Japanese Kanji Power. John Millen
3
七
seven
シチ SHICHI なな nana なな • つ nana(tsu) *なの nano
The character 七，represented an ancient way of signaling seven, using the hands. Think of this character as a combination of five fingers and two.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 七月七日は七夕です。
Shichigatsu nanoka wa tanabata desu.
July 7 is the Tanabata Festival.
2. この本は七千円しました。
Kono hon wa nanasen-en shimashita.
This book cost seven thousand yen.
3. 七つ目の駅で降りてください。
Nanatsume no eki de orite kudasai.
Please get off at the seventh station.
4. 一週間は七日です。
Isshūkan wa nanoka desu.
There are seven days in a week.
5. あの歌手は七色の声をもっている。
Ano kashu wa nanairo no koe o motte iru.
That singer can use many different voices.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 七月 | shichigatsu | July |
| 七時 | shichiji | seven o'clock |
| 七五三 | shichigosan | festival (November 15) for children aged 3, 5 and 7 |
| 七千 | nanasen | seven thousand |
| 七つ目 | nanatsume | the seventh (one) |
| *七日 | nanoka | seven days; the seventh day of the month |
| *七夕 | Tanabata | the Tanabata (Star) Festival |
4
十
ten
ジユウ JŪ ジッ JI' とお to と to
In the character 十, 一 represents east-west, while I represents north-south; thus, 十 signifies all directions. The idea of complete and the association of the number ten derived from this meaning.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 十月の祭日はいつですか。
Jūgatsu no saijitsu wa itsu desu ka.
When is the public holiday in October?
2. 準備体操を十分にして下さい。
Junbi taisō o jūbun ni shite kudasai.
Don't rush through your warm up.
3. 駅まで歩いて十分です。
Eki made aruite juppun (jippun) desu.
It's a ten-minute walk to the station.
4. 今年の春休みは十日間でした。
Kotoshi no haru-yasumi wa tōkakan deshita.
My spring vacation this year was ten days long.
5. 食べ物の好みは十人十色。
Tabemono no konomi OA jūnin tiro.
When it comes to food, there are so many people, and so many tastes.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 十月 | jūgatsu | October |
| 十分 | jubun | enough; plenty of |
| 十分 | juppun, jippun | ten minutes |
| 十人 | jūnin | ten people |
| 十分の一 | jūbun no ichi | one-tenth |
| 十五夜 | jūgoya | a night with a full moon |
| 十日 | tōka | ten days; the tenth day of the month |
5
人
man; people
ジンJIN ニン NIN ひと hito
The character 人 represents a side view of a person
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 妻はドイツ人です。
Tsuma wa Doitsujin desu.
My wife is German.
2. ご家族は何人ですか。
Gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.
How many people are there in your family?
3. ここは人が多い。
Koko wa hito ga ōi.
There are many people here.
4. 人のせいにしないで。
Hito no sei ni shinai de.
Don't blame it on somebody else!
5. このレストランはとても人気がある。
Kono resutoran wa totemo ninki ga aru.
This restaurant is very popular.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| ドイツ人 | Doitsujin | a German; the Germans |
| 日本人 | Nihonjin | a Japanese person; the Japanese |
| 何人 | nan-nin | How many people? |
| 人気 | ninki | popularity |
| *一人 | hitori | one person; alone |
| *大人 | otona | adult |
| *仲人 | nakōdo | a go-between, matchmaker |
6
二
two
ニ NI ふた futa ふた • つ futa(tsu)
Two lines are used to indicate the number two.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 明日の午後ニ時に会いましょう。
Ashita no gogo niji ni aimashō.
Let's meet at 2:00 P.M. tomorrow.
2. 二月に二人目の子供が生まれる。
Nigatsu ni futarime no kodomo ga umareru.
My second child will be born in February.
3. 日本語検定の二級に受かった。
Nihongo kentei no nikyū ni ukatta.
I passed the second level of the Japanese language examination.
4. 二度と同じ失敗を繰り返すな。
Nido to onaji shippai o kurikaesu na.
Don't make the same mistake again (a second time)!
5. むこうに山がニつ見えます。
Mukō ni yama ga futatsu miemasu.
You