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The aim of this book is to provide the student of Japanese with a simple method for correlating the writing and the meaning of Japanese characters in such a way as to make them both easy to remember. It is intended not only for the beginner, but also for the more advanced student looking for some relief to the constant frustration of forgetting how to write the kanji and some way to systematize what he or she already knows. By showing how to break down the complexities of the Japanese writing system into its basic elements and suggesting ways to reconstruct meanings from those elements, the method offers a new perspective from which to learn the kanji. There are, of course, many things that the pages of this book will not do for you. You will read nothing about how kanji combine to form compounds. Nor is anything said about the various ways to pronounce the characters. Furthermore, all questions of grammatical usage have been omitted. These are all matters that need specialized treatment in their own right. Meantime, remembering the meaning and the writing of the kanji—perhaps the single most diffi cult barrier to learning Japanese—can be greatly simplified if the two are isolated and studied apart from everything else.
Japanese language James W Heisig is professor and permanent research fellow at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture in Nagoya, Japan University of Hawai‘i Press Honolulu, Hawai’i 96822-1888 www.uhpress.hawaii.edu Remembering the Kanji · heisig The aim of this book is to provide the student of Japanese with a simple method for correlating the writing and the meaning of Japanese characters in such a way as to make them both easy to remember It is intended not only for the beginner, but also for the more advanced student looking for some relief from the constant frustration of how to write the kanji and some way to systematize what he or she already knows The author begins with writing because—contrary to first impressions—it is in fact the simpler of the two He abandons the traditional method of ordering the kanji according to their frequency of use and organizes them according to their component parts or “primitive elements.” Assigning each of these parts a distinct meaning with its own distinct image, the student is led to harness the powers of “imaginative memory” to learn the various combinations that result In addition, each kanji is given its own key word to represent the meaning, or one of the principal meanings, of that character These key words provide the setting for a particular kanji’s “story,” whose protagonists are the primitive elements In this way, students are able to complete in a few short months a task that would otherwise take years Armed with the same skills as Chinese or Korean students, who know the meaning and writing of the kanji but not their pronunciation in Japanese, they are now in a much better position to learn to read (which is treated in a separate volume) Now in its fifth edition, Remembering the Kanji has helped tens of thousands of students find their way to literacy at their own pace and to acquire a facility for writing that traditional methods have long since given up on as all but impossible for those not raised with the kanji from childhood James W Heisig Remembering the Kanji A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters remembering the kanji by the same author Remembering the Kana: A Guide to Reading and Writing the Japanese Syllabaries in Hours Each Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2007 (1987) Remembering the Kanji 2: A Systematic Guide to Reading Japanese Characters Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2008 (1987) Remembering the Kanji 3: Writing and Reading Japanese Characters for UpperLevel Proficiency (with Tanya Sienko) Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2008 (1994) Kanji para recordar i: Curso mnemotécnico para el aprendizaje de la escritura y el significado de los caracteres japoneses (with Marc Bernabé and Verònica Calafell) Barcelona: Herder Editorial, 2005 (2001) Kanji para recordar ii: Guía sistemática para la lectura de los caracteres japoneses (with Marc Bernabé and Verònica Calafell) Barcelona: Herder Editorial, 2004 Kana para recordar: Curso mnemotécnico para el aprendizaje de los silabarios japoneses (with Marc Bernabé and Verònica Calafell) Barcelona: Herder Editorial, 2005 (2003) Die Kanji lernen und behalten Bedeutung und Schreibweise der japanischen Schriftzeichen (with Robert Rauther) Frankfurt am Main: Vittorio Klostermann Verlag, 2006 (2005) Die Kanji lernen und behalten Systematische Anleitung zu den Lesungen der japanischen Schriftzeichen (with Robert Rauther) Frankfurt am Main: Vittorio Klostermann Verlag, 2006 Die Kana lernen und behalten Die japanische Silbenschrift lesen und schreiben in je drei Stunden (with Klaus Gresbrand) Frankfurt am Main: Vittorio Klostermann Verlag, 2006 Kanji: Imaginar para aprender (with Rafael Shoji) São Paulo: jbc Editora, 2008 Remembering the Kanji vol A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters James W Heisig fifth edition University of Hawai‘i Press honolulu Copyright © 1977, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2007 by James W Heisig All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form without the written permission of the publisher Printed in the United States of America Fourth edition: 22nd printing, 2006 Fifth edition: 1st printing, 2007 2nd printing, 2008 12 11 10 09 08 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Heisig, James W., 1944Remembering the kanji : a complete course on how not to forget the meaning and writing of Japanese characters / James W Heisig — 5th ed v ; cm Includes indexes ISBN 978-0-8248-3165-3 (pbk : alk paper) Japanese language—Orthography and spelling Chinese characters— Japan Japanese language—Textbooks for foreign speakers—English I Title PL547.H4 2007 495.6’82421—dc22 2006103109 The typesetting for this book was done at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on Library Resources Contents Introduction Note to the 4th Edition part one: Stories (Lessons 1–12) 13 part two: Plots (Lessons 13–19) 115 part three: Elements (Lessons 20–56) 177 Indexes i Kanji 409 ii Primitive Elements 427 iii Kanji in Stroke Order 431 iv Key Words and Primitive Meanings 442 v Introduction The aim of this book is to provide the student of Japanese with a simple method for correlating the writing and the meaning of Japanese characters in such a way as to make them both easy to remember It is intended not only for the beginner, but also for the more advanced student looking for some relief to the constant frustration of forgetting how to write the kanji and some way to systematize what he or she already knows By showing how to break down the complexities of the Japanese writing system into its basic elements and suggesting ways to reconstruct meanings from those elements, the method offers a new perspective from which to learn the kanji There are, of course, many things that the pages of this book will not for you You will read nothing about how kanji combine to form compounds Nor is anything said about the various ways to pronounce the characters Furthermore, all questions of grammatical usage have been omitted These are all matters that need specialized treatment in their own right Meantime, remembering the meaning and the writing of the kanji—perhaps the single most difficult barrier to learning Japanese—can be greatly simplified if the two are isolated and studied apart from everything else What makes forgetting the kanji so natural is their lack of connection with normal patterns of visual memory We are used to hills and roads, to the faces of people and the skylines of cities, to flowers, animals, and the phenomena of nature And while only a fraction of what we see is readily recalled, we are confident that, given proper attention, anything we choose to remember, we can That confidence is lacking in the world of the kanji The closest approximation to the kind of memory patterns required by the kanji is to be seen in the various alphabets and number-systems we know The difference is that while these symbols are very few and often sound-related, the kanji number in the thousands and have no consistent phonetic value Nonetheless, traditional methods for learning the characters have been the same as those for learning alphabets: drill the shapes one by one, again and again, year after year Whatever ascetic value there is in such an exercise, the more efficient way would be to relate the characters to something other than their sounds in the fi rst place, and so to break ties with the visual memory we rely on for learning our alphabets | introduction The origins of the Japanese writing system can be traced back to ancient China and the eighteenth century before the Christian era In the form in which we find Chinese writing codified some 1,000 years later, it was made up largely of pictographic, detailed glyphs These were further transformed and stylized down through the centuries, so that by the time the Japanese were introduced to the kanji by Buddhist monks from Korea and started experimenting with ways to adapt the Chinese writing system to their own language (about the fourth to seventh centuries of our era), they were already dealing with far more ideographic and abstract forms The Japanese made their own contributions and changes in time, as was to be expected And like every modern Oriental culture that uses the kanji, they continue to so, though now more in matters of usage than form So fascinating is this story that many have encouraged the study of etymology as a way to remember the kanji Unfortunately, the student quickly learns the many disadvantages of such an approach As charming as it is to see the ancient drawing of a woman etched behind its respective kanji, or to discover the rudimentary form of a hand or a tree or a house, when the character itself is removed, the clear visual memory of the familiar object is precious little help for recalling how to write it Proper etymological studies are most helpful after one has learned the general-use kanji Before that, they only add to one’s memory problems We need a still more radical departure from visual memory Let me paint the impasse in another, more graphic, way Picture yourself holding a kaleidoscope up to the light as still as possible, trying to fi x in memory the particular pattern that the play of light and mirrors and colored stones has created Chances are you have such an untrained memory for such things that it will take some time; but let us suppose that you succeed after ten or fifteen minutes You close your eyes, trace the pattern in your head, and then check your image against the original pattern until you are sure you have it remembered Then someone passes by and jars your elbow The pattern is lost, and in its place a new jumble appears Immediately your memory begins to scramble You set the kaleidoscope aside, sit down, and try to draw what you had just memorized, but to no avail There is simply nothing left in memory to grab hold of The kanji are like that One can sit at one’s desk and drill a half dozen characters for an hour or two, only to discover on the morrow that when something similar is seen, the former memory is erased or hopelessly confused by the new information Now the odd thing is not that this occurs, but rather that, instead of openly admitting one’s distrust of purely visual memory, one accuses oneself of a poor memory or lack of discipline and keeps on following the same routine introduction | Thus, by placing the blame on a poor visual memory, one overlooks the possibility of another form of memory that could handle the task with relative ease: imaginative memory By imaginative memory I mean the faculty to recall images created purely in the mind, with no actual or remembered visual stimuli behind them When we recall our dreams we are using imaginative memory The fact that we sometimes conflate what happened in waking life with what merely occurred in a dream is an indication of how powerful those imaginative stimuli can be While dreams may be broken up into familiar component parts, the composite whole is fantastical and yet capable of exerting the same force on perceptual memory as an external stimulus It is possible to use imagination in this way also in a waking state and harness its powers for assisting a visual memory admittedly ill-adapted for remembering the kanji In other words, if we could discover a limited number of basic elements in the characters and make a sort of alphabet out of them, assigning to each its own image, fusing them together to form other images, and so building up complex tableaux in imagination, the impasse created by purely visual memory might be overcome Such an imaginative alphabet would be every bit as rigorous as a phonetic one in restricting each basic element to one basic value; but its grammar would lack many of the controls of ordinary language and logic It would be like a kind of dream-world where anything at all might happen, and happen differently in each mind Visual memory would be used minimally, to build up the alphabet After that, one would be set loose to roam freely inside the magic lantern of imaginative patterns according to one’s own preferences In fact, most students of the Japanese writing system something similar from time to time, devising their own mnemonic aids but never developing an organized approach to their use At the same time, most of them would be embarrassed at the academic silliness of their own secret devices, feeling somehow that there is no way to refine the ridiculous ways their mind works Yet if it does work, then some such irreverence for scholarship and tradition seems very much in place Indeed, shift ing attention from why one forgets certain kanji to why one remembers others should offer motivation enough to undertake a more thorough attempt to systematize imaginative memory The basic alphabet of the imaginative world hidden in the kanji we may call, following traditional terminology, primitive elements (or simply primitives) These are not to be confused with the so-called “radicals” which form the basis of etymological studies of sound and meaning, and now are used for the lexical ordering of the characters In fact, most of the radicals are them- 446 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings crimson criticism crock, lidded crossing crotch crow crowded crown crown crude cruel crumble cry cultivate cup, measuring cupfuls current curriculum curtain cut cylinder 紅 1355 批 649 128 辻 279 杯 流 歴 幕 切 筒 212 1944 780 124 304 207 1431 774 432 477 278 1219 764 376 409 85 944 細 酪 損 湿 舞 危 敢 暗 繕 矢 娘 日 暁 昼 死 旬 朽 亡 欺 決 衰 飾 耗 47 1363 1433 666 1788 1774 1416 826 480 1335 1220 1471 12 1201 1075 815 67 1243 485 1762 1641 1890 1477 1914 烏 込 冠 朴 酷 崩 泣 培 D dagger dainty dairy products damage damp dance dangerous daring darkness darning dart daughter day daybreak daytime death decameron decay deceased deceit decide decline decorate decrease dedicate deed, meritorious deep deer deer deer, painting of defeat defense defer degenerate degrees deliberation delicate delicious delight deliver deluge delusion demand demolition den departed department deposit depression descend descendants design desk destitution destroy detach detailed detain determine devil dew diagonal diameter diamond diarrhea dice diced difference difficult dig dike 奉 1573 勲 1677 深 1328 398 鹿 1999 負 衛 譲 堕 度 議 微 旨 歓 届 洪 妄 需 壊 洞 逝 科 預 窪 降 昆 柄 机 乏 滅 離 詳 留 定 露 斜 径 菱 痢 違 難 掘 堤 399 63 1646 1528 1314 1194 642 889 455 570 1110 1799 487 1165 400 181 1132 1179 1595 1323 1308 448 1021 210 1215 365 1492 550 1423 382 174 1283 1662 882 1517 1687 385 17 1644 1580 1061 390 dilate diligence dilute direction director dirt dirty disaster discard discharge discipline disclose disconcerted discontinue discreet discriminating discuss dish dislike dispatch display dispose dissolve distant distinction distract distress distribute disturb ditch divide divining rod doctor document dog dog, sign of the dog tag dollar domesticate don door door, front dormitory dose doth double 脹 勤 薄 方 司 1923 1577 227 490 1863 70 汚 1245 災 167 捨 655 発 1705 修 1722 啓 1085 慌 624 絶 1754 謹 1576 識 482 談 350 皿 1447 嫌 1598 遣 1773 呈 262 処 297 融 1044 遠 402 差 554 紛 1358 愁 901 配 1436 妨 491 堀 1062 剖 478 32 為 1918 医 1694 誌 601 犬 238 (戌) 404 373 287 飼 1866 着 555 戸 1076 扉 1638 寮 1708 剤 1730 致 756 倍 992 index iv: key words and primitive meanings double back doubt dove Dr draft drag dragon dragon, sign of the drama draw near dreadful dream drift drink drip drive droop drop of drop, to drought drown drowsy drum drum drunk dry ducks, migrating dull duplicate duty dwell dwindle dye 165 疑 1410 28 博 47 稿 892 375 竜 536 辰 2008 劇 1997 寄 192 怖 623 夢 305 漂 1607 飲 1474 滴 442 駆 1983 垂 1582 乾 没 睡 鼓 酔 干 鈍 複 役 住 減 染 27 233 463 707 1583 315 1444 1435 1648 391 1495 465 884 954 366 509 E each ear ear of a plant early earnings earthworm east easy eat eaves echo 各 耳 穂 早 稼 東 易 食 宇 響 291 818 909 26 893 322 504 1051 1472 1656 1850 ecstasy edge edict, imperial eel egg ego eight elbow elder brother elder sister elect electricity elementary elephant elude embarrass embrace eminent emotion emperor employ employee empress empty emulate enclosure encounter encourage encroach end endure enemy England engrave enlightenment enroll enter entertain entice entrails entrust entwine envious environs epidemic equal equestrian 悦 619 端 1167 詔 342 185 卵 1422 我 640 八 217 兄 103 姉 413 選 1804 電 535 素 1532 象 1976 逸 1973 辱 2009 抱 645 卓 51 感 615 皇 261 雇 1083 員 56 后 1861 空 1317 倣 979 郭 1842 遭 1174 励 866 侵 1148 終 1352 忍 597 敵 443 英 1741 刻 1521 悟 622 籍 1567 入 779 興 1426 誘 916 臓 851 嘱 1954 絡 1350 羨 553 辺 284 疫 1689 匹 1695 騎 1981 equilibrium equip erect erupt escape Esq establishment esteem etc eternity ethics Europe evade evaluate even evening eventide every everywhere evidence exam examination example excel excellent exchange exclude excuse exertion exhaust exhort exist exit expand expense expert explanation exploits expose exquisite extent extinguish extract extremity eye eye of a needle eyeball | 447 衡 備 架 噴 逃 様 設 尚 等 永 倫 欧 避 評 平 夕 汐 毎 遍 証 校 検 例 秀 佳 替 除 免 勉 尽 奨 在 出 伸 費 師 説 績 披 妙 程 消 抄 末 目 891 1183 869 1197 283 933 708 184 945 132 1821 1699 1501 1487 1484 109 110 458 1824 380 1278 1673 972 914 970 842 1658 1972 1975 1071 732 685 767 1118 1238 1269 499 1542 805 123 894 144 647 217 15 44 20 448 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings 眼 1467 eyeball eyedropper 27 F fabricate face faceup facsimile faction failure faint faith fall falsehood family crest family name fan fare farm fascination fasten fat fat man fate father fathom favor fear feathers feathers, tail fee feelings fell female fence fenceposts fermentation fertilizer fervent few fiber field, rice fierce fiesta fight figure file 築 顔 仰 謄 派 敗 幽 信 落 偽 紋 氏 扇 賃 畑 魅 括 脂 命 父 測 恵 恐 羽 料 情 伐 雌 塀 酵 肥 篤 少 維 田 猛 闘 姿 列 950 1717 1701 1211 1855 331 1380 969 299 1919 1727 1828 1079 1004 166 2023 661 456 30 1400 1274 149 612 613 573 386 1178 1537 994 563 1056 357 1430 1756 1988 106 1341 14 1456 139 1629 474 812 filial piety finger fingerprint fingers finish fire fireplace firewood first time fish fish guts fishhook fishing fist fit five flag flag, national flats flavor fledgling flesh flip float floating flock flood floor flour flourish flower flower flower pot fluid flute fly flying horse focus fog fold follow following, the fond food foolish footgear foothold 孝 1253 指 659 済 火 薪 初 魚 乙 漁 合 五 旗 軒 味 翻 浮 群 粉 栄 花 瓶 液 笛 飛 省 霧 折 随 翌 好 愚 履 拠 311 205 1731 161 73 1503 404 171 71 43 172 210 253 260 1764 1652 219 216 19 1911 142 730 1163 63 15 920 326 93 1009 1032 1038 1111 1887 193 124 1228 1130 1298 575 99 319 1957 1057 669 footprint forces ford forehead forest forge forget formerly fortune-telling foster four fragrant frame free, set freight fresh friend frolic from front door front, in frost frozen frugal fruit full fundamentals funnel fur furrow 143 1515 372 295 197 1860 596 501 48 1479 1681 200 496 1010 551 704 1994 686 1638 290 426 506 1674 1121 1169 1767 370 毛 1913 畝 1017 勢 渉 額 森 鍛 忘 曽 占 養 四 薫 枠 放 貨 鮮 友 戯 乃 扉 前 霜 凍 倹 果 満 基 G gain gall bladder gamble game hunting game of cricket garden garment gates gather gauze general generation genesis genie genie in the bottle 得 876 胆 31 賭 1264 猟 1940 苑 衣 門 集 羅 総 世 創 59 1419 396 1616 559 1342 1366 28 1631 209 209 index iv: key words and primitive meanings genius gentle gentleman genuine germ ghost gigantic gist give glass canopy glossy glue gnats Go go in goat, mountain go-between godown gods going gold golden calf gone good good luck goods goodwill gorge government office grace graceful gracious grade gradually graduate grains grains of rice grandchild grant grasp grass grass, bamboo grass skirt grate grave graveyard greatness 才 妥 士 純 菌 鬼 巨 趣 呉 艶 碁 仲 倉 神 行 金 去 良 吉 品 款 峡 庁 恩 淑 雅 段 徐 卒 粒 孫 賜 把 草 笹 擦 墓 傑 681 728 319 1494 918 2019 856 820 1897 80 1755 31 183 1766 223 392 956 1630 1119 873 269 401 750 1468 320 23 1097 1265 591 606 721 1907 1859 1659 1025 922 242 1393 1052 1752 224 940 327 1104 231 95 999 green grind grip grope ground ground groundbreaking group grove grow late grow up grudge guard guess guest guidance guillotine guilt gulf gully gun gutter guy 緑 磨 握 探 銃 溝 奴 1371 594 1059 1327 70 515 1971 582 196 694 328 1420 186 1103 294 278 344 1636 1749 225 762 1819 702 haiku 俳 hair hair of the head 髪 hair, lock of hairpin halberd 矛 half 半 hall 堂 halo halt 停 hand 手 handle 扱 hands, outstretched hands, two hang 掛 hanging scroll 幅 happenstance 故 happiness 幸 harbor 港 hard up 窮 harden 固 hare, sign of the 卯 1633 387 1924 387 387 1225 1202 798 318 977 637 690 210 208 674 407 333 1505 1800 1326 580 2041 地 墾 団 林 更 怨 守 察 客 導 罪 湾 H harm harmony harp harvest hat, bamboo hate haven hawser haystack he head head head, place on the headland heal healing healthy hear hearing heart hearth hearth heat heavens heavy hedge hegemony Heights heir helmet help hemp hermit hide highness hill hillock hinder hinge history hit hoarse hog, sign of the hoist hold hole holy | 449 害 和 琴 穫 笠 憎 津 綱 彼 頭 頂 岬 療 癒 健 聞 審 心 炉 熱 天 重 垣 覇 阪 嗣 助 麻 仙 匿 陛 丘 塚 障 枢 史 当 喝 亥 揚 持 穴 聖 1551 897 1591 908 939 626 328 1963 281 883 38 1441 94 1115 1709 2037 974 1626 1910 595 73 1080 1516 428 1675 154 1895 1294 1867 80 1782 593 986 1692 1310 1329 1039 1297 1697 692 1153 454 1519 664 660 1316 825 450 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings home home country homecoming hometown honey honorable hood hop hope horizon horizontal horns horse horse horse chestnut horse, sign of the horses, team of hot water hours, wee house house how many however hug human legs humanity humility hump hundred hundred million hungry hunt hunting, game hurry husband husk 宅 邦 帰 郷 蜜 御 1916 1848 1230 1849 776 1398 80 跳 1284 希 1489 涯 157 緯 1645 36 192 馬 1978 栃 514 (午) 404 396 湯 546 宵 189 82 家 541 幾 1381 但 953 擁 1387 34 仁 988 慎 630 隆 1561 百 38 億 983 飢 1475 狩 243 猟 1940 急 1146 夫 838 殻 710 I I I beam ice icicle idea ill illuminate imitation immature 吾 氷 意 病 照 模 稚 17 45 157 131 608 1682 170 229 896 immersed impart imperial edict imperial order in in a row, upside down in front incense include income increase increase incur indications individual infancy infant inferiority inflammation inflation inherit ink, black inmost inn inquire inscription insect insert inside inspection Inst instant instead instruction intelligent intention interintercept interchange interment interpretation interval interview intestines intimate intimidate 浸 授 詔 勅 中 1149 736 342 1667 39 366 前 290 香 911 含 1588 収 1510 増 被 徴 個 幼 劣 炎 騰 継 墨 衷 宿 尋 銘 虫 挿 内 視 院 即 却 訓 賢 志 相 遮 換 葬 釈 間 遇 腸 睦 威 175 502 807 887 973 1378 220 862 162 1989 1370 175 1891 995 1145 275 517 1116 1019 1093 1304 1462 1395 341 852 600 209 1192 1043 816 1908 1620 1956 544 1514 364 紹 勘 必 逆 査 鉄 銑 島 隔 伊 箇 introduce intuition invariably inverted investigate iron iron, pig island isolate Italy item ivy 1359 1769 635 1959 1781 846 270 1948 1312 1161 2029 71 J jail cell jammed in Japanese Judastree jawbone jewel jewel, squared join journey jubilation Judas-tree, Japanese judgment jump junior jurisdiction just so juvenile 343 介 250 桂 198 玉 圭 併 往 慶 295 256 155 1030 880 2001 桂 判 踊 徒 領 是 童 198 1205 1409 878 1405 388 436 拐 殺 窯 王 170 323 343 656 1493 1325 255 260 1223 1647 K kazoo ketchup key kidnap kill kiln king knot know Korea 知 韓 L labor 労 860 index iv: key words and primitive meanings lack lacquer lad ladle lady lagoon laid waste lake lament lamp land land lap large lass late, grow laugh laundry lazy lead (metal) leader leaf leak lean leap learn leather lecture left leg leg, wooden legitimate wife legs, animal legs, human legs, walking leisure lend length lengthen level levy license lidded crock lie lie down life lightly 欠 漆 彦 勺 婦 潟 荒 湖 悼 灯 陸 大 嬢 更 笑 濯 惰 鉛 将 葉 漏 傾 躍 習 革 講 左 足 嫡 閑 貸 丈 張 均 賦 允 詐 寝 生 軽 466 932 1716 68 1151 2039 488 148 621 165 70 1513 129 107 1530 694 938 577 629 794 731 228 1068 1011 1285 574 1893 1816 77 1279 294 440 34 34 121 1625 1007 691 1921 160 378 765 128 1141 1150 1555 717 lightning bug likeness lily, water limb limit line line line up lineage linen liner lips listen little livelihood lively liver livestock load location lock lock of hair locket logic loins loneliness long long time long-distance longevity longing look back look to loose lord lose lot love lovely lower lowly loyalty lucidity luck, good lumber lunatic lungs 蛍 518 如 100 321 肢 714 限 1466 線 陳 系 布 舶 唇 聴 小 暮 活 肝 畜 載 場 錠 理 腰 寂 長 久 距 寿 欲 顧 臨 漫 主 失 譲 愛 麗 低 卑 忠 澄 吉 材 狂 肺 236 1339 1301 1391 405 1869 2013 827 105 232 143 1649 1384 359 545 383 386 344 265 1605 720 1920 1016 1281 1565 792 1084 854 830 266 845 1529 737 2002 1831 1511 602 1704 320 683 260 414 | 451 繁 1337 luxuriant M made in… maestro magic wand magnet mail mailbox majestic plural make make a deal male mama man mandala mane maneuver manipulate mannerism many many, how map march market marketing marquis marriage marrow marry into marsh martyrdom mask masses mat, tatami matrimony matter mausoleum me meadow meal measurement measuring box measuring cup meat mechanism mediator 製 419 磁 郵 朕 作 商 雄 母 男 操 掌 癖 多 幾 図 市 販 侯 婚 髄 嫁 沼 殉 面 衆 畳 姻 事 陵 僕 原 飯 寸 升 肉 機 媒 292 33 1390 1847 311 2027 1142 439 743 101 859 230 387 671 801 1691 108 1381 1180 141 412 726 1639 1830 1290 542 137 809 1892 1857 1784 584 1156 1518 1794 134 1473 45 42 278 1022 1382 1761 452 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings medicine mediocre meeting meeting melancholy mellow melodious melon melt membrane memorize mending mention mercy merit meritorious deed metal method metropolis mid-air migrating ducks military officer milk mimic mind, state of mineral mingle mirror mirror miscellaneous miss missile mist mistake mix model monk’s cowl monkey monkey monkey, sign of the monme month moon mop moreover morning 薬 1736 凡 62 会 憂 熟 朗 瓜 溶 膜 覚 述 慈 効 勲 法 都 宙 尉 乳 擬 鉱 交 鏡 雑 喪 誤 混 塑 猿 106 752 616 310 1469 1877 791 233 325 146 1524 1389 1276 1677 111 751 1846 1109 391 1095 729 1411 198 741 1275 170 483 562 1926 213 33 1899 450 1960 80 117 403 (申) 469 匁 1027 月 13 19 275 且 2034 朝 52 mosaic mosquito mould Mount mountain mountain goat mountain pass mountain stream mourning mouth move Mr mud mulberry municipality muscle muscle music music, play musical score mutually muzzle mysterious 蚊 型 岡 山 峠 渓 忌 口 動 殿 泥 桑 府 筋 楽 奏 譜 互 玄 360 1728 680 1961 768 392 773 840 599 11 1676 1805 1055 698 1002 234 941 1735 1571 1787 757 169 1383 N nail naked name name, family Nara national flag nativity navigate navy blue near neck need needle needle needle, eye of negate negative neglect neighboring nest netting new 裸 名 氏 奈 旗 誕 航 紺 近 首 要 針 否 不 怠 隣 巣 網 新 50 1124 112 1828 1094 1764 393 1870 1758 1129 70 1604 18 274 73 1218 1217 745 1311 1927 1373 1502 newborn babe next nickname night nightbreak nightfall nine nitrate No node Noh chanting noon north nose nose nostrils not not yet notebook nothingness notice, put up a nourishing now nucleus number nun 児 次 号 夜 旦 晩 九 硝 第 節 謡 午 北 鼻 勿 未 帳 無 掲 滋 今 核 数 尼 58 471 1242 1037 30 1974 115 1239 1464 1968 568 445 28 678 28 1049 216 1922 1775 673 1388 1587 1520 929 1054 O oak oaken tub obese obey occasion occupation ocean of office, government offering officer officer, military oil old boy old man old man, venerable Old West 柏 199 肪 順 際 営 洋 之 363 494 129 1296 1034 549 1214 庁 献 吏 尉 油 君 老 591 1615 693 1095 1107 1162 1251 翁 786 339 index iv: key words and primitive meanings old old woman olden times once upon a time one oneself one-sided only ooze open open sea or again order, imperial orders organize orphan other ought outburst outhouse outline outlook outside outskirts outstretched hands oven fire overall overcome overdo overflow overgrown overnight overpowering oversee overthrow owl oyster 古 婆 旧 昔 一 自 片 只 泌 開 沖 又 勅 令 整 孤 他 須 暴 概 観 外 郊 統 克 過 濫 茂 泊 豪 監 倒 16 804 35 1184 36 1212 53 636 1622 138 696 1667 1401 1670 1879 961 1718 1801 226 1482 572 111 1844 210 73 1347 104 1293 1454 360 147 543 1453 980 388 37 P pack of wild dogs packed paddy ridge page pagoda pain paint painting of a deer 詰 畔 頁 塔 痛 塗 101 343 1204 60 254 1690 1663 399 pair paper paper punch parade paragraph parcel post parch pardon parent park parking part part of the body partial particularly partition parts of speech party patent path pathetic patrol pattern paulownia pavilion pay pay respects peaceful peach tree peak, mountain pear tree pearl pedestal Pegasus pelt penal penalty penetrate pent in people pepper, red perfect performance perfumed period perish permit 双 697 紙 1829 項 逓 燥 赦 親 園 駐 分 偏 殊 頒 詞 党 彰 路 哀 巡 範 桐 亭 払 伺 泰 桃 峠 梨 珠 台 皮 懲 罰 徹 民 完 演 芳 期 許 300 140 82 1858 215 1744 1504 585 1982 781 19 1823 810 783 1865 797 1715 1282 401 285 1413 204 311 738 1864 1570 236 773 907 258 744 193 802 888 833 886 196 1834 323 187 2007 493 1765 171 569 person person in charge persuade perusal petition phantasm philosophy phrase pick pick up pickling picture pierce piety, filial pig iron pigeon piggy bank piglets pillar pinch pine tree pining pinnacle pipe pit pity place place on the head placement placenta plaid plains plan plane plank plant plant, rice plantation play play music pleasure pledge plot plow pluck plug plug up | 453 人 係 勧 覧 願 幻 哲 句 採 拾 漬 絵 貫 孝 銑 鳩 柱 摘 松 慕 管 坑 惜 所 頂 置 胞 野 案 削 板 植 稲 栽 遊 奏 愉 契 計 抽 栓 窒 951 1392 864 855 135 1862 1131 65 733 667 1545 1346 102 1253 270 1946 187 187 268 657 785 633 296 1273 306 1187 1127 94 832 531 356 1596 214 118 724 205 910 358 1047 1571 628 1549 337 256 1106 264 1321 454 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings plum plump plural, majestic pocket podium poem Point pointed poison pole, wooden poles polish politics pond pony pork portable portent porter possess post post, parcel posture pot, flower potato potato pottery pour poverty power pox practice praise pray precious precipitous preface prefecture pregnancy present presents pressure previously price priest, Buddhist princess printing 梅 太 朕 懐 壇 詩 岳 鋭 毒 極 研 政 池 駒 豚 携 兆 有 職 逓 構 瓶 芋 陶 注 貧 力 痘 練 褒 祈 貴 険 序 県 妊 現 贈 圧 既 値 僧 姫 刷 460 120 2027 828 587 346 1330 500 1531 85 1903 675 381 516 1979 538 687 235 176 79 824 1858 1818 1032 346 1655 1966 267 782 858 1684 1343 998 1128 1771 1672 1594 513 507 259 503 152 1481 978 982 849 1069 printing block prison private prize proceed proclaim products profession profit prohibition prolong promise promontory -proof property proportion propose prosperous prostrated protect provisional provisions prudence public publish pull punish pup tent pupil puppet pure purification purple purse pursue push put in put up a notice puzzle 版 獄 私 賞 赴 宣 産 業 利 禁 延 約 崎 耐 財 割 提 昌 伏 保 仮 糧 慮 公 刊 引 刑 瞳 清 斎 紫 逐 押 掲 1213 338 902 796 386 188 1560 1792 906 1098 392 1362 778 1164 682 1553 665 25 962 997 966 926 1996 784 1650 1232 679 353 437 291 1539 1732 1375 363 539 1114 223 673 256 Q quake quandary quantity quarter quasiqueen 震 2010 困 579 量 177 283 准 560 妃 527 問 速 静 罷 question quick quiet quit quiver 1617 1669 1540 2032 138 R rabbit radiance rag rain rainbow raise rake ram, sign of the range rank rapidly rapids rare rather rat, sign of the ratio ray rereach out read reality reap rebuke receipt receive recess recitation reclining recollection recommend record recreation recruit rectify red red pepper reed reef refined reflect 394 輝 302 259 雨 422 虹 520 挙 1938 274 (未) 404 域 356 位 955 疾 1686 瀬 1666 珍 1723 寧 834 (子) 404 率 1737 光 119 戻 1081 及 688 読 348 実 1572 刈 1488 諭 352 312 享 308 憩 611 詠 345 164 憶 632 薦 2000 録 1144 娯 1898 募 861 矯 1221 赤 1743 荻 礁 精 映 323 242 558 1535 1742 index iv: key words and primitive meanings reformation refreshing regiment register regularity reign reject rejoice relax reliant religion remainder remorse remote remove rend renowned reparation repay repeatedly repel repent report repress repudiate reputation request research resemblance resentment reside residence resign resin resist respect respects, pay responsibility rest restore retainer retreat return revelation revered review revise 改 涼 隊 簿 秩 治 斥 喜 安 依 宗 残 憾 悠 撤 破 著 償 酬 頻 拒 悔 報 抑 排 誉 求 究 肖 恨 居 邸 辞 抵 恭 伺 任 休 復 臣 退 返 告 尊 閲 訂 528 313 1306 949 903 746 1138 1445 190 971 1100 808 631 958 760 806 1258 985 1432 373 857 625 1507 1700 1634 1939 934 1320 114 1460 1063 1841 1497 326 1832 1803 1864 1003 965 875 848 1465 725 247 1439 1618 339 revolve rhyme rhythm ri rice rice field rice, grains of rice plant rice seedling ride ridge, paddy ridgepole ridicule right righteousness rin ring riot rise up rising cloud of rising sun risk ritual river road road-way rob robust rod romance roof room root roots rope rope, straw rot rotation round rouse route row rowboat rowing rub rue rule 転 韻 律 里 米 田 稲 乗 畔 棟 慢 右 義 厘 環 乱 昇 旭 冒 祭 河 道 奪 壮 棒 恋 屋 室 根 縄 腐 旋 丸 起 途 並 艇 漕 抹 慨 則 420 481 874 173 919 14 242 910 325 1585 1204 505 829 78 641 178 836 72 43 155 27 18 1102 146 118 277 566 321 1575 1748 1058 754 1461 267 35 1377 1023 1046 44 526 1661 1785 1876 1175 644 1483 88 run run alongside rut | 455 走 384 沿 795 軌 288 S saber saber sack sacrifice sacrifice, animal sad safeguard sagacious sail saké salad salary salt salutation salvation same samurai sand sandwiched sane sash sated savings saw say sayeth saying scaffold scale scarecrow scarf, top hat and scatter scenery scheme school, cram schoolhouse scissors score, musical scorn scorpion scrapbook screwdriver 剣 袋 犠 牲 悲 護 俊 帆 酒 給 塩 礼 救 同 砂 挟 康 帯 飽 貯 言 曰 桟 散 景 策 塾 譜 侮 83 1671 1006 643 1559 1635 700 1014 406 1428 279 1349 1458 1087 936 180 129 117 1267 1159 415 1480 194 272 335 578 134 367 400 334 150 1189 314 948 309 130 292 1787 989 181 370 279 456 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings scribe scroll scroll, hanging sea sea, open seacoast seal search seasons seat seaweed second secrecy secret section seduce see seedling seethe seize self self-effacing sell semisend back send off sentence separate sequential set set aside set free settlement seven severance sew sex shade shadow shake shaku shakuhachi shallow shame shape shape sheaf 記 巻 幅 海 沖 浜 封 捜 季 席 藻 秒 密 秘 部 召 見 苗 沸 獲 己 謙 売 準 還 送 文 別 循 据 措 放 納 七 断 縫 性 陰 影 振 尺 529 1207 407 461 138 1332 156 1120 912 1193 2035 899 775 904 1845 86 57 234 1237 701 525 1600 323 564 837 2016 1725 90 1854 1064 1188 496 1356 1136 1563 1558 1592 1712 2011 1070 262 浅 369 恥 823 354 形 1711 321 sheep 羊 547 sheet of 枚 332 shelf 364 shelf 棚 202 shellfish 貝 54 shells 37 shield 盾 1853 shift 移 898 shining 昭 87 shins 脚 1396 Shinto shrine 宮 1033 ship 船 1874 shish kebab 串 603 shoes 靴 1894 shoot 267 shoot 射 1249 shop 舗 1839 short 短 1442 shoulder 肩 1077 shouldering 担 668 shout 叫 1508 shovel 276 show 示 1086 shredder 258 shrine, Shinto 宮 1033 shrink 縮 1336 sickle 鎌 1599 sickness 350 side 側 975 sideways 横 1751 siesta 163 sieve 275 sigh 嘆 1579 sign of the bird 酉 1427 sign of the cow 丑 2040 sign of the dog (戌) 469 sign of the dragon 辰 2008 sign of the hare 卯 2041 sign of the hog 亥 1519 sign of the horse (午) 404 sign of the monkey (申) 404 sign of the ram (未) 404 sign of the rat (子) 404 sign of the snake 巳 2042 sign of the tiger 寅 2006 signature 署 1259 signpost silage silence silk silkworm silver silver silverware similar simple simplicity sincerity single sink Sinosire sister, elder sister, younger sit sitting on the ground six skeleton sketch skill skin skirt skirt, grass skunk slacken slap slave slave sleep sleeve slender slingshot slip out slippery slope slow small bell smash smoke snake snake snake, sign of the 標 1608 335 黙 240 絹 1368 蚕 523 317 銀 1459 似 単 簡 誠 独 沈 漢 紳 姉 妹 座 六 骨 描 技 膚 裳 緩 撲 隷 眠 袖 繊 抜 滑 坂 遅 鈴 砕 煙 蛇 巳 319 1029 1928 1621 363 522 1888 1578 1361 413 220 1024 161 1288 670 712 1992 800 327 394 1952 1793 233 2036 1835 1108 1790 289 705 1289 723 1067 1406 116 1612 183 519 2042 index iv: key words and primitive meanings snapshot snare snow so-and-so sociable soft soil soldier solely solemn solicit solution somebody someone son song sort sort of thing soul sound soup source south sovereign sow span spare time spark sparkle sparkler speaketh spear special specialty species specimen speech speech, parts of sphere spicy spike spindle spine spinning spirit spirits spit 撮 822 雪 某 懇 軟 土 兵 唯 粛 請 答 身 者 郎 歌 類 然 魂 音 汁 源 南 帝 亘 暇 晶 申 特 専 種 鑑 詞 圏 辛 錘 呂 紡 気 霊 吐 288 1143 1759 1970 470 150 1331 556 1733 1536 947 1248 1256 1851 469 931 241 2021 479 140 142 1613 435 186 32 1882 58 22 357 1117 286 246 46 1679 1455 134 1865 1208 1496 50 1584 24 1357 1885 1791 151 splash splendor split sponsor spool spoon spot spread spring springtime sprout spy squad squared jewel squeeze St Bernard dog stab stagnate stalk stamp stamp stand up standard staple gun staples star stare starve state state of mind station statue stature status status quo steadily steal stealth steam steel step stern sticky stiff stimulate stinking stipend 沫 華 裂 催 匕 点 敷 泉 春 偵 班 圭 搾 突 滞 茎 印 立 規 星 眺 餓 州 駅 像 背 格 状 漸 盗 窃 蒸 鋼 踏 厳 粘 硬 促 臭 俸 218 1581 813 987 214 444 169 1883 133 1568 267 981 1229 155 1324 56 1319 416 715 308 1425 431 841 376 313 1556 237 1476 128 198 1984 1977 446 292 239 1135 1451 1322 1900 1962 1287 1936 921 695 1280 122 1574 stirred up stocks stomach stone stop store storehouse storm story straightaway strand strange strangle stratum straw man straw rope stream stream, mountain street stretch strict strike strong strung together stubborn study stupid sturdy style subjugate submerge submit subscription substance substitute suck sue suffering sugar suitable sulfur sultry summer summit sun sun, rising sunflower | 457 奮 株 胃 石 止 店 蔵 嵐 階 直 渚 奇 絞 層 縄 川 渓 丁 堅 打 強 頑 学 痴 剛 式 征 潜 供 購 質 代 吸 訟 苦 糖 適 硫 暑 夏 峰 旭 565 222 29 113 370 588 850 777 1309 73 1263 126 1348 1065 282 1377 127 840 91 148 853 653 1235 367 61 324 1683 1964 353 881 844 1796 1817 1137 1005 689 787 225 1158 441 763 1260 296 1562 19 27 24 458 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings sunglasses sunglasses with one lens out sunshine superfluous superintend supplement suppose surface surname surpass surplus surround suspend suspicious sūtra swamp sweat sweep sweet swell swift swim swing sword symptoms system 229 陽 冗 宰 補 存 表 姓 越 剰 囲 懸 怪 経 沢 汗 掃 甘 膨 迅 泳 揺 刀 症 制 257 1300 300 1499 1840 684 1546 1557 387 1586 1807 1394 716 1360 1072 1651 1152 1757 1719 280 136 1967 83 1685 418 T table tag tail tail feathers tailor take take along tale Talking Cricket tall T’ang tariff task taskmaster tassel tatami mat tax tea 315 札 212 尾 1915 裁 取 連 話 高 唐 租 務 房 畳 税 茶 386 397 819 287 344 392 307 1157 1778 1227 132 1078 1784 895 252 teach team of horses tears technique teenager teepee tempering temple, Buddhist temporarily tempt ten ten thousand tenacious tender tenderness tense test texture Thanksgiving thick thin thing think third class thirst thong thorn thousand thread threaten three throw thunder thwart ticket tide tie tiger tiger tiger, sign of the tighten tile till timber-trees time time, spare -times 教 1254 396 涙 1082 芸 421 54 353 錬 2030 寺 158 暫 1134 唆 766 十 10 万 64 執 1506 柔 1226 優 993 緊 1374 試 354 肌 66 139 厚 125 淡 164 物 1050 思 605 丙 1020 渇 451 緒 1344 刺 417 千 40 糸 1333 脅 871 三 投 706 雷 425 阻 1780 券 1206 潮 141 結 1351 397 虎 1990 寅 2006 締 1340 瓦 1031 耕 1808 樹 1446 時 159 暇 1882 回 586 tin can tired together toil token tolerant tomb tombstone tome tongue tongue wagging in mouth too much tool tool tooth top hat top hat and scarf topic tortoise torture touch towel tower town tracks tracks, animal trade traffic tranquilize transcend transit transition translate transmit transparent transport tray tread treasure tree tree trunk treetops tremendously tribe tribute triceps 缶 疲 共 努 符 寛 墳 碑 冊 舌 1965 1688 1795 865 1001 226 1198 1512 1826 41 19 余 1657 44 具 74 歯 1171 題 亀 拷 接 閣 村 跡 貿 通 鎮 超 渡 遷 訳 伝 透 輸 盤 践 宝 木 幹 梢 甚 族 貢 125 150 389 534 1255 672 152 1624 208 1746 385 1424 1408 276 385 1195 1610 1073 963 915 289 1872 1286 257 195 1654 201 1768 1222 81 236 index iv: key words and primitive meanings trip trouble true trunk trunk, tree truss trust tub, oaken tucked under the arm tune turf turkey turkey house/coop turn turn into turtle tusk twenty twig twist two two hands two-mat area tyrannize 旅 悩 真 胴 幹 縛 頼 1048 1935 75 182 1654 1376 1665 363 211 調 349 芝 1216 番 成 牙 廿 条 糾 二 坪 虐 190 192 1909 361 100 1904 1190 298 1509 208 1486 1998 U ugly umbrella umbrella ununcle uncommon undefiled undertake undress uneasiness unfold United States universal unlucky unravel unusual upbraid upright upside down in a row 醜 2020 傘 非 叔 異 潔 企 脱 虞 展 普 厄 解 変 嚇 貞 115 1026 1632 718 1797 1548 375 498 1995 1925 242 1786 1415 1814 1745 2026 55 366 迫 尿 使 常 器 用 最 urge urine use usual utensil utilize utmost 282 1053 990 799 121 1181 821 V vague valentine valley value valve vapor various vase vast vat vegetable vehicle vein venerable old man verification vermilion versify vertical vessels vicarious vicevictory vie villa village villain vine vinegar violent v.i.p virtuous vis-à-vis visit voice voiced void volume vow 漠 230 谷 価 弁 汽 諸 弘 槽 菜 脈 翁 験 朱 吟 縦 隻 摂 副 勝 競 荘 町 凶 蔦 酢 激 賓 善 対 参 声 濁 虚 積 誓 198 788 1603 742 1886 1261 158 1234 1176 734 120 1856 786 1980 221 1589 1338 699 1739 89 1209 434 322 92 1490 1945 1434 497 511 1035 1726 1720 1896 835 1993 1543 1133 | 459 俗 968 vulgar vulture 216 W wagging tongue in a mouth wagon wait waiter waitress walk walking legs walking stick wall wall wand, magic wandering war ward ward off warehouse warm warmth warrior warship wash waste, laid watch over watchtower water water, hot water lily waterfall waver waves weak wealth wealth weather weather vane weave wee hours week weekday welcome welfare well 待 侍 歩 壁 浪 戦 区 防 庫 温 暖 武 艦 洗 荒 看 楼 水 湯 滝 猶 波 弱 富 織 宵 週 曜 迎 祉 井 19 120 879 976 320 371 121 27 219 1500 32 1470 1929 1696 1302 589 1452 1949 377 1875 249 488 638 930 130 546 321 537 1438 803 1236 49 193 156 35 1334 189 318 576 1702 1091 1806 460 | index iv: key words and primitive meanings west West, Old wet whale what wheat wheel wherefore whirlpool whirlwind whiskey bottle white white bird whole wholesale wicked wicker basket wide widow wife wife, legitimate wild dogs, pack of willow wind wind winding 西 1602 潤 鯨 何 輪 由 渦 白 全 卸 邪 広 寡 妻 嫡 柳 風 繰 339 1627 315 1012 239 1822 1105 1292 125 313 37 28 263 1397 1906 361 739 617 1889 440 101 1421 35 524 1369 window wing wings wink winter wisdom wish wisteria witch with child withdraw wither withstand woman woman, beautiful womb wonder wood wooden leg wooden pole wool word words work world worship 窓 749 翼 1798 瞬 冬 智 念 藤 魔 娠 控 枯 堪 女 媛 胎 驚 語 働 界 拝 194 817 427 1224 1590 1210 2022 2012 1318 206 1770 98 1950 748 1987 85 254 85 189 347 134 1678 251 1564 wound wrap wretched write writing brush 傷 包 惨 書 筆 996 530 1721 327 943 年 歳 喚 黄 昨 屈 向 若 弟 妹 308 166 1036 512 1042 1750 1140 1060 183 223 1240 220 Y yarn yawn year year-end yell yellow yesterday yield yonder young younger brother younger sister Z Zen zero zoo 禅 1930 零 1402 149 [...]... on what is for the foreigner the simpler task, writing, and later turning to the more complicated, the reading One has only to look at the progress of non-Japanese raised with kanji to see the logic of the approach When Chinese adult students come to the study of Japanese, they already know what the kanji mean and how to write them They have only to learn how to read them The progress they make in comparison... “opening up of night” into day Hence the choice of this rather odd key word, nightbreak The single stroke at the bottom represents the floor (have a peek again at frame 1) or the horizon over which the sun is poking its head [5] 佼 使 31 胆 gall bladder The pieces in this character should be easily recognizable: on the left, the element for part of the body, and on the right, the character for nightbreak, which... represent one of the common connotations of this key word: the sun, the bright insight of the clear thinker, and the moon, the bright intuition of the poet and the seer (see frame 13 ) [8] 亶 仂 21 唱 chant This one is easy! You have one mouth making no noise (the choirmaster) and two mouths with wagging tongues (the minimum for a chorus) So think of the key word, chant, as monastery singing and the kanji is... derived from the kanji for needle 針 (frame 274) Since the primitive is used in the kanji itself, there is no need to worry about confusing the two In fact, we shall be following this procedure regularly 11 口 mouth Like several of the first characters we shall learn, the kanji for mouth is a clear pictograph Since there are no circular shapes in the kanji, the square must be used to depict the circle [3]... so many other things, can often be calmed by letting the sun set on it and then “sleeping it off.” [9] 侊 侒 32 亘 span “Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset…” goes the song of the Fiddler on the Roof You can almost see the journey of the sun as it moves from one horizon (the floor) to its noonday heights in the sky overhead (ceiling) and then disappears over the other horizon—day after day, marking the span... impediment to learning to associate the meanings of the kanji with their written form The obvious victim of the conventional methods is the student, but on a subtler level the reconfi rmation of unquestioned biases also victimizes the Japanese teachers themselves, the most devoted of whom are prematurely denied the dream of fully internationalizing their language There are additional problems with using... picture of the moon, with the two horizontal lines representing the left eye and mouth of the mythical “man in the moon.” (Actually, the Japanese see a hare in the moon, but it is a little farfetched to find one in the kanji.) And one month, of course, is one cycle of the moon [4] 久 之 乍 乎 * As a primitive element, this character can take on the sense of moon, flesh, or part of the body The reasons for the latter... companion The first companion that God made, as the Bible story goes, was Eve Upon seeing her, Adam exclaimed, “Flesh of my flesh!” And that is precisely what this kanji says in so many strokes [8] 亢 交 亥 亦 亭 22 | remembering the kanji 1 20 明 bright Among nature’s bright lights, there are two that the biblical myth has God set in the sky: the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule the night Each of them... classroom setting My suspicion is that they would soon abandon the idea The book is based on the idea that the writing of the kanji can be learned on its own and independently of any other aspect of the language It is also based on the idea that the pace of study is different from one individual to another, and for each individual, from one week to the next Organizing study to the routines of group instruction... second question The reasons for isolating the writing of the kanji from their pronunciation follow more or less as a matter of course from what has been said The reading and writing of the characters are taught simultaneously on the grounds that one is useless without the other This only begs the basic question of why they could not better, and more quickly, be taught one after the other, concentrating ... of the frame in which the kanji appeared On the back side, in the upper left-hand corner, write the key word meaning of the character Then draw a line across the middle of the card and another... students come to the study of Japanese, they already know what the kanji mean and how to write them They have only to learn how to read them The progress they make in comparison with their Western... 亢 交 亥 亦 亭 22 | remembering the kanji 20 明 bright Among nature’s bright lights, there are two that the biblical myth has God set in the sky: the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule the night