cJapanese Calligraphy by Nao

kabana, sei, shō

Both sei and kabana mean a family name or the title of a clan. Kabane is a not a basic reading.

Hyakushō is used to address farmers but it is a disparaging expression. The classical meaning of hyakushō was ordinary people with various jobs because sei could mean the status of a family, which is related to their jobs. It therefore literally means one hundred jobs.

1. Write the bending stroke.
2. Cross the previous stroke with a sweeping stroke falling leftward.
3. Write the horizontal stroke.
4. Write the sweeping stroke.
5. Write the horizontal stroke.
6. Cross the horizontal stroke with a vertical stroke.
7. Write the shorter horizontal stroke.
8. Write the longer horizontal stroke at the bottom.

To Forgive

yuru-su, kyo

Yurusu is a verb meaning ‘to forgive.’

Kyoyō-suru is also a verb meaning ‘to tolerate.’ Kyoyō means tolerance, permission, or acceptance.

Other compounds that may be useful are menkyo (license) and tokkyo (patent).

1. Write the dot on the top.
2. Write the horizontal stroke below it.
3. Write the shorter horizontal stroke below it.
4. Write the horizontal stroke below it.
5. Write the left side of the rectangle.
6. Write the upper and right sides of the rectangle.
7. Write the lower side of the rectangle.
8. Begin to write the right-hand side of the character. Write the sweeping stroke on the top.
9. Write the horizontal stroke.
10. Write the longer horizontal stroke.
11. Write the vertical stroke crossing the previous stroke.

A Suburb

kō

If you hear somebody use the character, it would be either kōgai or kinkō.

Suburbs are called kōgai. The vicinity of a large city is called kinkō.

1. Write the dot on the top.
2. Write the horizontal stroke.
3. Write the sweeping dot.
4. Write the dot.
5. Write the sweeping stroke falling leftward.
6. Cross the previous stroke.
7. Write the hook on the top.
8. Write another hook touching the end of the previous stroke.
9. Write the vertical stroke.

To Send

oku-ru, sō

The verb okuru means ‘to send’ or ‘to transmit.’ Words including this character are related to these actions. Sōryō is a shipping charge. Sōshin means transmission. We use the word when we send e-mail. The verb sōshin-suru means to send electrical signals like e-mail.

1. Write the dot on the top.
2. Write the sweeping dot on the top.
3. Write the shorter horizontal stroke.
4. Write the longer horizontal stroke.
5. Write the sweeping stroke falling leftward.
6. Write the dot from the middle of the previous stroke.
7. Write the dot in the upper left corner.
8. Write the crooked stroke.
9. Write the sweeping stroke falling rightward.

A Monk or a Boy

bō

Bōsan and bōzu mean a monk. When you address a Buddhist monk politely, call him obōsan.

Bōzuatama is a shaved head. Atama is a head.

The suffix –bō is added to nounish words to stress a quality disapprovingly or to belittle somebody. For example, akambō meaning a baby gives us an impression the baby is a mere creature that needs taking care of. Abarembō is a person who is too violent to deal with. Abarem- comes from abareru, which means ‘to act violently.’

1. Write the horizontal stroke.
2. Cross the horizontal stroke.
3. Write the sweeping stroke rising rightward.
4. Write the dot on the top.
5. Write the horizontal stroke touching the previous stroke.
6. Write the hook with an upward turn.
7. Write the sweeping stroke touching the horizontal stroke and the hook.

Filial Piety

kō

This character means filial piety. This is a virtue highly valued in Confucianism. Kōkō and oyakōkō imply obedience to one’s parents and behavior that is considered morally correct. Oya means parents. You can use these words like adjectives. When somebody is oyakōkō, they are obedient to their parents. On contrary, those who are labeled as oyafukō tend to disappoint their parents intentionally or unintentionally.

1. Write the horizontal stroke on the top.
2. Write the vertical stroke crossing the previous stroke.
3. Write the longest horizontal stroke.
4. Write the sweeping stroke falling leftward.
5. Write the hook.
6. Write the curve with an upward turn.
7. Write the horizontal stroke crossing the previous stroke.

To Keep or to Protect

tamo-tsu, ho

This character has two main meanings: to keep and to protect. So let me divide some words into three groups according to the meaning.

To Keep

The verb tamotsu means to keep. Compounds related to this sense are hozon and hoji. Both mean preservation.

To Protect

Hoiku means childcare. “Hoiku shi” is a childcare worker. “Hoiku en” and “hoiku jo” are nurseries.

To Keep and to Protect

Hoshō, which means guarantee, and hoshu, which means maintenance, are included in this group. In these words, today’s character has both meanings.

1. Write the sweeping stroke on the top.
2. Write the vertical stroke.
3. Write the left side of the rectangle.
4. Write the upper and right sides of the rectangle.
5. Write the lower side of the rectangle.
6. Write the horizontal stroke.
7. Cross the previous stroke.
8. Write the sweeping stroke falling leftward.
9. Write the dot.

To Examine or to Attack to Punish

u-tsu, tō

The left-hand side of the character shows that this has something to do with words or mouth and the right-hand side, the elbow. With these parts, the character depicts that one attacks another, using the mouth and elbow. It originally meant to attack somebody to punish but the verb utsu means ‘to attack somebody’ regardless of reasons.

You rarely encounter occasions that you need to use this character meaning ‘to attack’ somebody. Another meaning may be more important. One of the most useful and used words is kentō, in which both ken and tō means ‘to examine.’ You can use this when you avoid deciding something. Whenever you hear somebody say, “mae muki ni kentō shimasu,” you cannot expect good answers soon or forever.