MIT Lesson 18 Kanji: 第１８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:

合

Readings:

あ(う)/ゴウ

a/GOO

Meaning:

to match; to fit

Mnemonic:

Everybody in the assembly 会 says one uniformed opinion.

Usage Examples:

口に合う (くちにあう) suit one's taste

都合 (つごう) convenience

Printed form:

冷

Readings:

さ(める)/つめ(たい)

sa/tsume

Meaning:

cold; to freeze

Mnemonic:

"Ice" symbolized by the two strokes on the left. Unless you drink the tea now 今, it will get cold. [次(つぎ)"next"]

Usage Examples:

冷める (さめる) get cold

冷たい (つめたい) be cold

Printed form:

実

Readings:

ジツ

JITSU

Meaning:

truth; reality

Mnemonic:

Under the roof, there are three 三 persons 人.

Usage Examples:

実は (じつは) tell you the truth

Printed form:

世

Readings:

セ

SE

Meaning:

world

Mnemonic:

Three tens 十十十 (generations of people) all connected. Also, it looks just like hiragana せ, doesn't it?

Usage Examples:

世話 (せわ) cares

世話になる (せわになる) become under the care (of someone)

Printed form:

難

Readings:

むずか(しい)

muzuka

Meaning:

difficult

Mnemonic:

The most complicated kanji you have learned so far are 曜 and 漢. 難 is just the combination of the parts of those characters.

Usage Examples:

難しい (むずかしい) difficult

Printed form:

授

Readings:

ジュ

JU

Meaning:

to grant

Mnemonic:

The hand radical on the left and the kanji 受 "to recive". [持(も)"to carry"; 受(う)"to recieve"]

Usage Examples:

教授 (きょうじゅ) professor

授ぎょう (じゅぎょう) class

Printed form:

若

Readings:

わか(い)

waka

Meaning:

young

Mnemonic:

The right hand 右 holding young fresh grass. [花(はな)"folowers";茶(チャ)"tea";薬(くすり)"medicine"]

Usage Examples:

若い (わかい) young

Printed form:

覚

Readings:

おぼ(える)

obo

Meaning:

to memorize

Mnemonic:

You can remember things to learn 学 better if you actually see 見 them.

Usage Examples:

覚える (おぼえる) memorize

Printed form:

奥

Readings:

おく

oku

Meaning:

deep inside

Mnemonic:

Big amount 大 of rice grains 米 stored in the inner most part of the house. [米(こめ)"rice";料(リョウ)"ingredients"]

Usage Examples:

奥さん (おくさん) (your) wife

Printed form:

説

Readings:

セツ

SETSU

Meaning:

theory; to narrate

Mnemonic:

The word radical 言 and self-asserting older brother 兄. [話(はな-す)"to speak";読(よ-む)"to read"]

Usage Examples:

説明 (せつめい) explanation

Printed form:

色

Readings:

いろ

iro

Meaning:

color

Mnemonic:

A picture of a man sitting with his feet streched straight and his mouth open. [勉(ベン)"diligent"]

Usage Examples:

赤い色 (あかいいろ) red color

何色 (なにいろ) what color

Printed form:

島

Readings:

しま

shima

Meaning:

island

Mnemonic:

A rare bird 鳥 that can be seen only in the mountain 山 on an island.

Usage Examples:

小さい島 (ちいさいしま) small island

島田さん (しまださん) (Mr/Ms) Shimada

中島さん (なかじまさん) (Mr/Ms) Nakajima

Printed form:

松

Readings:

まつ

matsu

Meaning:

pine (See also L.18A Photographic Vocabulary Aid)

Mnemonic:

The tree radical 木 and the kanji 公 "public". [校(コウ)"school";林(はやし)"forest";杯(ハイ)"-cup(s)"]

Usage Examples:

古い松 (ふるいまつ) old pine tree

松田さん (まつださん) (Mr/Ms) Matsuda

小松さん (こまつさん) (Mr/Ms) Komatsu

Printed form:

竹

Readings:

たけ

take

Meaning:

bamboo (See also L.18A Photographic Vocabulary Aid)

Mnemonic:

Can you see the image of two bamboo stocks with leaves together?

Usage Examples:

竹下さん (たけしたさん) (Mr/Ms) Takeshita

大竹さん (おおたけさん) (Mr/Ms) Ootake

Printed form:

池

Readings:

いけ

ike

Meaning:

pond

Mnemonic:

The water radical on the left and a snake 也. [地(チ)"ground"]

Usage Examples:

池の水 (いけのみず) water in the pond

池田さん (いけださん) (Mr/Ms) Ikeda

小池さん (こいけさん) (Mr/Ms) Koike

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