MIT Lesson 10 Kanji: $BBh#1#02]$N4A;z(B

JP NET is grateful to Prof. Saeko Komori of Chubu University for permission to use the kanji movies at our site. All movie data is copyright 1995, 1996 by Saeko Komori.

In the following definitions, on (Chinese-based) readings are represented by katakana, and by capital romaji letters; kun (native Japanese-based) readings are represented by hiragana, and by lower-case romaji letters. This is a common dictionary convention, and does not have any bearing on meaning.

Printed form:

$B;R(B

Readings:

$B$3(B

ko

Meaning:

child

Mnemonic:

The pictograph of a baby. [$B3X(B($B$,$/(B)"learning"]

Usage Examples:

$B>.$5$$;R(B ($B$A$$$5$$$3(B) small child

$B;R$I$b(B ($B$3$I$b(B) child

$B$*;R$5$s(B ($B$*$3$5$s(B) child (polite)

Printed form:

$B=w(B

Readings:

$B$*$s$J(B

onna

Meaning:

woman

Mnemonic:

The pictograph of a woman. [$B0B(B($B$d$9(B)"cheap; peaceful"]

Usage Examples:

$B=w$N?M(B ($B$*$s$J$N$R$H(B) woman

$B=w$N;R(B ($B$*$s$J$N$3(B) girl

Printed form:

$BCK(B

Readings:

$B$*$H$3(B

otoko

Meaning:

man

Mnemonic:

The pictograph of a man.

Usage Examples:

$BCK$N?M(B ($B$*$H$3$N$R$H(B) man

$BCK$N;R(B ($B$*$H$3$N$3(B) boy

Printed form:

$BBT(B

Readings:

$B$^(B($B$D(B)

ma

Meaning:

to wait

Mnemonic:

When one is in trouble, he goes $B9T(B to a temple $B;{(B.

Usage Examples:

$BBT$D(B ($B$^$D(B) wait

Printed form:

$BCN(B

Readings:

$B$7(B($B$k(B)

shi

Meaning:

to know

Mnemonic:

An arrow $BLp(B and its target (mouth; entrance) $B8}(B.

Usage Examples:

$BCN$C$F$$$k(B ($B$7$C$F$$$k(B) know

$BCN$i$J$$(B ($B$7$i$J$$(B) not know

$BCN$j$^$;$s(B ($B$7$j$^$;$s(B) not know

Printed form:

$B:$(B

Readings:

$B$3$^(B($B$k(B)

koma

Meaning:

to fall into trouble

Mnemonic:

A tree in a box cannot grow. Thus, it is in trouble. [$B9q(B($B$3$/(B)"country"]

Usage Examples:

$B:$$k(B ($B$3$^$k(B) become upset

Printed form:

$BNS(B

Readings:

$B$O$d$7(B

hayashi

Meaning:

forest

Mnemonic:

Two trees symbolize multiple trees in a forest.

Usage Examples:

$BNS(B ($B$O$d$7(B) forest

$B>.NS$5$s(B ($B$3$P$d$7$5$s(B) (Mr/Ms) Kobayashi

Printed form:

$B;E(B

Readings:

$B%7(B

SHI

Meaning:

labor

Mnemonic:

The person radical $B%$(B and a service man standing straight $B;N(B.

Usage Examples:

$B;E;v(B ($B$7$4$H(B) work

Printed form:

$B;v(B

Readings:

$B$3$H(B/$B$4$H(B/$B%8(B

koto/goto/JI

Meaning:

matter; act; fact

Mnemonic:

A hand holding a bunch of sticks. [$B=q(B($B$+(B)"to write"]

Usage Examples:

$B2P;v(B ($B$+$8(B) fire

Printed form:

$B;H(B

Readings:

$B$D$+(B($B$&(B)

tsuka

Meaning:

to use

Mnemonic:

The person radical $B%$(B and the kanji for "officer" $BMy(B. [$B:n(B($B$D$/(B)"to make"]

Usage Examples:

$B;H$&(B ($B$D$+$&(B) use

$B;H$C$F$$$k(B ($B$D$+$C$F$$$k(B) is using

Printed form:

$B5n(B

Readings:

$B%-%g(B

KYO

Meaning:

past

Mnemonic:

The earth $BEZ(B and a body coiled up $B%`(B under the ground.

Usage Examples:

$B5nG/(B ($B$-$g$M$s(B) last year

Printed form:

$B30(B

Readings:

$B%,%$(B/$B$[$+(B

GAI/hoka

Meaning:

outside; other

Mnemonic:

Katakana $B%?(B and $B%H(B. What other katakata do you know?

Usage Examples:

$B309q?M(B ($B$,$$$3$/$8$s(B) foreigner

$B309q(B ($B$,$$$3$/(B) foreign country

$B30$K2?$+(B ($B$[$+$K$J$K$+(B) anything else?

Printed form:

$BEv(B

Readings:

$B%H%&(B

TOO

Meaning:

to hit (the mark)

Mnemonic:

A birthday cake with three candles. Today is your 3rd year birthday... Really??

Usage Examples:

$BK\Ev(B ($B$[$s$H$&(B) real

New Readings:

$B@h=5(B ($B$;$s$7$e$&(B) last week

$B@h7n(B ($B$;$s$2$D(B) last month

$B$"$N?M(B ($B$"$N$R$H(B) that person

$B$"$NJ}(B ($B$"$N$+$?(B) that person (polite)

$BBg?M(B ($B$*$H$J(B) adult

$BOC$9(B ($B$O$J$9(B) to talk