| Meaning |
big 大
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| Explanation |
A person 人 with wide spread arms 一 and legs appears big. |
Used in these Kanji:
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犬
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JLPT 4Joyo 1 |
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dog
inu, KEN Left: big 大 (man with outstretched arms), right: a small dog 丶
The big man is holding his dog.
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犬
大
丶
Vocabulary |
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大
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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big, large
ōkii, TAI, DAI
A person 人 with arms 一 spread out widely, appears: big.
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大
Vocabulary |
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天
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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heaven, sky, paradise
ame, ama-, TEN A big 大 person with the sky 一 above him
As wide as the spread arms of the big 大 person is: the sky.
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大
天
Vocabulary |
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太
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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thick, fat
futoi, TAI, TA Top: big 大, below: a little bit more 丶
When you are big, a little 'more' makes you thick and fat.
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太
大
丶
Vocabulary |
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橋
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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bridge
hashi, KYŌ Left: tree 木, right: accent ノ for emphasis, big 大 and a variation of high 高 (two-storied building)
The tree is remarkably big and high. We use it as a bridge.
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木
高
大
Vocabulary |
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美
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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beauty, fine
utsukushii, BI Top: sheep 羊 (The horned 丷 animal with a backbone 丨 and laterally protruding due to thick wool 三 is the: sheep), below: big 大
A sheep of this big size is beautiful!
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羊
大
Vocabulary |
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英
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JLPT 4Joyo 4 |
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excellent, England, excel
EI Top: plant 艹, below: center 央 (The yoke 冂 on the shoulders of the big 大 man is centered.)
The plant in the center is excellent, as England.
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艹
央
大
Vocabulary |
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央
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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middle, center, capital
Ō Top: yoke 冂, below: big 大
The yoke on the shoulders of the big person is centered.
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大
央
Vocabulary |
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器
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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container, vessel, pot, skill
utsuwa, KI Four mouths 口, big 大
For four mouths you need a big pot / container.
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口
大
Vocabulary |
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参
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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participate, attend, go, come, visit
mairu, SAN From top: Nose ム, big 大, hairy 彡 (Originally this was the image of a woman 女 = くノ一 with long hair 彡 (possibly with hairpins 八 ?), with the meaning: beautiful)
Where the simplified woman ム with the 'big' hair is, I would like to participate.
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ム
大
彡
Vocabulary |
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失
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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to lose, disappear
ushinau, SHITSU Upper left: accent ノ for emphasis, rest: husband 夫 (= big 大 person with extra-caring arms 一)
I emphasize: The husband is losing.
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失
夫
ノ
大
Vocabulary |
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夫
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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(my) husband, man
otto, FU, FŪ Two 二 and person 人
The big 大 person with the extra-caring arms 一 is the husband.
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夫
大
Vocabulary |
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類
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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sort, kind, class, variety
RUI Left: rice 米 and big 大, right: head/forehead 頁
Rice as big as a head: But what kind of a sort?
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米
大
頁
Vocabulary |
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因
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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reason, cause, origin, source
yoru, IN Outside: enclosure 囗, inside: big person 大
The fence around the big person has its reason.
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因
囗
大
Vocabulary |
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恩
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JLPT 1Joyo 5 |
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kindness, favor, benefit, grace
ON Top: reason, cause 因 (For the fence 囗 around the big 大 person is a reason.), bottom: heart 心
The reason is in the heart, if sb. is such kind.
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因
心
囗
大
Vocabulary |
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寄
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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come near, approach, meet, visit
yoru, KI Top: roof 宀, bottom: strange 奇 (There are a big 大 possibilities 可, but it looks strange.)
Under a roof, there is the big possibility to get closer.
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宀
奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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奏
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JLPT 1Joyo 6 |
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play music, perform, report
kanaderu, SŌ From top: three 三, person 人, sky/heaven 天
Three persons over the sky play music.
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大
天
Vocabulary |
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奮
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JLPT 1Joyo 6 |
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be excited, stirred up, rouse
furuu, FUN From top: big 大, bird 隹, field 田
If something big (i.e. an eagle) is over the birds in the field, they get excited.
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大
隹
田
Vocabulary |
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模
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JLPT 1Joyo 6 |
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pattern, imitate, figure, copy, model
MO, BO Left: tree 木, right: sink, go down 莫 (The sun 日 is sinking among plants 艹,艹=大) [Watch-out: sunrise is: 旦 or  ]
The tree shows in the sunset (by the long shadow) its pattern.
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木
莫
大
Vocabulary |
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姻
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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marriage, matrimony
IN Left: woman 女, right: cause 因 (For the fence 囗 around the big person 大 is a reason.)
Women are the cause of marriages. (OR: The woman becomes an enclosed 'big' person by marriage.)
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女
因
囗
大
Vocabulary |
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奥
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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inner part, core, wife
oku, Ō From top: var. of building/roof 宀, rice 米, big 大
In the building there is rice in big volumes, namely in its inner part (where the wife is).
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大
米
Vocabulary |
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喚
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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yell, shout, cry
wameku, KAN Left: mouth 口, right: (only as radical) birth 奐 (from top: head of a woman ⺈, upper part of her body 内 with emphasized breasts and spread legs 大)
The mouth at birth: yells.
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口
⺈
大
Vocabulary |
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換
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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exchange, convert
kaeru, KAN Left: hand 扌, right: (only as a radical) birth 奐 (from top: head of a woman ⺈, upper part of body 内 with emphasized breasts, spread legs 大
A hand at the birth made that the babies were exchanged.
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扌
⺈
大
Vocabulary |
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奇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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strange, unusual, odd
KI Top: big 大, bottom: possible 可 (The nail 丁 into this opening 口 should be possible.)
There is a big possibility, but it looks strange.
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奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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騎
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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horseback riding, rider, equestrian
KI Left: horse 馬 (image with a mane 三 in the wind, four legs 灬 and the tail フ), right: strange 奇 (There is a big 大 possibility 可, but it looks strange.)
A horse gives you big opportunities, when you are riding.
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馬
奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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喫
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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consume, eat&drink, receive, ingest
KITSU Left: mouth 口, right: pledge, promise 契 (tally stick  , [pairwise marked sticks were distributed at the conclusion and joined again after implementation of an agreement] - Cut into a tally stick with a sword 刀 in big 大 letters: the pledge)
The mouth promises to eat and drink.
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口
刀
大
Vocabulary |
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契
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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pledge, promise, vow
chigiru, KEI Top: tally stick , (pairwise marked sticks were distributed at the conclusion and joined again after implementation of an agreement), sword 刀, below: big 大
Cut into a tally stick with a sword in big letters: a pledge.
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刀
大
Vocabulary |
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誇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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proud, boast, pride, triumphantly
hokoru, KO Left: word 言 (sound waves out of a mouth 口), right: 夸 (This is similar to: jaw, chin 顎 (= Under the eyes ロロ on the head 頁 is the jaw 丂)
When your words come from such a fat 太 jaw 丂, you are proud and boast.
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言
太
大
丂
Vocabulary |
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衡
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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balance, scales, equilibrium
KŌ Outside: to go 行, middle: var. of fish 魚, big 大 (Here: See 行 as a scale with two communicating plates 彳,亍 going up/down)
Put the big fish on the shown: scales.
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行
魚
大
Vocabulary |
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崎
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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cape, landhead, promontory
saki, KI Left: mountain 山, right: strange 奇 (There is a big 大 possibility 可, but it looks strange.)
(A beach might be behind?) Behind this "mountain" are big possibilities, because it is a cape.
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山
奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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惨
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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miserable, wretched, harsh, cruel, sad
mugoi, mijime, SAN, ZAN Left: feeling 忄, right: participate 参 (Where the simplified/kneeling woman ム with the 'big' 大 hair 彡 is, I like to participate.)
The feeling that my nose is big and hairy makes me miserable.
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忄
ム
彡
大
Vocabulary |
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臭
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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smell, stink, smack
kusai, SHŪ Top: self 自 (The accented ノ eye 目 as the "self"), below: big 大
His ego is so big that it stinks.
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自
大
Vocabulary |
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奨
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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encourage, praise, exhort, promote
SHŌ Top: commander 将 (A simple bed 丬, a hand caring hand 爫 [=reaching down] and a skillful hand 寸 needs the commander), bottom: big 大
A commander with grandeur encourages.
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丬
爫
大
Vocabulary |
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丈
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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measure of length, height, approx. 3m
take, JŌ Variant of big 大, which shows a big person with spread arms. Here this person makes a wide step.
With a wide step it is measured: the length of 3m.
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一
大
丈
Vocabulary |
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奪
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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rob, take by force, snatch away, plunder
ubau, DATSU From top: big 大, bird 隹, skillful hand 寸
For a big bird you need a skillful hand, for robbing it.
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大
隹
寸
Vocabulary |
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突
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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stab, pierce, thrust, protrude, push, prick
tsuku, TOTSU Top: hole, cavity 穴 (It is covered 宀 and a narrowing path 八 leads into the cave), below: big 大
The hole gets big [.. or bigger] if you stab in protrudingly.
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穴
大
Vocabulary |
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奉
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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observance (of tasks), dedication, respectful, performance of one's duty
tatematsuru, HŌ, BU From top: three 三, person 人, var. of hand 扌, 手
Three persons offer their hands for observance of their tasks.
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奉
大
Vocabulary |
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奔
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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rush, run quickly, bustle, gush
HON Top: big 大, below 卉 (ten 十, plant 艹)
The big person is thirty-fold quick when: rushing away.
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大
卉
艹
Vocabulary |
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僚
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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colleague, official
RYŌ Left: person 人, right: 尞 (big 大 person with fat 丷 legs, day 日, small 小)
The person who is at big and fat and is daily next to me (sb. small) is my colleague.
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亻
尞
大
Vocabulary |
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寮
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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dormitory, hostel
RYŌ Top: roof 宀, below: 尞 (big 大 person with fat 丷 legs, day 日 (here: two tatami mats), small 小
Under a roof, the big ones (with fat legs) lie on tatami mats with the small ones: We are in a dormitory.
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宀
尞
大
Vocabulary |
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涙
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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tear, teardrop, sympathy
namida, RUI Left: water 氵, right: to return 戻 (From a distance the door still appears small, but: The door 戸 gets bigger 大 and bigger [the closer you get] when you return.)
(Risk of flooding) If the water returns to your door, you will get (big) tears.
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氵
戸
大
Vocabulary |
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戻
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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return, bring back, restore
modoru/su, REI Outside: door 戸, below: big 大
(From a distance the door still appears small, but:) The door 戸 gets bigger 大 and bigger (the closer you get) when you return.
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戸
大
Vocabulary |
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椅
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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chair, seat, position
I Left: tree/wood 木, right: strange 奇 (There is a big 大 possibility 可, but it looks strange.)
The tree became a strange chair.
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木
奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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咽
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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gorge, throat, to be choked
musebu, IN Left: mouth 口, right: reason 因 (For the fence 囗 around the big 大 person is a reason.)
It is at the mouth and an enclosure/restriction 囗 in respect to the size 大 (of the food): The gorge.
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口
因
囗
大
Vocabulary |
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俺
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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I (male language), we
ore, Left: person 人, right: big 大, lower part of dragon 竜 (It stands 立 in the field 田 with huge tail 乚: the dragon.)
The person who is as (boastful as) a big dragon: that's me. (with my toxic masculinity)
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亻
大
竜
乚
Vocabulary |
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埼
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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cape (geography), spit (geography), promontory
sai, Left: earth 土, right: strange/unusual 奇 (There is a big 大 possibility 可, but it looks strange)
(Maybe, there is a beautiful beach?) The earth has great possibilities beyond the cape (promontory).
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土
奇
大
可
Vocabulary |
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爽
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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refreshing, clear, fresh
sawayaka, SŌ Big 大 and 4 marks: 㐅 (Here: placeholders for refreshments)
The big man holds under his arms four refreshments.
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大
㐅
Vocabulary |
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奈
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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Nara, what?
NA Top: big 大, below: to show/altar 示 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown)
A big altar? What? - In Nara?
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大
礻
Vocabulary |
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頰
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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cheek
HŌ Left the traditional form 夾 of: to squeeze 夹, which then was: A big 大 person is squeezed between two others 人人, right: head/forehead 頁
They are squeezing the head: the cheeks.
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夹
頁
大
Vocabulary |
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瞭
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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clear, obvious
RYŌ Left: eye 目, right: 尞 (big 大 person with fat 丷 legs, day 日, small 小 (cf. 寮=dormitory without roof)
(Memories of big days fade with time) The eye sees that a big, fat day becomes a small one: That is obvious.
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目
尞
大
小
Vocabulary |
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| Similar Radicals (either meaning or view) |  |
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At this page you get the memory phrases for learning the Japanese Kanji. If you are learning the Chinese Hanzi, please follow this link. |
List of the characters |
List of the radials
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