Lesson 6

Question 1

child
[99]

Answer 1

子

This kanji is a pictograph of a child wrapped up in one of those handy cocoons that Japanese mothers fix to their backs to carry around young children who cannot get around by themselves. The first stroke is like a wee head popping out for air; the second shows the body and legs all wrapped up; and the final stroke shows the arms sticking out to cling to the mother’s neck.

*P: child (a bit older)

Question 2

cavity
[100]

Answer 2

孔

The worst part of a cavity for kids is those hooks that they use to poke at the sensitive spots and find where the cavity is.

*child, hook

Question 3

complete
[101]

Answer 3

了

The parent has complete control over their kid when the kid is completely wrapped up in the back-sack (arms tucked in).

Question 4

woman
[102]

Answer 4

女

Pictograph of a woman curtsying.

*woman

Question 5

fond
[103]

Answer 5

好

Only a mother’s fondness for her child will never waver.

*woman, child

Question 6

likeness
[104]

Answer 6

如

The woman’s mouth was painted with bright red lipstick. It bore a likeness to a cut leaking fresh blood. OR
The young woman was just learning how to use makeup. The sloppily applied lipstick on her mouth made her bear a likeness to a clown.

*woman, mouth

Question 7

mama
[105]

Answer 7

母

Looks like ‘woman’ but the two dots represent breasts for feeding a baby.

*breasts, mama

Question 8

pierce
[106]

Answer 8

貫

When I wanted my ears pierced as a kid my mom paid for it.

*mama, shellfish/money

Question 9

elder brother
[107]

Answer 9

兄

Elder brothers are pretty much just big mouths on legs. Always bossing their younger siblings around.

*mouth, human legs
*P: teenager (big mouth, and gangly legs)

Question 10

curse
[108]

Answer 10

呪

The younger sibling spoke a curse and sewed the big mouth of their older brother shut. What a relief.

*mouth, elder brother

Question 11

overcome
[109]

Answer 11

克

The needle on top indicates one of the major problems confronting the teenager growing up in today’s world: drugs. Many of them will fall under the shadow of the needle at some time during those tender years, but only when a whole generation rises up and decides that “We Shall Overcome” the plague, will the needle cease to hang over their heads, as it does in this character.

*needle, teenager