CHAPTER 3 (KANJI 41-60)

KANJI 41

京 CAPITAL

MEANING

Think of “capital” in the sense of a large metropolis. Though it’s not the most common of characters, it is useful to learn this kanji because of its appearance in the compound for Tokyo and other cities.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

The CAPITAL can be a pretty intimidating place if you don’t know it, and as a police officer here I’m always having to help folks with directions. Even vampires, who normally wouldn’t go near anyone in a police uniform, come up to me now and then. It’s not surprising, I suppose, that they’re overwhelmed by all the buildings and traffic after having come from such small Transylvanian villages. But then, it’s only natural that everyone – vampires included – feels a bit small in the CAPITAL.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KYŌ (キョウ)

Common kun reading: none

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi reading in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: KEI (ケイ)

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
上京	upper + capital = come/go to Tokyo	JŌ·KYŌ ジョウ·キョウ
東京	east + capital = Tokyo	TŌ·KYŌ トウ·キョウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

中山さん は 上京 しました。

Naka·yama-san wa JŌ·KYŌ shimashita.

Nakayama-san went to Tokyo

= Nakayama-san went to Tokyo.

KANJI 42

見 SEE

MEANING

See/Watch. The idea of “show” can also be expressed. Make sure you notice the difference between this kanji and “貝” (Entry 21).

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

“I’m tired of living a lie,” said the Cyclops, throwing down his club before emerging in a tutu. “People need to SEE me for who I really am. They need to SEE I’m not some slob who lounges around belching in a cave littered with sailor bones. They need to SEE the truth: that I…am a ballerina!”

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KEN (ケン)

Common kun reading: mi (み)

Expect to use the kun-yomi when this kanji appears in the first position. The on-yomi occurs more often in the second.

kun-yomi suggestion: “mean”

Write your sentence to remember the readings below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
見える (intr)	to be visible	mi·eru み·える
見る(tr)	to see; to watch	mi·ru み·る
見せる(tr)	to show (something)	mi·seru み·せる
見上げる	see + upper = to look up (to/at)	mi a·geru み あ·げる
月見	moon + see = moon viewing	tsuki·mi つき·み
見失う	see + lose = to lose sight of	mi ushina·u み うしな·う
外見	outside + see = external appearance	GAI·KEN ガイ·ケン

SAMPLE SENTENCE

山 の 上 に 小さい 木 が 見えます。

yama no ue ni chii·sai ki ga mi·emasu.

mountain upper small tree is visible

= A small tree is visible on top of the mountain.

KANJI 43

止 STOP

MEANING

All senses of the meaning “stop”. Take care with the stroke sequence of this kanji; the components should be written in the order shown above.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

“STOP! STOP!” the audience screamed.

It was horrible. The good figure skater’s posture was perfect, she was skating as if on the bottom of a bun, yet was oblivious to the pole sticking out of the ice in front of her. To be sure, no one could figure out what a pole was doing there in the first place, but no matter; the story must STOP here, as what happened next is too painful to relate.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: SHI (シ)

Common kun reading: to (と)

Remember to use the on-yomi keyword for SHI that you applied to the kanji “四” (Entry 10). Note also how the kunyomi can become voiced when it is used (as in the fourth and fifth examples) in second position, something that occurs frequently with this kanji.

kun-yomi suggestion: “total”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
止まる (intr)	to stop	to·maru と·まる
止める (tr)	to stop (an object)	to·meru と·める
中止	middle + stop = discontinue	CHŪ·SHI チュウ·シ
立ち止まる	stand + stop = to stand still	ta·chi do·maru た·ち ど · まる
車止め	car + stop = closed to vehicles	kuruma do·me くるま ど·め

SAMPLE SENTENCE

こちら に 止まって 下さい。

kochira ni to·matte kuda·sai.

here stop please

= Please stop here.

COMPONENT 44

COMET

Much like a wandering comet, our friend can appear in a variety of locations: as a slanted or curved line (as opposed to the horizontal “one”) on top of a character, at the bottom, or right through the middle. One thing worth keeping in mind is that you should always draw this component from its head to its tail (i.e., in this case, from left to right).

KANJI 44

七 SEVEN

MEANING

Seven. Only two strokes here, but they should be written as the components are listed.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Using a comet as his guide, Captain Hook sailed the SEVEN seas.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: SHICHI (シチ)

Common kun reading: nana (なな)

Note the mix of on and kun readings in the fourth and fifth examples.

kun-yomi suggestion: “Nana”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: nano (なの)

This reading appears with only one word (any guesses?): 七 日 [nano·ka (なの·か)] “the seventh day of the month”.

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
七	seven	SHICHI シチ
七つ	seven (general counter)	nana·tsu なな·つ
七月	seven + moon (month) = July	SHICHI·GATSU シチ·ガツ
十七	ten + seven = seventeen	JŪ·nana ジュウ·なな
七十	seven + ten = seventy	nana·JŪ なな·ジュウ
七時	seven + time = seven o’clock	SHICHI·JI シチ·ジ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

高木さん が 七月 に 中米 から 来ます。

Taka·gi-san ga SHICHI·GATSU ni CHŪ·BEI kara ki·masu.

Takagi-san July Central America will come

= Takagi-san will come from Central America in July.

KANJI 45

少 FEW

MEANING

Few/Little (in terms of quantity).

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

“That’s not true,” said the comet. “I mean, let’s face it: I’m small, and have only a FEW opportunities to meet others. Everyone knows a planet because of its size and where it lives, but I move all over the place; that’s why I have so FEW friends. It’s got nothing to do with my tail leaving a mess on people’s carpets.”

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: SHŌ (ショウ)

Common kun readings: suku (すく); suko (すこ)

SHŌ will appear in compounds. Suku and suko are only found in the first and second examples below. Note the special symbol in example three; Japanese uses this to indicate that a kanji is repeated.

kun-yomi suggestion: “scooter”; “scold”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
少ない	few	suku·nai すく·ない
少し	a little; a few	suko·shi すこ·し
少々	few + few = a little	SHŌ·SHŌ ショウ·ショウ
少女	few + woman = girl	SHŌ·JO ショウ·ジョ
少年	few + year = boy	SHŌ·NEN ショウ·ネン
最少	most + few = fewest	SAI·SHŌ サイ·ショウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

この 家 に は 物 が 少ない。

kono ie ni wa mono ga suku·nai.

this house thing few

= There are few things in this house.

COMPONENT 46

SNOWBOARD

KANJI 46

南 SOUTH

MEANING

South.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Stepchildren can often be a problem. The gorilla knew this, of course, when she married the scarecrow, for all the scarecrow’s son wanted to do was snowboard. Because of this, there was a predictable response when the gorilla suggested they travel SOUTH for their vacation.

“I don’t want to go SOUTH,” said Junior, pouting. “How can I snowboard there?”

“Now don’t be like that, son,” said his father. “You know gorillas like warm weather. We’re going SOUTH, and that’s all there is to it.”

Junior said nothing to this, but the gorilla knew very well what he was thinking: “I wish Dad had married the polar bear.”

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: NAN (ナン)

Common kun reading: minami (みなみ)

kun-yomi suggestion: “mean a meal”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
南	south	minami みなみ
南口	south + mouth = south exit/entrance	minami·guchi みなみ·ぐち
南米	south + rice (America) = South America	NAN·BEI ナン·ベイ
最南	most + south = southernmost	SAI·NAN サイ·ナン
南西	south + west = southwest	NAN·SEI ナン·セイ
南東	south + east = southeast	NAN·TŌ ナン·トウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

バスターミナル の 南口 で 会いましょう。

basutāminaru no minami·guchi de a·imashō.

bus terminal south entrance let’s meet

= Let’s meet at the south entrance of the bus terminal.

KANJI 47

工 CRAFT

MEANING

Have in mind the ideas of construction and manufacturing when you see this kanji; it’s a versatile character that encompasses everything from handicrafts to industrial products. When found at the end of a compound (as in the final example below), this kanji can take on the meaning of “worker”, and usually implies a person engaged in some type of manual labor.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

There’s no better symbol for CRAFT than an anvil.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KŌ (コウ)

Common kun reading: none

A final reminder about our major timesaving shortcut: your keyword for KŌ in this sentence will be the one you have entered in the on-yomi table, and that you have already applied to the kanji “口” (Entry 8). Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi reading in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: KU (ク)

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
人工	person + craft = artificial	JIN·KŌ ジン·コウ
人工林	person + craft + grove = planted forest	JIN·KŌ·RIN ジン·コウ·リン
工学	craft + study = engineering	KŌ·GAKU コウ·ガク
工学士	craft + study + gentleman = Bachelor of Engineering	KŌ·GAKU·SHI コウ·ガク·シ
刀工	sword + craft = swordmaker	TŌ·KŌ トウ·コウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

これ は 人工 の 島 です ね。

kore wa JIN·KŌ no shima desu ne.

this artificial island isn’t it

= This is an artificial island, isn’t it?

KANJI 48

左 LEFT

MEANING

Left/Left-hand side. Take note: the writing order of the first two lines differs from that of Entries 35 and 36 (“右” and “有”).

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Craft workers are traditionally LEFT wing, and when united can neutralize even a superhero, as the illustration makes clear.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: none

Common kun reading: hidari (ひだり)

kun-yomi suggestion: “heed a reef”

Create a sentence to remember the kun-yomi reading below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: SA (サ)

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
左	left	hidari ひだり
左回り	left + rotate = counter-clockwise	hidari mawa·ri ひだり まわ·り
左上	left + upper = upper left	hidari·ue ひだり·うえ
左下	left + lower = lower left	hidari·shita ひだり·した
左手	left + hand = left hand	hidari·te ひだり·て
左足	left + leg = left leg	hidari·ashi ひだり·あし

SAMPLE SENTENCE

あの 人 の 左手 を 見て 下さい。

ano hito no hidari·te o mi·te kuda·sai.

that person left hand see please

= Please watch that person’s left hand.

KANJI 49

高 TALL

MEANING

Tall/High/Best. This kanji is also used to express the idea of “expensive”.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

The story of King Kong the gorilla is well known. What most people don’t realize, however, is that it is based on an obscure Transylvanian legend. In it, the angry gorilla kidnaps a baby vampire and climbs the TALLEST hut in the land. Unfortunately for him, the baby’s father is none other than Dracula; the famous vampire dons his police hat (he is, for reasons yet to be understood, a part-time deputy in this legend) and flies to the rescue. Even today there are inhabitants in the region who hold this story to be true, although most people, to be sure, consider it a TALL tale.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KŌ (コウ)

Common kun reading: taka (たか)

Note the intransitive/transitive verb pair below, and how the kun-yomi becomes voiced in the sixth example. This often occurs with 高 when it appears in the second or third position.

kun-yomi suggestion: “tack apples”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
高い	tall; expensive	taka·i たか·い
高まる (intr)	to rise	taka·maru たか·まる
高める (tr)	to raise	taka·meru たか·める
高山	tall + mountain = alpine	KŌ·ZAN コウ·ザン
高校	tall + school = high school	KŌ·KŌ コウ·コウ
円高	circle (yen) + tall = strong yen	EN·daka エン·だか
最高	most + tall = highest; the best	SAI·KŌ サイ·コウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

あの 高い 山 は 美しい です ね。

ano taka·i yama wa utsuku·shii desu ne.

that tall mountain beautiful isn’t it

= That tall mountain is beautiful, isn’t it?

COMPONENT 50

BANDAGE

KANJI 50

買 BUY

MEANING

Buy.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

As an animal rights activist, I regularly BUY shellfish in order to set them free. It’s heartbreaking for me to go into a store and find them suffering in the tanks, their shells chipped and scarred. I BUY as many as possible, naturally, and do my best to help heal them by placing bandages on their wounds. But there are so many needing rescue… My only wish is for others to join the cause; after all, I can’t BUY all the shellfish in the world.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: none

Common kun reading: ka (か)

As nice as it is to have only one main reading to remember for this kanji, mention must be made of a particular quirk in written Japanese that occurs when certain verb stems are used to form nouns. The easiest way to understand this is by comparing the second and third examples below. As you can see, the noun in example 3 has “lost” the i (い) that would be present if the kanji were in its -masu verb form, kaimasu. (買います). It is, in a sense, implied, based on the hiragana ending after 上 . Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules for this aspect of the language, and it can be frustrating when such words are encountered. Our example, for instance, can be seen variously as “買い上げ”, “買上げ”, or even “買上” in different dictionaries!

It is worth keeping in mind, however, that not many kanji present such difficulties, and that once a “primary” word (usually the -masu form of a verb) has been learned, its related nouns will be easily recognized. Another consolation should be the following: by having reached the stage where you are dealing with such intricacies of the language, you are navigating among the deepest levels of written Japanese.

kun-yomi suggestion: “cap”

Create your sentence to remember the kun-yomi reading in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: BAI (バイ)

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
買う	to buy	ka·u か·う
買い上げる	buy + upper = to buy (up/out)	ka·i a·geru か·い あ·げる
買上げ	buy + upper = a purchase	kai a·ge かい あ·げ
買い物	buy + thing = shopping	ka·i mono か·い もの
買い入れる	buy + enter = to stock up on	ka·i i·reru か·い い·れる
買い手	buy + hand = buyer	ka·i te か·い て

SAMPLE SENTENCE

山中さん は 高い 物 を 買う つもり です。

Yama·naka-san wa taka·i mono o ka·u tsumori desu.

Yamanaka-san expensive thing buy plans

= Yamanaka-san plans to buy something expensive.

KANJI 51

百 HUNDRED

MEANING

Hundred. In a few instances, the idea of “many” is conveyed.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

A recent survey found that ONE HUNDRED percent of white bun tops are white. ONE HUNDRED percent! Rarely is scientific research so conclusive.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: HYAKU (ヒャク)

Common kun reading: none

The thing to watch for here is how HYAKU changes phonetically with different numbers. Note also the kun-yomi in examples four and seven. Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi reading in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
百	one hundred	HYAKU ヒャク
二百	two + hundred = two hundred	NI·HYAKU ニ·ヒャク
三百	three + hundred = three hundred	SAN·BYAKU サン·ビャク
四百	four + hundred = four hundred	yon·HYAKU よん·ヒャク
五百	five + hundred = five hundred	GO·HYAKU ゴ·ヒャク
六百	six + hundred = six hundred	ROP·PYAKU ロッ·ピャク
七百	seven + hundred = seven hundred	nana·HYAKU なな·ヒャク
八百	eight + hundred = eight hundred	HAP·PYAKU ハッ·ピャク
九百	nine + hundred = nine hundred	KYŪ·HYAKU キュウ·ヒャク

SAMPLE SENTENCE

肉 を 五百 グラム 買いました。

NIKU o GO·HYAKU guramu ka·imashita.

meat five hundred grams bought

= (I) bought five hundred grams of meat.

KANJI 52

円 CIRCLE

MEANING

Circle/Round. This kanji is also used to denote the yen, Japan’s currency. The connection originated from round oneyen coins.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Every gorilla in the park hated the ranger, for his snide comments about their grooming habits were known to animals far and wide. It was not surprising, therefore, to hear that he had found himself surrounded by a CIRCLE of angry silverbacks on emerging from his tent one day. No one will know for certain what actually happened to the ranger, of course, because the gorillas CIRCLED their wagons and refused to cooperate with any investigation.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: EN (エン)

Common kun reading: maru (まる)

kun-yomi suggestion: “llama ruins”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
円い	circular	maru·i まる·い
円高	yen + tall = strong yen	EN·daka エン·だか
二円	= two yen two + yen	NI·EN ニ·エン
半円	half + circle = semicircle	HAN·EN ハン·エン
円安	yen + ease = weak yen	EN·yasu エン·やす
円周	circle + around = circumference	EN·SHŪ エン·シュウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

あの 子 は 百円 を なくした。

ano ko wa HYAKU·EN o nakushita.

that child one hundred yen lost

= That child lost a hundred yen.

KANJI 53

元 BASIS

MEANING

This character expresses the idea of a basis or original state of something. When used with its kun-yomi before words such as “president”, it can be translated as “ex-”, or “former”.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Two ballet legs are the BASIS of any good performance of Swan Lake. I mean, no one likes to be rude, but every time I watch a one-legged swan take on the role of Princess Odette…well, the very BASIS of the play is called into question for me.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON readings: GEN (ゲン); GAN (ガン)

Common kun reading: moto (もと)

GAN occurs only in the first position with a few common words.

kun-yomi suggestion: “motocross”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
元々	basis + basis = from the first	moto·moto もと·もと
元日	basis + sun (day) = New Year’s Day	GAN·JITSU ガン·ジツ
手元	hand + basis = at hand	te·moto て·もと
元気	basis + spirit = high spirits	GEN·KI ゲン·キ
火元	fire + basis = origin of a fire	hi·moto ひ·もと
元来	basis + come = by nature	GAN·RAI ガン·ライ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

元日 な の で 人 が 少ない。

GAN·JITSU na no de hito ga suku·nai.

New Year’s Day because person few

= It’s New Year’s Day, so there aren’t many people.

KANJI 54

首 NECK

MEANING

Neck in its physical sense, as well as the ideas of leader or chief.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

His sense of self became so wrapped up in his snowboard that things started getting weird. After all, carrying a snow-board on your NECK at the ski slope is one thing, but wearing it around your NECK at work is another. When this started happening, even his colleagues in the office were concerned enough to seek advice.

“It all has to do with his sense of self worth,” said the company psychologist. “What with the recent demotion, his self confidence is shaken. He’ll get over it eventually.”

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: SHU (シュ)

Common kun reading: kubi (くび)

kun-yomi suggestion: “Scooby doo”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
首	neck	kubi くび
自首	self + neck = surrender	JI·SHU ジ·シュ
手首	hand + neck = wrist	te·kubi て·くび
足首	leg + neck = ankle	ashi·kubi あし·くび

SAMPLE SENTENCE

高木さん は 首 に 水 を かけました。

Taka·gi-san wa kubi ni mizu o kakemashita.

Takagi-san neck water put

= Takagi-san put some water on his neck.

KANJI 55

歩 WALK

MEANING

Walking/Step/Pace. A secondary meaning of “rate” (as used in a financial sense) is found only with BU (ブ), a less-common on-yomi.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

My WALKING style is a little unorthodox in that I’ll stop, take a few steps, then stop once more. It can be frustrating for those WALKING with me, I suppose, for what with stopping every few steps, I rarely make it far beyond my front door.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: HO (ホ)

Common kun reading: aru (ある)

kun-yomi suggestion: “a route”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON readings: BU (ブ); FU (フ)

Less common kun reading: ayu (あゆ)

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
歩く	to walk	aru·ku ある·く
一歩	one + walk = one step	IP·PO イッ·ポ
歩き回る	walk + rotate = to ramble about	aru·ki mawa·ru ある·き まわ·る
歩道	walk + road = sidewalk	HO·DŌ ホ·ドウ
歩行	walk + go = walking	HO·KŌ ホ·コウ
歩行者	walk + go + individual = pedestrian	HO·KŌ·SHA ホ·コウ·シャ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

家 から 山 まで 歩きました。

ie kara yama made aru·kimashita.

house from mountain until walked

= (We) walked from the house to the mountain.

KANJI 56

子 CHILD

MEANING

Child. As seen in the final compound below, this character can also be used to suggest something small. No story required.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: SHI (シ)

Common kun reading: ko (こ)

Interestingly, both of these readings can at times become voiced (pronounced JI and go) in the second position, as seen in the third examples of this entry and that of Entry 167. Japanese parents often choose this kanji for a suffix when naming their children (eg. Aki·ko); it is read “SHI” in the case of males, and “ko” when applied to females.

kun-yomi suggestion: “coat”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: SU (ス)

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
子	child	ko こ
女子	woman + child = women’s	JO·SHI ジョ·シ
王子	king + child = prince	Ō·JI オウ·ジ
男子	man + child = men’s	DAN·SHI ダン·シ
子牛	child + cow = calf	ko·ushi こ·うし
電子	electric + child = electron	DEN·SHI デン·シ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

五月 に 女王 と 王子 が 米国 へ 行きました。

GO·GATSU ni JO·Ō と Ō·JI ga BEI·KOKU e i·kimashita.

May queen prince America went

= In May, the queen and prince went to America.

KANJI 57

好 LIKE

MEANING

To like/Good/Favorable…nothing but positive feelings are associated with this gentle character!

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

This is one of those kanji that is so logically constructed as to need no story at all.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KŌ (コウ)

Common kun reading: su (す)

The kun-yomi is often voiced when in the second position (becoming “zu”), as below in examples three and four.

kun-yomi suggestion: “soon”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: kono (この)

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
好き	like	su·ki す·き
大好き	large + like = to really like	DAI su·ki ダイ す·き
人好き	person + like = amiability	hito zu·ki ひと ず·き
話し好き	speak + like = talkative	hana·shi zu·ki はな·し ず·き
友好	friend + like = friendship	YŪ·KŌ ユウ·コウ
同好	= same tastes same + like	DŌ·KŌ ドウ·コウ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

山口さん は あそこ の 女 の 人 が 大好き です。

Yama·guchi-san wa asoko no onna no hito ga DAI su·ki desu.

Yamaguchi-san over there woman person really likes

= Yamaguchi-san really likes that woman over there.

KANJI 58

古 OLD

MEANING

Old/Ancient/Antique.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

Even though vampires never die, they do grow OLD and suffer the same deterioration of mental faculties as the rest of us. The scarecrow can attest to this; as he lives in a field next to an OLD folks home, he’ll often look down to find a elderly vampire bravely fastening its gums onto his ankle. It’s more of a nuisance for him than anything, of course, but he’s always nice enough to show respect for those OLDER by acting scared.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KO (コ)

Common kun reading: furu (ふる)

Remember that your on-yomi keyword here will be different from that used in the preceding entry (for 好).

kun-yomi suggestion: “who rues…”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
古い	old	furu·i ふる·い
中古	middle + old = secondhand	CHŪ·KO チュウ·コ
最古	most + old = oldest	SAI·KO サイ·コ
古語	old + words = archaic word	KO·GO コ·ゴ
古来	old + come = time honored	KO·RAI コ·ライ
古里	old + hamlet = the old hometown	furu·sato ふる·さと

SAMPLE SENTENCE

山下さん は 中古 の 品 を よく 買います。

Yama·shita-san wa CHŪ·KO no shina o yoku ka·imasu.

Yamashita-san secondhand goods often buys

= Yamashita-san often buys secondhand goods.

KANJI 59

火 FIRE

MEANING

This beautifully simple character encompasses all things to do with fire. No story required.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: KA (カ)

Common kun reading: hi (ひ)

The kun-yomi is always voiced (becomes bi) when in the second position, as seen here in example five.

kun-yomi suggestion: “heat”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: ho (ほ)

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
火	fire	hi ひ
火元	fire + basis = origin of a fire	hi·moto ひ·もと
大火	large + fire = conflagration	TAI·KA タイ·カ
火山	fire + mountain = volcano	KA·ZAN カ·ザン
花火	flower + fire = fireworks	hana·bi はな·び
火曜日	fire + day of the week + sun (day) = Tuesday	KA·YŌ·bi カ·ヨウ·び
火星	fire + star = Mars (planet)	KA·SEI カ·セイ

SAMPLE SENTENCE

日本 に は 火山 が あります。

NI·HON ni wa KA·ZAN ga arimasu.

Japan volcano are

= There are volcanoes in Japan.

COMPONENT 60

RUNNING CHICKEN

KANJI 60

冬 WINTER

MEANING

Winter.

REMEMBERING THIS KANJI

WINTER is such a drab time of year. To add a bit of color to the season, therefore, I enjoy strapping bags of jelly beans to chickens running in the yard, as the beans spill out and make everything more cheerful. It’s a mystery to me why more people don’t do this; even the grayest WINTER would be tolerable if everyone followed my lead.

COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Common ON reading: TŌ (トウ)

Common kun reading: fuyu (ふゆ)

kun-yomi suggestion: “who uses…”

Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.

LESS COMMON PRONUNCIATIONS

Less common ON reading: none

Less common kun reading: none

COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS
冬	winter	fuyu ふゆ
冬休み	winter + rest = winter vacation	fuyu yasu·mi ふゆ やす·み
立冬	stand + winter = first day of winter	RIT·TŌ リッ·トウ
冬物	winter + thing = winter clothing	fuyu·mono ふゆ·もの
冬空	winter + empty (sky) = winter sky	fuyu·zora ふゆ·ぞら

SAMPLE SENTENCE

冬 に なる と スイス の 山 は 美しい。

fuyu ni naru to suisu no yama wa utsuku·shii.

winter becomes Switzerland mountain beautiful

= The mountains of Switzerland are beautiful in winter.

CHAPTER 3 REVIEW EXERCISES

A. Please match the following kanji to their meanings.

1. 高	a. Few
2. 止	b. Hundred
3. 古	c. Basis
4. 百	d. Tall
5. 南	e. Winter
6. 京	f. Left
7. 元	g. Capital
8. 左	h. Stop
9. 少	i. South
10. 冬	j. Old

B. Please match the following meanings to their kanji, and these to their on or kun-yomi.

1. Like (kun-yomi)	a. 歩	1. HO (ホ)
2. Child	b. 火	2. ko (こ)
3. Neck	c. 工	3. kubi (くび)
4. Craft	d. 首	4. ka (か)
5. Walk	e. 七	5. EN (エン)
6. See	f. 子	6. SHICHI (シチ)
7. Fire (kun-yomi)	g. 見	7. KŌ (コウ)
8. Buy	h. 円	8. mi (み)
9. Circle	i. 好	9. hi (ひ)
10. Seven	j. 買	10. su (す)

C. Please choose the best answer(s) to the following questions.

1. Which of the following readings apply to the kanji 南?

a. NAN (ナン)

b. fuyu (ふゆ)

c. HYAKU (ヒャク)

d. minami (みなみ)

e. hidari (ひだり)

2. What is the worst thing you can hear someone say from behind while you’re standing on a plank of a ship?

a. 子

b. 七

c. 好

d. 元

e. 歩

3. Which of the following readings apply to the kanji 高?

a. hi (ひ)

b. GETSU (ゲツ)

c. KŌ (コウ)

d. taka (たか)

e. TAI (タイ)

4. Which of the following readings apply to the kanji 元?

a. GEN (ゲン)

b. moto (もと)

c. furu (ふる)

d. GAN (ガン)

e. HAN (ハン)

5. Which of the following readings apply to the kanji 少?

a. KŌ (コウ)

b. SHŌ (ショウ)

c. suko (すこ)

d. suku (すく)

e. to (と)

D. Please choose the best answer to the following questions.

1. Which is the correct reading of 少し?

a. mawa·shi (まわ·し)

b. suko·shi (すこ·し)

c. de·shi (で·し)

d. suku·shi (すく·し)

2. Which kanji would precede 口 to form the compound for “volcanic crater”?

a. 冬

b. 火

c. 左

d. 首

e. 止

3. Which is the correct reading of 古い?

a. furu·i (ふる·い)

b. ka·i (か·い)

c. yuru·i (ゆる·い)

d. futo·i (ふと·い)

4. Which of the following kanji has the most number of strokes?

a. 見

b. 好

c. 南

d. 歩

e. 京

5. Which is the correct reading of 少ない?

a. aka·nai (あか·ない)

b. to·nai (と·ない)

c. aga·nai (あが·ない)

d. suku·nai (すく·ない)

E. Please match the following compounds and words to their meanings and pronunciations.

1. 南米	a. To really like	1. CHŪ·SHI (チュウ·シ)
2. 中古	b. Secondhand	2. JŌ·KYŌ (ジョウ·キョウ)
3. 上京	c. Semicircle	3. JIN·KŌ (ジン·コウ)
4. 大火	d. South America	4. CHŪ·KO (チュウ·コ)
5. 半円	e. Artificial	5. IP·PO (イッ·ポ)
6. 中止	f. Discontinue	6. NAN·BEI (ナン·ベイ)
7. 一歩	g. Seven hundred	7. TAI·KA (タイ·カ)
8. 七百	h. Come/ Go to Tokyo	8. DAI su·ki (ダイ す·き)
9. 人工	i. One step	9. HAN·EN (ハン·エン)
10. 大好き	j. Conflagration	10. nana·HYAKU (なな·ヒャク)