement, and expansion.
Reading: かくだい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
