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:
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:
Readings:
とり
tori
Meaning:
bird
Mnemonic:
A picture of a bird.
Usage Examples:
鳥 (とり) bird

Printed form:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Readings:
リョウ
RYOO
Meaning:
material; fee
Mnemonic:
A measuring cup 斗 and raw rice 米.
Usage Examples:

Printed form:
Readings:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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]