The Japanese Radical: 工


Kanji-Trainer
Search:
 
Meaning
build    工

Explanation Cross sectional view of a H-steel beam for building or making.

Used in these characters:
JLPT 5Joyo 1
sky, open, air, empty
sora, kara, akeru,
Top: hole, cavity (It is covered and a narrowing path leads into the cave.), bottom: to build/work
When a hole is built in (i.e. into the ceiling), the free sky opens.  
JLPT 5Joyo 1
left
hidari, SA
Left: Hand ナ/ヨ (Shows a hand with the forearm at the right and three fingers to the left.), right: build, work (image of a carpenter's square)
The hand that assists, (=supports with the carpenter's square) is the left.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
work, construction
KŌ, KU

Cross sectional view of a H-steel beam as a symbol for construction.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
ceremony, function, style
SHIKI
Outside: sabre , below: craftsman
A craftsman makes a sabre for the ceremony.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
merit, achievement, service
KŌ, KU
Left: craftsman , right: strength/effort (hand/arm with biceps )
A craftsman with strength achieves merits.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
difference, distinction, discrepancy
sasu, SA
Top: sheep with a bent leg , below: craftsman, construction
A sheep with a bent leg and a craftsman: what a difference!  
JLPT 4Joyo 4
test, try, experiment, attempt
kokoromiru, tamesu, SHI
Left: word (sound waves out of a mouth ), right: ceremony (The craftsman makes a sabre for ceremony.)
The words for the ceremony need to be tested.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
construct, build, fabricate
kizuku, CHIKU
From top: bamboo , craftsman , common/normal (A table /几 with a scratch is common.), tree
Bamboo, craftsmen and commonly also trees are needed for construction.  
JLPT 2Joyo 6
red, crimson
kurenai, beni, KŌ, KU
Left: thread , right: craftsman
(On construction sites there are red tapes to cordon off hazardous areas.) The thread of the craftsman is crimson-red.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
Asia-, sub-, inferior
A
Superposition of: to work/build and center
Where you work together with the center (= China = land of the middle) is: Asia.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
fear, awe, horror
osoreru/roshii, KYŌ
Top: craftsman , common/general (A table 几/ with a scratch is common.), bottom: heart
(Out of fear of claims for damages?) Craftsmen are generally, deep in their hearts, very fearful.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
skill, dexterous, adroit
takumi,
Left: craftsman , right: seaweed
The craftsman works with the seaweed skillfully.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
river mouth, inlet, bay, Yangtse
e,
Left: water , right: craftsman
At the waters you can build best: at the river's mouth, as during Edo ( ).  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
attack, assault
semeru,
Left: craftsman , right: to strike (a hand holds a stick )
A craftsman strikes (with a stick in the hand), when he wants to attack.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
tribute, supply, finance
mitsugu, KŌ, KU
Top: craftsman , below: money (A cone-shell with two feelers/antennas as shell-money)
Either with work or money you have to pay your tribute.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
refrain, withdraw, wait, restrain, make note
hikaeru,
Left: hand , right: sky (When a hole is built in, it opens: the sky.)
The hand that wants to build a hole (= to demolish), should be refrained and noted.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
clause, paragraph, item, nape
unaji,
Left: craftsman , right: head/forehead
The craftsman plans with his head sectionwise. (thus in: paragraphs)  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
assist, help
SA
Left: person , right: left (The hand that assists, (= supports with the carpenter's square ) is the left.)
(Normally persons are right-handed and the left hand is supporting.) Persons have the left (hand) for assisting.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
craftsman, carpenter, artisan, master
SHŌ
Outside: box (or variant of: to work/build ), inside: axe
In the box is the axe of the craftsman.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
to wipe off, to rub
fuku, nuguu, SHOKU
Left: hand , right: ceremony/function (craftsman makes sabre for ceremony)
By hand for the ceremony, all is wiped clean.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
rainbow
niji,
Left: insect , right: craftsman, build
Insects actually build the rainbow?  

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.

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 radicals
Get the app of the Kanji-Trainer!

The app has many other functions, such as character selection according to difficulty, practice programs, handwriting recognition and success statistics!

To the Trainer