Kanji - Level 34 - Vocab Flashcards
純毛
All wool
Kanji: 純 pure + 毛 fur
Something that is pure fur is pure fur… but what kind of fur? In this case it’s wool, making this mean all wool.
Reading: じゅんもう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
沿線
Along the train line
Kanji: 沿 run alongside + 線 line
To run alongside the line (referring to the train line) means along the train line. What’s along the train line? All kinds of things if you look carefully.
Reading: えんせん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
承認
Approval
Kanji: 承 consent + 認 recognize
I recognize your consent. It is an approval and recognition of what I’m doing.
Reading: しょうにん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
紅葉
Autumn leaves
Kanji: 紅 deep red + 葉 leaf
You’ve got some deep red leaves. You’ll usually see those during autumn, which makes this autumn leaves. Just red leaves is fine too, though.
Note that this refers not only to the leaves themselves, but also the process of them changing color, so this can also mean leaves turning red.
Readings: こうよう, もみじ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. As you haven’t learned this reading for 葉 yet, here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Your favorite pastime during autumn is sitting there admiring the autumn leaves while eating some yogurt (よう). There’s no better combination than autumn leaves and yogurt.
Note that there’s also an additional reading, もみじ, used to refer to the Japanese maple tree, or its leaves, but we’d like you to focus on こうよう for this one.
歓迎
A welcome
Kanji: 歓 delight + 迎 welcome
It is a delight that you come so I welcome you. This delight welcome is a welcome.
Reading: かんげい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
小豆
Azuki beans
Kanji: 小 small + 豆 beans
Small beans refer to a type of bean known as azuki beans. It will help if you’ve heard of this delicious popular bean, because there’s not really anything effective we can do with the meaning mnemonic from this point on. Just know that small beans are azuki beans.
Reading: あずき
The reading doesn’t make sense either. If you know that small beans are azuki beans, then you know that this is referring to a thing known as azuki (あずき). Other than that, there’s not much else to do.
幕府
Bakufu
Kanji: 幕 curtain + 府 government
A government behind a curtain is the bakufu. They didn’t let anyone know their government secrets so they would hide behind that curtain and keep everything to themselves.
Reading: ばくふ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You haven’t learned this reading for 幕 yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
If you try to peek through the bakufu’s curtain you’ll only see someone’s back (ばく). They all huddle together to discuss things so a row of hunched backs is all you’ll get out of the shogunate. That’s not helpful.
豆
Beans
Kanji: 豆 beans
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: まめ
You want your beans, but you’re also super lazy, so you call for your mom, yelling: “MAMEYYYYY, MAMMMEEYYY!” (まめ).
牛丼
Beef bowl
Kanji: 牛 cow + 丼 rice bowl
A cow rice bowl is a bowl of rice covered in beef, making it a beef bowl. Go get some Yoshinoya.
Reading: ぎゅうどん
This word uses the same readings that you learned with the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
聖書
Bible
Kanji: 聖 holy + 書 write
The holy writing is the Bible.
Reading: せいしょ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
紅茶
Black tea
Kanji: 紅 deep red + 茶 tea
A deep red tea isn’t a deep red tea… it’s a black tea. If you think about it, a lot of black tea is really deep red, which is why a deep red tea is a black tea instead.
Reading: こうちゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
血液型
Blood type
Kanji: 血 blood + 液 fluid + 型 model
Your blood fluid type is your blood type. This is a very important thing to know in Japan for some reason.
Reading: けつえきがた
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji, at least the 血液 part. The 型 uses the kun’yomi reading, probably because it’s an add-on word.
枝
Branch
Kanji: 枝 branch
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: えだ
Since this is a word made up of a single kanji and nothing else, you can assume that this word will use the kun’yomi reading. The reading you learned for this kanji happens to be the kun’yomi reading as well. So if you know the kanji you know the reading.
爪
Claw
Kanji: 爪 claw
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well, though it adds a few more meanings as well, like nail or talon or hoof or really any hard thing on the ends of fingers or feet.
Reading: つめ
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.
沿岸
Coast
Kanji: 沿 run alongside + 岸 coast
The run alongside coast basically just describes the coast.
Reading: えんがん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
沿海
Coastal waters
Kanji: 沿 run alongside + 海 sea
The run alongside sea is the sea that runs alongside the land, making it the coastal waters aka the coast.
Reading: えんかい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
指揮
Command
Kanji: 指 finger + 揮 brandish
Take your finger and brandish it to command the troops.
Reading: しき
The readings are the on’yomi readings, so if you know those you may take command of this vocab word.
通勤
Commute
Kanji: 通 pass through + 勤 work
The things you pass through on your way to work are the things you see and run into during your commute.
Note that you can only use this word for commuting to work. You don’t use it to go to school unless you work at a school or something!
Reading: つうきん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
承知
Consent
Kanji: 承 consent + 知 know
You consent and know everything that’s going on. You consent and know about all this. You’re aware of it.
Reading: しょうち
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
腐食
Corrosion
Kanji: 腐 rot + 食 eat
When something rots and eats away at something, that is corrosion. Not a good thing.
Reading: ふしょく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
咳
Cough
Kanji: 咳 cough
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: せき
The reading for this vocabulary is the same as the reading you learned with the kanji.
股
Crotch
Kanji: 股 crotch
The kanji means crotch and the vocabulary also means crotch or groin. This word is a little less specific than 股間, which you already learned. It can even be used to refer to the thigh, though in that case the reading is usually もも and it’s mostly written in hiragana or katakana.
This can also be used for a fork in a road or path, which makes sense when you think about it, doesn’t it?
Readings: また, もも
You learned the on’yomi for this kanji, but like many kanji it takes the kun’yomi when used by itself. You haven’t learned the kun’yomi yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You’ve spilled something on your crotch again (また, get it?) but your pants are so stained at this point that it doesn’t even matter (また).
人込み
Crowd of people
Kanji: 人 person + 込 into + み
When a person goes into a place (then another person goes into the place, and then another person and another person), that place eventually gets filled with a crowd of people.
Note that this word is more commonly written 人混み.
Reading: ひとごみ
The reading comes from the word 人 and the kanji 込. Just keep in mind that the こ changes to ご and you’ll be fine.
幕
Curtain
Kanji: 幕 curtain
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: まく
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji, you lucky duck.
損害
Damage
Kanji: 損 loss + 害 damage
Your loss comes from damage done to you. This is damage.
This word is usually used as a noun. It can occasionally be turned into verb by adding する, but this is very rare!
Reading: そんがい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
腐敗
Decomposition
Kanji: 腐 rot + 敗 failure
Rot and failure lead to decomposition and rotting. This word also has the related meaning of corruption, similar to how “rotten” can mean “corrupt” in English.
Reading: ふはい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
損
Disadvantage
Kanji: 損 loss
A loss will give you a disadvantage. So, try not to get any losses… or you’ll be at a disadvantage.
Reading: そん
The reading comes from the kanji, so you aren’t at a disadvantage… this time.
使い捨て
Disposable
Kanji: 使 use + い + 捨 throw away + て
After you use it you throw away it, making whatever it is you used a disposable item.
Reading: つかいすて
The reading comes from 使う and 捨てる, combined into one.
飛び込み
Diving in
Kanji: 飛 fly + び + 込 into + み
You’re doing a 飛ぶ and 込む at the same time, or you jump into, meaning you’re diving in. Picture yourself standing somewhere up high, and then jumping to dive into a deep body of water.
Alternatively, this can also refer to doing something, or joining or going somewhere without an appointment, announcement, or prior registration, which is where the dropping by meaning comes in. For some use cases of this, check out our common word combinations and context sentences below!
Reading: とびこみ
As long as you remember that we’re combining the kun’yomi readings of the verbs and then turning them into a noun, you should know how to read this.
奴
Dude
Kanji: 奴 dude
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: やつ
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:
Some dude… he did it two times. Yah, two (やつ) times.
This can seem kind of derogatory, if you say it the wrong way. But as long as you’re duding to your dude friends and not your no-dude boss, you should be a-okay to dude-bro it up!
震源地
Epicenter
Kanji: 震 earthquake + 源 origin + 地 earth
The earthquake origin ground is where the earthquake started from. It is the epicenter.
Reading: しんげんち
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
推定
Estimation
Kanji: 推 infer + 定 determine
You’re doing a bit of inferring while you determine something, which means you’re not 100% sure, making this an estimation.
推定 refers to an estimation that’s generally based on some evidence or reasoning. You’ll often find this used in statistical or scientific contexts, where it refers to an educated guess or estimation based on available data.
Reading: すいてい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
言い訳
Excuse
Kanji: 言 say + い + 訳 translation
You say a reason for your actions, but really it’s just an excuse.
Reading: いいわけ
The reading is 言う and 訳 combined.
常勤
Full time employment
Kanji: 常 normal + 勤 work
Normal work is work you do all day long, 8-hours a day, 5 days a week. That is full time employment or full time.
Reading: じょうきん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
源氏
Genji
Kanji: 源 origin + 氏 family name
The origin family name is the original dude. The original dude comes from the original and first novel ever written, the Tale of Genji. These kanji represent Genji, good ol’ Genji. Perhaps hopping over to the reading will help you to know the meaning of this kanji.
Reading: げんじ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
眼鏡
Glasses
Kanji: 眼 eyeball + 鏡 mirror
An eyeball mirror is something that refracts and focuses light into your eyeball in a different way so you can see better. Really, these things are glasses, not eye mirrors, but same sort of things when you get down to it. Just imagine someone wearing mirrors on their eyes, and when you ask them what those are for, they just say they’re glasses.
Readings: めがね, がんきょう
The reading for 眼 is the same as the vocab 眼. The reading for 鏡 is an exception, totally different. It shares a reading with 金 (gold), though, so think of the mirrors on the person’s eyes being made of gold. What nice glasses!
This word can also be read as がんきょう, but usually only on official/written documents. If you’re speaking and not reading a government document, you should say めがね!
祖父母
Grandparents
Kanji: 祖 ancestor + 父 father + 母 mother
You know that 祖父 is grandfather and 祖母 is grandmother. This is both combined. Is it some hybrid grandmapa monster you’ve created in your lab? Hardly, it just refers to your grandparents.
Reading: そふぼ
The reading comes from 祖父 and 祖母, which are exceptional readings on their own, so you’ll need them in order to be able to read this one too.
心臓
Heart
Kanji: 心 heart + 臓 internal organs
The heart internal organs is the heart, of course.
Reading: しんぞう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
大損
Heavy loss
Kanji: 大 big + 損 loss
A big loss is a heavy loss.
Reading: おおぞん
The reading is the おお reading of 大 coupled with the on’yomi reading for 損. Just keep in mind that the そん changes to ぞん and you’ll be good here.
以降
Hereafter
Kanji: 以 from + 降 descend
Everything that happened since you descended some stairs, is hereafter. It’s all after the stairs thing you did, since you did it already.
Reading: 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.
神聖
Holiness
Kanji: 神 god + 聖 holy
God is holy. Everything about a holy god is full of holiness.
Reading: しんせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
聖地
Holy land
Kanji: 聖 holy + 地 earth
Holy ground is holy land.
Reading: せいち
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
物真似
Impersonation
Kanji: 物 thing + 真 reality + 似 resemble
真似 is “impersonation.” Actually, this word is too. It’s also impersonation.
物真似 is very similar to 真似, but can be used in slightly different contexts. 真似 is used for general acts of mimicry or imitation, and can also be used to refer to the way someone does something. On the other hand, while 物真似 also describes acts of mimicry and imitation, it’s additionally used in performance or entertainment contexts to refer to people who do impersonation acts.
Reading: ものまね
The reading is 物 plus 真似 put together.
不純
Impure
Kanji: 不 not + 純 pure
Not pure things are impure.
Reading: ふじゅん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
内臓
Internal organs
Kanji: 内 inside + 臓 internal organs
Inside internal organs are your internal organs, though you’d think the second kanji would give a hint to that without the 内.
Reading: ないぞう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
痩身
Lean
Kanji: 痩 thin + 身 somebody
A thin body type is called lean or slim. These days this is usually used in the context of slimming salons and massages you can get that may or may not work.
Reading: そうしん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You’ve learned them already, so you should be able to read this on your own!
縦横
Length and width
Kanji: 縦 vertical + 横 side
Vertical and side (horizontal). That means you have the length and width and the vertical and horizontal.
Readings: たてよこ, じゅうおう
This is a jukugo word that usually uses the kun’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
Note however, that there is a less-common on’yomi reading, じゅうおう, which is used in some idioms. It’s good to know this reading exists, but you probably won’t come across it very often.
久しぶり
Long time no see
Kanji: 久 long time + し + ぶ + り
This is kind of a “set phrase” in Japanese, though we’re going to treat it like a vocab word here (because it’s so common and useful!). You know that 久 means “long time” - so now let’s pay attention to the kana: しぶり. Just imagine that she buried you alive, then a few days later came back to dig you up. The first thing she says is “LONG TIME NO SEE!”
Reading: ひさしぶり
You learned this reading when you learned 久しい. It’s the same one!
肺臓
Lung
Kanji: 肺 lung + 臓 internal organ
The lung internal organ is the lung.
Reading: はいぞう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
磁石
Magnet
Kanji: 磁 magnet + 石 stone
A magnet stone is a magnet. Magnets look like little stones, right?
Reading: じしゃく
The 磁 reading makes sense. The しゃく reading for 石 is an exception. To remember this, just think how you are using a magnet to find this shack (しゃく) full of other magnets. It pulls you towards the shack, and when you find it and open it, all the magnets fly out and crush you because of magnety reasons.
磁場
Magnetic field
Kanji: 磁 magnet + 場 location
A magnet location is an area with a magnetic field.
Reading: じば
The readings are the same as the ones you learned with the kanji.
磁気
Magnetism
Kanji: 磁 magnet + 気 energy
Magnetic energy is when magnetism occurs.
Reading: 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.
迎え
Meeting
Kanji: 迎 welcome + え
This is the noun version of the kanji welcome, so it means a welcome or a greeting, but it’s usually used for someone who’s coming and meeting you!
Reading: むかえ
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!
誤算
Miscalculation
Kanji: 誤 mistake + 算 calculate
A mistake in what you calculate is a miscalculation.
Reading: ごさん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
誤解
Misunderstanding
Kanji: 誤 mistake + 解 solve
A mistake in what you solve… wow, sorry, I thought I was supposed to solve this, not that. What a terrible misunderstanding.
Reading: ごかい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
誤用
Misuse
Kanji: 誤 mistake + 用 task
A mistake in use is a misuse.
Reading: ごよう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
爪切り
Nail clipper
Kanji: 爪 claw + 切 cut + り
When you cut your claw you use a nail clipper.
Reading: つめきり
The reading is the reading you learned for the kanji 爪 and the word for the reading 切る.
納豆
Natto
Kanji: 納 supply + 豆 beans
A supply of beans is when you take a bunch of beans, mash them up into a supply, and then ferment them all together to make them into natto (also known as fermented soybeans).
Reading: なっとう
The reading is an exceptional one. 豆 is okay, and is the on’yomi reading from the kanji. The 納 part is weird though. Instead of being のう it’s なっ. But, if you can remember the meaning of this word, you can just think about how you do not (なっとう) want to eat natto. At least a lot of people don’t want to eat it. It’s quite the acquired taste.
興味がない
No interest
Kanji: 興 interest + 味 flavor + が + な + い
興味 is interest in something. If you do not have (がない) that interest, then you have no interest or you’re not interested.
Reading: きょうみがない
You learned that the word 興味 uses the on’yomi readings for both kanji, so all you have to do is add が + ない and you’ve got a new expression!
兄貴
Older brother
Kanji: 兄 older brother + 貴 valuable
The older brother is valuable to you. But, no matter how valuable he is to you, he’s still just your older brother.
P.S. You’ll often see some gangstah thug call a higher ranking gangstah thug (one that acts like an older brother to all the other gangstah thugs) this. It’s like family within the gang.
Reading: あにき
The reading is 兄 on its own plus the reading for 貴. ANIKIIIII.
源
Origin
Kanji: 源 origin
The origin is the origin, but it also refers to the ground springs, where the origin of water comes from.
Reading: みなもと
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: Think of how this ground spring is everyone’s (皆) origin (元). Everyone can use it, it’s the 皆元!
飼い主
Pet owner
Kanji: 飼 domesticate + い + 主 master
You know that to 飼う is “to keep a pet.” If you’re the master that is keeping a pet (飼う), then you are the pet owner.
Reading: かいぬし
The reading is the kun’yomi readings for both. You’ll need to remember the words 飼う and 主 to be able to remember the reading of this word.
歓楽街
Pleasure quarter
Kanji: 歓 delight + 楽 comfort + 街 street
The delight and comfort street. Sounds nice. Sounds like the “pleasure quarter.” You’ll see these most often in samurai films, or in sketchier areas.
Reading: かんらくがい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
複数形
Plural
Kanji: 複 duplicate + 数 count + 形 shape
If 複数 is multiple, and 形 is shape, then when something is in a “multiple shape,” it has more than one version of itself. It’s the plural, or the plural form.
Reading: ふくすうけい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Will help to know the word 複数 as well.
電源
Power source
Kanji: 電 electricity + 源 origin
The electricity origin is where the electricity comes from. It is the power source.
Reading: でんげん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
貴重
Precious
Kanji: 貴 valuable + 重 heavy
Something that’s valuable and heavy is extremely precious and probably even more valuable than your less heavy things.
Reading: きちょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You didn’t learn this reading for 重 though, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Keep things precious to you very close, because the evil Mrs. Chou (ちょう) will come and steal it away if you don’t. She’ll take every valuable you have and destroy them.
純粋
Pure
Kanji: 純 pure + 粋 stylish
You’re pure and that’s stylish, which makes you even more pure, somehow. But your purity also makes you genuine, unlike all the people who aren’t pure trying to be stylish.
Reading: じゅんすい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
放射
Radiation
Kanji: 放 release + 射 shoot
It releases and shoots out of the bomb. It’s not fire. It’s radiation, and it sticks around a long time once it has been released.
Reading: ほうしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
推理
Reasoning
Kanji: 推 infer + 理 reason
To infer reason is to have reasoning.
Reading: すいり
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
推薦
Recommendation
Kanji: 推 infer + 薦 recommend
To infer and recommend something is to give a recommendation. What do you recommend?
Reading: すいせん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
縮小
Reduction
Kanji: 縮 shrink + 小 small
Shrink what you have into something small. It was big, now it’s small. This is a reduction.
Reading: しゅくしょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
反射
Reflection
Kanji: 反 anti + 射 shoot
You shoot yourself at a mirror, and it is the anti-you. It is your reflection.
Reading: はんしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
丼
Rice bowl
Kanji: 丼 rice bowl
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
To be exact, 丼 refers to a chinaware bowl that’s bigger and sturdier than your ordinary rice bowl. It’s often used for one-bowl dishes like katsudon, gyūdon, poke, but also noodle soups like ramen!
Reading: どんぶり
You learned the どん reading for this kanji. This reading is just an extension of that, coming out to どんぶり. You can remember the ぶり part because you know what your favorite rice bowl is… it’s a brie (ぶり) cheese rice bowl. Slightly unorthodox, but quite delicious!
自薦
Self recommendation
Kanji: 自 self + 薦 recommend
As for myself? I recommend this product. It is a self recommendation. You make it of yourself!
Reading: じせん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
深刻
Serious
Kanji: 深 deep + 刻 carve
A deep carve is very serious and grave. Just imagine getting cut with a sword. If the carve is deep, well, that’s serious.
Reading: しんこく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
注射
Shot
Kanji: 注 pour + 射 shoot
When you shoot something into someone that you actually have to pour (aka a liquid), you’re shooting them up with a needle, giving them a shot / injection.
Reading: ちゅうしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
単純
Simple
Kanji: 単 simple + 純 pure
Simple and pure. This is simple.
Reading: たんじゅん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
奴隷
Slave
Kanji: 奴 dude + 隷 slave
Some dude who is a slave is just a slave.
Reading: どれい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
染み
Stain
Kanji: 染 dye + み
This is the noun version of 染. A dye would seem like the right answer, but what else is a dye? If you get it on you when you don’t want to get it on you, it becomes a stain.
Reading: しみ
The reading is unlike what you learned with this kanji before. Just think about how you have this stain on your shirt, all because you were trying to dye some sheep (し) and they didn’t like it. So now you have a big dye and sheep poo stain. How were you supposed to know sheep don’t like being dyed?!
粋
Stylish
Kanji: 粋 stylish
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: いき
This word uses the kun’yomi reading, which you haven’t learned yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You are stylish. Since you’re stylish, you avoid icky (いき) clothing at all costs. You won’t even be seen in the same room, that’s how stylish you are.
字幕
Subtitles
Kanji: 字 letter + 幕 curtain
A curtain of letters that goes on your screen are subtitles. Sometimes they have black bar backgrounds too, which are like curtains!
Reading: じまく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
降参
Surrender
Kanji: 降 descend + 参 participate
I am going to descend my participation in this conflict. I am going to descend all my weapons to the ground. I am going to surrender.
Reading: こうさん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
貴族
The nobility
Kanji: 貴 valuable + 族 tribe
People of a valuable tribe are part of the nobility. Unlike our tribes, they are valuable.
Reading: きぞく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
時刻表
Timetable
Kanji: 時 time + 刻 carve + 表 express
If you take the time and carve it onto a surface, then you’ve made a timetable or schedule.
時刻表 generally refers to a timetable or schedule for transportation, such as trains, buses, or flights.
Reading:じこくひょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
賛成する
To agree
Kanji: 賛 agree + 成 become + す + る
The 賛成 portion means “agreement”, “approval”, or “support”, so the verb version would also be to agree, to approve, or to support!
Reading: さんせいする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
申し込む
To apply
Kanji: 申 say humbly + し + 込 into + む
I must say humbly that I want to get into this position, so I’m planning to apply for it and to submit an application.
申し込む isn’t just about applying, though. It’s about officially communicating desires, whether you want to propose marriage, challenge someone to a game of tennis, or even offer a donation to a good cause.
Reading: もうしこむ
The readings come from the word 申す and the kanji 込, stuck together… humbly.
傷む
To be damaged
Kanji: 傷 wound + む
The kanji means wound, and this verb is intransitive, so it means to be damaged or to go bad. After all, fruit with a wound on it is going bad, isn’t it?
Reading: いたむ
This shares the same reading as 痛む. The meanings are similar too, so that should be easy to remember, unless your brain was damaged by these mnemonics or something.
染まる
To be dyed
Kanji: 染 dye + ま + る
If 染める is “to dye,” then this is to be dyed. You aren’t doing the dying, because you know that if you did it you would have done things right, unlike the other person who dyed your hair. This person marred (まる) it up really bad.
Reading: そまる
The reading is the same as 染める.
勤める
To be employed at
Kanji: 勤 work + め + る
The kanji is work which means this verb has something to do with working. It’s not straight up “to work,” instead it’s “to work for” or “to be employed at.”
Reading: つとめる
The reading is the same as the other word that means “to work for” (務める). Remember this and you’ll be able to remember the reading for this word too.
刻む
To carve
Kanji: 刻 carve + む
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means carve so the verb version is to carve.
Reading: きざむ
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 don’t have a knife for your steak, so you have to carve it using the key zag (きざ) technique. You take a key and zag it through the steak repeatedly until you’re able to cut up some zaggy bite-sized pieces.
発揮する
To exhibit
Kanji: 発 departure + 揮 brandish + す + る
Departure and brandish this thing. This means you’re sending something out to show to everyone. That’s why this is to exhibit or to demonstrate (because when you brandish, and send it out to show, you’re demonstrating it!).
Reading: はっきする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. The はつ becomes はっ, though.
痩せる
To get thin
Kanji: 痩 thin + せ + 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 thin so the verb version is to get thin.
Reading: やせる
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You haven’t learned this reading yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
If you want to get thin, just join the Yankees (や). They run their players around those four bases so much they all get thin quicker than you can throw a ball.
損なう
To harm
Kanji: 損 loss + な + う
To do loss to something means you are doing something to make something have loss. This is to harm or to injure.
Reading: そこなう
In order to harm your opponent, you go way overboard. You soak (そこ) them in acid. Soaked head to toe. Too far man, too far.
拝見する
To have a look at
Kanji: 拝 worship + 見 see + す + る
You worship only the things you see. So, in order to see if something is worth worshiping, you’ll go to have a look at that thing.
And just so you know, this is a very formal word used when you’re trying to be polite. So keep that in mind, please!
Reading: はいけんする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
承る
To humbly hear
Kanji: 承 consent + る
Giving consent to someone is similar to humbly listening to and accepting their words. So this word means to humbly hear and to accept.
承る is a humble version of 聞く. Its past form 承りました is commonly used in professional settings to respectfully acknowledge and accept requests, information, or tasks.
Reading: うけたまわる
You received (受けた) some information. Now, you are going to take that information that you received and then revolve it (回る) around in your head to think about it. Hmmm… hmm… Ok, I like what I’m hearing. I am going to accept what you said. Thank you.
傷つける
To hurt someone
Kanji: 傷 wound + つ + け + る
You つける (attach) a wound to someone or something. In other words, this means to hurt someone, or to scratch or to damage something.
Reading: きずつける
The reading is 傷. If you remember the reading for that you got this too.
発射する
To launch
Kanji: 発 departure + 射 shoot + す + る
Departure and shoot something off. If you do that to something, you are going to launch it.
Reading: はっしゃする
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
汚す
To make dirty
Kanji: 汚 dirty + す
汚れる is “to get dirty.” This is when you make something dirty, aka “to make dirty.” You know that this is the version where you make things dirty yourself because when you make someone dirty with all that poop you’re flinging, they sue (す) you immediately. This happens a lot.
Readings: よごす, けがす
The reading comes from 汚れる, so if you know that you can read this.
Note that the reading よごす is generally used for making things physically dirty, whereas けがす means making someone or something impure in a figurative way.
引っ越す
To move
Kanji: 引 pull + っ + 越 go beyond + す
越す is “to go beyond.” Now you’re going beyond your home and pulling everything with you to go to another home. You are trying to move / to move homes.
Reading: ひっこす
The readings come from 引く and 越す put together. Careful of that っ.
追い越す
To overtake
Kanji: 追 follow + い + 越 go beyond + す
越す means “to go beyond.” 追 is follow. If you are following someone, and then you go beyond them, you have overtaken them. That’s why this word means to overtake or to surpass.
Reading: おいこす
The reading comes from 追う and 越す put together into one. You can overtake this word now that you know that.
吐く
To puke
Kanji: 吐 throw up + く
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means throw up so the verb version is to throw up or to puke or to spit.
Reading: はく
The reading is from the reading you learned with the kanji. HA HA HA! Barf.
込める
To put in
Kanji: 込 into + め + る
You know the kanji 込 means into. This verb is transitive, meaning you are doing the action. If you “do something into something” you are putting it into that thing. So this means to put in or to load something.
Reading: こめる
Lucky for you, the reading you learned with the kanji is the one you use here. In case you need a hand with the okurigana, here’s a mnemonic for you:
You always try to put in your emotions into the mail (める) you send. You don’t just load your mail with words, but also with emotions, to make it truly heartfelt mail.
薦める
To recommend
Kanji: 薦 recommend + め + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means recommend so the verb vocab version is to recommend. This word is often used in a positive context for recommending things, actions, and people by implying or pointing out their charms, merits, or both.
Although 薦める and 勧める are similar, there are subtle differences between the two. 勧める is often used to suggest that someone perform a specific action, often as friendly advice or encouragement. It can also be used when offering something, such as a drink. On the other hand, 薦める is used to recommend a person or thing as suitable for a particular situation, with a focus on endorsing the subject rather than a specific action.
Reading: すすめる
This has the same reading as 勧める, since they mean almost the same thing.
腐る
To rot
Kanji: 腐 rot + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means rot so the verb vocab version is to rot.
Reading: くさる
Remember the word 臭い, which means “stinky”? When something rots, it becomes stinky, and all くさい.
沿う
To run alongside
Kanji: 沿 run alongside + う
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means run alongside so the verb vocab version is to run alongside.
Reading: そう
Imagine yourself on a path designed to run alongside an endless array of soap (そ) bars. As you walk alongside the soap bars, you enjoy their delightful scents. It’s a “scent-sational” promenade with soap bars that leaves you feeling squeaky clean!
縮まる
To shrink
Kanji: 縮 shrink + ま + る
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means shrink so the verb vocab version means to shrink.
Reading: ちぢまる
Jesus couldn’t cause the monster to shrink. He had to transform into cheese jesus (ちぢ), a more powerful version of himself, in order to shrink the monster down to size.
詰め込む
To stuff
Kanji: 詰 stuffed + め + 込 into + む
You know that 詰める is “to stuff in” and the kanji 込 is into. When you’re stuffing something into something else, you are going to stuff or to cram it in.
Just as in English, this word can also be used in a figurative sense, like cramming knowledge into your head.
Reading: つめこむ
This word uses the readings you learned with the kanji. If you remember your kanji readings, you’ll be fine here.
全損
Total loss
Kanji: 全 all + 損 loss
An all loss is when you lose it all. It is a total loss.
Reading: ぜんそん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
投げ捨てる
To throw away
Kanji: 投 throw + げ + 捨 throw away + て + る
You throw and throw away something. That’s why this means to throw away.
Reading: なげすてる
The reading comes from 投げる and 捨てる, combined into one garbage inducing dump of a word.
拝む
To worship
Kanji: 拝 worship + む
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means worship so the verb vocab version is to worship.
拝む generally means to pray to a deity, spirit, or revered object while assuming a worshipping position, such as bowing or clasping one’s hands together in prayer. Additionally, 拝む can also mean to see with a sense of respect and reverence.
Reading: おがむ
You have to worship the ogre (おが), because if you don’t it’ll eat your face off.
書き込む
To write in
Kanji: 書 write + き + 込 into + む
You know that 書く is “to write” and the kanji 込 is into, so this means to write in, to fill out, or to jot down.
書き込む focuses more on the physical action of writing than 書く on its own. This is because 込む stresses that you’re putting words INTO some space, either on paper or on computer.
Reading: かきこむ
The reading comes from the word 書く and the kanji 込 combined into one.
誤字
Typo
Kanji: 誤 mistake + 字 letter
A mistake in letters is a typo.
Reading: ごじ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
貴い
Valuable
Kanji: 貴 valuable + 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 valuable? It’s valuable.
Reading: とうとい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you: What is most valuable to you? Of course it’s your toe toe (とうと). It’s your big toe (the long とう) with another small toe growing out of it (short と). Imagine your toe toe, and then imagine how valuable it is to you. So valuable! You can also think about 尊い, a similar word which means “revered.” It’s a similar idea, and it has the same reading.
縦
Vertical
Kanji: 縦 vertical
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: たて
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji!
縦書
Vertical writing
Kanji: 縦 vertical + 書 write
Vertical writing is vertical writing. That’s when you see Japanese and it’s written top to bottom instead of sideways.
Reading: たてがき
The readings are the reading you learned with the kanji 縦 and かき (changes to がき), though the き gets smushed inside the kanji, because it wants to be confusing like that.
黒幕
Wirepuller
Kanji: 黒 black + 幕 curtain
Just imagine a black curtain off in the background. You don’t know what’s behind it, but you know what’s in front of it. Thing is, the thing in front of the curtain is controlled by whoever is behind the black curtain. This person is the wirepuller or mastermind of the situation. Like the Wizard of Oz, or something.
Reading: くろまく
The reading is the vocab readings for 黒 and 幕, though the vocab reading for 幕 is the same as the on’yomi reading, making things easy for you.
貴様
You
Kanji: 貴 valuable + 様 formal name ender
A valuable formal name ender. It’s like saying something like “the valuable great you”… or something. Anyways, this means you, but it isn’t as nice as it sounds. Probably a lot of irony and sarcasm going into this word, because if you use きさま to say “you” to someone, you’re probably not pleased with that person, or you’re just trying to be rude.
Reading: きさま
The readings are the reading you learned with 貴 plus the vocab reading for 様.
