Essential Japanese Kanji Volume 2. University of Tokyo, Kanji Research Group
or memory-aid. (The authors have created new derivations for some kanji when the etymology is unclear or confusing.)
⑥ Important compound words, and their readings and meanings.
⑦ Additional compound words, and their readings and meanings.
Note that:
• Kanji marked × are not included in the 500 kanji taught in two volumes of Essential Japanese Kanji.
• Kana in parentheses ( ) in kanji compounds is optional when writing. [For example, 終 (わ) る can be written 終わる or 終る]. Two sets of ( ) appear for most nouns derived from compound verbs. The kana in both ( ) or in the former ( ) only may be omitted, but the kana in the latter ( ) alone cannot be omitted. [For example, 取 (り) 消 (し) can be written 取り消し、取消し、or 取消、but not 取り消.]
• * indicates exceptional readings.
• Small numbers placed above certain kanji in the Vocabulary sections refer to Lesson numbers in this book.
• “々” is a kanji repetition mark, used like “少々”, shōshō.
LESSON 1
Living in Japan
日本に住みます
Looking for a place to live is one of the most important matters for newcomers to Japan. Three ways are available to search for apartments or houses: using the Internet, looking over a real estate lease information magazine, and visiting a real estate agent. The listings show various kinds of floor plans; among these, the studio and the 1K (one room, plus kitchen) apartment are the most common. In this lesson, you will learn some technical terms commonly used when searching for housing.
1 Introductory Quiz
Look at the illustrations below and refer to the words in Vocabulary. Then try the following quiz.
Which apartment will Ichiro and Kaori choose? Write the appropriate letters (A, B) in the parentheses.
2 Vocabulary
Study the readings and meanings of these words to help you understand the Introductory Quiz.
3 New Characters
Twelve characters are introduced in this lesson. Use the explanations to help you understand and remember the characters. Study the compound words to increase your vocabulary.
広 交 活 利 家 賃 理 礼 身 向 好 私
1
広
hiro-i, (biro-i), kō
ひろ・い、(びろ・い）、コウ broad, wide, spread
Roof 广 and 厶 arm combined, 広 means the space in the house where one can stretch arms widely. Thus 広 means wide.
| 広い | ひろい | hiroi | spacious |
| -------- | |||
| 広場 | ひろば | hiroba | plaza |
| 広大な | こうだいな | kōdai na | vast |
| 広間 | ひろま | hiroma | hall, spacious room |
| 広義 | こうぎ | kōgi | broad sense |
| 手広い | てびろい | tebiroi | extensive |
| 広々 | ひろびろ | hirobiro | extensive |
2
交
maji-waru, kō
まじ・わる、コウ intersection, exchange
Six 六 people are at work and interacting 乂. Thus 交 means to cross or exchange.
| 交わる | まじわる | majiwaru | to intersect |
| 交通 | こうつう | kōtsū | transportation |
| 交番 | こうばん | kōban | koban, police box |
| -------- | |||
| 外交 | がいこう | gaikō | diplomacy |
| 国交 | こっこう | kokkō | diplomatic relations |
| 社交的 | しゃこうてき | shakōteki | sociable |
| 交代する | こうたいする | kōtai suru | to take turns |
| 交付 | こうふ | kōfu | deliver |
3
活
katsu, (ka’)
カツ、(カッ） life, activity
舌 is a pictograph of a tongue. Tongue 舌 and water