Read Japanese Today Kanji Index
(sorted by Reading)

Reading Kanji Meaning Mnemonic Page #
a 亜 hunchback, less-than-best two hunchbacks facing each other 127
abu(nai) 危 dangerous man looking over cliff at friend who lies below 124
abura 油 oil 48
a(garu) 上 up, above, atop, to go up, to give, to put up 44
a(geru) 上 up, above, atop, to go up, to give, to put up 44
aida 間 interval, space, space between, time between sun shining through the space between the gates 85
aka 赤 red flame below the earth 123
Akadama 赤玉 Red-ball Wine, oldest domestic wine 129
aka(i) 赤 red flame below the earth 123
aka(rui) 明 bright 50
a(keru) 開 to open two hands removing the bar from the gate 87
aki 秋 autumn burning rice 121
akita 秋田 Japanese dog breed burning field dog 121
akka 悪化 to worsen bad-change 128
aku 悪 bad hunchback + heart 128
ame 雨 rain 148
amerikashiki アメリカ式 american style 119
an 安 peace, cheap, inexpensive a woman under a roof 101
anzen daiichi 安全第一 Safety First all-tranquil number one 131
ao 青 blue, green moon rising through foliage 123
ao(i) 青 blue, green moon rising through foliage 123
arasou 争 struggle, dispute 63
a(ru) 有 to have, to exist hand holding meat 58
asa 朝 morning two-flower-sun 52
ashi 足 leg, foot 67
ashioto 足音 footstep 70
atara(shii) 新 new each new stand of timber will be cut 115
a(u) 会 to meet, meeting two noses under one roof 139
azuma 東 east sun behind tree 28
ba 馬 horse 88
ba 場 place where things happen ground, sun, and flags 114
bai 買 to buy gather shells with a net 83
bai 売 to sell coming out of buying 83
baibai 売買 trade buy-sell 83
baiten 売店 stall at station or park 94
ban 番 -number, to guard wild beast's footprint 105
baniku 馬肉 Horsemeat 88
bannin 番人 watchman 105
basha 馬車 carriage 88
bei 米 uncooked rice, America bundled rice stalks 54
beigun 米軍 American Army 79
beikoku 米国 America 130
beikokujin 米国人 American 130
bekkan 別館 annex separate-building 138
ben 便 mail, departure, convienence, feces man standing by a horse ready to mount 89
betsu 別 to separate, separate knife separating flesh from bones 113
betsukan 別館 annex separate-building 138
bi 美 beautiful you know, like a big sheep 100
bijin 美人 beautiful woman 100
bin 便 mail, departure, convienence, feces man standing by a horse ready to mount 89
bo 母 mother 31
boin 母音 vowel mother-sound 70
bou 帽 -hat a man measuring cloth to shield the eyes from the sun 71
boushi 帽子 hat 71
bun 聞 to ask, to hear ear at gate 85
buta 豚 pig meat + pig 100
butsu 物 things, articles cow +elephant 96
chi 千 thousand ten + men 107
chi 知 to know arrow-speaking 109
chii(sai) 小 small man with arms down at sides 34
chiji 知事 governor know-things 109
chijin 知人 acquaintance 109
chikai 近 nearby, close hacksaw taking off some of the movement 115
chikara 力 power, strength hand pushing down 30
chimei 知名 well-known 109
chou 町 town, section of a ward 41
chou 丁 unit of measure 41
chou 長 long, senior (long service) old man w/cane, hair blowing in wind 127
choujo 長女 eldest daughter 127
choukan 長官 chief of a government bureau 138
chounan 長男 eldest son 127
chu 駐 to stop or stay leave your horse at a dwelling 133
chugoku 中国 region of Japan around Hiroshima 130
chuu 中 middle, inside 37
chuu 注 to pour, to concentrate put water on the altar flame 132
chuugoku 中国 China 130
chuui 注意 pay attention, be careful, beware concentrate-your-mind-on 132
chuukan 中間 midway middle-between 86
chuukohin 中古品 secondhand goods middle old goods 40
chuuou 中央 middle, center 38
chuuritsu 中立 neutral 37
chuusha 駐車 park your car 133
chuushajou 駐車場 parking lot 133
chuushakinshi 駐車禁止 No Parking 145
chuushi 中止 suspended, cancelled 67
da 田 rice paddy 30
dai 大 big man with arms outstretched 33
dai 第 -ordinal bamboo abacus 106
dai 代 to replace, replacement, substitute, renewal in war, an axe can sometimes replace a man 116
daiichi 第一 first 106
daiku 大工 carpenter 57
daishoya 代書屋 scribe replace-write-tradesman 117
dan 男 male, man rice paddy + power 30
de 出 to come out 53
deguchi 出口 exit 53
den 電 lightning, electricity lightning amidst the rain 149
denki 電気 electricity electric energy 150
denryoku 電力 electric power 149
densen 電線 electric line 149
densha 電車 train 149
denwa 電話 telephone electric-speaking 149
de(ru) 出 to come out 53
do 土 earth, place 52
doboku 土木 civil engineering 52
doki 土器 earthenware 105
doku 読 to read to sell speaking 83
doku 毒 poison leaves + mother (?) 123
dou 動 to move power applied to heaviness 81
dou 働 to work add man to move 82
dou 同 same house with everyone speaking from a single mouth 136
eda 枝 branch of a tree branch + tree 64
ei 映 to reflect an image on, to be reflected on 39
eiga 映画 movie 39
eki 駅 station man with a shovel next to his horse 89
ekichou 駅長 station chief 127
en 炎 flame two fires 120
en 煙 smoke fire on the ground blown by the prevailing west wind 121
fu 不 anti-, not-, in-, un- bird flying up but blocked 95
fuben 不便 inconvenient 95
fumei 不明 unclear 95
fun 分 to divide into parts, minute, to understand knife cutting in two 111
furi 不利 unprofitable 113
furu(i) 古 old many mouths 40
fuyu 冬 winter icicles hanging from eaves 104
ga 画 picture, boundary 39
gai 外 outside, outdoors, besides evening-divining rod 49
gai 街 avenue crossroads widened with earth 77
gaijin 外人 foreigner 129
gaikoku 外国 foreign country 129
gaikokujin 外国人 foreigner 129
gakki 楽器 musical instrument music-utensil 146
gaku 学 to learn place where knowledge is put in children 63
gaku 楽 enjoyment, music chinese drum and cymbal set 146
gatsu 月 moon, month 48
gawa 川 river 35
ge 下 down, below, beneath, to go down, to put down, to give 44
geshuku 下宿 boardinghouse lower-hotel 107
gesui 下水 sewage down-water 45
getsu 月 moon, month 48
gin 銀 silver two people eyeball to eyeball plus gold 151
ginkou 銀行 bank silver-go 151
Ginza 銀座 Silver-seat (Tokyo shopping area) 152
go 五 five 35
go 語 language said by many 44
(go)shujin 主人 husband 132
gu 宮 shrine, place one-story palace 134
guchi 口 mouth, opening 37
gun 軍 military cart with iron bumper on front 79
gunjin 軍人 military person 79
gyuu 牛 cow, cattle 95
gyuuniku 牛肉 beef 95
gyuunyuu 牛乳 cow's milk 97
ha 歯 teeth 73
hai(ru) 入 to put in, to enter 36
haka(ru) 計 to count, to measure 42
hako(bu) 運 to transport, to carry, fate, destiny, luck the (armored) cart goes 79
haku 白 white single grain of rice 55
han 反 against, anti- 66
hana 鼻 nose 73
hana 花 flower plants + changing form 125
hanabi 花火 fireworks flower flames 126
hana(su) 話 to talk to talk requires more than to say 43
hanaya 花屋 flower shop 125
hane 羽 wings 29
hango 反語 irony 66
hankyou 反共 anti-communist 66
hatara(ku) 働 to work add man to move 82
haya(i) 早 early, fast, quick flower-sun 51
hayashi 林 woods 55
hei 閉 to close a gate with the bar firmly in place 87
hi 日 sun, day 27
hi 火 fire-related 120
hi 比 to compare two men facing the same way 126
hibiya 日比谷 park in Tokyo comparative-sun-valley 126
hidari 左 left hand holding ruler 57
higashi 東 east sun behind tree 28
hika(ri) 光 rays of light, to shine, to sparkle 51
hika(ru) 光 rays of light, to shine, to sparkle 51
hi(ku) 引 to pull bow and arrow 108
hin 品 goods 40
hinshitsu 品質 quality of goods 116
hira(ku) 開 to open two hands removing the bar from the gate 87
hito 人 person, species mankind 32
hitsuji 羊 sheep 97
hoka 外 outside, outdoors, besides evening-divining rod 49
hokkai 北海 north sea (of Japan) 126
hoku 北 north two men back-to-back 126
hon 本 root, origin, book bottom of tree 28
hon 本 root, origin, book bottom of tree 28
honkan 本館 main building 138
honou 炎 flame two fires 120
honten 本店 main store 94
hou 宝 treasure jewel under a roof 130
houseki 宝石 jewels (more elegant than tama) 130
hyaku 百 hundred one bag of rice weighs a hundred pounds 107
i 意 mind, spirit, feelings, thoughts sound of the heart 71
i 医 doctor pull-arrow-out-of-chest 109
ichi 一 one 34
ichiban 一番 the best, number one 105
ichibariki 一馬力 One horsepower 88
ie 家 house originally pig-house, now all 101
ikebana 生花 Japanese flower arranging living flowers 126
i(ku) 行 to go crossroads 77
in 音 sound when the sun rises the sound of life begins 70
in 員 -employee man-who-speaks-of-money 83
in 引 to pull bow and arrow 108
in 飲 to drink, beverage eat + person w/open mouth 137
inryoku 引力 gravity pulling-power 108
inu 犬 dog 104
inugoya 犬小屋 doghouse dog-small-house 104
i(reru) 入 to put in, to enter 36
iriguchi 入口 entrance 53
iro 色 color, things erotic peeping tom on roof 124
irome 色目 make eyes at 124
ishi 石 stone hold up against the hill 47
iso(gu) 急 to hurry, sudden, urgent, emergency two hands held over the heart 71
itaru 至 to arrive (archaic) bird diving to ground 92
ito 糸 thread silkworm's coccoon 101
i(u) 言 to say mouth speaking its lines 42
izumi 泉 natural spring white (=pure) water 102
ji 寺 temple law-place 60
ji 時 time, hour sundial at temple 61
ji 持 to have, to hold, to own temple-handed 61
ji 事 thing, happening, affair brush up, ready for anything 65
ji 自 -self also picture of nose 73
ji 次 next man w/open mouth + 2 137
jichou 次長 assistant chief 137
jidousha 自動車 automobile self-move-car 81
jiji 時事 current events time-things 65
jikai 次回 next time, Playing Next next around 137
jikan 時間 time 85
jikan 次官 assistant chief 138
jin 人 person, species mankind 32
jin 神 god sacrificial altar plus god in the center of the sun 144
jinguu 神宮 important shinto shrine 144
jinja 神社 shinto shrine god-shrine 144
jinji 人事 personnel (department) 65
jinkou 人工 man-made 57
jo 女 female, woman 31
jo 上 up, above, atop, to go up, to give, to put up 44
jo 所 place door + hacksaw 113
jochuu 女中 housemaid 38
jooeichuu 上映中 Now Playing 45
jou 場 place where things happen ground, sun, and flags 114
ju 受 to receive 62
juu 十 ten 35
juu 重 heavy man with heavy pack (or, cart with doubled wheels) 81
juu 住 to live, to dwell man is the master of his dwelling 133
juubun 十分 enough (note special pronounciation) 112
juuendama 十円玉 10-yen coin 129
juusho 住所 address dwell-place 133
ka 果 fruit, result (fruit of your effort) tree bearing fruit 55
ka 菓 confectionary-related with bushes 56
ka 家 house originally pig-house, now all 101
ka 火 fire-related 120
ka 化 change from one form to another person standing + person seated 125
ka 花 flower plants + changing form 125
kabu 株 tree-stump, stock (as in shares) two trees (see book) 142
kabukiza かぶき座 Kabuki theater 152
kabunushi 株主 stockholder stock-master 143
kabushiki kaisha 株式会社 corporation (abbreviated K.K.) stock-style association-undertaking 142
kagaku 化学 chemistry change-study 125
kai 街 avenue crossroads widened with earth 77
kai 回 to turn, to rotate, counter for times 78
kai 貝 shell (seashell) 82
kai 開 to open two hands removing the bar from the gate 87
kai 海 sea every water 100
kai 会 to meet, meeting two noses under one roof 139
kai 階 -floor, -rank, -grade everybody in a terrace 147
kaichou 会長 meeting chief 140
kaiin 会員 members of the meeting, member 140
kaijou 海上 maritime on-the-sea 100
kaijou 会場 meeting place 139
kaikan 会館 meeting hall 138
kaimono 買物 shopping 96
kaisha 会社 company, firm 141
kaishoku 会食 banquet, dinner party 140
kaiwa 会話 conversation meet-speak 140
kaji 火事 fire, "Fire!" fire-affair 120
ka(ku) 書 to write, written things hand holding brush to paper 64
kami 神 god sacrificial altar plus god in the center of the sun 144
kan 間 interval, space, space between, time between sun shining through the space between the gates 85
kan 関 barrier barrier at the gate 86
kan 官 bureaucrat, government employee man with full belly sleeping under a roof 138
kan 館 -meeting hall, public building bureaucrat + eat (official residence) 138
kane 金 metal, ore, gold, money lots of ore in the ground under a mound 150
kansai 関西 Western Japan west of the barrier 86
kantou 関東 Eastern Japan east of the barrier 86
karada 体 body body-root 56
kasa 傘 umbrella people under umbrella 148
ka(shi) 貸 to lend, to rent replace goods for money 118
kashi 菓子 candy 56
kashishitsu uketsukechuu 貸室受付中 office for rent 118
ka(su) 貸 to lend, to rent replace goods for money 118
katana 刀 knife, sword 111
katsu 活 life, energy water-tongue 44
ka(u) 買 to buy gather shells with a net 83
kawa 川 river 35
ka(waru) 代 to replace, replacement, substitute, renewal in war, an axe can sometimes replace a man 116
kazan 火山 volcano 120
ke 毛 -hair 73
ke 化 change from one form to another person standing + person seated 125
kei 京 capital, capital district lantern 29
kei 計 to count, to measure 42
Keiou 京王 Capital King (department store name) 128
Keiousen 京王線 Railroad line that runs west from Shinjuku 128
keito 毛糸 woolen thread 101
keshou 化粧 makeup change paint 125
keshouhin 化粧品 makeup 125
keshoushitsu 化粧室 powder room 125
ki 木 tree, wood 27
ki 器 -ware or -vessel four mouths around a dog (from when dogmeat was a delicacy) 104
ki 危 dangerous man looking over cliff at friend who lies below 124
ki 気 spirit, energy vapor +rice for life 150
ki 汽 steam water + vapor 150
ki(ku) 聞 to ask, to hear ear at gate 85
kin 近 nearby, close hacksaw taking off some of the movement 115
kin 禁 prohibition don't enter the (king's) holy forest 144
kin 金 metal, ore, gold, money lots of ore in the ground under a mound 150
kindai 近代 modern times 117
kinen 禁煙 No Smoking 145
kingyo 金魚 goldfish 150
kinjitsu koukai 近日公開 Opening Soon near-days-public-opening 115
kinjo 近所 neighborhood 115
kinko 金庫 safe money-storehouse 151
kintou 近東 Middle East near east 115
kinyoubi 金曜日 Friday 150
kisha 汽車 train (steam train) 150
kita 北 north two men back-to-back 126
kitai 気体 gas (i.e., not solid or liquid) vapor-body 150
ko 子 child 33
ko 小 small man with arms down at sides 34
ko 古 old many mouths 40
ko 庫 -shed cart under roof 79
koinu 子犬 puppy 104
kokoro 心 heart 69
kokorozuke 心付 tip (advice), tip (gratuity) 70
koku 黒い black window darkened by soot from a fire 122
koku 国 country, nation jewel in a boundary 129
kokuhou 国宝 national treasure 130
kokunai 国内 domestic inside-country 135
kokuou 国王 king 129
kokusai 国際 international country-boundary 147
kome 米 uncooked rice, America bundled rice stalks 54
koo 工 -build, -builder ruler 57
Koochi 高知 Lofty-Wisdom (prefecture on Shikoku) 134
koto 事 thing, happening, affair brush up, ready for anything 65
kou 口 mouth, opening 37
kou 光 rays of light, to shine, to sparkle 51
kou 公 public split-nose, not private 74
kou 行 to go crossroads 77
kou 高 high, expensive, high-quality two-story palace 133
kouba 工場 factory build-place 114
kouin 工員 factory hand 83
kouji 工事 construction 65
koujichuu 工事中 Under Construction 65
koujou 工場 factory 114
koujouchou 工場長 factory manager 127
kousen 光線 light beams 103
koushi 子牛 calf 95
ku 区 district, section, ward 41
ku 工 -build, -builder ruler 57
kuchi 口 mouth, opening 37
kuni 国 country, nation jewel in a boundary 129
kura(beru) 比 to compare two men facing the same way 126
kuro(i) 黒い black window darkened by soot from a fire 122
kuruma 車 car, cart 78
kusuri 薬 medicine pleasure + plants 146
kusuriya 薬屋 pharmacy 146
kyou 京 capital, capital district lantern 29
kyou 協 to join together, to unite 35
kyou 共 together 63
Kyoudou 共同 Together-Same (news service name) 136
kyoukai 協会 association, society 140
kyouritsuu 共立 cooperative, joint, common 63
kyouryoku 協力 cooperation 35
kyouwakoku 共和国 republic joint peace country 129
kyuu 休 to rest person leaning against tree 56
kyuu 急 to hurry, sudden, urgent, emergency two hands held over the heart 71
kyuukou 急行 express hurry-go 77
ma 間 interval, space, space between, time between sun shining through the space between the gates 85
machi 町 town, section of a ward 41
machi 町 town, section of a ward 41
mai 毎 every every man has a mother 32
mamo(ru) 守 to guard, to protect law under a roof 59
man 万 ten thousand from the hindu (backwards) swastika 108
mana(bu) 学 to learn place where knowledge is put in children 63
ma(tsu) 待 to wait go to the temple and wait 77
matsu 松 pine tree public tree 74
matsuri 祭 festival hand holding meat over altar 145
mawaru 回 to turn, to rotate, counter for times 78
mawasu 回 to turn, to rotate, counter for times 78
me 目 eye 71
medama 目玉 eyeball 129
medamayaki 目玉焼き sunny side up eggs eyeball-style-food 129
mei 名 name call out the name in the evening 49
mei 明 bright 50
meibutsu 名物 souvenier name-article 96
meigaza 名画座 art theater masterpiece-theater 151
meijin 名人 famous person name-person 50
migi 右 right (the direction) hand and mouth 58
mihon 見本 sample see-original 72
mimi 耳 ear 72
mina 皆 everyone me plus two other men 147
minarai 見習 apprentice, on-the-job-trainee see-learn 74
minna 皆 everyone me plus two other men 147
mi(ru) 見 to see eye on a man 72
mise 店 shop long-nosed clerk under a lean-to 94
miya 宮 shrine, place one-story palace 134
Miyakawa 宮川 Shrine-river (family name) 135
Miyamoto 宮本 Shrine-origin (family name) 135
Miyashita 宮下 Below-shrine (family name) 135
mizu 水 water squeeze a river 36
mizu 水 water squeeze a river 36
mo 毛 -hair 73
moku 木 tree, wood 27
mokuba 木馬 wooden horse (carousel or Trojan) 88
mon 門 gate 84
monban 門番 gatekeeper 105
mono 物 things, articles cow +elephant 96
monogatari 物語 stories, tales tell-things 96
mori 森 forest 55
moto 本 root, origin, book bottom of tree 28
mo(tsu) 持 to have, to hold, to own temple-handed 61
mu 無 nothing what's left after you burn a bundle of grass 121
mukuchi 無口 taciturn, silent 122
mura 村 village jungle + law = village 59
musen 無線 wireless 122
musensha 無線車 taxi with a radio 122
na 名 name call out the name in the evening 49
naga(i) 長 long, senior (long service) old man w/cane, hair blowing in wind 127
nai 無 nothing what's left after you burn a bundle of grass 121
nai 内 entered, inside, within, during, among house + enter 135
naikai 内海 inland sea 135
naka 中 middle, inside 37
naka 中 middle, inside 37
nama 生 raw, draft (for beer) 54
nara(u) 習 to learn fly-on-your-own-wings 73
nashi 無 nothing what's left after you burn a bundle of grass 121
ni 二 two 34
nichi 日 sun, day 27
Nichibei Kyoukai 日米協会 Japan-America Society 140
nihon 日本 Japan (the country) sun-origin 28
Nihon Ginkou 日本銀行 Bank of Japan 151
Nihon Kokunai 日本国内 Japan's (former) domestic airways 136
nihonga 日本画 Japanese-style painting 39
nihonkai 日本海 Japan Sea 100
nihonma 日本間 Japanese-style room room = space between walls 86
nihonshiki 日本式 japanese style 119
nihonshu 日本酒 Japanese sake 110
niku 肉 meat 58
nikuya 肉屋 Butcher's shop 93
nin 人 person, species mankind 32
Ninomiya 二宮 Second-shrine (town on the Tokkaido) 135
nippon 日本 Japan (the country) sun-origin 28
nishi 西 west bird returning to nest at dusk 91
nishinihon 西日本 far west Japan 91
nitchuu 日中 in the daytime 37
nomimizu 飲水 drinking water (potable water) 137
nomimono 飲物 beverages 137
no(mu) 飲 to drink, beverage eat + person w/open mouth 137
nyuu 入 to put in, to enter 36
nyuu 乳 milk hand holding a bottle against a breast 97
nyuumon 入門 elementary, primer entrance gate 84
o 小 small man with arms down at sides 34
(o)kaa(san) 母 mother 31
oki(i) 大 big man with arms outstretched 33
oku(ru) 送 to send to transport around the barrier 80
omo(i) 重 heavy man with heavy pack (or, cart with doubled wheels) 81
on 音 sound when the sun rises the sound of life begins 70
on 温 warm sun warming water on a plate 102
ona(ji) 同 same house with everyone speaking from a single mouth 136
ongaku 音楽 music sound-music 146
(o)nii(san) 兄 older brother 76
onna 女 female, woman 31
onsen 温泉 hot springs 102
onshitsu 温室 greenhouse, hothouse warm-room 103
oo 王 king holding together heaven, man, and earth 128
oo(i) 多 many many moons 50
Oomiya 大宮 Big-shrine (Tokyo area) 135
o(ru) 折 to bend, to turn, to fold, to crease hand + hacksaw 114
oto 音 sound when the sun rises the sound of life begins 70
otoko 男 male, man rice paddy + power 30
ou 大 big man with arms outstretched 33
ou 央 exact middle 38
oukoku 王国 kingdom 129
oumizu 大水 flood 36
owari 終 to end, ending the "winter" of a thread 104
owaru 終 to end, ending the "winter" of a thread 104
raku 楽 enjoyment, music chinese drum and cymbal set 146
ri 利 profit cutting the rice (or pie) 112
riki 力 power, strength hand pushing down 30
rikou 利口 clever, smart, shrewd profit-mouth 113
rimawari 利回 yearly interest paid on bonds profit-go-round 113
ritsu 立 to stand, standing 34
ryoku 力 power, strength hand pushing down 30
sa 左 left hand holding ruler 57
sai 西 west bird returning to nest at dusk 91
sai 際 boundary, border edge of the festival 147
saka 坂 hill 66
sakaba 酒場 bar (traditional) 110
sakana 魚 fish 101
sakanaya 魚屋 fish monger 93
sakaya 酒屋 liquor store 110
sake 酒 alcohol jar containing alcohol plus water to show the jar is full 110
san 三 three 34
san 山 mountain 46
Sannou 山王 Mountain King (hotel name) 128
sara 皿 plate, dish 102
sasetsu 左折 left turn 114
sei 生 life 54
sei 正 righteous, correct, upright, legitimate toe the line 68
sei 西 west bird returning to nest at dusk 91
sei 聖 saintly, holy ear next to the mouth of the king 131
seijin 聖人 saint 131
seisho 聖書 Bible, holy book 131
seiyou 西洋 The West 98
seiyoujin 西洋人 Westerner 98
seki 石 stone hold up against the hill 47
seki 関 barrier barrier at the gate 86
seki 赤 red flame below the earth 123
sekigaisen 赤外線 infrared ray red-outside-line 123
sekiyu 石油 petroleum rock-oil 48
sen 泉 natural spring white (=pure) water 102
sen 線 line line the falling water from a spring makes 103
sen 千 thousand ten + men 107
setsu 説 thoery, opinion, story the sayings of big brother with horns 76
setsu 折 to bend, to turn, to fold, to crease hand + hacksaw 114
setsumei 説明 explanation theory-clear 76
setsumeisho 説明書 instruction sheet explanation-writing 76
sha 車 car, cart 78
sha 社 place where people meet to undertake a social project sacrfice on altar with earth 141
shain 社員 employee 141
shakai 社会 society 141
shako 車庫 garage car-shed 79
shi 子 child 33
shi 詩 poem temple-speaking 60
shi 支 branch (as in office) holding up a branch 64
shi 止 to stop, to be stopped 67
shi 私 I, private, mine my rice 75
shichi 質 nature, quality, character, to pawn two hacksaws above a shell, ready to cut it open 116
shichiya 質屋 pawn shop 116
shiin 子音 consonant child-sound 70
shiji 支持 support 64
shiki 式 style, method, ceremony axe and ruler 119
shikijou 式場 ceremony hall 119
shima 島 island bird flying over mountain 90
shin 信 trust a man and his word 42
shin 心 heart 69
shin 新 new each new stand of timber will be cut 115
shin 神 god sacrificial altar plus god in the center of the sun 144
shina 品 goods 40
shina 品 goods 40
shinbun 新聞 newspaper new hearings 115
shinjuku 新宿 new hotel (place name in Tokyo) 115
shinjuu 心中 double suicide 70
shinkan 新館 new building 138
shiritsu 私立 privately operated 75
shiro(i) 白 white single grain of rice 55
shi(ru) 知 to know arrow-speaking 109
shita 舌 tongue moist mouth 43
shita 下 down, below, beneath, to go down, to put down, to give 44
shiten 支店 branch store 94
shitenchou 支店長 branch manager 127
shitsu 室 room arriving under a roof 92
shitsu 質 nature, quality, character, to pawn two hacksaws above a shell, ready to cut it open 116
shitsumon 質問 question asking-the-nature 116
sho 書 to write, written things hand holding brush to paper 64
sho 所 place door + hacksaw 113
shokki 食器 tableware, cutlery 136
shoku 食 to eat, food, meal rice being cooked on a flame under a roof 136
shokuhin 食品 food (at a store) 136
shokujin 食人 cannabilism 137
shoshin 小心 faint-hearted, timidity, cautiousness small of heart 70
shoten 書店 bookstore 94
shou 小 small man with arms down at sides 34
shou 正 righteous, correct, upright, legitimate toe the line 68
shou 粧 to apply paint to, to apply powder to, to embellish rice (original cosmetic) plus earth stored under a lean-to 125
shou 商 business merchant opening box to display wares 143
shouhin 商品 trade goods 143
shounin 商人 merchant 143
shousetsu 小説 novel small-story 76
shousha 商社 trading company 143
shouten 商店 shop 143
shoutengai 商店街 shopping district 143
shu 守 to guard, to protect law under a roof 59
shu 酒 alcohol jar containing alcohol plus water to show the jar is full 110
shu 主 lord, master altar flame burned in reverence 132
shuka 酒家 chinese restaurant that serves liquor wine-house 111
shuku 宿 hotel a hundred men under a roof 107
shuryoku 主力 main force 132
shutsu 出 to come out 53
shuu 習 to learn fly-on-your-own-wings 73
son 村 village jungle + law = village 59
soto 外 outside, outdoors, besides evening-divining rod 49
sou 争 struggle, dispute 63
sou 送 to send to transport around the barrier 80
sui 水 water squeeze a river 36
suigin 水銀 mercury liquid-silver 151
suimon 水門 sluice gate 84
su(ki) 好 to love, loved, liked woman + child 33
su(ku) 好 to love, loved, liked woman + child 33
Sumitomo 住友 Living Friend (financial firm) 133
su(mu) 住 to live, to dwell man is the master of his dwelling 133
sun 寸 measure of distance, measure of justice 58
ta 田 rice paddy 30
ta 多 many many moons 50
ta(beru) 食 to eat, food, meal rice being cooked on a flame under a roof 136
tachi 立 to stand, standing 34
tachiirikinshi 立入禁止 Keep Out 145
tada(shii) 正 righteous, correct, upright, legitimate toe the line 68
tai 体 body body-root 56
tai 待 to wait go to the temple and wait 77
taionkei 体温計 thermometer body-warmth-measure 103
taiseiyou 大西洋 Atlantic Ocean 98
taka(i) 高 high, expensive, high-quality two-story palace 133
Takamatsu 高松 High-pine (city on Shikoku) 134
takara 宝 treasure jewel under a roof 130
Takashimaya 高島屋 Tall-Island-Shop (department store name) 134
take 竹 bamboo 106
tama 玉 jewel, round object king with a treasure 129
tamago 玉子 egg little-jewel 129
tamago 卵 egg (archaic writing) two sperm 129
tani 谷 valley opening in the mountains 47
tani 谷 valley opening in the mountains 47
tano(shii) 楽 enjoyment, music chinese drum and cymbal set 146
ta(tsu) 立 to stand, standing 34
taxi-dai タクシー代 taxi fare the money replaces the service 117
te 手 hand 57
ten 店 shop long-nosed clerk under a lean-to 94
tera 寺 temple law-place 60
to 土 earth, place 52
to 戸 door 88
to 島 island bird flying over mountain 90
to(jiru) 閉 to close a gate with the bar firmly in place 87
toki 時 time, hour sundial at temple 61
tokkyuu 特急 special express 97
tokoro 所 place door + hacksaw 113
toku 特 special- bull in the temple (that's special!) 97
Tokyo Kaikan 東京会館 Tokyo Hall 139
Tokyou Ginkou Shinjuku Shiten 東京銀行新宿支店 Shinjuku branch of the Bank of Tokyo 151
to(maru) 止 to stop, to be stopped 67
to(meru) 止 to stop, to be stopped 67
tomo 友 friend-related hands clasping 57
tomodachi 友達 friend 57
ton 豚 pig meat + pig 100
tori 鳥 bird 89
to(ru) 取 to take hand tearing off ear 72
tou 東 east sun behind tree 28
touhou 東宝 Eastern Treasure moviehouse chain 130
Toukyou Denryoku Kabushiki Kaisha 東京電力株式会社 Tokyo Electric Co. 149
touyoujin 東洋人 Easterner 98
tsuchi 土 earth, place 52
tsugi 次 next man w/open mouth + 2 137
tsu(keru) 付 to attach, to be attached 61
tsuki 月 moon, month 48
tsu(ku) 付 to attach, to be attached 61
u 右 right (the direction) hand and mouth 58
uchi 内 entered, inside, within, during, among house + enter 135
ue 上 up, above, atop, to go up, to give, to put up 44
ugo(ku) 動 to move power applied to heaviness 81
u(keru) 受 to receive 62
uketsuke 受付 receptionist 62
uketsukechuu 受付中 For Rent 62
uma 馬 horse 88
u(mareru) 生 to give birth, to be born 54
umi 海 sea every water 100
u(mu) 生 to give birth, to be born 54
un 運 to transport, to carry, fate, destiny, luck the (armored) cart goes 79
undou 運動 exercise, political movement 82
undoujou 運動場 playground exercise-place 114
unsou 運送 moving 80
urimono 売物 for sale 96
uru 売 to sell coming out of buying 83
usetsu 右折 right turn 114
usetsukinshi 右折禁止 No Right Turn 145
ushi 牛 cow, cattle 95
utsukushi 美 beautiful you know, like a big sheep 100
utsu(ru) 映 to reflect an image on, to be reflected on 39
utsu(su) 映 to reflect an image on, to be reflected on 39
wa 話 to talk to talk requires more than to say 43
wa 和 peaceful, placid, tranquil, harmony rice in mouth 75
wa(karu) 分 to divide into parts, minute, to understand knife cutting in two 111
wa(keru) 分 to divide into parts, minute, to understand knife cutting in two 111
waruguchi 悪口 malign, slander or badmouth! 128
waru(i) 悪 bad hunchback + heart 128
washitsu 和室 Japanese-style room 93
watakushi 私 I, private, mine my rice 75
ya 谷 valley opening in the mountains 47
ya 屋 tradesman's shop man with headband plus arrive 93
ya 矢 arrow 109
yado 宿 hotel a hundred men under a roof 107
yadoya 宿屋 hotel 107
ya(keru) 焼 to bake, to burn, to roast fire added to earth on a table (early ceramics) 120
yakiba 焼場 crematorium burning-place 120
ya(ku) 焼 to bake, to burn, to roast fire added to earth on a table (early ceramics) 120
yakuhin 薬品 medical products ?? 146
yakuniku 焼肉 Japanese food 120
yama 山 mountain 46
yamato 大和 Japan big rice in mouth 76
yasui 安 peace, cheap, inexpensive a woman under a roof 101
yasumono 安物 inferior goods 101
yasu(mu) 休 to rest person leaning against tree 56
yasuuri 安売 rummage sale 101
yen 圓 yen (formal) clerk backed up against coin 84
yen 円 yen (normal) bank teller's cage 84
yo 代 to replace, replacement, substitute, renewal in war, an axe can sometimes replace a man 116
yo(mu) 読 to read to sell speaking 83
you 曜 day-of-week sun-flying-by-on-bird's-wings 91
you 羊 sheep 97
you 洋 ocean sheep are in the land beyond the ocean 97
yougashi 洋菓子 Western-style sweets 99
youhinten 用品店 Western goods store 98
youma 洋間 Western-style room 98
youmou 羊毛 wool 97
youshiki 洋式 western style 119
youshu 洋酒 Western liquor 110
yu 油 oil 48
yuki 雪 snow rain + broom 148
yuu 夕 evening moon behind mountain 49
yuu 友 friend-related hands clasping 57
yuu 有 to have, to exist hand holding meat 58
yuube 夕 evening moon behind mountain 49
yuumei 有名 famous has-name 58
Yuurakuchou 有楽町 Have-Pleasure-Town (district near Ginza) 146
Yuurakuza 有楽座 Yuraku Theater 151
yuushoku 夕食 supper, dinner 136
yuuyake 夕焼 sunset burnt evening 120
za 座 place where people gather two people seated on the ground under a shed 151
zei 税 -tax rice stalk being inspected by big brother with horns 76
zeikan 税関 Customs House tax-barrier 87
zen 全 all heaven+earth+man+ruler 130
zenbei 全米 All-America 131
zenkoku 全国 all-nation 131
zennihon 全日本 All-Japan 131
zentai 全体 entirely all-body 131

(c) Leo Hourvitz www.stoneschool.com.