Welcome to Gaia! ::

I will quote some bits from a book for a brief explanation of kanji and its history.

Brief History:

Kanji characters started to develop in China over 3,000 years ago, and were introduced to Japan-- where there was yet no written language-- between 400 and 700 A.D. Kanji characters were pictographs (characters that evolved from pictures) or ideograms (meaningful characters). For example, 山　means "mountain" and 川　means "river."

Japanese Step by Step : by Gene Nishi (pages: 37- 40)

There are many meaningful components (called "roots," "prefixes," "suffixes," etc.) in English words.
For example:

acrophobia acro=highest, phobia= fear
ambivalence ambi= on both sides, bi= two, valence=value
reimburse re=again, im= in, burse= purse
philanthropist philo= loving, anthropo= mankind, -ist= person

Knowledge of these meaningful components helps you to comprehend words and enables you to understand hundreds of new words even if you never seen them before.

Some words are combined to form a compound word.
For Example:

fountain-pen schoolboy salesman laughingstock outlook pickpocket homesick out-of-date good-for-nothing



Meaningful components and compound words are also fundamentals of constructing kanji characters and Japanese words as you see in the following discussions.

Kanji characters are comprised of pictographs (characters that evolved from pictures) and ideograms (meaningful characters).
Look at the following examples:

木 a character meaning tree or wood (as a material)
林 two trees meaning woods
森 three trees meaning forest
本 a mark at the foot of a tree meaning origin or book
束 a string around woods meaning bundle
巣 a bird nest in a tree meaning nest
果 a fruit in a tree meaning fruit
休 a person by a tree meaning to rest or holiday
机 wood and a pedestal meaning desk



The character 水, when it was developed in China from the shape of flowing water, meant "water" and was read as sui in Chinese. When this character was introduced to Japan, it was given another reading, mizu, which was the word for "water" in yamato-kotoba, the native Japanese language at that time was spoken only. (Yamato is the ancient name for Japan and kotoba means "a word" or "language.")

Almost all kanji characters have two different readings, an on-reading and a kun-reading.

The on-reading is the reading adapted from the ancient Chinese pronunciation, comparable with Greek and Latin. For example, the reading sui, for 水, is equivalent to hydro or aqua. In general, the on-reading is used to read sophisticated compound words of two or more kanji characters combined.

The kun-reading is the reading of the character's meaning in native Japanese, and is comparable with Anglo-Saxon. Mizu, for 水, is equivalent to "water." In general, the kun-reading is the reading of a single character, and the first reading that children learn.

Now observe the following:

水力 The second character means "power," and is chikara in kun-reading. The correct reading of the compound word, however, is sui-ryoku in on-reading, and it is equivalent to "hydraulic power." It is interesting to note that Japanese children, whose knowledge level is of kun-readings only, could still tell (although they cannot read correctly) that 水力 means "water power" by reading it mizu-no-chikara. On the other hand, English-speaking children would be completely lost when they saw the words "hydraulic power" for the first time, because it is impossible to associate hydro with "water."

水族館 Here the second character means "family" or "race" and the third character means "large building." So this compound word is pronounced sui-zoku-kan, and means "aquarium."



Knowledge of these meaningful kanji and kanji components helps you to comprehend words, and enables you to understand hundreds of new words even if you have no knowledge of their on-readings, or have never seen them before.

In addition, because of their visually comprehensible nature, the power of kanji, unlike kana or romaji, is that it can convey information more quickly to the reader. An understanding of kanji can therefore increase your reading speed, and enhance your comprehension of written matter tremendously.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember in CHAPTER 1 when I said that, as there are only 101 syllables to compose several hundred thousand Japanese words, we encounter quite a number of homonyms and heteronyms?
Let us examine an example:



This sentence could have any of these three meanings:
(a) The chopstick was broken.
(b) The bridge was broken.
(c) The edge was broken.

If the sentence was written in hiragana only, or in the conventional way of writing in romaji characters, as shown above, or if the sentence is spoken with no accent, we cannot distinguish between these three. Now carefully observe the difference in kanji and accent in symbols in the following.

(a) The chopstick was broken.

(b) The bridge was broken.

(c) The edge was broken.

Now you can see that the usage of kanji characters, 箸, 橋, 端, and the correct accent clearly eliminate any ambiguity that exists among the three sentences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I know what you want to ask next--

"How many kanji characters do I have to memorize?"

Well, my father, who was a newspaper editor, probably knew more than 20,000 characters. But this was before World War II. At the present time, daily use of kanji characters is limited to 1,945.

During the six years in which Japanese students attend elementary school, kanji characters are taught as follows







---------------
---------------

1,006 characters would cover more than 90% of kanji characters that appear in present-day newspapers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Explanation of reading the kanji:

The on'yomi is written in Katakana and the kun'yomi in Hiragana. The portion in parentheses is normally written in kana. The verbal and adjectival readings for the character are shown along with their English meanings too. When there is more than one reading, the English definitions are separated by semicolons.

From now on, these will be in Katakana and Hiragana so I suggest you learn them before you learn these because some things require usage of Kana so from now on, I have improved this.

It is best to know both Hiragana and Katakana before you study kanji. If you know the basics like ka-ga (かーが） and the like then it will be eaier to understand kanji because some words added with other words change.
Example:

sora= sky, ao-blue
Together they make aozora

The "s" becomes "z" because of the rule.

Chart:



Kanji colour code:

Orange- Number of Strokes
Purple- Kanji and Kana
Green- Romaji
Red- English
Indigo- Grade Learned in

Words with "・" mean that it is another word. Usually, one's ending with an "u" related kana is a verb, "i" are adjectives, and the rest are whatever.

Resources for Kanji/ Japanese:

Tuttle Kanji Cards Volume: 1, 2, 3, 4 Alexander Klask
-Teaches 1,945 kanji

Japanese Step by Step Gene Nishi
-Teaches Japanese using romaji, kana and kanji, and English

A Guide To Remembering Japanese Characters
- Teaches all 1945 kanji recquired by government

250 Kanji Volume 1, 2
Teaches Kanji in lessons for everyday life ie: eating out, skiing, university, subways ( written in Japanese kanji and kana, must know words and how to read and understand.)

Kanji A Day Practice Pad Volume 1
-365 Kanji, learn one a day (katakana and Hiragana recquired to read readings)

Sites:

Tuttle Publishing- Tuttle Publishing

Kanji Search Engine

Grade 2 -COMPLETED 160/160


2 Strokes


トウ、かたな
sword

太刀　たち long sword
木刀　ぼくとう wooden sword
名刀　めいとう famed sword
両刀　りょうとう both swords
薙刀　なぎなた pole sword

3 Strokes


ガン、まる、まる・い、まる・める
circle, round

丸い　まる・い round
丸　まる circle/ period
丸木　まるき log
日の丸　ひのまるJapanese flag
丸薬　がんやくpill
丸写し　まるうつ・しplagiarize


キュウ、ゆみ
bow

弓　ゆみ bow
弓矢　ゆみや bow and arrow
弓道　きゅうどう archery
弓場　ゆみば archery ground
弓形　ゆみがた／きゅうけい bow-shaped


サイ
ability, talent, years old

天才　てんさい genius
１才　いっさい one year old
３才　さんさい three years old
漫才　まんざい a two-man comedy act
才能　さいのう ability, talent


マン、バン
ten thousand, myriad, countless, all sorts of

万歳　ばんざい　Banzai! ＼(~o~)／
万国　ばんこく all countries
２万　にまん twenty thousand
万円　まんえん ten thousand yen
万引き　まんび・き shoplifting
万年筆　まんねんひつ fountain pen


コウ、ク
artisan, manufacturing, construction

工夫　くふう scheme, means, device
工事　こうじ construction
工場　こうば factory, mill
工業　こうぎょう industry

4 Strokes


イン、ひ・く、ひ・ける
pull, draw

引く　ひ・く to pull/attract
引ける　ひ・ける to
引っ張る　ひっぱ・る to pull
引っ越す　ひっこ・す to move (to a new home)
引力　いんりょくgravitation
取引　とりひき transaction


ギュウ、うし
cow, bull, ox

牛　うし cow
牛丼　ぎゅうどん Gyudon (food)
牛乳　ぎゅうにゅう cow's milk
牛肉　ぎゅうにく beef
牛耳る　ぎゅうじ・る to lead, command


ゲン、ガン、 もと
origin

身元　みもと identity, lineage
元気　げんき healthy
元日　がんじつ New Year's Day
中元　ちゅうげん summer gift-giving


コ、と
door, household

門戸　もんこ door
井戸　いど well (water)
戸棚　とだな cupboard
江戸　えど Edo (old name for Tokyo)


ゴ
noon

午後　ごご morning (A.M.)
午前　ごぜん afternoon(P.M.)
正午　しょうご noon
子午線　しごせん meridian (globe)


コウ、 おおやけ
public, fair

公園　こうえん park
公共　こうきょう community
公害　こうがい pollution


コン、キン、いま
now, present, this

今　いま now
今年　ことし this year
今回　こんかい this time
今晩　こんばん tonight
今日　きょう today
今朝　けさ this morning
今度　こんど this time


シ、と・める、と・まる、や・める、や・む、よ・す
stop

止まる　と・まる to stop
止める　と・める to stop
止める　や・める to stop, give up
止む　や・む to cease
止す　よ・す to desist from
中止　ちゅうし discontinue
停止　ていし suspension


ショウ、すこ・し、すく・ない
a little

少し　すこ・し a bit
少ない　すく・ない a few
少年　しょうねん boy
少女　しょうじょ girl
少々　しょうしょう a little
多少　たしょうmore or less


シン、 こころ
heart, mind, core

心　こころ mind, heart
心配　しんぱい anxiety
中心　ちいしん centre
決心　けっしん determination
初心者　しょしんしゃ beginner


セツ、サイ、き・る、き・れる
cut

切る　き・る to cut
切れる　き・れるto cut (well), run out of
大切　たいせつ important
親切　しんせつ kind
切腹　せっぷく Seppuku (ritual suicide)
腹切　はらきり Hara Kiri (ritual suicide)
切手　きって stamp
切符　きっぷ ticket


タイ、タ、ふと・い、ふと・る
great, thick

太い　ふと・い thick
太る　ふと・る to fatten
太陽　たいよう sun (light)
太字　ふとじ bold-faced lettering
太平洋　たいへいよう Pacific Ocean


ナイ、ダイ、 うち
inside, within, between, one's home, among

市内　しない city limits
案内　あんないguidance
内容　ないようsubstance
以内　いないwithin
国内　こくない domestic


フ、 ちち、（お）とう（さん）
father

お父さん　おとう・さん father (talking about others)
父　ちち father (your own)
父母　ふぼ
父親　ちちおやfather


ブン、フン、ブ、わ・かる、わ・ける、わ・かつ、わ・かれる
divide, part, minute, understand

分かる　わ・かる to understand
分ける　わ・ける to divide
分かれる　わ・かれる to branch off
分かつ　わ・かつ
一分　いっぷん one minute
五分　ごふん five minutes
部分　ぶぶん part
引き分け　ひきわ・け draw
気分　きぶん mood


ホウ、かた
direction, side, way

使い方　つかいかた how to use
方法　ほうほう method
一方　いっぽう one side
仕方　しかた way, means
両方　りょうほう both


モウ、け
hair, fur, wool

毛虫　けむし caterpillar
眉毛　まゆげ eyebrows
毛皮　けがわ fur


ユウ、とも
friend

友達　ともだち friend (used by kids)
友人　ゆうじん friend (used by adults)
親友　しんゆう close friend

5 Strokes


ガイ、ゲ、そと、ほか、はず・す、はず・せる
outside, foreign

外　そと outside
外す　はず・すto remove, take off
外れる　はず・れる to fail, lose, miss
外国人　がいこくじん foreigner
海外　かいがい overseas


ケイ、キョウ、あに、（お）にい（さん）
elder brother

兄弟　きょうだい brothers
兄　あに elder brother (yours)
お兄さん　おにい・さん elder brother (someone else's)


コ、ふる・い、ふる・す
old

古い　ふる・い old
古す　ふる・す to wear out
名古屋　なごや Nagoya (place)
古典　こてん classics
古本　ふるほん second-hand books
中古　ちゅうこ used


コウ、ひろ・い、ひろ、げる、ひろがる、ひろ・める、ほろ。まる
wide

広い　ひろ・い wide
広める　ひろ・める to spread
広まる　ひろ・まる to become widespread
広げる　ひろ・げる to widen
広がる　ひろ・がる to spread, extend
広告　こうこく advertisement
広場　ひろば plaza


シ、いち
city, town, market

市川　いちかわ Ishikawa (place)
私立　しりつ municipal city
市民　しみん citizen
都市　とし city


シ、や
arrow

矢印　やじるし indicating arrow
矢先　やさき arrowhead
矢面　やおもて facing oncoming arrows
毒矢　どくや poisoned arrow


ダイ、タイ
stand, platform, base, tableland, level, price range, counter for vehicles or machines, lilypad

天文台　てんもんだい observatory
台所　だいどころ kitchen
台風　たいふう typhoon


トウ, ふゆ
winter

冬休み　ふゆやす・み winter break
冬季　とうき winter season
冬空　ふゆぞら winter sky
冬着　ふゆぎ winter clothing


ハン, なか・ば
half, semi-, middle, partway

半年　はんとし half year
半分　はんぶん half minute
三時半　さんじはん 3:30


ボ、はは、（お）かあ（さん）
mother

母　はは mother (yours)
お母さん　おかあ・さん (someone else's)


ホク、ホッ、きた
north

北　きた north
北海道　ほっかいどう Hokkaido (Place)
東北　とうほくTohoku (place)


ヨウ、もち・いる
business, erand, use


to use

用いる　もち・いる to use
人名用　じんめいよう Jinmeiyou (name-use [kanji])
自家用車　じかようしゃ family car
使用　しよう use

6 Strokes


ウ、 は、はね、わ
feather, wing, (propeller) blade

羽　はね feather, wing
一羽　いちわ one bird
三羽　さんわ three bird


カイ、エ、まわ・る、まわ・す
turn, go around, times

回る　まわ・る to turn around, circulate
回す　まわ・すto turn, spin
二回　にかい two times
回る　まわ・る to turn around


カイ、エ、あ・う
meet, society

会う　あ・う to meet
会社員　かいしゃいん company employee
社会　しゃかい society
出会う　であ・う to encounter, meet
to introduce people to each other


コウ、ま・じる、ま・ぜる、ま・ざる、まじ・える、まじ・わる、 か・う、か・わす
intercourse, cross

交じる　ま・じる
交ぜる　ま・ぜる
交ざる　ま・ざる
交える　まじ・える
交わる　まじ・わる to mix with
交わす　か・わすto exchange
交差点　こうさてん intersection
交番　こうばん police box


コウ、ひかり、ひか・る
light

光　ひかり light
光る　ひか・る to shine, glitter
光沢　こうたくluster


コウ、かんが・える
think, consider

考える　かんが・える to consider


コウ、ギョウ、アン、い・く、ゆ・く、おこな・う
go, act, line

行く　い・く to go
行く　ゆ・く to go
行う　おこな・う to perform, conduct
見に行く　みにい・くto go watch
奈良行き　ならゆ・き bound for Nara


ゴウ、ガッ、カッ、あ・う、あ・わせる、あ・わす
combine, fit

合う　あ・う to fit, match, agree with
合わせる　あ・わせる to put together, combine
合わす　あ・わす


ジ, てら
temple

浅草寺　せんそうじ Sensoji temple
お寺　おてら temple


ジ、シ、みずか・ら
self

自ら　みずか・ら personally
自習　じしゅう self-study
自分　じゅぶん oneself


ショク、シキ、いろ、いろ・っぽい
colour

色々　いろいろ various
色っぽい　いろ・っぽい sexy
色　いろ colour
金色　きんいろ gold-coloured
黄色　きいろ yellow
茶色　ちいろ brown


セイ、サイ、にし
west

西　にしwest
西洋　せいようthe West
東西　とうざいEast and West


タ、おお・い[/
many

多い　おお・いmany
多分　たぶんprobably
多少　たしょう　a little
多量　たりょう large quantity


チ、ジ
earth, land

地震　じしん earthquake
地下鉄　ちかてつ subway train
地球　ちきゅう globe
地図　ちず map


チ、いけ
pond, reservoir

池田　いけだ Ikeda (name)
電池　でんち battery


トウ、あ・たる、あ・てる
hit, the present

本当　ほんとう really
当たる　あ・たる to hit, guess correctly
当てる　あ・てる to hit, guess correctly
当時　とうじ old days
当然　とうぜん naturally
当座　とうざtemporary
当番　とうばん　being on duty
不当　ふとう unfair
当惑　とうわく embarassment


ドウ、おな・じ
same

同じ　おな・じ same
同性愛　どうせいあい homosexuality
同性愛者　どうせいあいしゃ homosexual


にく
meat, flesh

肉　にく meat
肉屋　にくや meat shop


マイ、ベイ、 こめ
rice, America

米　こめ (uncooked) rice
米国　べいこく America


マイ
every, each

毎日　まいにち every day
毎週　まいしゅう every week
毎年　まいとし every year
毎度　まいど every time

7 Strokes

何
カ、 なに、なん
what, which

角
カク、 かど、つの
angle; corner; horn, antlers; hook

汽
キ
steam

近
キン
near

ちか・い、ちか・づく
near

形
ケイ、ギョウ、 かた、かたち
form, shape

言
ゲン、ゴン、 こと
word

い・う
to say, call

谷
コク、 たに、や
valley

作
サク、サ
work, production

つく・る
to make, compose, write

社
シャ、 やしろ
comapny, Shinto shrine

図
ズ、ト
drawing, diagram, plan

はか・る
to plan

声
セイ、ショウ、 こえ、こわ
voice

走
ソウ
run

はし・る
to run

体
タイ、テイ、 からだ
body, object, style, form

弟
テイ、ダイ、デ、 おとうと
younger brother, pupil, disciple

売
バイ
sales

う・る、う・れる
to sell; be in demand

麦
バク、 むぎ
wheat, barley, tye, oats

来
ライ
coming, next

く・る、き・たる、き・たす
to come; due to; cause; bring about

里
リ、さと
village, one's parents

8 Strokes

画
ガ、カク
picture, drawing, painting, (kanji) stroke

えが・く
to draw, paint, describe

岩
ガン、 いわ
rock

京
キョウ、ケイ、みやこ
capital, Tokyo, Kyoto, Beijing, metropolis

国
コク、くに
country, nation, one's native land

姉
シ、あね、（お）ねえ（さん）
elder sister

知
チ
know, information, knowledge

し・る
to know

妹
マイ、いもうと
younger sister

直
チョク、ジキ、ジカ
straight, upright, direct, immediate

なお・す、なお・る、ただ・ちに
to fix, correct; immediately, directly, in person

長
チョウ、おさ
long, chief, director

なが・い
long

歩
ホ、ブ、フ
step, pace, rate, pawn

ある・く、あゆ・む
to walk

東
トウ、ひがし
east

店
テン、みせ
store, shop

明
ミョウ、メイ、ミン
light, next, following, (Chinese) Ming Dynasty

あかるい、あ・ける、あ・かす、あか・らか
bright; to be open/visible; pass(the night). divulge, clear

門
カド、もん
gate

夜
ヤ、よ、よる
night

9 Strokes

科
カ
course of study, branch, department; fault, blame, actions, deportment

海
カイ、うみ
sea, ocean

活
カツ
life

い・きる、い・ける
to live, keep alive; arrange flowers

計
ケイ、
measure, metre, gauge

はか・る、はか・らう
to measure;arrange, dispose of

室
シツ、むろ
room, chamne, cellar, greenhouse

首
シュ、くび
neck, first, beginning, head

思
シ
think

おも・う
to think

後
ゴ、コウ、のち、あと
after, later, behind

うし・ろ、うく・れる
behind; be late, lag behind

秋
シュウ、あき
autumn, fall

春
シュン、はる
spring, sexuality

食
ショク、ジキ
food, eating

た・べる、く・う、く・らう
to eat, to feed, to feed on

星
セイ、ショウ、ほし
star

前
ゼン、まえ
front, before

茶
チャ、サ
tea, light brown

昼
チュウ、ひる
noon, daytime

点
テン
point

つ・く
to catch (fire)
南
ナン、ナ、みなみ
south

風
フウ、フ、かぜ、かざ
wind, style, appearance

夏
カ、ゲ、なつ
summer, (Chinese) Xia Dynasty

家
カ、ケ、いえ、や、うち
house, family, person, profession, shop

記
キ
record

しる・す
to write down, note

10 Strokes

原
ゲン、はら
original, fundamental, a plain, field

紙
シ、かみ
paper

時
ジ、とき
time, hour

高
コウ、たか
tall, expensive, high

たか・い、たか・める、たか・まる
tall, expensive; to rise, increase, raise, heighten

帰
キ
return

かえ・る、かえ・す
to return; send back

弱
ジャク
weak

よわ・い、よわ・める、よわ・まる
weak, less than; grow weak, make weak, become weak

通
ツウ、ツ
go through, pass, communicate, well versed in

とお・る、とお・す、かよ・う
to go through, let through; go back and forth, commute

馬
バ、うま、ま
horse

書
ショ
writing, books, notes, letters

か・く
to write, draw

魚
ギョ、さかな、うお
fish

11 Strokes

強
キョウ、ゴウ
strong

つよ・い、つよ・める・まる、し・いる
strong; make stronger, become stronger; force. compel

教
キョウ
teaching, religion

おし・える、おそ・わる
to teach; be taught

黒
コク、くろ
black

くろ・い、くろ・ばむ、くろ・ずむ、くろ・まる、くろ・める
black, to make black; become black

黄
コウ、オウ、き、こ
yellow

き・ばむ
to turn yellow

鳥
チョウ、とり
bird, chicken, fowl

細
サイ
narrow, small, fine

ほそ・い、ほそ・る、こま・かい、こま・か
thin; get thing; small; detailed

週
シュウ
week

雪
セツ、ゆき
snow

船
セン、ふね、ふな
ship

組
ソ、くみ
set, crew, company, group

く・む
to put together

野
ヤ、の
opposition, rustic, wild, field

理
リ
truth, reason, principal, justice

12 Strokes

雲
ウン、くも
cloud

絵
カイ、エ
picture

間
カン、ケン、あいだ、ま
interval, space between, among, space, pause, situation

場
ジョウ、ば
place

晴
セイ
clear

は・れる、は・らす
to clear up

朝
チョウ、あさ
morning, dynasty

答
トウ、こた・え
answer

こた・える
to answer

道
ドウ、トウ、みち
road, Pilosophpical way, Hokkaidou

買
バイ
buy, shopping

か・う
to buy

番
バン
number, order, keeping watch

13 Strokes

園
エン、その
garden

遠
エン、オン
far, distant, remote

とお・い
far away

楽
ラク、ガク
pleasure, comfort, ease, music

たの・しい、たの・しむ
enjoyable, fun; to enjoy, look forward to

新
シン、にい
new

あたら・しい、あら・た
new; fresh

数
スウ、ス、かず
number, several

かぞ・える
to count

電
デン
electricity

話
ワ、はなし
talk, conversation

はな・す
to speak

14 Strokes

歌
カ、うた
song, poem

うた・う
to sing, recite

語
ゴ
word

かた・る、かた・らう
to talk, relate; converse, chat

算
サン
calculation

読
ドク、トク、トウ
reading

よ・む
to read

聞
ブン、モン
hearing, listening

き・く、き・こえる
to hear, listen to; to be heard

鳴
メイ
animal's cry, howling, sing

な・く、な・る、な・らす
to cry (animal); sound; ring

15 Strokes

線
セン
line

16 Strokes

親
シン、おや
intimacy, parents

した・しい、した・しむ
intimate, close (friend); get to know better, become friendly with

頭
ズ、ト、トウ、あたま、かしら
head

18 Strokes

曜
ヨウ
day of the week, shine, light

顔
ガン、かお
face

reserved

reserved