MIT Lesson 15 Kanji: 第１５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:
- 洋
- Readings:
- ヨウ
- YOO
- Meaning:
- western
- Mnemonic:
- The water radical on the left and a character for "sheep" 羊.
- Usage Examples:
- 洋食 (ようしょく) Western-style meal
- 洋室 (ようしつ) Western-style room
- Printed form:
- 鳥
- Readings:
- とり
- tori
- Meaning:
- bird
- Mnemonic:
- A picture of a bird.
- Usage Examples:
- 鳥 (とり) bird
- Printed form:
- 魚
- Readings:
- さかな
- sakana
- Meaning:
- fish
- Mnemonic:
- A picture of fish.
- Usage Examples:
- 魚 (さかな) fish
- 魚屋 (さかなや) fish store
- Printed form:
- 肉
- Readings:
- にく
- niku
- Meaning:
- meat
- Mnemonic:
- A sletch of a lump of meat with threads. (内 inside)
- Usage Examples:
- 肉 (にく) meat
- 肉屋 (にくや) butcher
- Printed form:
- 物
- Readings:
- もの
- mono
- Meaning:
- thing; object
- Mnemonic:
- A cow 牛 and a pig 豚. They are precious things to farmers.
- Usage Examples:
- 食べ物 (たべもの) food
- 飲み物 (のみもの) beverage
- 買い物 (かいもの) shopping
- Printed form:
- 海
- Readings:
- カイ/うみ
- KAI/umi
- Meaning:
- sea
- Mnemonic:
- The sea is the place where every 毎 drop of water flows into.
The sea is also Mother 母 of living things.
- Usage Examples:
- 海 (うみ) sea
- Printed form:
- 特
- Readings:
- トク
- TOKU
- Meaning:
- special
- Mnemonic:
- A special cow 牛 kept at a temple 寺.
- Usage Examples:
- 特上 (とくじょう) super-deluxe (sushi)
- Printed form:
- 持
- Readings:
- も-
- mo-
- Meaning:
- hold
- Mnemonic:
- The hand radical on the left and a temple 寺. (時 time; 待つ wait; 特
special)
- Usage Examples:
- 持つ (もつ) to hold
- 持って行く (もっていく) to take with oneself
- 持って来る (もってくる) to bring with oneself
- Printed form:
- 天
- Readings:
- テン
- TEN
- Meaning:
- heaven
- Mnemonic:
- A big man 大 under the heaven.
- Usage Examples:
- 天ぷら (てんぷら) tempura
- Printed form:
- 米
- Readings:
- こめ/ベイ
- kome/BEE
- Meaning:
- rice; America
- Mnemonic:
- A few grains together.
- Usage Examples:
- 米 (こめ) uncooked rice
- 米国 (べいこく) U.S.A.
- Printed form:
- 料
- Readings:
- リョウ
- RYOO
- Meaning:
- material; fee
- Mnemonic:
- A measuring cup 斗 and raw rice 米.
- Usage Examples:
- Printed form:
- 理
- Readings:
- リ
- RI
- Meaning:
- reason; basic principle
- Mnemonic:
- A king 王 of a village 里 who makes orders. (野 field)
- Usage Examples:
- 料理 (りょうり) cooking
- 日本料理 (にほんりょうり) Japanese food
- Printed form:
- 全
- Readings:
- ゼン
- ZEN
- Meaning:
- whole; total
- Mnemonic:
- A ruling king 王 in a castle with a pointed roof.
- Usage Examples:
- 全部 (ぜんぶ) all
- Printed form:
- 好
- Readings:
- す- (su-) like; favorable
- Mnemonic:
- Mother and child. They love each other.
- Usage Examples:
- 好きだ (すきだ) (I) like (something).
- Printed form:
- 杯
- Readings:
- ハイ/バイ/パイ
- HAI/BAI/PAI
- Meaning:
- (classifier -cupfuls)
- Mnemonic:
- 不 means "negative"--the wine is not yet drunk in a wooden cup.
- Usage Examples:
- 一杯 (いっぱい) one cup
- Printed form:
- 初
- Reading:
- ショ／はじ／はつ
- SYO/hazi/hatu
- Meaning:
- beginning, first time
- Usage Examples:
- 初め（はじめ：beginning)
- 初めて (はじめて: For the first time)
- 初級（しょきゅう：beginner class)
- 初日（しょにち：first day)
- 初雪 (first snow of the season)
- Printed form:
- 連
- Reading:
- レン／つ（れる）
- REN/tu(reru)
- Meaning:
- take someone along, be connected with
- Usage Examples:
- 連れて行く（つれていく：take someone)
- 連絡する (れんらく：make contact)
- 連休（れんきゅう：consecutive holiday)
- Printed form:
- 君
- Reading:
- クン／きみ
- KUN/kimi
- Meaning:
- mister (familiar), you (familiar)
- Usage Examples:
- 田中君（たなかくん：Mr. Tanaka)
- それ、君（きみ）の車？(Is that your car? �Ecasual)
- New Readings:
- 何名 (なんめい) how many people
- 外の店 (ほかのみせ) other stores
- 国 (くに) country; your hometown
- めし上がる (めしあがる) to eat; to drink (honorific)
[J3 Kanji]
[Japanese 3]