Japanese Kanji Power. John Millen
hung the washing outside the house to dry.
5. ただ今、席を外しております。
Tadaima, seki o hazushite orimasu.
He isn't at his desk at the moment.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 外国 | gaikoku | a foreign country; abroad |
| 外見 | gaiken | an outward appearance |
| 外出 | gaishutsu | to go out |
| 海外 | kaigai | abroad; overseas |
| 意外 | igai | unexpected; surprising |
| 外科医 | gekai | a surgeon |
| 仲間外れ | nakama-hazure | ostracism; exclusion |
42
玉
jewelry; ball
ギョ夕 GYOKU たま tama
The character 玉 depicts jewels and a thread that strings them together.
GR1 N2
Example Sentences
1. 博物館に宝玉のコレクションがある。
Hakubutsukan ni hōgyoku no korekushon ga aru.
There is a gem collection at the museum.
2. 水玉模様のワンピースを買った。
Mizutama moyō no wanpiisu o katta.
I bought a one-piece dress with a polka-dot pattern.
3. 百円玉がポケットの中にあった。
Hyakuen-dama ga poketto no naka ni atta.
There was a ¥100 coin in my pocket.
4. この作品は珠玉の短編だ。
Kono sakuhin wa shugyoku no tanpen da.
This short story is a literary gem.
5. 古代エジプトでは、玉座を巡って暗殺が行われた。
Kodai Ejiputo de wa gyokuza o megutte ansatsu ga okona-wareta.
In ancient Egypt there were frequent assassinations to seize the throne.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 宝玉 | hōgyoku | a precious stone; a gem |
| 珠玉 | shugyoku | a gem; a jewel |
| 玉座 | gyokuza | the throne |
| 水玉 | mizutama | a drop of water; a dewdrop |
| 玉乗り | tamanori | balancing on a ball |
| 百円玉 | hyakuen-dama | a ¥100 coin |
| あめ玉 | amedama | a round, hard candy |
43
古
old; to wear out
コ KO ふる • い furu(i) ふる • す furu(su)
The character 古 derived from a pictograph of a human skull, an object that represents something old.
GR2 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 古典を読んだことがない。
Koten o yonda koto ga nai.
I've never read the classics.
2. 大学で考古学を専攻している。
Daigaku de kōkogaku o senkō shite iru.
I'm majoring in archaeology at college.
3. 古着を誰かにあげたい。
Furugi o dare ka ni agetai.
I'd like to give my old clothes to someone.
4. 昨日、神田の古本屋に行った。
Kinō, Kanda no furuhon-ya ni itta.
I went to a used bookstore in Kanda yesterday.
5. 姉のお古のスーツケースを借りた。
Ane no ofuru no sōtsukēsu o karita.
I borrowed my sister's well-worn suitcase.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 古典 | koten | an old book; the classics |
| 中古 | chūko | secondhand (goods); the Middle Ages |
| 考古学 | kōkogaku | archaeology |
| 古本屋 | furuhon-ya | a secondhand bookseller |
| 古着 | furugi | secondhand clothing; old clothes |
| わ古 | ofuru | well-worn; much used |
44
左
left
サ SA ひだり hidari
The character 左 combines ナ left hand and ェ work, and originally meant to help someone at work.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 次の角を左折してください。
Tsugi no kado o sasetsu shite kudasai.
Please turn left at the next corner.
2. 選挙で左派が勝った。
Senkyo de saha ga katta.
The leftists won the election.
3. 左利きですか。
Hidari-kiki desu ka.
Are you left-handed?
4. 日本では、車は左側を走る。
Nihon de wa, kuruma wa hidarigawa o hashiru.
In Japan, cars drive on the left.
5. このあたりは、右も左も分かりません。
Kono atari wa, migi mo hidari mo wakarimasen.
I don't know my left from my right around here.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 左折 | sasetsu | a left-hand turn |
| 左派 | saha | the left wing; the leftists |
| 左利き | hidari-kiki | a left-hander |
| 左側 | hidari-gawa | the left side; port |
| 左手 | hidari-te | the left hand |
| 左向き | hidari-muki | facing left |
| 右左 | migi-hidari | left and right |
45
四
four
シ SHI よ yo よ • つ yo(tsu) よつ • つ yot(tsu) よん yon
The character 四 originally depicted breath coming out of a mouth. Some believe that the meaning four came from breath spreading out in four directions.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 日本の四季は美しい。
Nihon