MIT Lesson 12 Kanji: 第12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:
Readings:
カン
KAN
Meaning:
Han dynasty
Mnemonic:
The kanji came to Japan at the time of Hay dynasty in China. The water radical on the left, the grass symbol on top, mouth 口 and multiple men 夫.
Usage Examples:
漢字 (かんじ) Chinese characters

Printed form:
Readings:
JI
Meaning:
letter; character
Mnemonic:
There is a child learning alphabets under the roof.
Usage Examples:
すう字 (すうじ) numbers

Printed form:
Readings:
い(う)
i
Meaning:
to say
Mnemonic:
Sound waves coming out from the mouth 口.
Usage Examples:
言う (いう) say
言って下さい (いってください) Please say it.

Printed form:
Readings:
よ(む)
yo
Meaning:
to read
Mnemonic:
The word radical 言 and the kanji 売 "to sell".
Usage Examples:
読む (よむ) read
読みました (よみました) (I) read it.
読んでいます (よんでいます) (I'm) reading it.

Printed form:
Readings:
えき
eki
Meaning:
station
Mnemonic:
Horse 馬 and measurement 尺.  
Usage Examples:
駅 (えき) station
東京駅 (とうきょうえき) Tokyo Station

Printed form:
Readings:
ベン
BEN
Meaning:
self-exertion
Mnemonic:
Power 力 to draw out 免. [男(おとこ)"man"]
Usage Examples:
勉強 (べんきょう) study

Printed form:
Readings:
つよ(い)/キョウ
tsuyo/KYOO
Meaning:
strong
Mnemonic:
Bow 弓 and insect 虫 under your nose ム!
Usage Examples:
強い (つよい) strong

Printed form:
Readings:
もう(す)
moo
Meaning:
to say (humbly)
Mnemonic:
Words passing through the lips 日. [中(ちゅう)"middle"]
Usage Examples:
申す (もうす) say (humbly)
申しわけない (もうしわけない) I'm sorry.

Printed form:
Readings:
ヨウ
YOO
Meaning:
matters to attend to
Mnemonic:
This business nees many moons 月 to complete.
Usage Examples:
用事 (ようじ) matters to attend to

Printed form:
Readings:
ギン
GIN
Meaning:
silver
Mnemonic:
I am going to the bank to get money 金 to buy some food 食.
Usage Examples:
銀行 (ぎんこう) bank

Printed form:
Readings:
CHI
Meaning:
ground
Mnemonic:
A snake 也 crawling on the ground 土.
Usage Examples:
地図 (ちず) map

Printed form:
Readings:
ZU
Meaning:
map; to plan
Mnemonic:
A square piece of paper with roads and buildings indicated.
Usage Examples:
() map

Printed form:
Readings:
バン
BAN
Meaning:
numerical order
Mnemonic:
Scattering rice grains 米 over rice fields 田.
Usage Examples:
番号 (ばんごう) number

Printed form:
Readings:
ゴウ
GOO
Meaning:
numerical designation
Mnemonic:
You have just been called out 口, "No. 5 person, please come in."
Usage Examples:
電話番号 (でんわばんごう) telephone number

New Readings:
中田さん (なかたさん/なかださん) (Mr/Ms) Nakata/Nakada
明日 (みょうにち/あした) tomorrow
明後日 (みょうごにち/あさって) the day after tomorrow
後ほど (のちほど) later

[J3 Kanji] [Japanese 3]