Japanese Kanji Power. John Millen
da yo.
That's news to me!
5. パンの耳を切り落とさないで。
Pan no mimi o kiri-otosanai de.
Please don't cut the crust off the bread!
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 耳鼻科 | jibika | the ear, nose and throat department |
| 中耳炎 | chūjien | a middle ear infection |
| 初耳 | hatsumimi | hearing something for the first time |
| 耳が遠い | mimi ga tōi | hard of hearing |
| 耳たぶ | mimitabu | an earlobe |
| 耳鳴り | miminari | ringing in the ears |
| 耳障り | mimizawari | rasping; harsh |
63
西
west
セイ SEI サイ SAI にし nishi
The character 西 depicted a bird in a nest. A bird returns to its nest when the sun sets in the west.
GR2 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 西洋の文化に興味があります。
Seiyō no bunka ni kyōmi ga arimasu.
I'm interested in Western culture.
2. 関西国際空港はいつ完成しましたか。
Kansai Kokusai Kūkō wa itsu kansei shimashita ka.
When was the Kansai International Airport completed?
3. 毎日、東西線に乗る。
Mainichi, Tōzai-sen ni noru.
I take the Tōzai line every day.
4. 西の空に太陽が沈む。
Nishi no sora ni taiyō ga shizumu.
The sun sets in the west.
5. この部屋は西日が射して暑い。
Kono heya wa nishibi ga sashite atsui.
This room is hot from the afternoon sun.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 西洋 | seiyō | the West; Europe |
| 北西 | hokusei | northwest |
| 西部 | seibu | the western part |
| 西暦 | seireki | the Christian era; A.D. |
| 関西 | kansai | the Kansai (Region) |
| 東西 | tōzai | east and west; East-West |
| 西日 | nishibi | the western (afternoon) sun |
64
先
previous; ahead; future
セン SEN さき saki
The character 先 combines foot
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 先月、ロンドンに出張した。
Sengetsu, Rondon ni shutchō shita.
I went to London last month on a business trip.
2. 先着順で受け付けます。
Senchakujun de uketsukemasu.
We will accept people on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. 先日、クラス会がありました。
Senjitsu, kurasu-kai ga arimashita.
I had a class reunion the other day.
4. お先にどうぞ。
Osaki ni dōzo.
Please go ahead of me.
5. タクシーの運転手に行き先を告げた。
Takushii no untenshu ni ikisaki o tsueeta.
We told the taxi driver where we wanted to go.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 先月 | sengetsu | last month |
| 先生 | sensei | a teacher; a doctor |
| 先着順 | senchakujun | the order of receipt (arrival) |
| 先日 | senjitsu | the other day |
| 先輩 | senpai | one's senior; one's superior |
| 優先 | yūsen | a priority; a preference |
| 行き先 | ikisaki | one's destination |
65
多
many; much
夕 TA おお • い ō(i)
The character 多 combines two moons to indicate many.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 多分、明日は雨だね。
Tabun, ashita wa ame da ne.
It'll probably rain tomorrow.
2. あちこちでテロが多発している。
Achikochi de tero ga tahatsu shite iru.
Everywhere you go, acts of terrorism are becoming more frequent.
3. ご多忙のところおいで下さってありがとうございます。
Gotabō no tokoro oide kudasatte arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you so much for taking the time to come.
4. 近頃外食が多い。
Chikagoro gaishoku ga ōi.
I've been eating out a lot lately.
5. 英語が多少話せます。
Eigo ga tashō hanasemasu.
I can speak some English.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 多分 | tabun | probably; likely |
| 多発 | tahatsu | a frequent occurrence |
| 多忙 | tabō | being busy |
| 多少 | tashō | more or less |
| 多才 | tasai | versatile; multi-talented |
| 多種多様 | tashu tayō | various; diverse |
| 多目 | ōme | a somewhat larger quantity |
66
年
a year
ネン NEN とし toshi
The character 年 combines 木 rice plant and へ a person bent over. This represented harvest, which occurred every year.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 日本に来てから一年たちました。
Nihon ni kite kara ichinen