The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji. Kenneth G. Henshall

The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji

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from ca. 100AD in Shuowen jiezi. SS1984:379-80; GY2008:331.

Mnemonic: A CHILD AT HOME LEARNING LETTERS

耳

JI, mimi

ear

6 strokes

耳科 JIKA otology

耳鳴り miminari tinnitus

耳飾り mimikazari earring

OBI is based on a pictograph of an ear. MR2007:457-8; SS1984:380; QX2000:178.

Mnemonic: POINTED EAR

七

SHICHI, nana-

seven

2 strokes

七月 SHICHIGATSU July

七日 nanoka* seventh day

七重 nanae seven-fold

Derives from OBI and bronze graph similar to modern ‘ten’ 十 35 for a cut bone, the curve coming later. In early Chinese ‘cut’ and ‘seven’ had a similar pronunciation, and so the graph was borrowed to represent ‘seven’. SS1984:387; TS2010:3; AS2007:419,312.

Mnemonic: BADLY WRITTEN TEN: ONLY WORTH SEVEN

車

SHA, kuruma

vehicle

7 strokes

電車 DENSHA train

洗車場 SENSHAJŌ carwash

手車 teguruma handcart

Based on a pictograph of a two-wheeled chariot. OBI SS1984:391; KJ1970:490.

Mnemonic: CHARIOT WITH TWO WHEELS

手

SHU, te

hand

4 strokes

手段 SHUDAN means

手袋 tebukuro gloves

上手 JŌZU* skill

Bronze form shows five-fingered hand . In compound graphs, usually扌. SS1984:399; QX2000:178.

Mnemonic: HAND WITH FIVE FINGERS BUT THE MIDDLE ONE BENT

十

JŪ, tō

ten

2 strokes

十月 JŪGATSU October

十日 tōka tenth day

十字 JŪJI a cross

Etymology disputed. Katō sees early (bronze) forms of one vertical stroke, often with a small swelling halfway down, as showing a needle, later borrowed phonetically for ‘ten’: Mizukami is in agreement. The protrusion became a horizontal stroke. Shirakawa, by contrast, interprets 十 as a wooden counting stick. It has also been interpreted as a knotted rope. KJ1970:50; SS1984:50; TS2010:4; MS1995:v1:164-5.

Mnemonic: A PROPER CROSS GETS TEN OUT OF TEN

出

SHUTSU, deru, dasu

emerge, put out

5 strokes

出発 SHUPPATSU departure

思い出 omoide a memory

引き出し hikidashi drawer

Based on early forms such as , Qiu sees the graph as a foot stepping out of a pit dwelling, noting the ancients lived in pits. Katō takes a broadly similar view, interpreting such forms as depicting a foot wearing a sandal setting out. See also 止 143 ‘stop’. QX2000:192; KJ1970:301-2. Suggest using 山 26 ‘mountain’ as a mnemonic.

Mnemonic: MOUNTAIN EMERGES ON TOP OF ANOTHER

女

JO, NYO, NYŌ, onna, me

woman

3 strokes

女性 JOSEI woman

女房 NYŌBŌ wife

女の子 onna-no-ko girl

OBI forms show a kneeling woman , later stylized. MR2007:463; SS1984:432; QX2000:178; KJ1970:253.

Mnemonic: KNEELING WOMAN

小

SHŌ, chiisai, ko, o-

small

3 strokes

小説 SHŌSETSU a novel

小犬 koinu small dog, puppy

小川 ogawa brook, stream

OBI forms show a few small objects together (typically three) – shells or suchlike MR2007:226; SS1984:435; QX2000:175.

Mnemonic: A STROKE DIVIDED INTO TWO SMALL ONES

上

JŌ, ue, uwa-, kami, ageru/garu, noboru

up, top, over, rise

3 strokes

以上 IJŌ over, above

川上 kawakami upstream

値上げ neage price rise

OBI forms show two horizontal strokes, upper one being shorter but more commonly written as a short horizontal line above a longer line gently curving upwards – perhaps the palm of the hand A vertical stroke was added later. ‘Go up’ etc. are extended meanings. MR2007:210; SS1984:456; KJ1970:541; KJ1985:3.

Mnemonic: BAR WITH HANDLE RISES UP OVER THE BASE LINE

森

SHIN, mori

woods

12 strokes

森林 SHINRIN forest, woods

森閑 SHINKAN silence

青森 Aomori Aomori City/Pref.

OBI is based on pictograph of three trees Скачать книгу