mō Today’s character does not always have negative connotations. While the basic meaning of this character is fierce, it means courageous and strong when it is included in men’s names. Take is another reading of this although it is not a basic reading. Takedakeshii has two meanings: fierce and shameless. Write the sweeping stroke. Cross [...]

koto, shu The reading and meaning of this character is the same as another character meaning ‘to be different.’ Especially (kotoni), how different can it be when it comes to this character? .Today’s character originally relates to ‘dying.’ When a creature is dying, it becomes different. Something special and unique is described as tokushu. Write [...]

i-mu, i-mawashii, ki Imawashii is an adjective meaning hateful or loathsome. Loathsomeness is imawashisa, a noun form of imawashii. The character also means something considered taboo due to bad luck. Write the hook on the top. Write the horizontal stroke. Write the curve with an upward turn. Write the dot to the left. Write the [...]

oki Oki is offshore. Okide or okini is an expression used like an adverb. It means ‘off the coast.’ Off the coast of Hawaii, for example, can be translated as hawai oki de or hawai oki ni. (OsakaStarbux kindly gave us an important word through Twitter on this. Okinawa begins with today’s character. Okinawa is [...]

ma-tsu, tai Matsu is a verb meaning ‘to wait.’ Waiting for something relates to expectations. Kitai means hope, expectation, and anticipation. The ki of kitai means ‘to expect.’ Shōtai means an invitation. Settai is a party or a reception you hold to entertain somebody expecting something in return. The setsu of settai means ‘to touch’ [...]

jun A month consists of 3 periods of ten days. The first ten days is jōjun; the second, chūjun; and the third, gejun. Shun is another reading of this character although it’s not a basic reading. Shun means fresh or in season. Fresh fruit and vegetables can be described as shun. Nowadays, it is hard [...]

tei A mansion is teitaku. When you have your house built, your construction company would call your house politely, putting the suffix –tei. If your name is Suzuki, the house is called Suzukitei. Prime Minister’s house is kantei. Write the sweeping stroke on the top. Write the vertical stroke with an upward turn. Write the [...]

ta-reru, ta-rasu, sui The verb tareru means either to drop or to droop. Liquid like water drops. Objects like pieces of cloth, heads, willows, and the ears of rice droop. Suichokuna means vertical and suichokuni means vertically. Write the sweeping stroke on the top. Write the horizontal stroke under the sweeping stroke. Write the longest [...]

jo Today’s character means a beginning or a sequence. It is combined with another character to make various words, which are categorized into two groups according to the meanings. The Beginning of Something In a book, jobun is a prelude, a foreword, or an introduction. Jonokuchi means very beginning of something that will continue for [...]