SECTION SIX

200

羽

6 strokes

ON READING: U

KUN READINGS: ha, hane, wa (ba, pa)

wing

羽毛 umō feather, down

羽根 hane wing, feather, blade

羽布団 hanebuton down quilt

一羽 ichi-wa one (bird)

The Chinese drew a pictograph of a bird’s wings as two wings flying in the same direction. They simplified it to and wrote the final kanji 羽. It means the wing of anything that flies, bird, butterfly, angel, or airplane. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced HANE, HA or WA (BA, PA). In compound words it is pronounced U. 羽田 HANEDA is the name of an airport near Tokyo.

201

非

8 strokes

ON READING: HI

not, non-, un-

非難 hinan criticism, responsibility

非常口 hijōguchi emergency exit

非公式 hikōshiki unofficial

Then they drew a pictograph of two wings flying in opposite directions to symbolize things flying off in opposite directions. They simplified it first to and wrote the final kanji 非. It means not, non-, or un-. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced HI. 非行 HIKŌ, un-going, means misconduct or mischief.

202

不

4 strokes

ON READINGS: FU, BU

negative, wrong, false, unjust; dis-, in-, mis-

不当な futō na unfair

不利な furi na adverse, inconvenient

不用心 buyōjin careless

Another prefix, meaning negative or dis- or in- or mis-, was represented by a pictograph of a bird trying to fly straight up toward heaven but being blocked from ever reaching there The pictograph was squared and simplified and the final form became 不. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced FU or BU. 不明 FUMEI, un-clear, means unclear. 不正 FUSEI, in-correct, means wrong, false, or unjust. 不十分 FUJŪBUN, not-enough, means not enough.

203

悲

12 strokes

ON READING: HI

KUN READINGS: kana(shi’i), kana(shimu)

sad

悲痛 hitsū heartbreaking

悲運 hiun unhappiness, fate

悲しい kanashi’i sad, unhappy

悲しみ kanashimi sadness

The Chinese added the element for not or un-, 非, to the element for heart 心 to form a new composite kanji 悲, meaning sad. It is pronounced KANA-SHI’I or KANA-SHIMU when used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced HI.

204

愛

13 strokes

ON READING: AI

love

愛情 aijō love

愛読書 aidokusho favorite book

恋愛 renai love affair

愛犬家 aikenka dog-lover

To form the character for love, the Chinese drew a pictograph of someone sitting down, cross-legged with a hand holding a support 冖 to control a fluttering heart 心. The finished kanji was written 愛, and means love. Used either as a word by itself or in compound words it is pronounced AI. 愛好 AIKŌ, love-like, means to love, to be fond of. An 愛好者 AIKŌSHA, fond-of-person, is a fan. An 愛国者 AIKOKUSHA, love-country-person, is a patriot.

205

急

9 strokes

ON READING: KYŪ

KUN READING: iso(gu)

sudden, urgent; in a hurry

救急車 kyūkyūsha ambulance

急に kyū ni suddenly

特急 tokkyū limited express (train)

急ぐ isogu hurry up

For the kanji symbolizing “to be in a hurry” or “be involved in urgent matters,” the Chinese drew a pictograph combining a heart 心 with a hand outstretched to grab a running man from behind. They simplified the pictograph to and wrote the final kanji 急. It means sudden or urgent or to be in a hurry. Used as a word by itself 急 is pronounced ISO-GU. In compound words it is pronounced KYŪ. 急行 KYŪKŌ, fast-go, means express, as in trains or buses.

206

音

9 strokes

ON READINGS: ON, IN

KUN READING: oto, ne

sound

音楽 ongaku music

福音 fukuin good news, gospel

物音 mono-oto sound

音色 neiro tone

The Chinese combined the element for sun 日 with the element for stand or rise up 立 to symbolize the sounds of life awakening that accompany the sun’s rising at dawn. They wrote the composite kanji 音, meaning sound. It is pronounced OTO or NE when used as a word by itself, and ON or IN when used in compound words. 足音 ASHI-OTO, foot-sound, is the sound of footsteps. 母音 BO-IN, mother-sound, is a vowel, and a 子音 SHI’IN, child-sound, is a consonant.

207

意

13 strokes

ON READING: I

thoughts, intentions, the mind

意見 iken opinion, voice, mind

意味 imi meaning

決意 ketsui resolve, determination

意思 ishi resolve, will

The Chinese combined the element for sound 音 with the element for heart 心 to symbolize the sounds of the heart, and wrote the new kanji 意, meaning thoughts or intentions or the mind. It is not used as a word by itself. 意 is pronounced I in compound words. 意外 IGAI, thoughts-outside, means unexpected.

208

味

8 strokes

ON READING: MI

KUN READINGS: aji, aji(wau)

to taste

味覚 mikaku sense of taste

味見 ajimi tasting

塩味 sio-aji salty taste

味わい ajiwai flavor

The Chinese combined the element for not yet there, unfinished 未 with the element for mouth 口 to symbolize the idea of tasting something cooking, to see how it is coming along. The new kanji was written 味, and means to taste. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced AJI or AJI-WAU. Used in compound words it is pronounced MI. 意味 IMI, thoughts-taste, means mean, as in “What does that word mean?” 中味 NAKAMI, inside-taste, means contents, of a box, for example.

209

目

5 strokes

ON READINGS: MOKU, BOKU

KUN READINGS: me, ma

eye

目的 mokuteki purpose, object

面目 menmoku one's honor

目立つ medatsu to stand out

目の当たり ma-no-atari with one's own eyes

The Chinese drew the pictograph for eye as it looked Then they stood the pictograph on end to make the kanji tall and narrow instead of wide and squat so it would fit properly into a kanji square, and drew the final form 目. It means eye. It is also used to express the ordinal suffix in counting order (watching the numbers march by), as in first, second, third. Used as a word itself, and also as the counting suffix, it is pronounced ME or MA. In compound words it is pronounced MOKU or BOKU. 目上 ME-UE, eyes-above, means those superior to you in age or station. 目下 MESHITA, eyes-below, means the opposite, namely those inferior to you in age or station. 一日目 ICHINICHIME means the first day. 三丁目 SANCHŌME means Block Number 3, as used in street addresses.

210

注

8 strokes

ON READING: CHŪ

KUN READING: soso(gu)

to pour, to be careful; to pay attention

発注する hatchū suru to order

注文 chūmon order

注ぐ sosogu to pour

注ぎ口 sosogiguchi spout, lip

The element for master, which is a pictograph of a dwelling’s oil lamp that is always lit 主, was added to the element for water, modified to fit the square シ, to form a new kanji 注 symbolizing the pouring of the oil, without fail, into the lamp so it never goes out. 注 means to pour and also to pour your attention on so you don’t make mistakes, that is, to be careful. Used as a word by itself, generally as a verb meaning to pour, it is pronounced SOSO-GU. In compound words it is pronounced CHŪ. 注目 CHŪMOKU, attention-eyes, means pay attention. 注意 CHŪ-I, attention-thoughts, means pay attention or take care.

211

相

9 strokes

ON READINGS: SŌ, SHŌ

KUN READING: ai

to observe closely; mutual

相談 sōdan conference

首相 shushō prime minister

相棒 aibō buddy, pal

The Chinese drew a pictograph of an eye 目 peering from behind a tree 木 to check things out. The kanji’s form was 相, meaning to observe closely to determine worth. It also means a person with whom you do a mutual activity after checking them out. Used as a word by itself, it is pronounced AI. In compound words it is pronounced SŌ or SHŌ. 相手 AITE, observe-hand, means the other party in an activity. 手相 TESŌ (the same two kanji in reverse order), hand-observe, means palm-reading. 相愛 SŌAI, mutual-love, means a couple mutually in love.

212

省

9 strokes

ON READINGS: SHŌ, SEI

KUN READING: habu(ku), kaeri(miru)

government ministry; to omit, to save

外務省 gaimushō Ministry of Foreign Affairs

財務省 zaimushō Ministry of Finance

省略 shōryaku abbreviation

省く habuku to omit, to save

The element for a few 少 was combined with the element for eyes 目 to form a new kanji 省, symbolizing a few eyes inspecting closely. It means either a government ministry, or to scrutinize as a government ministry is wont to do. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced KAERI-MIRU or HABU-KU. In compound words it is pronounced SHŌ or SEI.

213

直

8 strokes

ON READINGS: CHOKU, JIKI

KUN READINGS: nao(ru), nao(su), su(gu), tada(chini)

honest, straight; immediately, at once; proper; to make straight, to fix

直接 chokusetsu direct

直筆 jikihitsu autograph

仲直りする nakanaori suru to make peace

直す naosu to fix, to repair

直ちに tadachi ni immediately

真っ直ぐ massugu straight

They drew a pictograph of ten 十 eyes 目 staring into a corner to see what’s going on, and formed the kanji 直 to symbolize the idea that “we’re watching you, don’t hide anything, bring it all out in the open, keep it straight, do it right, fix it up.” 直 means straight or straight and narrow or honest or proper as a noun or adjective, and means make straight or fix or correct as a verb, and straight away (as the British say) or at once as an adverb. When used as a word by itself, it is pronounced NAO-RU or NAO-SU as a verb, and SU-GU or TADACHINI as an adverb. In compound words it is pronounced CHOKU or JIKI. 正 直 SHŌJIKI, both kanji being separate pictographs of the concept straight-and-narrow, means honest. 直立 CHOKURITSU, straight-stand, means stand erect, at attention.

214

亡

3 strokes

ON READINGS: BŌ, MŌ

KUN READING: na(ki)

to die, to escape, to lose

亡命 bōmei exile

死亡 shibō death

亡くなる nakunaru to pass away

亡きがら nakigara dead body

The Chinese drew a pictograph of a person 人 departing from a hiding place in a corner of a house to symbolize the ultimate departure. They modified the shape of person to fit the square aesthetically and wrote the kanji 亡, meaning to die, to escape, or to lose. When used as a word by itself, it is pronounced NA-KI. It is rarely used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced BŌ or MŌ. A 亡者 MŌJA (MŌSHA pronounced euphonically), dead-person, is the deceased.

亡 is used as an element in other kanji, where it brings the meaning of the ultimate departure, die, escape, or lose.

215

盲

8 strokes

ON READING: MŌ

KUN READING: mekura

blind

盲点 mōten blind spot

盲目 mōmoku blind

盲腸 mōchō appendicitis

盲判 mekuraban unread

The element for the ultimate departure 亡, in its meaning to lose, was put together with the element for eye 目 to form a new kanji 盲 meaning blind. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MEKURA, which is the common word for a blind person. In compound words it is pronounced MŌ. 盲人 MŌJIN, blind-person, is a more formal word for a blind person. 文盲 MONMŌ, writing-blindness, means illiteracy.

216

忘

7 strokes

ON READING: BŌ

KUN READING: wasu(reru)

to forget

忘年会 bōnenkai year-end party

健忘症 kenbōshō amnesia

物忘れ monowasure forgetfulness

忘れ物 wasuremono lost property

The element for the ultimate departure 亡, in its meaning to escape, was put together with the element for heart 心 to form a new kanji 忘 meaning forget. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced WASU-RERU. In compound words 忘 is pronounced BŌ.

217

帽

12 strokes

ON READING: BŌ

hat

帽子屋 bōshi-ya hatter

綿帽子 watabōshi Japanese wedding veil

脱帽する datsubō suru to take one’s hat off to someone

赤帽 akabō porter, redcap

To symbolize the meaning cloth, the Chinese drew a pictograph of a salesman using his hands to measure a length of cloth The pictograph in final form was drawn 巾. It is seldom used as a kanji by itself but often appears as an element in other kanji, where it brings the meaning cloth.

The element for cloth 巾 was added to the elements for sun 日 and eye 目 to form the pictograph of a piece of cloth used to keep the sun out of your eyes 帽. This is how they wrote the kanji meaning hat. In this kanji, the element for sun 日 is written slightly wider than the element for eye 目 (although the two elements when written alone have the same width) to make it easier to distinguish the seven horizontal lines in the right side of the square. 帽 is not used as a word itself. In compound words it is pronounced BŌ. Hats in general are called 帽子 BŌSHI, hat-little. A 学帽 GAKUBŌ, study-hat, is the student’s cap worn with school uniforms.

218

市

5 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: ichi

city, central marketplace

市民 shimin citizen

都市 toshi city

市場 ichiba market

朝市 asaichi morning market

The Chinese placed atop the salesman as he measured a length of cloth 巾 a cap bearing the badge of authority to form the kanji 市, meaning either a central marketplace or a full-blown city, which in ancient days was about the same thing. When used as a word by itself, 市 is pronounced ICHI in its meaning marketplace and SHI in its meaning city. In either meaning, it is pronounced SHI in compound words. 立川市 TACHIKAWA-SHI is the City of Tachikawa.

219

見

7 strokes

ON READING: KEN

KUN READINGS: mi(ru), mi(eru), mi(seru)

to see

見学 kengaku observation

下見 shitami preview

見える mieru visible, to see, to appear

見世物 misemono show

The element for person 人, modified to fit the bottom of the square 儿, was placed below the element for eye 目 to form the kanji meaning see 見. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MI-RU, MI-ERU or MI-SERU. In compound words it is pronounced KEN. A 見本 MIHON, see-original, is a sample. 意見 IKEN, thought-see, means opinion.

Another of the very few instances where an element in one kanji looks exactly like another element in different kanji (previous examples were: 月 for meat and moon; 少 for a few and the left foot; and 田 for rice-paddy and a piece of fruit) is the simplified pictograph for eye 目. It is used both as a kanji by itself and as an element in other kanji. The form of this pictograph 目 is a very generic one, with two vertical lines connected by four horizontal lines. It looks like it could represent almost anything. It is the pictograph the Chinese drew for eye, and is also the simplified pictograph they arrived at for a nose, a neck, a cabinet, a shell, and other symbols.

220

自

6 strokes

ON READING: JI, SHI

KUN READING: mizuka(ra)

self

自由 jiyū freedom

各自 kakuji each one

自然 sizen nature

自ら mizukara oneself

One example is the kanji meaning self. The Chinese formed it from a pictograph for nose with a person’s finger pointing at the nose to indicate that “this is me, myself.” They simplified the pictograph first to and drew it in final form 自. The final pictograph of nose looks very much like the pictograph for eye 目, except for the finger pointing to it, and in fact it is written exactly the same as is the pictograph of eye, with the same number of strokes, the same stroke order, and the same spacing. The Chinese drew it as a finger pointing to a nose but, if it is easier to remember as a finger pointed to an eye, there is no reason not to do so. In either case, 自 means self.

自 is rarely used as a word by itself. When used as a word by itself, it is pronounced MIZUKA-RA. In compound words it is pronounced JI or SHI. The common word for self is 自分 JIBUN, self-part. 自信 JISHIN, self-trust, means self-confidence.

221

習

11 strokes

ON READING: SHŪ

KUN READING: nara(u)

to learn

練習 renshū exercise

習字 shūji calligraphy

習い事 naraigoto culture lesson

習性 shūsei behavior, habit

The Chinese combined the element for self 自 with the element for wings 羽, symbolizing fly-on-your-own-wings, and formed the character meaning learn. They first wrote the kanji with the element for self 自 complete, but the two middle lines of 自 too often blurred together because the final kanji was so tall and narrow. They dropped one of the interior lines in self 自 and wrote the final kanji 習. It is pronounced NARA-U when used as a word by itself, and pronounced SHŪ when used in compound words. A 見習い MI-NARAI, see-learn, is an apprentice. 学習 GAKUSHŪ, study-learn, means learning.

222

具

8 strokes

ON READING: GU

utensil, tool

具体的な gutaiteki na specific

道具 dōgu tool

具合 guai condition

具材 guzai ingredient, filling

Another example of a kanji containing the simplified pictograph 目 with a meaning other than eye is the kanji meaning utensil or tool. The Chinese drew a pictograph of a storage cabinet with drawers to hold the utensils or the tools then simplified it to 目, which looks exactly like an eye. They placed the storage cabinet atop a pictograph of a work bench which they later simplified to to make the final form of the kanji 具, meaning utensil or tool. It is rarely used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced GU. A 工具 KŌGU, tool-tool, is the generic word for tool.

223

貝

7 strokes

KUN READING: kai

shell, shellfish

貝がら kaigara seashell

貝塚 kaiduka shell heap

平貝 tairagai fan-mussel

ほら貝 horagai trumpet shell

The pictograph for seashell or shellfish is another example of a kanji using an element that looks just like eye 目. It was first drawn by the Chinese They simplified it to and then drew the final form 貝, meaning shell or shellfish. It is written exactly the same as the kanji for eye, with two shellfish fins added at the bottom. 貝 means shell or shellfish. In the early days, shells were used for money, so 貝 was extended to mean money. When 貝 is used as an element in other kanji, it almost always means money. When 貝 is used as a separate kanji, whether as a word by itself or in compound words, it almost always means shell or shellfish. In all cases, it is pronounced KAI.

224

費

12 strokes

ON READING: HI

KUN READING: tsui(yasu)

expense, expenditure; to spend

費用 hiyō cost, expense

消費税 shōhizei consumption tax

交通費 kōtsūhi transportation fee

費やす tsuiyasu to spend, to consume

The Chinese put a Chinese dollar sign atop the element for shell 貝 to symbolize the idea of expense or expenditure. They squared off the Chinese dollar sign to and wrote the final kanji 費, meaning expense or expenditure. Used as a word by itself, usually as a verb, it is pronounced TSUI-YASU. Used in compound words it is pronounced HI. 学費 GAKUHI, study-expense, are school fees. 自費 JIHI, self-expenditure, means at your own expense.

225

算

14 strokes

ON READING: SAN

to calculate

予算 yosan budget

暗算 anzan mental calculation

掛け算 kakezan multiplication

足し算 tashizan addition

Still another example of a pictograph the Chinese drew which, after being simplified and stylized, looked exactly like their element for eye 目, was the pictograph of an abacus They simplified it first to then to and its final form was 目. They put the element for bamboo 竹 above the element for abacus 目, since that is what an early abacus was made of, and then at the bottom placed two hands stylized first to then to to operate it. They wrote the final form of the kanji as 算, meaning to calculate. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced SAN. 算数 SANSŪ, calculate-numbers, means mathematics. 計算 KEISAN, measure-calculate, means to calculate.

226

首

9 strokes

ON READING: SHU

KUN READING: kubi

neck, head

船首 senshu bow, prow

自首 jishu surrender

首飾り kubikazari necklace

足首 ashikubi ankle

A pictograph of a human head with hair on top was first drawn to represent a human head or neck. The Chinese simplified it to and then wrote it in final form 首. It means head or neck, and was extended to mean the head of a group or organization. The part below the hair looks very much like an eye, and is drawn exactly the same as eye, but the Chinese meant it as the picture of a human head without the hair. Used as a word by itself, it is pronounced KUBI, which is the generic word for neck. In compound words it is pronounced SHU. 首切り KUBIKIRI (written with a kana at the end to represent the grammatical ending of the verb cut), head-cut, means decapitation. KUBIKIRI is also a popular way to say fired from employment. 首府 SHUFU, head-government, means nation’s capital. 首相 SHUSHŌ, head-collaborator, means Prime Minister.

227

県

9 strokes

ON READING: KEN

prefecture, state

県庁 kenchō prefectural government

県営 ken-ei prefecture-run

県民 kenmin citizen in a prefecture

The Chinese drew a pictograph of a head turned upside down hanging from a tree 木 to symbolize a severed head hung upside down from a tree as punishment for transgression against authority. They simplified the pictograph to and then drew the final form 県, meaning Prefecture or State, the seat of political authority. In compound words it is pronounced KEN. 県立 KENRITSU, Prefecture-stand, means Prefecture-operated, for example, a school or hospital.

228

耳

6 strokes

ON READING: JI

KUN READING: mimi

ear

中耳炎 chūjien infection of the middle ear

耳たぶ mimitabu earlobe

耳鳴り miminari buzzing, tinnitus

耳飾り mimikazari earring

The Chinese saw a human ear as They drew the pictograph then simplified it to and drew the final form 耳, meaning ear. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MIMI. In compound words it is pronounced JI. 早耳 HAYAMIMI, fast-ears, means to be in the know.

229

聖

13 strokes

ON READING: SEI

holy, sacred

神聖な shinsei na holy

聖火 seika torch

大聖堂 daiseidō cathedral

聖聖歌 seika carol

They combined the elements for ear 耳, mouth 口, and Ruler 王 to symbolize “from the Ruler’s lips to my ears.” They wrote the new kanji 聖, meaning holy or sacred. In compound words it is pronounced SEI. 聖書 SEISHO, holy-book, is the bible. A 聖人 SEIJIN, holy-man, is a saint.

230

取

8 strokes

ON READING: SHU

KUN READING: to(ru)

to take

取材 shuzai coverage

取得する shutoku suru to take out

切り取る kiritoru to crop

頭取 tōdori president

To symbolize the meaning take, the Chinese drew a pictograph of a hand taking an ear right off an enemy’s head which was how a battlefield body count was done in the early days. They combined the element for hand and the element for ear 耳 into a new kanji 取, meaning take. Used as a word by itself, it is pronounced TO-RU. In compound words it is pronounced SHU. 受取る UKETO-RU , receive-take, means to receive, usually an object as opposed to receiving something like a visit from someone or a knock on the head. 受取り UKETO-RI (the noun form of UKETO-RU), receive-take, means a receipt, as you would get from a restaurant or store.

231

最

12 strokes

ON READING: SAI

KUN READING: motto(mo)

the most, the highest degree

最小 saishō minimum

最近 saikin recently, late

最先端 saisentan cutting edge

最も mottomo most

The Chinese added the element for sun 日 above the element for take 取 to symbolize a grasping for the sun, the highest taking of all. They wrote the kanji 最, meaning the most, the highest degree. It also translates as –est, the grammatical ending indicating superlative. When used by itself as a word, it is pronounced MOTTO-MO. In compound words it is pronounced SAI. 最大 SAIDAI, most-big, means biggest. 最古 SAIKO, most-old, means oldest. 最 愛 SAI-AI, most-love, means dearly beloved.

232

歯

12 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: ha

tooth, teeth

歯医者 haisha dentist

歯ブラシ haburashi toothbrush

歯みがき hamigaki toothpaste; brush one’s teeth

出っ歯 deppa buckteeth

To write the kanji meaning teeth, the Chinese drew a picture of a set of teeth inside a mouth beneath a nose They simplified it to and then to meaning tooth or teeth. Finally, it was simplified to 歯. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced HA. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 入歯 IREBA, insert-teeth (written with a kana to provide the grammatical ending of “insert”), are dentures. A 歯科 SHIKA, tooth-department, is the dental wing of a hospital.

233

鼻

14 strokes

ON READING: BI

KUN READING: hana

nose

耳鼻科 jibika otological

鼻血 hanaji nose bleeding

鼻水 hanamizu snivel

鼻声 hanagoe nasal

The Chinese drew a picture of the full-front view of the nose to mean the nose. They simplified it to then in final form they drew the kanji 鼻, meaning nose. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced HANA. In compound words it is pronounced BI. A 鼻音 BI-ON, nose-sound, is a nasal sound.

234

公

4 strokes

ON READING: KŌ

KUN READING: ōyake

public

公平な kōhei na fair, impartial

不公平な fukōhei na unfair, unjust

公園 kōen park

公開 kōkai publicity

They drew a picture of the side view of a nose to symbolize the idea of private (not public), me myself alone, or the private self. They simplified the pictograph to ム. It cannot form a kanji alone, however, and must be combined with other elements to become a character.

The Chinese added the element for eight 八 (a pictograph of a vertical line divided), which also carries the meaning split or divide, to the element for private ム, and formed the kanji 公. This character symbolizes something split from private, and means public. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced ŌYAKE. In compound words it is pronounced KŌ. 公立 KŌRITSU, public-standing, means public-operated, as in libraries or hospitals. A 公人 KŌJIN, public-person, is a government-employee or a politician. 公休 KŌKYŪ, public-vacation, means government non-work days. 公費 KŌHI, public-expense, means at public expense.

235

松

8 strokes

ON READING: SHŌ

KUN READING: matsu

pine tree

青松 seishō pine tree

松本市 Matsumoto-shi Matsumoto City

門松 kadomatsu New Year’s ornament

松茸 matsutake pine mushroom

The element for public 公 was added to the element for tree 木 to form the kanji 松, meaning a public tree, the tree that is everywhere, the pine tree. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MATSU. Used in compound words, it is pronounced SHŌ. 松 is very popular in proper names, where it is almost always pronounced MATSU. 小松 KOMATSU, small-pine, is the name of a leading Japanese machinery manufacturer. 松下 MATSUSHITA, pine-below, is the name of a well-known electrical equipment manufacturer.

236

私

7 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READINGS: watakushi, watashi

I, my, me, mine

私語 shigo talking

私生活 shiseikatsu private life

私用 shiyō private business

私事 watakushigoto personal matter

The pictograph of the side-view of a nose ム, symbolizing the self or private, was combined with the element for a stalk of grain growing in the field to form the kanji 私 meaning “me and my possessions,” private, in the sense of not public, or I, my, me, or mine. Used as a word by itself 私 is pronounced WATAKUSHI or WATASHI, the most common Japanese word for I, my, me, or mine. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 私立 SHIRITSU, private-standing, means private, as in “private school.” 私費 SHIHI, private-expenses, means at your own expense.

237

和

8 strokes

ON READING: WA

KUN READINGS: nago(mu), yawa(ragu)

peace, harmony; to moderate, to ameliorate, to abate, to lessen; Japanese style

和服 wafuku Japanese-style clothing, kimono

和風 wafū Japanese style

平和 heiwa peace

和らぐ yawaragu to ease off, to dull, to moderate

和む nagomu calm

The element for a stalk of grain was combined with the element for mouth 口 to symbolize the peace and harmony people feel when they have enough to eat. The Chinese drew the final form 和. Used as a noun, it means peace or harmony. Used as a verb, it means to moderate, to ameliorate, to abate, or to lessen, in other words to make a situation more peaceful and harmonious. When used as a word by itself, generally as a verb, it is pronounced YAWA-RAGU or NAGO-MU. In compound words it is pronounced WA. 和 often means, in compound words, JAPAN or JAPANESE. 大和 YAMATO (a very special pronunciation of both kanji) is an older word for Japan. The same two kanji, 大 和, pronounced the regular way, DAIWA, great-peace, is the name of a well-known Japanese bank. Another well-known bank is 協和 KYŌWA, cooperate-in-harmony.

238

秋

9 strokes

ON READING: SHŪ

KUN READING: aki

autumn

秋分の日 shūbun-no-hi Autumnal Equinox Day

晩秋 banshū late autumn

秋風 akikaze autumn breeze

秋田県 Akita-ken Akita Prefecture

After the harvest, fire 火 was added to the remaining stalks of grain to burn and clear the fields. The Chinese combined these elements into a new composite kanji 秋, meaning autumn, which was harvest season. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced AKI. In compound words 秋 is pronounced SHŪ.