sema-ru, haku If there is somebody or something behind you and they are approaching you, they are in the state of semaru. Semaru is a verb which means to press somebody. When you urge somebody to do something, you are doing an action called semaru. Its past tense is sematta. Deadlines tend to affect you [...]

kai For Japanese language learners, this is not a basic character. This character is part of the word “kaisho,” which is a basic word for calligraphers. Kaisho means a basic calligraphy style. Most of the kanji characters we have uploaded here so far are in the kaisho style. We are putting kaisho tags for such [...]

saka-rau, saka-sa, gyaku Inverse or reverse is gyaku or sakasa. Sakasa often means upside down. This character also means the opposite or the contrary. Words including this are gyakusetsu (a paradox), gyakujō (frenzy), gyakufū (an adverse wind). The verb “sakarau” means to resist, to oppose, to go against, or to act contrary to something. When [...]

This character was published as Yummy or the Gist.

sa-su, shi The verb sasu means to pierce, thrust, or stub. The passive form of sasu is sasareru. By whom? Being bitten by a mosquito is in a situation expressed as “ka ni sasareru.” In this phrase, ka is a mosquito. Being stung by a bee is in a situation expressed as “hachi ni sasareru.” [...]

nuno, fu Nuno is cloth or fabric. Futon is a Japanese mattress. The word futon consists of today’s character and dan (a group). This character also means spreading out as you do with cloth. Words related with this meaning are kōhu (promulgation) and fukoku (declaration). We don’t use these words in daily conversations. Draw the [...]

toku Virtue, benefits, profit, fortunes, and innate nature are the meanings of this character. Virtue is toku or bitoku. A virtue is tokumoku. Natural goodness is jintoku. When we were elementary school students, there was a subject called dōtoku, in which we studied morals and ethics.     Begin to draw the left-hand side of [...]

hai This hai is the hai of haiku. Haiku is a style of Japanese poetry. A haiku is a short verse composed of three phrases: 5 syllabics, 7 and 5. For more information about haiku, visit the post -> haiku and tanka. A haiku poet is haijin. Begin to draw the left-hand side of the [...]

yaku, eki The word “yaku” plays the part of the English “role.” When you have a particular position and function in society, you first take on the role (yaku wo hikiukeru) and play the role (yaku wo tsutomeru). In these phrases, yaku can be a dutiful job. Similarly, yakume is a duty. If you are [...]

to-gu, ken Togu is a verb meaning to sharpen. To put the edge of something is expressed as “ha wo togu.” Sharpening a Japanese long sword is “katana wo togu.” It’s unusual to do so, though. This verb is also used for washing rice. “Kome wo togu” means to wash rice. Kenshū means training. The [...]