n3 reading Flashcards
難しい
難 difficult (from China (radical)) + (turkey) ★★★★★ 18 strokes Onyomi NAN Baking NAN bread correctly is difficult.
Mnemonic
Catching turkeys from China is difficult.
顔
立 (stand up) + (cliff) + (hair) + (headright) Same-ON
18 strokes
This is an odd kanji because, although it has a bunch of jukugo, it uses the KUN in all of them!
Onyomi
Mnemonic
You stand on a cliff, the hair from your head blowing into your face.
生
生 life / birth 主 (master/mainly) + (rifle) ★★★★★ 5 strokes DUPEPNSTRONG Onyomi SEI, SHOU If you can SAY something, it SHOWS you're alive.
Mnemonic
The master gave you life, and the master can take your life away with the rifle
懸
懸 suspend / gamble
県 (prefecture) Same-ON + 系 (group, tribe) + (bottomheart)
Onyomi
KEN
Mnemonic
I would bet my heart that we’ll find the lost tribe in this prefecture!
Kunyomi
( を ) か＊ける literally, to hang or suspend something. But since usually Japanese use the 掛 kanji to mean hang, 懸 is more often used figuratively: meaning, to gamble or stake something. One’s life, one’s heart, one’s money, etc.
★★☆☆☆
( が ) か＊かる it is hanging / it depends on xxx. Perhaps more accurately, “XXX is at stake.”
★★☆☆☆
命
令 (command) + 口 (mouth/small box radical)
Onyomi
MEI
You MAY learn kanji if you study your whole life.
Mnemonic
“Your money or your life!” he commanded with his mouth.
険
steep / risky (town) + (risk) Same-ON Onyomi KEN Mnemonic It's risky to build a town on such a steep hill.
Kunyomi
けわ*しい a steep hill, or a very grim situation (but mostly a steep hill).
★★☆☆☆
表
表 express
主 (master/mainly) + (kick in the nuts)
Mnemonic
HE’S YOUR master, and you express that by kicking his nuts (in a respectful manner).
Kunyomi
おもて FRONT surface- used only about things that have a front-and-back. (opposite: 裏 うら） . Usually used about 2-dimensional things (paper, walls) but can also be used with the ol’ tatemae/honne.
★★★☆☆
( を ) あらわ＊す to indicate something intentionally, but through symbols rather than words( he expressed his displeasure by flinging feces at the prison correction officer) (the shadow of the sundial indicates the time) KANA
★★★☆☆
Jukugo
情
情 emotion (leftheart) + 青 (blue) Onyomi JOU Mnemonic Q: What emotion are you feeling ?
A: My heart is blue ever since JOE Stalin left me.
Kunyomi
なさ＊け mercy (usually used in the negative!)
★★☆☆☆
Jukugo
感情かんじょう
a feeling, an emotion ★★★★★
感 (feeling) + 情 (emotion) = 感情 (a feeling, an emotion)
事情じじょう
circumstances ★★☆☆☆
事 (action/ incident) + 情 (emotion) = 事情 (circumstances)
circumstances. A euphemism for ‘bad situation’: crushing debt, mother is a prostitute, etc, in trouble with the mob, etc.
彼女、事情がありそうね。 (She looks like she comes from Circumstances, doesn’t she?)
事情 also differs from other ‘situation’ words because it emphasizes the circumstances behind a person’s actions. (i.e. the boss says, ‘You were late to work again, but if you explain your situation, I might not punish you.’)
愛情あいじょう
affection : more than friendship and less than love. ★☆☆☆☆
愛 (love) + 情 (emotion) = 愛情 (affection : more than friendship and less than love.)
表情ひょうじょう
facial expression ☆☆☆☆☆
表 (express) + 情 (emotion) = 表情 (facial expression)
facial expression - although most people say “XXXの顔をした” （ｘｘｘのかおをした）, meaning “She made an xxx-face.”
感情かんじょう
感情かんじょう
情 emotion
(leftheart) + 青 (blue)
Onyomi
JOU
Mnemonic
Q: What emotion are you feeling ?
A: My heart is blue ever since JOE Stalin left me.
額
半額
月額
額 amount of money / forehead
客 (customer) + (headright)
JERK- literally it means forehead, but as a jukugo it is a SUFFIX which means “amount of money.”
Onyomi
GAKU
I got a fever, so I GOTTA COOL my forehead down with an ice pack.
Mnemonic
Each customer’s Head has a forehead (which we can polish for an amount of money) (forehead polishers Inc. - hot stock tip)
汗
汗 sweat
(waterleft) + 干 (dry out) Same-ON
Onyomi
KAN
you don’t need to learn the onyomi.
Mnemonic
After a long day of pillage, Genghis KHAN sweat so much he lost water and became dried out.
When you sweat your clothes become soaked with water, prompting you to hang them to dry on a clothesline.
Kunyomi
あせ sweat - (to sweat = 汗をかく)
★★★★☆
偉
偉 high-powered, prestigious
(personleft) + (orgy) Same-ON
Onyomi
I
I am very prestigious within the world of Yo Mama Joke-driven educational websites full of basic spelling errors.
Mnemonic
The person who organized this orgy was prestigious.
Kunyomi
えら*い great, outstanding. As in ‘a great painting’ or ‘a great show.’(p> It also means upper-class. Like ‘We can’t park in that parking spot - it’s for erai people.’ A regular doctor is not erai, but the head surgeon of the hospital is erai. That kind of thing.
★★★☆☆
えら＊そう (literally, “Prestigious, isn’t he?”) someone who thinks they’re all that SARC
★★☆☆☆
Jukugo
偉人いじん
great ★☆☆☆☆
偉 (high-powered, prestigious) + 人 (person) = 偉人 (great)
. . .in the sense of ‘historically great’, ‘history-making’, ‘most famous’, rather than the sense of ‘nice’ or ‘wonderful.’ (Recall Louis Farrakhan’s wonderful non-apology for calling Hitler a ‘wickedly great man’: “Hey, White people! You’re the ones who forced me to learn your language, and now I speak it better than you! You can’t even be bothered to open a dictionary and learn your own language, so who are you to judge me?”
面
front surface / face
mask with 100 eyes.
成績
成績, せいせき
results, record, grades, marks
績
績 achievements
糸 (string) + 責 (condemn) Same-ON
Onyomi
SEKI
Mnemonic
The sadist was condemned by the preacher for the SEXY bondage she achieved with string.
Jukugo
功績こうせき
achievement ★☆☆☆☆
功 (success) + 績 (achievements) = 功績 (achievement)
an achievement or good deed
成績せいせき
ranking ★☆☆☆☆
成 (become) + 績 (achievements) = 成績 (ranking)
ranking of the results of a competition （i,e, the results of a test, a race, or when a hostess bar posts the framed pictures of their #1,2,and 3 earners outside the club on the marquee!)
科
科 science
(wheat) + (spice rack)
Onyomi
KA
Mnemonic
Thanks to science, we now have a CAR that runs on wheat and spices!
Jukugo
教科書きょうかしょ
textbook ★★★★☆
教 (teach) + 科 (science) + 書 (write) = 教科書 (textbook)
科学かがく
science ★★★☆☆
科 (science) + 学 (knowledge) = 科学 (science)
科学者かがくしゃ
scientist ★★☆☆☆
科学 (science) + 者 (professional) = 科学者 (scientist)
Meaning Hint Radical
科 science WHEAT
料 ingredients / fees RICE
Scientists study WHEAT, then use RICE ingredients for something to eat.
誰
誰 who??
言 (say) + (turkey)
Onyomi
Mnemonic
Who said that was my turkey?
Kunyomi だれ who??? ★★★★☆ Jukugo 誰かだれか someone ★★★★☆
someone (related word: 誰かさん＝ Old What’s-His-Face)
負
負 lose
(fishhook) + 貝 (shellfish/money)
Onyomi
FU
Mnemonic
That is FUCKED : I bet all my money I could hook a fish today and I lost.
Kunyomi ( ｘｘｘの ) ま＊け that's (Someone's) loss ★★★★★ ( を or に ) ま＊ける lose a game or fight or struggle. This can be used 2 different ways, which I'll elaborate on because I have time: If you lose a game: Game WO maketa If you lose TO Jerry: Jerry NI maketa ★★★★★
議
議 discussion
言 (say) + 義 (righteousness) Same-ON
Onyomi
GI
Mnemonic
I will say something righteous during the discussion
Jukugo
会議かいぎ
a conference ★★★☆☆
会 (big meeting) + 議 (discussion) = 会議 (a conference)
議論ぎろん
argument ★★☆☆☆
議 (discussion) + 論 (make a case for) = 議論 (argument)
not quite an argument, but definitely a spirited loud discussion.
思
思 think 田 (rice field) + (bottomheart) ★★★★★ 9 strokes Onyomi SHI Mnemonic SHE's so into rice, when she thinks about a paddy, her heart starts racing.
際
際 edge (town) + 祭 (festival) Same-ON Onyomi SAI Mnemonic The festival of SIGHs is on the edge of town, over there.
Kunyomi ( xxx ) きわ SUFFIX attatched to a place or thing , meaning 'close to' or 'on the border or edge of' something- usually used with locations: 'I'm standing on the edge of the ocean, where it meets the shore.' It is pronounced GIWA. SUF ★☆☆☆☆ Jukugo 実際じっさい に in fact ★★★★☆ 実 (truth) + 際 (edge) = 実際 (in fact)
in fact. (as in, ‘You think you’re Samoan, but in fact, you’re adopted.’)
Also has the nuance of ‘in practice’, as opposed to ‘in theory.’
ｘｘｘの 際さい にYYY
at the time of xxx ★★☆☆☆
“at the time of XXX, do YYY” .. . As in, ‘As long as you’re going to the kitchen, get me some pretzels, you crazy broad.’
遅
遅 slow / late
(motion) + (corpse) + 羊 (sheep)
Onyomi
CHI
Dinner was ok but our CHEESE fondue was hella late.
Mnemonic
You move slow like a corpse tied to the back of a sheep. And the corpse is hella fat.
Kunyomi おそ*い to be slow moving / to be late ★★★★★ ( が ) おく＊れる to be late ☆☆☆☆☆ Jukugo 遅刻ちこく する arrive late ★★☆☆☆ 遅 (slow / late) + 刻 (engrave) = 遅刻 (arrive late )
to arrive late for school or work.
嫌
嫌 eww!!
女 (woman) + 兼 (double-duty) Same-ON ★★★★★ 13 strokes Onyomi KEN Mnemonic The woman hated doing double-duty. She wanted a monogamous relationship.
Kunyomi
いや ( だ！！ ) Ewww! No way!(what YOU say in conversation) 1/2 KANA KIDS
★★★★☆
いや＊がる Use this word when telling about how SOMEONE ELSE had a bad reaction to something: “He was like, eww!” (彼は嫌がった！）
★★★☆☆
きら＊い the most common word for hate 1/2 KANA
★★★☆☆
Jukugo
機嫌きげん
mood ★★☆☆☆
機 (machine) + 嫌 (eww!!) = 機嫌 (mood)
mood (bad mood: 不機嫌!)
嫌味:いやみ
hurtful speech ★★☆☆☆ KUNKUN
嫌 (eww!!) + 味 (flavor) = 嫌味 (hurtful speech)
a very general term for any kind of hurtful speech - from sarcasm or snarky comments, mean-spirited arguments, to outright belligerence.
兼
兼 double-duty 美 (beauty) + (brush/fork) + ??? (???) ★☆☆☆☆ 10 strokes STRONG Onyomi KEN KENNY does double-duty as a . . . . I got nothing.
Mnemonic
What the hell! This doesn’t look like anything! It kiiiiind of looks like beautiful (美) but split in half, and the two halves are being stabbed with a fork. So the fork does double-duty: it can help you eat salad, or it can help you cut a beautiful person in half.
Kunyomi
( xxx と ｙｙｙ を ) か*ねる to combine ｘｘｘ and ｙｙｙ, to double as (i.e. she’s a maid who doubles as a bodyguard)
★☆☆☆☆
Jukugo
兼業けんぎょう
moonlighting. ★★☆☆☆
兼 (double-duty) + 業 (business) = 兼業 (moonlighting. )
a second-job. moonlighting.
AB 兼用けんよう
use as A and B ☆☆☆☆☆
兼 (double-duty) + 用 (utilize) = 兼用 (use as A and B)
to use something both as A and B.
根
根 root 木 (tree) + 良 (good) ★★★☆☆ 10 strokes PN Onyomi KON This is a weird tree because the CONES are not on the branches but instead they grow from the roots.
Mnemonic
It’s good for trees to have a root. Stability and nutrients from the soil. You know the deal.
Kunyomi ね root ★★★☆☆ Jukugo 根本こんぽん the fundamentals ★★★☆☆ 根 (root) + 本 (book / the real) = 根本 (the fundamentals)
the fundamentals (how is it different from 基本？ Well, with 根本, the emphasis is: the fundamental, deep, organizing principles, not the most easy ‘for dummies’ bits). The essential and underlying - as opposed to on the surface and easily apparent) Also handy:こんぽんてきな (the adjective form)
屋根やね
roof ★★☆☆☆ KUN ON
屋 (store) + 根 (root) = 屋根 (roof)
roof . That’s right, not root. Roof!
根気こんき のよい / のわるい
patience ★★☆☆☆
根 (root) + 気 (mood) = 根気 (patience)
patience. You need 根気 to be able to 我慢 (がまん）。
Often used like 根気がいい（she’s very patient!) or, 根気よくｘｘｘした！ (you did xxx very patiently!)
根性こんじょう
balls ★★☆☆☆
根 (root) + 性 (sex / essential nature) = 根性 (balls)
guts /balls (for instance, giving yourself cigarette burns to prove some kind of point about being a man)
欠
欠 lack 人 (person) + (rifle) ★★★☆☆ 4 strokes Onyomi KETSU I lack KETCHUP. please pass it over here.
Mnemonic
Unlike the regular rifle radical, the tip on the right hangs limply down.
You could say that the person LACKS a functioning rifle. And then you could giggle about that if you were, you know, immatoor.
Kunyomi ( に ) か＊ける to lack an abstract thing (experience / confidence / creativity / trust) （BOOBOO: if you want to say you don't have enough of a physical thing (for instance, money!) you'd say 足りない (たりない）instead.) ★★★★☆ Jukugo 欠点けってん がある / がない shortcoming ★★★☆☆ 欠 (lack) + 点 (point) = 欠点 (shortcoming)
shortcoming. Opposite of 長所（ちょうしょ）. Can be used about people (he drinks too much, she always lies) or machines (this PC is very slow and prone to crashing).
欠陥けっかん のある
defective ★★☆☆☆
欠 (lack) + 陥 (entrapped) = 欠陥 (defective)
defective, defect
欠席けっせき する
absent ★☆☆☆☆ F
欠 (lack) + 席 (seat) = 欠席 (absent)
A kind of formal word for failure to attend, absence.
間違いだ
間違いまちがい
a mistake ★★★★★ 1/2 KANA
間 (a period of time) + 違 (different and therefore wrong) = 間違い (a mistake)
Verb form; 間違える！
頑張っている
頑 stubborn
元 (original) + (headright) Same-ON ★★★★☆ 13 strokes BETA Onyomi GAN GHANDI was legendary for his stubbornness.
Again, since this is a ‘same-on’ kanji, I don’t really NEED to think of an ONyomi mnemonic, but this practically writes itself, plus this coffee is kicking in. . .
Mnemonic
As babies, our original heads are stubborn. As we grow up, our heads tend to think more of others.
Jukugo
頑張るがんばる
good luck! ★★★★★ CCW1/2 KANA
頑 (stubborn) + 張 (stretch) = 頑張る (good luck!)
No exact English equivalent. がんばる combines two English expressions: 1) do your best! 2) good luck! You tell your friends 頑張れ！ before a big test or job interview.
頑固がんこ な
stubborn ★★☆☆☆ 1/2 KANA
頑 (stubborn) + 固 (hard) = 頑固 (stubborn)
張
張 stretch 弓 (bow) + 長 (long / boss) Same-ON ★★★☆☆ 11 strokes Onyomi CHOU as in, "It's a stretch to call Margaret CHO funny. "
Mnemonic
Stretch the bow until it is really long.
Kunyomi
は*る to physically make something longer. stretch a rubber-band、 stretch a canvas on a paint frame, pitch a tent. Also to extend one’s influence.
★★★☆☆
Jukugo
頑張るがんばる
good luck! ★★★★★ CCW1/2 KANA
頑 (stubborn) + 張 (stretch) = 頑張る (good luck!)
No exact English equivalent. がんばる combines two English expressions: 1) do your best! 2) good luck! You tell your friends 頑張れ！ before a big test or job interview.
緊張きんちょう する
stress ★★★★☆
緊 (tense) + 張 (stretch) = 緊張 (stress)
stress, stretched to the max ーcan be used both literally and figuratively.
揮
揮 brandish (handleft) + 軍 (army) ★☆☆☆☆ 12 strokes BETA Onyomi KI Mnemonic I got the KEY to the army car in my hand, and I am brandishing it.
Jukugo
発揮はっき する
reveal the extent of one’s power ★☆☆☆☆
発 (launch) + 揮 (brandish) = 発揮 (reveal the extent of one’s power)
to reveal one’s true strength, to get an opportunity to exercise one’s full power (in economics, language ability, fighting, whatever)
指揮者しきしゃ
conductor or commander ☆☆☆☆☆
指 (finger / point at) + 揮 (brandish) + 者 (professional) = 指揮者 (conductor or commander)
奥
奥 waaay in the back (George Michael's Moustache) + 米 (rice / America) + 大 (big) ★★★★★ 12 strokes PN Onyomi Mnemonic George got a big kernel of rice lodged waaay in the back of his stache , and he wants you to reach in and try to dislodge it.
Kunyomi おく way in the back： Back of the closet, back of the casket, back of the cave, etc. ★★★☆☆ Jukugo 奥さんおくさん wife ★★★☆☆ FRFP
wife (used about my own wife as well as your wife) (literally,’back of the house person’ - OH SNAAAAAP!!)
材
材 raw materials 木 (tree) + 才 (skill / age) ★★☆☆☆ 7 strokes BETASAME ON Onyomi ZAI Mnemonic It takes skills to carve a XYLOPHONE from the raw material of wood.
Jukugo
材料ざいりょう
ingredients ★★★☆☆
材 (raw materials) + 料 (ingredients / fees) = 材料 (ingredients)
usually seen on the “ingredients” label on food packaging. But also used about source material for a report: field notes, raw data. The implication is that, unlike 素材, the source material is not totally raw, it’s partially assembled –for instance, if you get silk, that’s 素材, but when the silk is woven into a fabric, that is 材料, and then the fabric is an ingredient of a handbag.
素材そざい
raw material ★★☆☆☆
素 (element) + 材 (raw materials) = 素材 (raw material)
raw material - both literally and figuratively (as in, the raw data that you base your essay or report or novel on) (“I’m working on materal for my novel!”)
木材もくざい
raw lumber ☆☆☆☆☆
木 (tree) + 材 (raw materials) = 木材 (raw lumber)
A TREE GENIUS is a LUMBER jack. Duh.
頼
頼 ask a favor 束 (bundle of sticks) + (headright) Onyomi RAI Mnemonic I wanted to ask you a favor -- can you carry this bundle on your head? It's really LIGHT.
Thanks! Kunyomi たの*む to ask someone to do something for you. You can use this when ordering food at a restaraunt, but also when asking a favor from a friend. たのむ has the nuance that the person being asked can refuse. 1/2 KANA ★★★★☆ たの＊み a favor, a request. ★★☆☆☆ ( に or を ) たよ＊る to trust or rely on someone: Say, you're robbing a bank and you get your friend to be the getaway driver. You have to count on him to actually be waiting when you get out of the bank. ★★☆☆☆
簡
簡 simplicity 竹 (bamboo) + 間 (a period of time) ★★★☆☆ 18 strokes SIDEKICK Onyomi KAN Mnemonic To grow bamboo is so simple even Genghis KHAN can do it in a very small period of time. And he is no mental genius when it comes to non-killing.
Jukugo
簡単かんたん な
simple ★★★★☆
簡 (simplicity) + 単 (merely) = 簡単 (simple)
simple or easy, but in a good way
変
Next → 変 change 赤 (red) + (eachbottom) ★★★★★ 9 strokes Onyomi HEN The egg changes into a HEN after hatching.
Mnemonic
Each red Communist changes into a yuppie when they turn 30.
Kunyomi ( を ) か＊える I change something ★★★★★ ( が ) か＊わる something changes ★★★★★ へん ( な ) abnormal or bad FR ★★★★★ Jukugo 変化へんか する transformation, change ★★★★★ 変 (change) + 化 (transform) = 変化 (transformation, change)
大変たいへん な
that’s terrible! ★★★★★
大 (big) + 変 (change) = 大変 (that’s terrible!)
this has 2 meanings, both used equally often:
“Tony is tai hen!” , for instance, could mean:
a) I feel sorry for Tony because his job sucks and his girl is cheating.
b) Tony is a really scary, mean person.
変態へんたい
perv ★★★★☆
変 (change) + 態 (looks like) = 変態 (perv)
What your brother and sister call you when they catch you peeking in the bathroom while they’re doing it in the toilet.
赤 red
土 (earth) + (bottomheart) ★★★★★ 7 strokes Onyomi SEKI Mnemonic Just picture a SEXY, red, heart. Simple enough?
Plus ‘earth’.
I guess if you are a member of the 5 Percent Nation you could brag about your sexy earth making your heart red with desire?
Just google it; even if the mnemonic sucks, and it does, you’ll be a better person for learning Todays Mathematics.
Kunyomi あか*い red ★★★★★ Jukugo 赤ちゃんあかちゃん baby ★★★★★
赤ん坊あかんぼう
baby ★★☆☆☆
赤 (red) + 坊 (boy / monk) = 赤ん坊 (baby)
赤面せきめん する
blush ★★☆☆☆
赤 (red) + 面 (front surface / face) = 赤面 (blush)
blush (other than this, you don’t really need the on-yomi)
Used In
跡 恋 変 湾
Synonyms
He was stabbed with a dagger, and little drops of red blood dropped onto the ground.
化
I just see this one as a pictograph of a person changing position and sitting down.
増
増 increase 土 (earth) + 曽 (gain) Same-ON ★★★☆☆ 14 strokes DUPESOLO Onyomi ZOU (not so useful) Mnemonic Every time ZORRO gained more ground, his power increased(and the hated Governor Alverado's decreased).
Kunyomi ( を ) ふ＊やす I increase something. (my bank balance, my muscles) ★★★☆☆ ( が ) ふ＊える something increases. ★★★☆☆
影
影 shadow 景 (scene) + (hair) ★★★★☆ 15 strokes DUPE Onyomi EI Fonzie's trademark "EYYYY!" demonstrates that he is as cool as a shadow on a hot day
Mnemonic
We stood in the shadow of Rapunzel’s enormous hair and watched the scenery.
The hair eye capitol puts your eye in shadow
Kunyomi かげ shadow, literally ★★★★★ Jukugo 撮影さつえい a photoshoot or movie shoot. ★★★☆☆ 撮 (photo-shoot) + 影 (shadow) = 撮影 (a photoshoot or movie shoot.)
に 影響えいきょう
influence ★★★☆☆
影 (shadow) + 響 (echo) = 影響 (influence)
influence (You don’t say “x influences Y,” you have to say “Y recieves X’s influence.” (YYYはXXXの影響を受けた）
景
景 scene 日 (sun, day) + 京 (capital) ★★★☆☆ 12 strokes BETA Onyomi KEI it's OK to stop and stare open-mouthed at the scene.
Mnemonic
When the sun shines on the capital city it is hella scenic.
Jukugo
背景はいけい
background ★★★☆☆
背 (stature / back of the body) + 景 (scene) = 背景 (background)
background (both in the sense of the background of a photo, and the background context of a story)
it’s a sunny scene here in the capital kyoto and everything is oooKEI
景色けしき
nice view ★★★☆☆ FP
景 (scene) + 色 (color) = 景色 (nice view)
A nice view - of nature or even the big crosswalk at Shibuya.
光景こうけい
a spectacle ★☆☆☆☆
光 (shining) + 景 (scene) = 光景 (a spectacle)
響
響 echo 郷 (one's hometown) Same-ON + 音 (sound) ★★☆☆☆ 20 strokes Onyomi KYOU Mnemonic The sound echoed in my head like memories of my old hometown.
Kunyomi
( が ) ひび*く echo
★★☆☆☆
郷
郷 one’s hometown
(Eazy) + 良 (good) + (town)
Onyomi
KYOU
Mnemonic
Today (今日、 pronounced KYOU) it was a good day, so Eazy went back to his hometown of Compton.
Jukugo
帰郷ききょう する
return to one’s hometown ☆☆☆☆☆
帰 (go back home) + 郷 (one’s hometown) = 帰郷 (return to one’s hometown)
郷愁きょうしゅう
nostalgia ☆☆☆☆☆ NP
郷 (one’s hometown) + 愁 (sorrow) = 郷愁 (nostalgia)
literary word for nostalgia (BOOBOO: most people just say 懐かしい （なつかしい！）)
故郷こきょう
hometown ☆☆☆☆☆ F
故 (breakdown, accident) + 郷 (one’s hometown) = 故郷 (hometown )
A somewhat literary word for one’s hometown （BOOBOO: most people just say 実家 （じっか）, meaning “parents’ house” instead).
与
与 bestow (pirate's hook) + 一 (one/line radical) ★★★☆☆ 3 strokes Onyomi YO Bestow a YO-YO!
Mnemonic
If you think of the horizontal line as a line of crank, you can say this:
Bestow one line of crank to ol’ Cap’n Hook, or it’s the brig for ye!!
Kunyomi
あた＊える to give, grant, bestow (give a kid an allowance / give someone a chance / a degree in Doctorology / an award / food to a pet)
★★★☆☆
Jukugo
給与きゅうよ
salary, wages ★☆☆☆☆
給 (provide) + 与 (bestow) = 給与 (salary, wages )
Used In
写
Synonyms
暗
暗 dark
日 (sun, day) + 音 (sound)
Onyomi
AN
Mnemonic
ANN Coulter with the sunny blonde hair, can’t stand the sounds made by the darker ethnic groups.
Picture the sun exploding - there would be a gigantic noise and then…nothing. Everything would plunge into darkness.
Total darkness lacks sun and sound.
Kunyomi くら*い dark ★★★★★ Jukugo 暗記あんき memorize ★★☆☆☆ 暗 (dark) + 記 (diary) = 暗記 (memorize)
暗殺あんさつ
assassination ★☆☆☆☆
暗 (dark) + 殺 (kill) = 暗殺 (assassination)
暗証番号あんしょう ばんごう
secret code number ★☆☆☆☆
暗 (dark) + 証 (proof) + 番号 (number) = 暗証番号 (secret code number)
your secret PIN number you use when you go to the ATM. This is different from a password you use on the internet - that’s パスワード。
排
he says HAI, then eliminates you. What an injustice!
排 eliminate (handleft) + 非 (injustice / mistake) ★★★★★ 11 strokes BETA Onyomi HAI Do Japanese eliminate foreigners sometimes? HAI!
Mnemonic
If an injustice comes your way, raise up your hand to eliminate it and keep it out.
非
非 injustice / mistake ★★★★☆ 8 strokes BETAPKDUHSYMBOLIC Onyomi HI HE's crying because of the injustice
Mnemonic
Usually the textbooks say to think of this as two streams of tears running down a face. Works for me.
Jukugo
是非ぜひ
absolutely! ★★★★☆ 1/2 KANA
是 (fer shure) + 非 (injustice / mistake) = 是非 (absolutely!)
this has 2 meanings:
1) in casual conversation, starting a sentence with ‘zehi’ means, ‘Absolutely!’ ‘I’ll get it done by hook or by crook!’ - also, you’ll hear ‘ぜひおねがいします！’ a lot, which means ‘Thanks in advance for this favor.’ . . . .
2) the propriety or morality of a certain course of action ( the kanji themselves translate to ‘right + injustice’).
非常ひじょう
emergency ★★★★☆
非 (injustice / mistake) + 常 (usual) = 非常 (emergency)
emergency. This is the word on all the emergency exits and emergency firehoses. But you’d never say “I’m having an 非常！”
非常ひじょう にxxx
exceedingly xxx ★★★☆☆
非 (injustice / mistake) + 常 (usual) = 非常 (exceedingly xxx)
in an emergency? No! That would be too simple. ひじょうに means, exceedingly or extremely.
非ひ XXXX
no xxx ★☆☆☆☆ PRE
PREFIX meaning ‘without xxx’ Usually words use the 不 or 無 prefixes, but occasionally you’ll see a 非-word, like 非常識 （ひじょうしき） (no common sense) 非対称的 （ひたいしょうてき）(asymmetrical).
I guess if 不 is like ‘un-‘ and 無 is like ‘without-‘, then ‘非-‘ is like ‘no-‘!!
除
除 exclude
(town) + 余 (excess) Same-ON
★★★☆☆
10 strokes
The more hostile meaning is, to exclude, for instance: certain people.
The more polite meaning is, to not count someone: “Not counting Bill, everyone here is republican.”
(BILLを除き、皆がrepublican!) “Not counting Sarah, eveyrone here hates cats.” “Except for one mistake, he did a good job!”
Onyomi
JO
Mnemonic
The people of Gaytown voted to exclude the excess women, so they’d have more places to Jack Off.
余
余 excess (peaked roof) + 示 (show/altar radical) ★★★☆☆ 7 strokes STRONG Despite being pronounced YO, this kanji has a STRONG ONYOMI for "JO". Onyomi YO We got excess YOYOS so we are selling at a discount.
Mnemonic
Show me your excess roofs!
Yeah, that IS a lot of roofs. I don’t think we are prepared to dispose of that many roofs. What the hell kind of manic shopping spree did you go on, anyway???
Kunyomi
( に or が ) あま＊る the excess, surplus (excess labor drives down wages) (surplus food rots on docks)
★★★★☆
真
真 really (the fly) + (pi) ★★★★☆ 10 strokes PN Onyomi SHIN Mnemonic Flies really really like to eat SHINY pies.
(The pie is shiny because it is coated with the fly’s glistening vomit. I’m not just being sick for the sake of sick here. Flies don’t have a stomach, so they have to vomit acid on their food - digesting it OUTSIDE THEIR BODY, so to speak. Then they suck up the liquefied remains through their straw-like mouth-hole.)
Kunyomi まっ ( xxx ) PREFIX meaning,absolutely totally entirely XXX. usually used with colors.(まっかい、 まっしろい, etc). The words using this prefix always use the KUNyomi. PRE ★★★☆☆ Jukugo 写真しゃしん photo ★★★★★ 写 (copy) + 真 (really) = 写真 (photo)
photo (take photo: 写真を取る （しゃしんをとる））
真実しんじつ
the truth ★★★★☆
真 (really) + 実 (truth) = 真実 (the truth)
真ん中まんなか
the very center ★★★☆☆ KUNKUN
真 (really) + 中 (middle) = 真ん中 (the very center)
真似るまねる
bite the style ★★★☆☆ FP
真 (really) + 似 (resemble) = 真似る (bite the style)
to bite someone’s style, to impersonate
博
博 museum /extensive 十 (ten) + 専 (specialty) ★★☆☆☆ 12 strokes BETAPN Onyomi HAKU They oughta take that crazy rainbow phlegm you HACK up and put it in a museum, you cancerous chain-smoking freak!!
Mnemonic
This museum has an extensive collection, with over ten specialized exhibits.
Jukugo
博物館はくぶつかん
museum ★★★☆☆
博 (museum /extensive) + 物 (animal / thing) + 館 (big hall) = 博物館 (museum)
a natural history museum or aerospace museum. (fine-art museums are 美術館 （びじゅつかん））
博覧会はくらんかい
exposition ★☆☆☆☆
博 (museum /extensive) + 覧 (view) + 会 (big meeting) = 博覧会 (exposition)
a GIANT exposition. Not like, “Cezanne’s greatest fuckin’ paintings all up in here festival” but huger - like a World’s Fair.
To break it down:
博覧会 (biggest kind of expo )
展示会（てんじかい＝trade show)
展覧会 （てんらんかい＝art exhibition)
一般
般 general / overall 舟 (boat) + (throw) ★★★★☆ 10 strokes SIDEKICK Onyomi HAN HAN Solo is, in general, kind of a wise-ass.
Mnemonic
In general, boats are thrown into the harbor, more often than thrown on land.
Jukugo
一般的いっぱんてき な
ordinary ★★★★★
一般 (generally, commonly) + 的 (motivation / ‘-al’) = 一般的 (ordinary)
One of many many Japanese words for ‘normal.’ The nuance of いっぱんてき is ordinary, non-special - as opposed to a member of a special group of people of things. 一般的な人 means, an average person. As in, ‘an average person is not allowed in this Yakuza bar.’
一般いっぱん に
generally, commonly ★★★☆☆
一 (one) + 般 (general / overall) = 一般 (generally, commonly)
団
When you are admitted into a group like the Yakuza, you’re well and truly done (だん) for. You must stick to the group like glue, and you will be pent-in for life, never being able to leave.
展
展 exhibit (corpse) + (hellbunny) + (kick in the nuts) ★★★☆☆ 10 strokes BETA Onyomi TEN Mnemonic There's TEN exhibits this weekend, but I'm going to the one with the corpse that was kicked to death in the nuts by the hellbunny.
It has gotten nothing but rave reviews.
Jukugo
展覧会てんらんかい
exhibition ★★☆☆☆
展 (exhibit) + 覧 (view) + 会 (big meeting) = 展覧会 (exhibition)
an art show or art exhibition.
展示会てんじかい
trade-show ★★☆☆☆
展 (exhibit) + 示 (show) + 会 (big meeting) = 展示会 (trade-show)
an exhibition or trade-show (International Plumbing Equipment Expo 2010!)
が 発展はってん する
development ★☆☆☆☆
発 (launch) + 展 (exhibit) = 発展 (development)
development or exploitation of a country or resource
照
照 contrast 昭 (shining / Showa era) Same-ON + (firebottom) ★★☆☆☆ 13 strokes Onyomi SHOU Mnemonic The shine of the fire SHOWS shadows on the wall of the cave in bright contrast.
Kunyomi
( を ) て＊らす to illuminate, literally, or in the (figurative) sense of comparing ２ things.
★☆☆☆☆
( は ) て＊れる to be self-conscious; as opposed to regular embarrassment or shyness.
★☆☆☆☆
総
総 general / total 心 (heart) + 糸 (string) + 公 (public) ★★★☆☆ 14 strokes BETA Onyomi SOU Mnemonic I'll give SO much string to the general public , I'm sure to win their hearts.
Jukugo
総合そうごう
overall/ integrated ★★☆☆☆
総 (general / total) + 合 (to suit) = 総合 (overall/ integrated)
integrated, overall, total, general thing (not just a movie theater, but a whole entertainment complex: video games, a bar, karaoke, etc.)(general car service - not just fixing the engine but also fixing tires, detailing the paint job, etc.)
総理そうり
prime minister ★★☆☆☆
総 (general / total) + 理 (reason) = 総理 (prime minister)
the Prime Minister (of Japan or any other country that still has one)
総体的そうたいてき に XXX
as a whole, XXX. In general .. . XXX ★☆☆☆☆
総 (general / total) + 体 (body) + 的 (motivation / ‘-al’) = 総体的 (as a whole, XXX. In general .. . XXX)
総合的そうごうてき な
synthetic ★☆☆☆☆
総合 (overall/ integrated) + 的 (motivation / ‘-al’) = 総合的 (synthetic)
総そう ｘｘｘ
total xxx ★☆☆☆☆ PRE
PREFIX meaning, “total amount of xxx” (total score, total cholesterol, number of users)
合
合 to suit
(peaked roof) + 口 (mouth/small box radical)
★★★★★
6 strokes
DUPEILL PAIRCOCK
合う gets the COCK because it’s the #1 offender for NOKURI AND the #1 offender for KUN ON. Put another way: not only does it use the KUNyomi in the jukugo, but it doesn’t even use the KUNyomi properly! It’s usually pronounced ‘あい’, but the ‘い’ is not even written down.
Onyomi
GOU
You have a date tonight, so GO and find a Suit that suits you.
Mnemonic
The peaked roof of the church suits Godzilla’s mouth. Mmmm delicious!!
Kunyomi
( に ) あ＊う to suit. The burlap sack suits your mama’s hippo behind.
★★★★★
( に or と ) あ＊わせる to unify. To bring different things together and make them fit. Like a band tuning up is called 音合わせ (making the notes fit).
★★★★☆
割
割 divide 害 (damage) + (rightsword) ★★★★★ 12 strokes COCK This gets a COCK rating, because it's probably the #1 offender for NOKURI AND KUNKUN. Most jukugo that look like they should be pronounced KATSU will not only wind up being pronounced WARI, but the RI won't be even written down. Be careful. Onyomi KATSU Mnemonic He damaged the CAT with the sword, dividing it in two.
Kunyomi ( を ) わ＊る I divide it- also can mean 'smash a brittle object to pieces' like if you drop a mirror. ★★★☆☆ ( が ) わ＊れる it divides / it gets divided ★★★☆☆ Jukugo 割引わりびき discount ★★★★☆ NOKURI 割 (divide) + 引 (pull) = 割引 (discount)
役割やくわり
role ★★★☆☆ KUNKUN
役 (role) + 割 (divide) = 役割 (role)
role, but more general and figurative than just 役（やく）。 Gay dudes who are top or bottom - that’s 役割。 If your role is ‘the black sheep of the family,” that’s 役割。 The guy in the boy-band who is “the edgy one.” The person on the reality -tv show who is “the crazy one.”
The verb is 果たす（はたす）, as in XXX の役割を果たす（ to play the role of XXX)
一割いちわり
10 percent ★★★☆☆ COUNTERNOKURI
一 (one) + 割 (divide) = 一割 (10 percent)
割合わりあい
ratio ★★☆☆☆ KUNKUNNOKURI
割 (divide) + 合 (to suit) = 割合 (ratio)
引
引 pull 弓 (bow) + 一 (one/line radical) ★★★★★ 4 strokes DUH Onyomi IN Mnemonic The line is a bow-string. How about that. Ok, can you guess what the story will be? Everybody say it one time: Pull the bow-line IN!
Kunyomi ひ*く pull ★★★★★ Jukugo 割引わりびき discount ★★★★☆ NOKURI 割 (divide) + 引 (pull) = 割引 (discount)
引っ越すひっこす
move to a new house or apartment ★★★★☆
引 (pull) + 越 (go beyond) = 引っ越す (move to a new house or apartment)
万引きまんびき
shoplift. ★☆☆☆☆ SARC
万 (10000) + 引 (pull) = 万引き (shoplift.)
伴
伴 accompany (personleft) + 半 (half) Same-ON ★★☆☆☆ 7 strokes Onyomi HAN / BAN HAN Solo has been BANNED from accompanying wookies into the men's room.
Mnemonic
Half the people accompany the other half.
Kunyomi
( に ・ を ・ が ) ともな*う accompany, in both literal and figurative sense: Bill accompanies Doug. But also, rain accompanies high winds at this time of year (notice how it doesn’t care about cause and effect)
★★☆☆☆
Jukugo
同伴どうはん する
accompany ★★☆☆☆ NP
同 (same) + 伴 (accompany) = 同伴 (accompany)
Accompany. This is like 伴う（ともなう）、but
a) limited to people , not situations.
b) it’s more formal than 伴う. You’ll see 同伴 on signs like, “Persons under 18 must be accompanied by a parent to this film,” and things like that.
観
観 point of view (swan) Same-ON + 見 (look) ★★★★☆ 18 strokes DUPE Onyomi KAN Mnemonic Genghis KHAN saw the swan from his point of view.
Kunyomi
み＊る to watch something, deliberately and for a long time, In other words, to be a spectator at something (only used in the phrase 観にいく . And you only used 観に行く about concerts, broadway plays, and art exhibitions).
Basically this is 聴く for your eyes.
★★★★☆
Jukugo
観光客かんこうきゃく
tourist ★★★☆☆
観 (point of view) + 光 (shining) + 客 (customer) = 観光客 (tourist)
観客かんきゃく
audience ★★☆☆☆
観 (point of view) + 客 (customer) = 観客 (audience)
価値観かちかん
moral values ★★☆☆☆
価値 (merit) + 観 (point of view) = 価値観 (moral values)
One’s moral values - used with specific things, like drinking, smoking, gambling.
観念かんねん
notion ★☆☆☆☆
観 (point of view) + 念 (concern) = 観念 (notion)
a notion, an idea. (BOOBOO: Not like ‘I got an idea! Let’s start a food CO-OP!’ But idea like, ‘He has no concept of personal hygine.’ ‘That’s a very stereotypical idea!’)
限
限 limit (town) + 良 (good) ★★★☆☆ 9 strokes Onyomi GEN Mnemonic Once AGAIN, the good people were stopped at the town limits and only assholes were let in.
Kunyomi ( を or に ) かぎ＊る to limit ★★★★☆ Jukugo 限界げんかい a limit ★★★★☆ 限 (limit) + 界 (the world) = 限界 (a limit)
限定販売げんていはんばい
limited edition ★★★☆☆
限 (limit) + 定 (plan) + 販売 (sales) = 限定販売 (limited edition)
xxxに 限らないかぎらない
not necessarily the case ★★★☆☆
it’s not necessarily the case that xxx!
資
資 capital (as in \$\$$) 次 (next) + 貝 (shellfish/money) ★★★☆☆ 13 strokes BETA Onyomi SHI Mnemonic SHE invests capital now, and next she will get money back as dividends.
Jukugo
資本しほん
capital ★★☆☆☆
資 (capital (as in $$$)) + 本 (book / the real) = 資本 (capital)
資料しりょう
primary sources ★★☆☆☆
資 (capital (as in $$$)) + 料 (ingredients / fees) = 資料 (primary sources)
data, primary sources, the material you use to write a report or a historical novel
