Kanji-Mnemonics---Robert-P.-Bodnaryk

11. PICTURES AND SYMBOLS

o 1f

BIGI LARGE

DAI	DAIGAKU		university
TAl	TAIHEN		serious I wonderful I dreadful
00.	oO.kii		big
	oomono		an important person (figure) I a big shot
	otona*		adult (*Readings marked with an asterisk are irregular).
	1 KR Depiction of a person with spread arms and legs, looking big.
	SMALL I LITTLE
SHOO	SHOOGAKKOO	IJ\~~	a primary (elementary) school
chii.	chii.sai	IJ\ '2:(,\	small I little
ko-	koishi	IJ\ 1:i	a pebble II gravel
0-	ogawa	IJ\ J11	a brook I creek II Ogawa (surname)

2 KR Person with arms at his sides, looking small.

STOP

SHI	CHUUSHI suru	l:j:lll:.	stop (doing) I break off I call off I suspend
to.	to.maru	ll:. '*-6)	stop I come to a stop
	to. meru	ll:. <It:> -6)	bring to a stop
	3 KR Depiction of the left foot () evolving to			J and finally to	ll:. to convey stop.
	1. GO 2. PERFORM I CARRY OUT I DO			3. LINE I ROW	[Name: gyoogamae]
KOO	KOODOO	fil!J	an action I movement
GYOO	GYOOKAN	fi FI'l'	space between lines (of text)
i.	i.ku	fi <	go
yu.	yu.ku	fi <	go
okona.	okona.u	f'f?	perform I carry out I do

4 KR Depiction of a crossroads ~~ to convey go, with various associated meanings.

				o	7J
	..t.	UPPER
	JOO	JOOTOO	...t~	superior / excellent
	ue	ue	...t	upper
	uwa-	uwagi	...tJif	a coat / jacket
	kami	kami	...t	upper part / top / head / up stream
	a.	a.garu	...t iJ\ ~	go up / climb / ascend
		a.geru	...tlf~	lift up / raise / elevate
	nobo.	nobo.ru	...t~	go up / climb / ascend
		5 KR Symbol of something above a base line to indicate upper.
		LOWER
	KA	KATOO	"F~	inferior / lower order / lower class
	GE	GESUI	1'71<	sewer / drain
	shita	shita	l'	lower part / below / under
	shimo	shimo	"F	lower part / downstream
	sa.	sa.garu	"FiJ\ ~	hang down / dangle 1/ drop I fall
		sa.geru	"F[f~	hang I suspend /1 lower / bring down I reduce
	o.	o.riru	l'~) ~	go down (a hill, stairs) // be granted (permission)
	kuda.	kuda.su	1'"9	let down I lower II give / bestow
		kuda.sai	l'~ [,\	please (polite imperative)
		6 KR Symbol of something below a base line to indicate lower.
	7J	SWORD
	TOO	NIHONTOO		a Japanese sword
	katana	katana		a sword
		kogatana		a pocket knife I knife
		7 KR Pictograph of a broad-bladed sword.
		BLADE
	JIN	HAKUJIN		a drawn (naked) sword		[ 7J sword 7KR]
	ha	hamono		an edged tool/cutlery

8 KR Slash on sword to indicate the blade.

			o	o
P::J	1. ROUND		2. YEN
EN	ENKEI		F9M	a circle
	ENdaka		F9~	strong yen
maru.	maru.i		F9 (,\	round
	9 Bank teller's window issues round yen
~
	1. GOLD		2. METAL	3. MONEY	[Name: kanehen**]
KIN	KIN medaru		3ti ;( '$f )(.,	gold medal (Olympic, other)
	KINYOOBI		3ti~B	Friday	[.-:=:-Iid 227R]
KON	KONJIKI		3ti1S	a golden colour	[ ±	earth 15KR]
kana-	kanamono		3ti!to/J	hardware / metal fittings	[ , I	nuggets of gold]
kane	kane		3ti	money
	10 KR	Lid covers earth where there are two buried nuggets of gold. **See 543 for the
	meaning of hen.
ft	1. RED	2. DILIGENT
TAN	TANSHA		fSl-:ptj	cinnabar
	TANSEI		fSl-:fff	diligence / efforts
fit	11 Simple boat is painted red by its diligent owner.
	BOAT		:liTi!
SHUU	SHUUTEI			a boat / craft
fune	fune		:liT	a (row) boat
funa-	funaasobi		:IiT~U:	boating
	12 KR Stemless rowing boat seen from above with two people sitting in it, and an oar
	laid athwartships. The boat is tethered with a line (topmost stroke).
If	NOON		lfM
GO	GOZEN			a.m.
	GOGO		lf~	p.m.
	13 KR Depiction of a pestle to express noon, the central part of the day (a pestle works
ffi	the centre of a mortar).
	CAN		tIi i;7] ~)		[ If noon 13KR]
KAN	KANkiri			a can opener
	14 KR Noon container is a can.				[ U container]

±B3		o	o	)11	J1J
±	EARTH I GROUND I SOIL			[Name: tsuchihen]
DO	DOYOOBI	±1II8	Saturday
TO	TOCHI	±tI!!	land
tsuchi	tsuchi	±	earth / ground / soil
	15 KR Depiction of a simple plant growing from the earth.
E8	RICE FIELD
DEN	DEN'EN	El3~	the country(side) / rural districts
ta	ta	El3	a rice field
	Tanaka	El3$	Tanaka (surname)
	16 KR Pictograph of a rice field with four paddies.
:tJ	POWER I FORCE I STRENGTH			[Name: chikara]
RYOKU	ZENRYOKU	1tn	all one'spower / utmost efforts
RIKI	RIKISHI	n±	sumo wrestler
chikara	chikara	n	power / force / strength
	17 KR Simplification of an arm with bulging biceps, symbolizing power.
	FIRE			[Name: hihen]
KA	KAZAN	*LlJ	a volcano
hi*	hi	*1118	fire / a fire
	KAYOOBI		Tuesday
		*
	18 KR Pictograph of the flames and sparks of a fire.
JI1	RIVER
SEN	KASEN	5iiJ HI	rivers
kawa	kawa	JII	river
	19 KR Pictograph of a river flowing between its banks.
III	MOUNTAIN	LlJ..t.
SAN	SANJOO		mountain top / summit
yama	yama	LlJ	mountain

20 KR Pictograph of a mountain group.

A

				[ .
			o	li
T	1. CITY BLOCK	2. COUNTER FOR BLOCKS I DISHES OF FOOD I GUNS
CHOO	CHOOME	TEI	city block (in addresses)
TEI	TEINEI na	T~t,j:.	polite I courteous I respectful II careful I meticulous
	21 The T-shape symbolizes a city block, perhaps from the idea of intersecting streets.
	There are also connotations of exactness and correctness in T as seen in compounds
7	such as T~ .
	1. UNDERSTAND 2. COMPLETE I FINISH
RYOO	RYOOKAI	7 A1¥	Understood! I Agreed! I Roger!
	KANRYOO	~ 7	completion	[ -=f child 95KR]

22 Child is without arms - I understand and will complete it.

lID.	PLATE I DISH I SAUCER					[Name: saraj
sara	sara		.Illl.		plate I dish I saucer
	23 KR	Pictograph of a fluted plate. There is no ON reading for				.Illl. .
fFIl	VOLUME I BOOKI COUNTER FOR BOOKS
SATSU	NISATSU		=00		two volumes (copies)
	SASSHI		OO-=f		a booklet / pamphlet
	24 KR	Pictograph of a bundle of bound bamboo writing tablets, now meaning volume &
	book.
....L.
.lL	STAND I STAND UP
RITSU	JIRITSU		13:!L		independent I self-supporting
ta.	ta.tsu		:!L ~		stand up
	ta.teru		:!L -C ~		set up I raise
	25 KR	From a pictograph of a man standing on the ground.
	GO OUT I COME OUT I TAKE OUT
SHUTSU	SHUPPATSU		t±l~		departure (of a train, bus)	[ l1..J mountain 20KRj
de.	de.ru		t±l	~	go out I come out I depart
da.	da.su		t±l	T	take out I send I post
	26 KR	Two mountains, one going out and the other coming out.

o

o

	1. USE I EMPLOY 2. BUSINESS
YOO	YOOJI		m:J:	business / an errand I something to do
mochi.	mochi. iru		m(,\.@	use / employ
	27 KR	Depiction of a fence to express something that is used for a purpose.
	LACK
KETSU	KETSUIN		~ it	a vacant position / an opening
ka.	ka.keru		~ It.@	be lacking (missing, broken off)
	ka.ku		~ <	lack
	28 KR	Depiction of a yawning person. The upper part of the structure is a wide open

mouth and signifies vacant, empty & lacking.

	FURTHERMORE IIN ADDITION I BESIDES
ka.	ka.tsu		furthermore / in addition / besides
	29 KR Pictograph of stones piled up in a cairn § i.e., one thing on top of another, with
	meanings such as furthermore, in addition & besides. As a radical .El.. conveys piled up.
	STONE			[Name: ishihen]
SEKI	SEKIYU	15 illl	petroleum	[ r	cliff 100R]
SHAKU	JISHAKU	$.15	a magnet	[ r:l	a stone, squared]
KOKU	IKKOKU	-15	a 'koku'(160 litres, historical measure for rice)
ishi	ishi	15	a stone / rock
	30 KR Pictograph of a cliff with a stone at its base. Note variant of r .
	EACH I EVERY I VARIOUS
KAKU	KAKUCHI	~±t!!	each (every, various) place(s)	[ 51-. upturned foot 459R]
onoono	onoono	~	each / every / all	[ IJ	mouth 85KR]
	31 KR Upturned foot in moutheach and every one of us has done it. The radical51-. is
.:I±.	an upside down version of the left foot shown in 3KR as explained in 459R.
	TOGETHER
~,
KYOO	KYOOGAKU	i!t: ~	coeducation
tomo	tomokasegi	i!t: m'€	dual income / both husband & wife working

32 KR Early forms t~ show two hands together ~~offering up a jewel u .

-	•
			.

o

SHU

te ta

jE

SOKU

ashi

ta.

1. HAND	2. PERSON WITH A SKILL
SHUDAN	~w:	a means (step, measure, way)
KASHU	llfX ~	a singer
te	~	hand
tazuna	~~	reins / a bridle
joozu*	..t. ~	skilled / good at
heta*	'"F~	unskilled I poor at

33 KR Three-fingered hand of a person with skill.

1. FOOT I LEG

ENSOKU

ISSOKU MANZOKU na ashi

ashikubi ta.riru ta.su

2. A PAIR (SHOES, SOCKS) 3. SUFFICIENT			4.ADD
~,IE	an excursion I outing I hike
-,lE	one pair (of shoes, socks)
ilili,IEt,j.	satisfactory I complete / sufficient
,lE	a foot
,lE§"	ankle	[ IJ	knee cap]
,lE L) ~	be sufficient I suffice	[ .Lt stop (foot) 3KR]
,IE"t	add

34 KR Pictograph of a knee cap and foot. Sufficient and add are borrowed meanings.

(See p. i-4). Note variant of .Lt .

--

r=I	1. WORD	2. SAY
GEN	GENMEI	ii!i Bjj	a statement I a declaration
GON	MUGON	~ii!i	silent / mute / dumb	[ IJ mouth 85KR]
koto-	kotoba	ii!i ~	a word
i.	i.u	ii!i?	say

35 KR Depiction of words issuing from a mouth to convey both word & say.

~SHOW

JI	JIDAN	~~	an out of court settlement
SHI	SHISA	~~	a suggestion
shime.	shime.su	~"t	show

36 KR Depiction of a primitive altar T with an item of sacrifice - on top

and drops of blood I" beneath, originally meaning to show the will of the gods and now

just meaning show.

		•			•		•			•
					•		----*'			F
							•		0
			ONE
		ICHI	ICHI				one
		ITSU	IPPON				one (cylindrical object)
		hito.	hito.tsu				one
			hito.ri				one person
			37 KR Pictograph of one finger, extended horizontally.
			TWO
		NI	NI				two
		futa.	futa.tsu				two
			futa.ri				two people
			38	KR Two fingers.
			THREE
		SAN	SAN				three
			SANNIN				three people
		mi.	mi.tsu I mi.ttsu				three
			39	Three fingers.
			VEHICLE							[Name: kurumahen]
		SHA	DENSHA				(electric) train
		kuruma	kuruma				a car
			40	KR Pictograph of a two-wheeled vehicle.
		F	1. DOOR		2. HOUSE I HOUSEHOLD
		KO	KOGAI de		F *-r:		out doors / in the open air
			KOSUU		F ~		the number of houses
		to	to		F		door
			41	KR Pictograph of a door i.e. one-half of a gate r~						145KR.

r •

o

FOUR

SHI	SHI	l1B	four
yon	yon	l1B	four
yo.	yo.tsu I yo.ttsu	l1B-:)	four
	yo.kka	l1B B	4 days I the 4th day of the month
	42 Four fingers in a fist. To see the shape of l1B			,form a fist with your right hand, palm
	down. Then touch the tip of your index finger to a point mid-way on the underside of the
	extended thumb.
	FIVE
GO	GO		five
itsu.	itsu.tsu		five
	itsu.ka		5 days I the 5th day of the month
..L.	43 Five fingers can substitute for a thread-reel 8 to wind yarn.
I\,	SIX
ROKU	ROKU	A	six	[ ...... pot lid 227R]
mu.	mU.tsu Imu.ttsu	ft:..-:)	six	[ I\. a split 49]
mui	muika*	ft:.. B	6 days I the 6th day of the month

44 Pot lid over a split for six.

ONCE MORE I AGAIN I TWICE I RE-

SAl	SAIKON	:jijy~	second marriage I re-marriage
SA	SARAISHUU	:jij*Jm	the week after next
futata.	futata.bi	:jij It	again I twice
	45 Depiction of an inverted basket A of the sort that can be stacked. One - 37KR
	signifies one more being added to the stack. Again, twice and reare associated
	meanings.
	MUTUAL
GO	SOOGO no		mutual I reciprocal
taga.	taga.i		mutual I reciprocal

46 Depiction of a symmetrical spool for cross-winding thread to convey mutual.

	)'\.			J r ,..
			o	J\.
	SEVEN
SHICHI	SHICHI	-t	seven
nana	nana.tsu	-t ":)	seven
nano	nano.ka	-t B	7 days I the 7th day of the month

47 Bent finger under a fist signals seven.

J\	EIGHT
HACHI	HACHI	J\.	eight
ya.	ya.tsu I ya.ttsu	J\. ":)	eight
yoo.	yoo.ka	J\. B	8 days I the 8th day of the month
	48 KR Split signals eight.
	NINE
KYUU	KYUU		nine
KU	KU		nine
kokono.	kokono.tsu		nine
	kokono.ka		9 days I the 9th day of the month
	49 KR Bent elbow signals nine.

:J:f:	WELL	;fB#
SEI	YUSEI		an oil well
SHOO	TENJOO	~#	a ceiling
	ido	#F	a well
	50 KR Pictograph of a framed well.
1\	1. HOLE I PIT I CAVE		2. LAIRI DEN	[ ...... house 107R]
KETSU	DOOKETSU	;Fo!'/\	a cave I cavern	[ J\. eight 48KR]
ana	ana	'/\	a hole 11 lair I den

51 KR House with eight holes that may be the lair or den (of animals).

An