| Meaning |
day, sun 日
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| Explanation |
The radical nichi stands for sun and was originally a circle with an middle point. |
Used in these Kanji:
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音
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JLPT 4Joyo 1 |
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music, sound, noise
oto, ne, ON, IN Top: stand, get up 立, bottom: sun/day 日
(My alarm clock makes music:) Get up into the day with music & sounds.
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音
立
日
Vocabulary |
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早
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JLPT 4Joyo 1 |
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early, fast
hayai, SŌ Sunrise 旦 (= The sun 日 above the horizon 一) with a marking 丶
When the (rising) sun is at the marked spot 丶 at the horizon, it is still early.
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早
旦
日
十
Vocabulary |
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日
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JLPT 5Joyo 1 |
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sun, day
hi, -ka, NICHI, JITSU
Originally the image of the sun with an outer circle 囗 and an inner dot, which evolved into: 日
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日
Vocabulary |
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間
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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space, gap
aida, ma, KAN, KEN Combines gate 門 and sun 日
At the gate, the sun shines through: the gap.
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門
日
Vocabulary |
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時
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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time, hour
toki, JI Left: day 日, right: temple 寺 (... made from earth 土 and built with skillful hands 寸)
A day in the temple passes like just one hour.
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日
寺
Vocabulary |
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春
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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spring
haru, SHUN From top: three 三, person 人, sun 日
Three persons sit in the sun. It is spring!
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日
Vocabulary |
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書
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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write
kaku, SHO A hand ナ/ヨ with a painting brush 丨 (cf. 筆) writes two lines = on a paper 日
With a brush in my hand on the paper: That's how I write.
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日
聿
Vocabulary |
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星
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JLPT 3Joyo 2 |
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star
hoshi, SEI, SHŌ Top: sun 日, below: live 生 (The twig ノ at the growing plant  stands for life)
(Because they move in the night's sky:) Suns that are 'alive' are the stars.
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日
生
Vocabulary |
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晴
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JLPT 3Joyo 2 |
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sunny, bright, clear up
hareru, SEI Left: day/sun 日, right: young, blue 青 (Growing plants appear in the moonshine 月 as blue and young.)
Sunny and blue (sky) - It's sunny and the weather's cleared up.
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日
青
月
Vocabulary |
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昼
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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noon, daytime
hiru, CHŪ Top: measure of length 尺 (from the body 口 one foot 八 forward = 1 Shaku = 30.3 cm), below: sunrise 旦 (sun 日 over the horizon 一)
It is measured in Shaku when the sun is vertically above the horizon: Then it is noon.
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尺
旦
日
Vocabulary |
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東
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JLPT 5Joyo 2 |
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east
higashi, TŌ
The sun 日 rises behind a tree 木 in the east.
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木
日
東
Vocabulary |
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明
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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bright, lightful, clear
akarui, akeru, MEI, MYŌ
Sun 日 and moon 月: Both shine bright and clear.
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日
月
Vocabulary |
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曜
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JLPT 4Joyo 2 |
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day of the week
YŌ Left: sun 日, right: 翟 (two wings 羽, bird 隹)
The sun on the wings of a bird: This happens every: day of the week.
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日
翟
羽
隹
Vocabulary |
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暗
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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dark, shady, gloomy, unclear
kurai, AN Left: sun/day 日, right: sound, music 音 (Stand up 立 into the day 日 with music [of the clock radio?])
When the sun stands 立 between two days 日,日 it is: dark.
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日
音
立
Vocabulary |
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意
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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intention, mind, thought
I Top: sound, noise 音 (Stand up 立 into the day 日 with sound/music [of the clock radio?]), bottom: heart 心
Like sounds of my heart: My intentions!
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意
音
立
日
心
Vocabulary |
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温
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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warm
atatakai, ON Left: water 氵, right: sun 日 and a bowl/dish 皿
The water on a sunny plate gets warm.
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氵
日
皿
Vocabulary |
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曲
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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melody, bend, turn
magaru, KYOKU A field 田 with two growing plants II
(In the wind) The plants in the field are bending. (Or: Two flutes 笛 play a melody.)
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曲
日
Vocabulary |
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暑
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JLPT 4Joyo 3 |
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hot weather
atsui, SHO Top: sun 日, bottom: person 者 (The old man 耂 shows in the sun 日 his whole person.)
The sun is directly above the person - that's hot weather!
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日
者
耂
Vocabulary |
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昭
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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glorious, clear, bright
SHŌ Left: sun 日, right: summon/call s.o. 召 (with sword 刀 and mouth 口 to call sb.)
The sun is calling: It is getting: glorious and bright!
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日
召
Vocabulary |
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億
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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hundred million
OKU Left: person 亻/人, right: thought 意 (= the sounds 音 of my heart 心)
A (normal) person can only think about having 100 million dollar.
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亻
意
音
立
日
Vocabulary |
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景
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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scenery, view, panorama
KEI, KE Top: sun 日, below: capital 京 (image of a stone lantern)
The sun above the capital is a nice scenery.
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景
日
京
Vocabulary |
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最
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JLPT 3Joyo 4 |
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most, extremely, highest
mottomo, SAI Top: sun 日, bottom: to take, hold 取 (.. at the ear 耳 with the hand 又)
(It illuminates everything even into the most remote corners:) The sun takes [with its shine] the extremely.
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日
取
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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易
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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easy, simple, divination, fortune telling
yasui, yasashii, EKI, I Top: sun 日, below: rays 勿
Sunrays make it easy.
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易
日
勿
Vocabulary |
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旧
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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past, old times, former old ...
KYŪ Left: var. of one 丨, right: day 日
One day has passed, which means 'old times'.
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旧
丨
日
Vocabulary |
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暴
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JLPT 2Joyo 5 |
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expose, violence, outburst, rage
abareru/ku, BŌ, BAKU From top: Sun 日, together with 共 (Put the plants 艹 on the table  together-) and water 水
The sun together with the water exposes the violence.
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日
共
水
Vocabulary |
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映
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JLPT 4Joyo 6 |
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reflect, shine, project(cinema)
utsuru/su, haeru, EI Left: sun 日, right: center 央 (The yoke 冂 on the shoulders of the big 大 man is centered.)
When the sun reaches the center (= zenith) everything is reflecting.
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日
央
Vocabulary |
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是
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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right, just so, proper, this
kore, ZE Top: sun 日, below: correct 正 (at the line 一 to stop 止 is correct)
The sun looks correctly: That is right.
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是
日
正
Vocabulary |
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暖
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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warm
atatakai/maru/meru, DAN Left: sun 日, right: (Chinese only) to help 爰 (a hand reaches down 爫 to give a rope ノ [with two 二 knots] and another hand 又 takes this help.)
The sun helps to warm up.
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日
爰
爫
友
Vocabulary |
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晩
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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nightfall, evening, late
BAN Left: sun 日, right: escape, permit 免 (an escaping rabbit 兔=兎=[うさぎ] - long ear ⺈, big eyes 罒, legs 儿)
The sun escapes during nightfall.
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日
免
⺈
儿
Vocabulary |
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韻
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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rhyme, tone
IN Left: sound 音 (Stand up 立 into the day 日 with music [of the clock radio?]), right: member 員 (Who has a mouth 口 and money 貝, can become a member.)
Sounds, that are (mutually) members are the rhymes.
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音
貝
員
立
日
Vocabulary |
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憶
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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remember, recollection, reminiscence, think
OKU Left: feeling 忄, right: thought/mind 意 (= the sounds 音 of my heart 心)
Feelings and thoughts will be remembered (= reminiscences).
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忄
意
音
立
日
Vocabulary |
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暇
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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leisure, spare time
hima, KA Left: day 日, center: var. of door 戸 (with stairs 二), right: tool コ, hand 又
(DIY = Home improvement as a hobby:) The day when I repair the door and the stairs with a tool in my hand is my leisure.
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日
殳
Vocabulary |
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響
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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resound, echo, get known
hibiku, KYŌ Top: home town 郷 (The thread 糸 of the 'husband' 郎 connects to the hometown.) [husband 郎 = the 'good' 良 from the village⻏], bottom: sound 音 (Stand up 立 into the day 日 with music [of the clock radio?])
(There always remains a reference to the home.) From the home town is sounding an echo.
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音
艮
立
日
Vocabulary |
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暁
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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dawn, daybreak
akatsuki, GYŌ Left: sun 日, right: simplified forest 森, one 一 (= horizon) and legs 儿 (cf. 焼)
If the sun comes through the forest (above the horizon) it is walking towards dawn. (before sun rise 旦)
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日
旦
Vocabulary |
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更
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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renew, anew, change, fresh, again
sara, fukeru/kasu, KŌ Center: sun 日, rest: measure of length 丈 (big 大 person measures with long step distance of 3m)
The sun 日 shows it size 大 renewedly again.
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日
更
丈
Vocabulary |
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香
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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fragrance, smell, aroma, scent
ka, kaoru/ri, KŌ Top: rice plant 禾, below: sun 日
Rice plants in the sun have a fragrance.
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禾
日
Vocabulary |
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昆
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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descendants, insect, multitude
KON Actually the pictograph of an insect (top: carapace 日, below: legs 比 [=comparison of two sitting 匕 persons])
The sun over the two sitting persons 比, the: descendants.
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日
比
Vocabulary |
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婚
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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marriage
KON Left: woman 女, right: family/clan 氏, sun 日
The woman comes into the family at the day of the marriage.
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女
氏
日
Vocabulary |
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暫
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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a short while, temporarily, briefly, a while
shibaraku, ZAN Top: kill by slicing 斬 ([An accident] with a car 車 or an axe 斤 can kill by slicing), below: sun/day 日
If you wanted to make a vehicle with an axe in only one day, this would be a short duration.
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斬
日
車
斤
Vocabulary |
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旨
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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delicious, tasty, relish, purpose, skillful, expert
mune, umai, SHI Top: typically this radical 匕 is understood as a sitting person, even though this kanji 匕 [さじ] means "spoon", bottom: sun 日
On the spoon in the sun and is sth. delicious. How skillful!
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旨
匕
日
Vocabulary |
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湿
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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damp, moist, humid, wet
shimeru/su, SHITSU Left: water 氵, right: sun 日, hollow 业 (= extinct volcanic vent)
The water makes the sunny hole damp and humid.
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氵
日
业
Vocabulary |
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旬
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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a 10 day period, decade
JUN Wrap sth. 勹, sun 日
When the sun is wrapped (by clouds), then often for the duration of 10 days.
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勹
日
Vocabulary |
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昇
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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rise up, raising, ascent, promote
noboru, SHŌ Top: sunrise 旦 (sun above horizon 一), bottom: measure of volume 升 (three upward directed strokes ノ亅丨
Like a sunrise 旦 is this slope ノ directing upwards: An ascent.
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日
旦
Vocabulary |
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晶
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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crystal, clear, sparkle
SHŌ 3 x sun 日
Three suns as clear as a crystal.
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日
Vocabulary |
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昔
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JLPT 3Joyo 3 |
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old days, long ago, past, antiquity
mukashi, SEKI, SHAKU Top: variation of together 共 (Put the plants 艹 on the table together), bottom: sun 日
Together in the sun we think of the old days.
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昔
日
共
Vocabulary |
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替
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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exchange, substitute
kaeru/waru, TAI Top: 2 x husband 夫 (= big 大 person with extra-caring arms 一), below: sun 日
Two husbands are during sunshine (= during good times) exchangeable.
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夫
日
Vocabulary |
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曇
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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to cloud, dim, mar, fog
kumoru, DON Top: sun 日, below: cloud 雲 (=rain 雨 & fog 云)
If the sun is above the clouds, it is cloudy.
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日
雨
云
Vocabulary |
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普
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JLPT 2Joyo 7 |
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widely, universally, generally
amaneku, FU Top: row, line, common 並 (originally 2 x stand 立立 [for row], now merged to 並), below: sun 日
Lining up in the sun is done generally.
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並
日
Vocabulary |
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暮
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JLPT 2Joyo 6 |
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live, sunset, end, life circumstances
kureru/rasu, BO Top: sinking/going down 莫 (The sun 日 is sinking among plants 艹,艹=大), bottom: sun 日 [Notice:  means sunrise such as in 'morning 朝']
The sinking sun means sunset. [OR: The plants 艹 needed from one sun 日 to the next big 大 sun 日 are the life circumstances.]
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莫
日
艹
Vocabulary |
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暦
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JLPT 1Joyo 7 |
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calendar, almanac
koyomi, REKI Outside: cliff 厂, below: forest 林, sun 日 [cf. hemp 麻]
A cliff with a forest in the sun: a picture for a calendar.
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厂
林
日
麻
Vocabulary |
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曖
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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not clear, vague, obscure
AI Left: day/sun 日, right: love 愛 (A hand reaching down 爫 to cover 冖 the heart 心 and an upturned foot 夂: That is love) [愛 = A hand reaching down 爫 to cover 冖 the heart 心 of the person sitting cross-legged 夂: That is love.]
In daylight love becomes unclear.
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日
愛
夂
Vocabulary |
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旺
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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beautiful, flourishing, vigorous
Ō Left: sun/day 日, right: king 王
A day like a king: beautiful and flourishing.
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日
王
Vocabulary |
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曽
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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formerly, before
SŌ, ZO From top: out of 丷 (here: rain), field 田, sun 日
At rain on the field and under the sun, that's how we worked formerly.
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曽
日
丷
Vocabulary |
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旦
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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daybreak, dawn, morning
TAN, DAN Top: sun 日, bottom: a horizontal line 一 as the horizon
When the sun appears above the horizon it is: daybreak.
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旦
日
Vocabulary |
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昧
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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dark, ambiguous, unclear, doubious
MAI Left: sun/day 日, right: not yet/ immature 未 (The upper branch of the tree 木 is still shorter =immature.)
The day is still immature: It is dark and ambiguous.
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日
未
旦
Vocabulary |
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冥
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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dark, deep, unfathomable, divine
MEI, MYŌ From top: cover 冖, sun/day 日, six 六
A cover makes the sun-light sixfold darker and unfathomable.
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冖
日
六
Vocabulary |
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闇
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JLPT -Joyo 7 |
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dark, darkness
yami, Outside: gate 門, inside: sound 音 (Stand up 立 into the day 日 with music [of the clock radio?]), (cf. 暗)
The gate stands 立 in the sun 日 and causes (behind it) darkness.
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門
音
立
日
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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