Lesson 5 Kanji: 第５課の漢字
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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:
- 人
- Readings:
- ジン
- JIN
- Meaning:
- person
- Mnemonic:
- A side view of a person walking.
- Usage Examples:
- アメリカ人 (アメリカじん) an American
- 日本人 (にほんじん) a Japanese
- Printed form:
- 白
- Readings:
- しろ
- shiro
- Meaning:
- white
- Mnemonic:
- The sun 日 and its white sunlight (top stroke).
- Usage Examples:
- 白い (しろい) is white
- Printed form:
- 黒
- Readings:
- くろ
- kuro
- Meaning:
- black
- Mnemonic:
- The chimmney 里 where soot collects and fire 火(the buttom strokes).
- Usage Examples:
- 黒い (くろい) is black
- Printed form:
- 赤
- Readings:
- あか
- aka
- Meaning:
- red
- Mnemonic:
- The earth 土 and a flame 火.
- Usage Examples:
- 赤い (あかい) is red
- Printed form:
- 青
- Readings:
- あお
- ao
- Meaning:
- blue
- Mnemonic:
- The grass (top component) looks blue under the moon 月 at night.
- Usage Examples:
- 青い (あおい) is blue
- Printed form:
- 雨
- Readings:
- あめ
- ame
- Meaning:
- rain
- Mnemonic:
- Rain drops keep falling under the cloud...
- Usage Examples:
- 雨 (あめ) rain
- Printed form:
- 見
- Readings:
- み-
- mi-
- Meaning:
- see; look at; show
- Mnemonic:
- An eye 目 on a pair of legs.
- Usage Examples:
- 見ます (みます) (I)'ll see (it).
- 見せます (みせます) (I)'ll show (it).
- Printed form:
- 同
- Readings:
- おな-
- ona-
- Meaning:
- same
- Mnemonic:
- One 一 mouth 口 in an enclosure represents the oneness of opinions.
- Usage Examples:
- 同じ (おなじ) the same
- Printed form:
- 少
- Readings:
- すこ-/ショウ
- suko-/SHOO
- Meaning:
- few; a little
- Mnemonic:
- A portion from something small 小 is cut off by another stroke.
- Usage Examples:
- 少し (すこし) a little; a few
- 少々 (しょうしょう) a little
- Printed form:
- 車
DT>Readings:
- くるま/シャ
- kuruma/SHA
- Meaning:
- car
- Mnemonic:
- A sketch of a two wheeled cart.
- Usage Examples:
- 車 (くるま) car
/DL>
- Printed form:
- 国
- Readings:
- コク/ゴク
- KOKU/GOKU
- Meaning:
- country; nation
- Mnemonic:
- Within the boundary of a country, there is a king 王 and jewels 玉.
- Usage Examples:
- 国語 (こくご) mother-tongue (the Japanese language)
- 中国 (ちゅうごく) China
- 中国語 (ちゅうごくご) Chinese language
- Printed form:
- 和
- Readings:
- ワ
- WA
- Meaning:
- Japanese; peace
- Mnemonic:
- An ear of grain 禾 and a mouth 口.
- Usage Examples:
- 和英 (わえい) Japanese-English (dictionary)
- 英和 (えいわ) English-Japanese (dictionary)
- Printed form:
- 英
- Readings:
- エイ
- EE
- Meaning:
- England
- Mnemonic:
- The grass radical on the top and 央 (center).
- Usage Examples:
- 英語 (えいご) English language
- 英国 (えいこく) England
- New Readings:
- 一つ (ひとつ) one unit (inaminate)
- 二つ (ふたつ) two units
- 三つ (みっつ) three units
- 四つ (よっつ) four units
- 五つ (いつつ) five units
- 六つ (むっつ) six units
- 七つ (ななつ) seven units
- 八つ (やっつ) eight units
- 九つ (ここのつ) nine units
- 十 (とお) ten units
- 中国 (ちゅうごく) China