Read Japanese Today Kanji Index
(sorted by Unicode)

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

(c) Leo Hourvitz www.stoneschool.com.