Meaning |
mouth 口
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Explanation |
A small square 口 stands for the mouth, and a big square 囗 is an enclosure. |
Used in these Kanji:
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右
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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right hand side
migi, U, YŪ Left: hand ナ/ヨ (Shows a hand ナ with the forearm at the right and three fingers to the left.), right: mouth 口
The hand for the mouth (= you eat with) is the: right.
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右
口
Vocabulary |
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口
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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mouth, opening
kuchi, KŌ, KU
A mouth wide open.
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口
Vocabulary |
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石
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JLPT 3Joyo 1 |
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stone, rock
ishi, SEKI, SHAKU Top: var. of cliff 厂, bottom: stone 口
Below the cliff are stones.
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石
厂
口
Vocabulary |
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足
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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leg, foot, sufficient
ashi, tariru, SOKU Top: kneecap 口, bottom: to stop 止 (= Footprint of the right foot rotated 90° to the left.)
Between kneecap and foot is the leg, that's sufficient.
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足
口
止
Vocabulary |
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中
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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middle, inside
naka, CHŪ
The vertical line 丨 in the middle of the square 口 shows the middle.
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丨
中
口
Vocabulary |
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名
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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name, fame
na, MEI, MYŌ Evening 夕 (If the moon 月 is not yet complete [a stroke is missing], it is only evening 夕.) and mouth 口
In the evening, you talk about people with name and fame.
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夕
口
Vocabulary |
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回
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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rotate, turn, revolve
mawaru, KAI
Two coaxial rotations
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口
囗
Vocabulary |
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古
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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old
furui, KO Ten 十 and mouth 口 (古 was derived from the image of a skull). See this as the image of a grave mound with a cross.
Under the tomb mound/stone lies the "old".
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口
十
古
Vocabulary |
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語
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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talk, tell, speak
kataru, GO Left: word, speech 言 (sound waves out of a mouth 口), right: I, me 吾 (five 五 and mouth 口)
Words out of five mouths mean to speak.
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言
口
Vocabulary |
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合
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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fit, meet, join
au, awaseru, GŌ, KATSU Top: a cover , below: a container 口
The cover/lid on the container fits.
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口
合
Vocabulary |
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台
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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platform, rack, stand
DAI, TAI Top: nose ム (in side view), bottom: mouth 口
The nose over the mouth is like a platform.
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台
口
ム
Vocabulary |
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知
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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to know, knowledge
shiru, CHI Left: an arrow 矢 (An arrow ノ flies in the sky 天), right: a mouth 口 (here: a target)
The arrow hits the target, if it knows it.
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矢
ノ
口
Vocabulary |
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同
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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same
onaji, DŌ A container upside down: 冂, one 一 and an opening 口
All containers only have one opening, and that is the same.
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同
冂
口
Vocabulary |
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鳴
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JLPT 3Joyo 2 |
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non-human cry
naku, MEI Left: mouth 口, right: a bird 鳥 (Image of a bird with head 白, wrings 一, tail feather フ and talons 灬)
Out of the mouth of the bird comes an animal's cry.
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口
鳥
Vocabulary |
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員
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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member
IN Top: mouth 口, below: shell/money 貝 (Image of a cone-shell 目 with two feelers/antennas 八)
(In a singing club) If you have a mouth and money you can become a member.
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口
貝
員
Vocabulary |
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君
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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you, Mr., lord
kimi, KUN Top: A hand ナ/ヨ holding a stick ノ, bottom: mouth 口
The one with the stick in the hand striking on your mouth, is your master/lord.
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君
尹
口
Vocabulary |
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兄
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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elder brother
ani, KEI, KYŌ A mouth 口 and legs 儿
A big mouth on legs: That's my elder brother.
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儿
口
兄
Vocabulary |
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向
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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opposite side, yonder, turn one's head, situation
muku, mukeru, KŌ A house 冂 with a window 口
In this house, the window is on the opposite side, you just have to turn around.
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口
冂
Vocabulary |
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号
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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number, title, issue, suffix
GŌ Top: mouth 口, bottom: winding seaweed 丂 (here: the number "5")
When the mouth says "5" it is a number.
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口
丂
Vocabulary |
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商
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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trade, business, sell
akinau, SHŌ Var. of emperor 帝 with long coat 冂 and mouth 口. Better to consider a vendor behind a sales desk 冂 with some goods 口 (cf. to sell 売)
A vendor at the sales desk with goods 口 means: trade.
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帝
口
Vocabulary |
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品
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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goods, item, refinement
shina, HIN
Three boxes with goods.
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品
口
Vocabulary |
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味
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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taste, flavor, relish
aji, ajiwau, MI Left: mouth 口, right: unripe, not yet 未 (The upper branch of the tree 木 is still shorter = immature.)
In the mouth sth. unripe can be tasted. [In contrast: In the mouth 口 old 古 things taste: hard 固]
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口
未
Vocabulary |
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命
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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life, order, command, fate
inochi, MEI, MYŌ Lower left: mouth 口, rest: order, command 令 (To put a lid on the bent person卩, has been ordered!)
The mouth gives order to live.
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口
令
卩
Vocabulary |
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問
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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ask
tou, MON Outside: Gate 門, inner: mouth 口
The mouth at the gate is asking.
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門
口
Vocabulary |
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和
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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harmony, peace, Japan
yawaragu, nagoyaka, WA, O Left: rice plant 禾, right: mouth 口
Who has rice in his mouth is in harmony.
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禾
口
Vocabulary |
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加
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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add, append, join
kuwaeru, KA Left: power 力, right: mouth 口
(It is meant, to eat sth.) For getting power 力 your mouth 口 needs sth. to be 'added'.
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加
力
口
Vocabulary |
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各
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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each, every
ono, KAKU Top: upturned foot or sitting with crossed legs 夂, mouth 口 (here better: futon/cushion)
Sitting cross-legged on a cushion does everybody.
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各
口
夂
Vocabulary |
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喜
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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happy, joy, delight
yorokobu, KI From top: samurai 士, beans 豆, mouth 口. (This kanji 喜 has also been simplified to: 吉)
(An army marches on its stomach!) A samurai with beans in his mouth is happy.
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口
吉
豆
士
壴
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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告
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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announce, proclaim, tell, inform, confess
tsugeru, KOKU Top: cow 牛 bottom: mouth 口
The cow opens the mouth to announce sth.
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告
牛
口
Vocabulary |
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史
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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history
SHI Mouth 口 and a person 人 with a wide step
With the mouth, the person who has taken wide steps, tells his: history.
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口
人
Vocabulary |
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司
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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administer, govern, rule
tsukasadoru, SHI
In a corner ⌝ is sb. who throws a sheet 一 of paper in the wastebasket 口: In the administration.
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口
司
Vocabulary |
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唱
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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sing, recite, intone, preach
tonaeru, SHŌ Left: mouth 口, right: two suns 日
Open the mouth widely as big as two suns, when: singing.
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口
日
Vocabulary |
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句
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JLPT 1Joyo 5 |
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phrase, clause, rhythmic section in poem, paragraph
KU Outside: wrap up/cover 勹, inside: mouth 口
She covered her mouth at such a phrase. Or: Sth. wrapped 勹 out the mouth 口.
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口
句
勹
Vocabulary |
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善
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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goodness, virtuous, goodwill
yoi, ZEN From top: sheep 羊, to stand 立, mouth 口
The sheep standing there with a gaping mouth has goodness and is virtuous.
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善
羊
口
Vocabulary |
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程
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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approximately, extent, degree, limit
hodo, TEI Left: rice plant 禾, right: present, to present 呈 (The mouth 口 of the king 王 gives presents.)
Rice plants for the mouth of the king is the approximate extent.
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禾
口
王
Vocabulary |
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可
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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possible, approve, accept
-beki/shi/ku, KA Outside: city block 丁 (but here: a nail), below: opening 口
The nail 丁 into this opening 口 should be possible.
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口
可
Vocabulary |
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吸
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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suck, breathe in, inhale
suu, KYŪ Left: mouth 口, right: reach, extend 及 (Here: cigarette ノ and variation of hand
A mouth with a cigarette in a hand to suck/inhale.
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口
及
Vocabulary |
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呼
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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call, attract, summon
yobu, KO Left: mouth 口, right: 乎 (var. hand 手, hence 'open' hand)
A mouth and in front an open hand for better calling.
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口
扌
Vocabulary |
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后
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JLPT 1Joyo 6 |
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an empress, queen, behind
kisaki, KŌ, GO Top: var. of buttock seen from the side 尸, below: opening 口 as anus, in the sense of 'behind' (Originates in the custom that the empress followed behind the emperor.)
The one following 'behind' is the empress.
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尸
口
Vocabulary |
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否
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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deny, no
ina, inamu, HI Top: not 不 (Four lines are not enough.), below: mouth 口
A "no" from a mouth is a denial.
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不
口
Vocabulary |
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哀
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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sorrow, sad, distress, grief
aware/remu, AI Top and bottom: clothes 衣, center: a big hole 口
Clothes with a hole causes sorrow.
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哀
口
衣
Vocabulary |
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拐
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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kidnap, deceive, abduct
KAI Left: hand 扌, right: mouth 口, sword 刀 (cf. invite 招)
I feel a hand on my mouth and a sword: I am being kidnapped!
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扌
口
刀
Vocabulary |
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嚇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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menace, threaten, terrorize
odosu/kasu, KAKU Left: mouth 口, right: 2 x red 赤 (When clay/earth 土 is burned in fire 灬, the pottery gets: red)
A mouth with a double red is menacing.
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口
赤
Vocabulary |
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喝
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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shout loudly, scold, browbeat, hoarse
KATSU Left: mouth 口, right: 曷 (var. of easy 易 (sun 日, rays勿 with a sitting person 匕 instead two rays)
(Is it too hot for them?) The mouths of those sitting in the sunshine are shouting loudly.
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口
曷
易
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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含
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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contain, include, hold
fukumu/meru, GAN Top: now 今, bottom: mouth 口
What is now in the mouth is contained there.
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今
口
Vocabulary |
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吉
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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good luck, fortune, joy
KICHI, KITSU Top: samurai 士, bottom: mouth 口 - (simplified from: luck 喜, where the samurai has beans 豆 in his mouth.)
A samurai with a (full) mouth has good luck.
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吉
士
口
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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叫
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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shout, yell, cry
sakebu, KYŌ Left: mouth 口, right: twisted 丩 (pictograph: two intertwined threads).
The mouth is distorted when shouting.
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口
丩
Vocabulary |
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吟
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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versify, recital, recite, singing
GIN Left: mouth 口, right: now 今
The mouth will now start reciting.
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口
今
Vocabulary |
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啓
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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disclose, enlighten, illuminate, state
KEI Top: door 戸, hit, strike (bang) 攵 (hand 又 with a stick ノ), below: opening 口
When the door opens with a bang into an opening, things get disclosed.
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戸
攵
口
Vocabulary |
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呉
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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to give, Wu-Chinese dynasty, do th. for sb. else
kureru, GO
Image of a person 口 in Wu dynasty contentedly leaning back in relaxing armchair (= the rest of this character), because he gave sth. to somebody.
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口
呉
Vocabulary |
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唆
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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entice/attract, to tempt, allure, instigate, incite
sosonokasu, sosoru, SA Left: mouth 口, right: 夋 (nose ム, legs 儿, upturned foot 夂)
Mouth, nose, legs and an upturned foot: Shall that be attracting?
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口
夋
夂
Vocabulary |
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咲
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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bloom, blossom
saku, Left: mouth 口, right: out of 丷, heaven/sky 天
Like a mouth out of heaven looks this blossom.
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口
丷
天
Vocabulary |
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嗣
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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inherit, succeed to
tsugu, SHI Left: mouth 口, book/volume 冊 (bundle of bamboo writing tablets), right: administration/civil servant 司 (... where sb. is sitting in a corner⌝ throwing a sheet 一 of paper in the wastebasket 口)
He spoke, wrote it on the tablets and gave (his last will) to the civil servant for the inheritance.
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口
冊
司
Vocabulary |
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如
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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similar, like, compare, such as, equal
gotoku, JO, NYO Left: woman 女, right: mouth 口
These women's mouths are that similar, that they are comparable.
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女
口
Vocabulary |
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召
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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summon, call someone (respectfully), to send for
mesu, SHŌ Top: sword 刀, below: mouth 口
Use sword and mouth to summon / call together.
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口
召
刀
Vocabulary |
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嘱
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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entrust, confidence, request, ask
SHOKU Left: mouth 口, right: species, genus 属 (The rear part 尸 belongs to an insect 禹/虫 with long legs 冂, but which species?)
To the mouth of this species, it can be entrusted.
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口
尸
虫
Vocabulary |
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唇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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lip(s)
kuchibiru, SHIN Top: plow 辰 (At the field corner 厂 a first line 一 is plowed by the farmer 农 [农 = Chinese for farmer]), below: mouth 口
Like plowed lines at the mouth: the lips.
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辰
口
Vocabulary |
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吹
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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blow, breathe out
fuku, SUI Left: mouth 口, right: lack 欠 (The mouth wide open of the yawning ⺈ person 人 is lacking [i.e. manners])
If out of the mouth a "nothing" is coming, then it is "blowing".
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口
欠
Vocabulary |
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喪
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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mourn, loss, miss, death
mo, SŌ From top: ten 十, two mouths 口, simple var. of clothes 衣
A cross 十, two coffins/cascets 口 and simple clothes are signs of mourning. (Or: It is also sorrow 哀 with two holes ロロ in the clothes 衣.)
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口
十
哀
Vocabulary |
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嘆
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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lament, sigh, grieve, admire
nageku/kawashii, TAN Left: mouth 口, right: var. of China 漢 (Water 氵and plants 艹 in the mouth 口 of the husband 夫 from China) [But water 氵is missing]
Mouths in a waterless China are lamenting.
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口
艹
夫
Vocabulary |
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痴
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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foolish, stupid, silly
CHI Outside: illness 疒 (An ice-冫-cold building 广 makes sick.), inside: know 知 (The arrow 矢 hits the target 口, if it knows it.)
The disease in respect to "knowing" is to be stupid.
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疒
矢
口
Vocabulary |
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呈
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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offer, present, display, exhibit
TEI Top: mouth 口, bottom: king 王
The mouth of the king offers presents.
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口
王
Vocabulary |
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哲
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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wisdom, philosophy
TETSU Top: to break 折 (A hand 扌 with an axe 斤 can make things break.), below: mouth 口
Even broken, his mouth utters wisdom.
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折
口
斤
Vocabulary |
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吐
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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vomit, through up, spit up, disgorge, spew
haku, TO Left: mouth 口, right: earth/ground 土
From his mouth and onto the ground he disgorged the vomit.
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口
土
Vocabulary |
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唐
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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Tang-China
kara, TŌ Outside: building 广, below: hand ナ/ヨ, pestle 丨, mortar 口
Buildings in which a hand uses a mortar in the Tang Dynasty. (It was 618-907 AD and a heyday. - Maybe that's why people peacefully prepared food in the mortar?)
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广
臼
口
Vocabulary |
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噴
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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eruption, emit, spout, flush out
fuku, FUN Left: mouth, opening 口, right: 卉 (ten 十, plant 艹), shell/money 貝
Out of the opening, ten plants and money were flushed out at the eruption.
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口
責
卉
艹
貝
Vocabulary |
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唯
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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merely, only, just, simply
tada, YUI, I Left: mouth 口, right: bird 隹
The mouth of this bird (sings) merely.
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口
隹
Vocabulary |
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吏
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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official, officialdom
RI Center: mouth 口, rest: measure of length 丈 [Big 大 person measures with long step 3m]
Just a measure of length and a mouth is needed by an official.
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口
丈
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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唄
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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song, buddhistic ritual songs
uta, Left: mouth 口, right: money, shell 貝
(A paid singer?) It comes out of his mouth for money: a song.
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口
貝
Vocabulary |
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嗅
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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smell, sniff
kagu, KYŪ Left: mouth 口, right: variation of smell, stink 臭 (because without "dog" 犬)
The mouth 口 itself 自 of the dog 犬 can sniff a smell. (Or: The mouth itself of a dog has a smell.)
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口
自
犬
Vocabulary |
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喉
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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throat
nodo, KŌ Left: mouth 口, right: marquis 侯 (var. of bent person ⺈, arrow 矢)
Also the mouth of a marquis ends in his throat.
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口
矢
Vocabulary |
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叱
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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scold, reprove
shikaru, SHITSU Left: mouth 口, right: sitting person 匕
With his mouth wide open, he is sitting and scolding.
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口
匕
Vocabulary |
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呪
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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curse, malediction, magic word, spell, charm
norou, JU Left: mouth 口, right: elder brother 兄 (A big mouth 口 on legs 儿)
Two brothers 兄兄, but the left without legs, because he is cursed. (Or: Out of the mouth of the elder brother comes: a curse.)
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口
兄
Vocabulary |
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唾
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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saliva, spit
tsuba, DA Left: mouth 口, right: hanging down, drop 垂 (A vehicle 車 with a loose wheel, that almost drops off.)
From the mouth it is hanging (or dripping) down: the saliva.
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口
垂
Vocabulary |
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嘲
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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ridicule, scoff, sneer
azakeru, CHŪ Left: mouth 口, right: morning 朝 (= sunrise [= sun 日 rises between plants 艹] and the moon 月 is still there.)
This mouth early in the morning cannot but ridicule sneer.
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口
朝
月
Vocabulary |
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哺
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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suckle, breast feeding
HO Left: mouth 口, right: to begin 甫 (The hand takes the tool 丶 to use 用, when beginning sth.)
(At a new born baby:) The mouth starts suckling.
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口
甫
用
Vocabulary |
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喩
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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metaphor, compare
YU Left: mouth 口, right: cover , moon/month 月, var. of river 川
The mouth covers for months the river? Must be a metaphor.
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口
巛
Vocabulary |
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呂
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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six lower tones of the octave
RO Shows two connected rooms 口ノ口 (cf. palace 宮) Here: see ノ as sound waves
(The sound of lower tones can propagate better:) This sound comes from one room to room: The lower tones of the octave.
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口
呂
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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