shitsu We often compare quality and quantity. In Japanese, they are shitsu and ryō. Some value quantity rather than quality (shitsu yori ryō), others value quality rather than quantity (ryō yori shitsu). Seishitsu means one’s nature or characteristics of something. It’s almost the same as the meaning of sei kaku. Busshitsu is a substance or [...]

kan Kan is a cylindrical container. It is usually made either of aluminum or of steel. Kan means a can. Isn’t it easy? Tin is burikikan. Buriki came from blik in Dutch. Canned food is called kanzume. Zume came from the verb tsumeru, which means to pack or to cram. Write the sweeping stroke. Write the horizontal [...]

ki-ru, chaku The verb kiru means to put on. To wear is kiteiru. Kimono is Japanese traditional clothing. Words including chaku imply that the character means either “to wear” or “to reach.” Chakuyō-suru means to put on clothing. We don’t use this word for putting on make-up. Tōchaku means arrival. Tōchaku-suru means to reach. Write [...]

nō Nō is animals’ nervous system. Human beings have nō inside the skull as an organ. Zunō means one’s intelligence or the most intelligent people in a group. The zu of zunō means a head. Since the character means brains, leaders of countries are called shunō. Shunōkaidan means a summit.   Write the sweeping stroke [...]

so, zo This character is always used with other characters. Let me show you a list of words including this character so that you can grasp the meaning of today’s character. senzo … your ancestors sosen … your ancestors * Both senzo and sosen use the same characters in opposite orders and they are almost [...]

kimi, kun Kimi is a person who you are talking to. You can use this as “you” but you should not use this word to superiors. When you call somebody’s name, you use this as a suffix. Like kimi, he should be your junior or of the same rank. If your name is Suzuki, your [...]