Kanji - Level 7 - Vocab Flashcards
以後
After this
Kanji: 以 from + 後 behind
From after, just means after this or from now on.
Reading: いご
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.
辺り
Area
Kanji: 辺 area + り
This is the noun version of the kanji for area. This makes it have the same meaning as the kanji: area, vicinity, or neighborhood.
Reading: あたり
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 you think about an area that you’re in, it’s the place you’re at (あた).
辺
Area
Kanji: 辺 area
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: へん
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!
この辺
Around here
Kanji: こ + の + 辺 area
この means “this” so この辺 just means this area.
Reading: このへん
The reading for the kanji portion is just what you’ve already learned with the kanji 辺 so this shouldn’t be a difficult one to read for you.
先回り
Arriving ahead
Kanji: 先 previous + 回 times + り
If you get there previous to something rotating (回り), you are arriving ahead, or going ahead in anticipation.
Reading: さきまわり
This consists of a couple kun’yomi readings put together. You can tell it’s kun’yomi because of the hiragana sticking out at the end. In previous levels, you learned both the words 先 and 回る (verb version of 回り). If you know those, you should be able to put them together to learn the reading of this word as well.
風船
Balloon
Kanji: 風 wind + 船 boat
A wind boat. This is a strange one for sure. You may assume this is like one of those giant balloons you can go ride around in, and you’d be partly right. Really, this word covers the general word balloon, though it especially has to do with the toy-style balloons (or smaller balloons). It’s a little round wind ship!
Reading: ふうせん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
〜札
Bill
Kanji: 札 bill
The kanji and the word are almost exactly the same. When you see this word after a number, it’s for physical bills of money.
Reading: さつ
This is a suffix that takes the on’yomi reading, which you’ve learned already!
You’ll also see this pronounced ふだ, but that’s when it’s a standalone word or part of a compound, rather than a suffix. So if you answer with that reading, you’ll be prompted to enter the suffix reading instead.
鳥
Bird
Kanji: 鳥 bird
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading:とり
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
When you think about birds, what is the most common bird you can think of? What bird do you hate the most or like eating the most? Either one will work. Now, imagine yourself going up to that bird. You did something terrible. You tore (とり) off its wing and started eating it (pretend it’s cooked first, if that makes you less nauseous).
黒い
Black
Kanji: 黒 black + 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 black? It’s also black. Special Note: The noun version of black also exists in Japanese. It is just 黒 with the same pronunciation, but minus the い which makes it adjective-tastic.
Reading: くろい
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:
Think of black things. One very common black thing is the common crow (くろ). Associate those two together.
黒人
Black person
Kanji: 黒 black + 人 person
A black person is simply a black person, kind of like how a 白人 is a “white person,” but a different color.
Reading: こくじん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 人 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
Imagine a black person you know well wearing coke jeans (こくじん). Yep, jeans made entirely from coke bottles. That’s actually a thing. Look it up if you don’t believe me.
青空
Blue sky
Kanji: 青 blue + 空 sky
This is simply a blue sky (aka a blue sky!).
Reading: あおぞら
You’d think that this word would use on’yomi readings to read it, but it doesn’t (shake that angry fist at the kanji gods!). Instead, it’s double kun’yomi, probably because this word is really like two separate words put together, “blue” and “sky.” In the previous level you unlocked these two separate words, learning their readings. That means you should be able to read this as well.
One quick note is the rendaku-fication of 空 as well. It becomes ぞら.
船
Boat
Kanji: 船 boat
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ふね
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
You’re riding in a boat. It’s great. Imagine it being the best time you’ve had in your life. You tell everyone: “This is fun, eh?” (ふね). You’re on a Canadian ship, which is why you add the “eh” in there. Say this out loud wherever you are right now while imagining the sea smell, the wind, and the excitement of boats.
教室
Classroom
Kanji: 教 teach + 室 room
The teaching room is just a classroom.
Reading: きょうしつ
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.
活用形
Conjugated form
Kanji: 活 lively + 用 task + 形 shape
You know that 活用 means “conjugation” and that 〜形 means “form,” so that means this is the conjugated form!
Reading: かつようけい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
日記
Diary
Kanji: 日 sun + 記 write down
When you write down your day (and do it every day) that’s your diary.
Reading: にっき
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 日 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
When you write down your day in your diary, in fact you write only about Nicky (にっき). You love Nicky so much, your diary is full of Nicky this, Nicky that. Ah, Nicky is just the best.
〜丁目
District of a town
Kanji: 丁 street + 目 eye
A street you can see with your eye isn’t soooo big you can’t see it (like a town would be), but it’s still pretty big because it has a street. This section of the town is the district of a town, or a city block (though specifically one of an irregular size).
Reading: ちょうめ
The readings are the ones you learned with the kanji, so use those and you’ll be A-Okay.
人形
Doll
Kanji: 人 person + 形 shape
Something that is person shaped that isn’t a person? That has to be some kind of doll or puppet.
Reading: にんぎょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 人 has two on’yomi readings, and the reading of 形 is a bit of an oddball, here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Did you know that all dolls at Nintendo are made out of gyoza dumplings (にんぎょう)? They’ll also regularly try to get you to eat them… Mmmm, gyoza dolls. Don’t be afraid to take a bite!
小学生
Elementary school student
Kanji: 小 small + 学 school + 生 life
You know 学生 is student, so what is a small student? Think young. That would be an Elementary School Student.
Reading: しょうがくせい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
月末
End of the month
Kanji: 月 moon + 末 end
You know how 月 can also mean month? If you add 末 on there you have the “month end” aka the end of the month.
Reading: げつまつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 月 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
When it’s the end of the month, everybody gets mats (げつまつ). We don’t pay people in money at Tofugu, but everyone gets mats at the month end instead.
魚
Fish
Kanji: 魚 fish
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: さかな
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Imagine a fish. Now imagine the fish playing soccer, while wearing a nun’s outfit. This is a soccer nun (さかな).
必死
Frantic
Kanji: 必 certain + 死 death
Your future consists of certain death. How would you feel in this situation? Probably very frantic and desperate.
Another translation for this word is simply certain death, though I’d rather you learn one of the first two before this one if you can.
Reading: ひっし
The readings are the on’yomi readings, though 必 (ひつ) gets shortened to ひっ. In your desperate situation just imagine that you’re trying to get out of it, and to do so you move the つ only to find a smaller っ blocking your way. It is certain death.
自由
Freedom
Kanji: 自 self + 由 reason
When you have self reason, you are able to think for yourself. When you can think for yourself, you have freedom. Very philosophical, this vocab is.
Reading: じゆう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
氏名
Full name
Kanji: 氏 family name + 名 name
Both of these kanji have to do with names. You have both family name and name. Both of those names together makes for a First And Last Name… a full name if you will.
Reading: しめい
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.
未来
Future
Kanji: 未 not yet + 来 come
What has not yet come? The future.
未来 is usually used to talk about the distant future, and it implies that the future can’t be foreseen. So you can use it to speculate about what might lie ahead, but you probably wouldn’t use it to discuss more concrete plans, goals or predictions.
Reading: みらい
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.
地理
Geography
Kanji: 地 earth + 理 reason
The reason the earth is the way it is because of the geography of it. Though it may seem kind of strange that geography is bringing reason to the earth, if you think of geography as a study, then you can think about how you try to get reason through that, as well.
Reading: ちり
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.
金魚
Goldfish
Kanji: 金 gold + 魚 fish
A gold fish is really just gold in color, but it’s still called a goldfish.
Reading: きんぎょ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
組
Group
Kanji: 組 group
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: くみ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
You’re part of a special group. It is the cumin group, and they deal with all things cumin (the spice / seed). Smell the cumin. Touch it. Taste it. You live and breathe the stuff, because you are the president of this cumin group.
P.S. This can also be spelled 組み (same overall reading: くみ).
手作り
Handmade
Kanji: 手 hand + 作 make + り
When something is hand made, it is handmade!
Reading: てづくり
The readings for these kanji are the kun’yomi readings. Just think of this word as two separate words put together (手 and 作る). The る in 作る gets changed to り because it’s an adjective, and the つ in つくり gets changed to づ because of the way the words are combined with each other. You should know most of the reading that is in this word, though it will probably take a little bit of thinking to sort out the little changes in those readings.
大空
Heavens
Kanji: 大 big + 空 sky
The big thing in the sky is the heavens. The heavens where birds and planes soar, not the one you go to after you die if you’ve been really good.
Reading: おおぞら
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. Just remember that そら becomes ぞら because of rendaku here.
高校
High school
Kanji: 高 tall + 校 school
The tall school is for when your kids get about as tall as they’re going to get. That’s high school, when most people stop growing taller.
Reading: こうこう
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.
家
Home
Kanji: 家 home
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Readings: いえ, うち
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
What do you do in your home? You eat eggs (いえ), that’s what. You eat eggs three times a day, every day. You really love eating eggs in your house!
作り方
How to make
Kanji: 作 make + り + 方 direction
This is the way to make something. This is how to make something. You’ll see this for directions on building something.
Reading: つくりかた
This uses the kun’yomi readings from the vocab words 作る and 方. So as long as you’re okay with those, you can apply that knowledge over here.
船体
Hull
Kanji: 船 boat + 体 body
A boat’s body is called the hull.
Reading: せんたい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
人里
Human Habitation
Kanji: 人 person + 里 hometown
A person’s hometown is a human habitation, or a village. This word has a slightly old-fashioned feel, and it’s usually used for small villages in the countryside.
It’s often combined with はなれた (separated) to talk about how far away from the nearest human habitation something is.
Reading: ひとざと
This jukugo uses the kun’yomi of the kanji instead of the more usual on’yomi. You learned both of these readings when you learned the vocabulary 人 and 里. Just notice that さと becomes ざと, because of rendaku.
以下
Less than
Kanji: 以 from + 下 below
Compared with this, it’s below. That’s another way to say that what you have is less than it.
Reading: いか
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
手紙
Letter
Kanji: 手 hand + 紙 paper
A hand paper is a letter because letters are generally written by hand on paper.
If you want a more graphic image, imagine writing a letter on your hand, and how much it would hurt to chop off your hand and send it.
Reading: てがみ
The reading is double kun’yomi (body parts tend to make kanji in words change to a kun’yomi reading). Both kanji in this word had you learn that reading right from the start, though, so you should be able to read this word. Just watch out for the rendaku making it がみ, not かみ.
小声
Low voice
Kanji: 小 small + 声 voice
A small voice is so small that you can hardly hear it. It’s a low voice or a whisper.
Reading: こごえ
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. Just watch out because, like in 大声, the こえ becomes ごえ thanks to our old friend rendaku.
火星
Mars
Kanji: 火 fire + 星 star
The fire star is Mars. This should be easy to remember, because Mars is the only planet in our solar system that’s the color of fire.
Reading: かせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
心理
Mental state
Kanji: 心 heart + 理 reason
The reasoning of your heart decides what you do. Probably when kanji was being made people thought that the heart directed our actions, not our brains. So, if you think about it that way, the reasoning of your heart is your mental state. Nowadays that’s known as psychology.
Reading: しんり
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.
中学生
Middle school student
Kanji: 中 middle + 学 study + 生 life
You’ve seen 学生 (means student). Now let’s look at a student who’s in the middle. Perhaps we can call this a middle school student or a junior high school student, depending on where you’re from.
Reading: ちゅうがくせい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
〜分
Minute
Kanji: 分 part
What’s part of an hour? A minute, or minutes! This word is the suffix version of 分, so it goes after numbers to say how many minutes, and is used for telling the time too.
Reading: ふん
This uses a different on’yomi than what you learned with the kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this reading:
How many minutes of fun (ふん) will you have today? Lots and lots of minutes, I hope!
Depending on the number before 分, its pronunciation can change to ぷん, because of rendaku. We’re looking for the original reading ふん here though!
〜氏
Mister
Kanji: 氏 family name
The kanji means family name because it goes after a family name in very formal situations. So, it’s really closely tied to that. Because only men got the respect back in the day, we’re calling this vocab word mister. You can call me Mr. Koichi if you’d like, too.
Reading: し
The reading for this word is the same as the kanji.
以上
More than
Kanji: 以 from + 上 above
Compared with something else, this is above. That’s another way to say that what you have is more than something else. That’s all. ;)
Reading: いじょう
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.
ナポレオン三世
Napoleon the third
Kanji: ナ + ポ + レ + オ + ン + 三 three + 世 world
Adding “third generation” to someone’s name means that they are the third generation of people with that name. In this case, the person’s name is ナポレオン (Napoleon), so this means Napoleon The Third, also written as Napoleon III.
Reading: なぽれおんさんせい, ナポレオンさんせい
The kanji here are pronounced exactly the same as in the standalone word 三世. That is, it’s a jukugo word which uses the on’yomi for both kanji.
近く
Near
Kanji: 近 near + く
This is the noun version of the kanji near. So it also means near, or in the neighborhood of something.
Reading: ちかく
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You already learned this reading when you learned 近い, so you should be able to read this word as well.
海王星
Neptune
Kanji: 海 sea + 王 king + 星 star
The ocean king’s star is Neptune! If you know anything about Roman mythology this should be easy to remember!
Reading: かいおうせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
正月
New year
Kanji: 正 correct + 月 moon
You correct the moon because it’s a New Year. It’s the beginning of a fresh year, so you gotta have the moon in the correct position.
This usually refers to the first few days of a new year, and it’s one of the biggest holidays in Japan.
Reading: しょうがつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Both of these kanji have a couple of on’yomi readings, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which ones to use:
At New Year, you hate your Shougun’s guts (しょうがつ). He doesn’t celebrate New Year, you see, so none of you get any time off. He even started a war last New Year and ruined everyone’s holidays. No wonder you hate that shougun’s guts.
