A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese Fourth Edition

435–439 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ᆶ RYOKU, ROKU; midori, green

435 ᪂⥳ shinryoku, fresh verdure
14 strokes ⥳ᆅ ryokuchi, green tract of land
⥳Ⰽ midori-iro, green (color)
ᇏ

436
5 strokes REI, salutation, courtesy, bow, thanks

ᇙ ♩൤ reigi, courtesy, manners,

437 etiquette
6 strokes
↓♩ burei, impoliteness,
ᇣ
discourtesy
438
14 strokes ኻ♩ shitsurei, discourtesy,

ᇭ rudeness

439 RETSU, row, line
13 strokes
⾜ิ gyǀretsu, row, procession
ิ㌴ ressha, train

ᩚิ seiretsu, standing in a row



REN; ne(ru), to polish (one‫ތ‬s style),
to discipline (one‫ތ‬s mind), to parade,
to knead (a dough)

⦎⩦ renshnj, practice
⇍⦎ jukuren, skill, dexterity
カ⦎ kunren, drill, training



RO road, route, path; ~ji, suf¿x
denoting “way”

㐨㊰ dǀro, road
⥺㊰ senro, railway track
⯟㊰ kǀro, sea route



88

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 440–444

ሆ WA, harmony, peace, Japan;
yawa(ragu), to soften, to calm down
440 (v.i.); nago(yaka), calm, harmonious
8 strokes
ᖹ࿴ heiwa, peace
‫ڈ‬
࿴᭹ wafuku, Japanese clothes,
441
13 strokes kimono

‫ڨ‬ ㄪ࿴ chǀwa, harmony

442 AI, love; ai(suru), to love
10 strokes
ឡ᝟ aijǀ, love, affection
‫ڬ‬ ឡᅜᚰ aikokushin, patriotism

443 ឡඣ aiji, one‫ތ‬s beloved child
5 strokes

‫ۃ‬
AN, plan, idea; an(jiru), to be
444 anxious about, to be concerned
6 strokes about

᱌እ angai, unexpectedly
᱌ෆ annai, guide, guidance
ྡ᱌ meian, good idea, good plan



I with, through, on account of

௨ୖ ijǀ, above, more than
௨እ igai, besides, outside of
௨๓ izen, before, formerly



I; koromo, clothes, garment, priest‫ތ‬s
robe

⾰㢮 irui, clothing
⾰㣗ఫ i-shoku-jnj, clothing, food

and shelter
⾰᭰࠼ koromogae, change of dress



89

445–449 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

‫ڮ‬ I; kurai, rank, position, grade; about
(approximately)
445
7 strokes ᆅ఩ chi-i, rank, social standing
఩⨨ ichi, location, situation
‫ڱ‬ Ꮫ఩ gaku-i, academic degree

446
7 strokes
I; kako(mu), kako(u), to surround,
‫ہ‬ to enclose, to besiege

447 ⬚ᅖ kyǀi, girth of the chest,
9 strokes chest measurement

ۗ ࿘ᅖ shnji, circumference,
surroundings
448
6 strokes ⠊ᅖ hanҲi, extent, sphere,
limits
ܑ
I, stomach
449
8 strokes ⫶⿄ ibukuro, stomach

⫶⑓ ibyǀ, stomach trouble
⫶⭠ i-chǀ, stomach and

intestines



IN, seal, stamp; shirushi, sign,
symbol, trace

༳ๅ insatsu, printing
▮༳ yajirushi, arrow sign
┠༳ mejirushi, mark



EI England, excellent

ⱥㄒ eigo, English language
ⱥ㞝 eiynj, hero
᪥ⱥ Nichi-Ei, Japan and England



90

‫܉‬ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 450–454

450 EI, honor; saka(e); ha(e),
9 strokes prosperity; saka(eru), to prosper;
ha(eru), to excel, to shine
ܶ
ගᰤ kǀei, honor
451 ⦾ᰤ hanҲei, prosperity
13 strokes ᰤ㣴 eiyǀ, nutrition

‫ݍ‬

452 EN; shio, salt
15 strokes
ሷỈ shiomizu, salt water
‫ݡ‬ ሷ⏣ enden, salt bed
㣗ሷ shokuen, table salt
453
5 strokes

‫ݪ‬ OKU, one hundred million

454 ஧༑൨ᖺ nijnjoku-nen, two billion
8 strokes years

ᩘ൨෇ snjoku-en, several
hundred million yen



KA; kuwa(eru), to add, to join, to
increase (v.t.); kuwa(waru), to join,
to enter (v.i.)

ཧຍ sanka, participation

ຍධ kanynj, entrance, joining
ቑຍ zǀka, increase



KA, fruit, result; ha(te), end, result;
ha(tasu), to carry out, to realize,
to ful¿ll; ha(teru), to end, to die

⤖ᯝ kekka, result, effect

ຠᯝ kǀka, effect
ᯝᐇ kajitsu, fruit



91

455–459 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

‫ݽ‬ KA treasure, goods
ⓒ㈌ᗑ hyakkaten, department store
455 㖟㈌ ginka, silver coin
11 strokes 㞧㈌ zakka, miscellaneous goods,

‫ݻ‬ sundries

456
15 strokes
KA, section, lesson
‫ވ‬ ㄢእ kagai, extra-curricular
ㄢ㢟 kadai, theme, homework
457 Ꮫㄢ gakka, lesson
8 strokes

‫ޜ‬
GA; me, bud, sprout, shoot
458 ᮌࡢⱆ ki-no-me, leaf bud
7 strokes ᪂ⱆ shinme, sprout, bud, shoot
ⱆࡤ࠼ mebae, bud, sprout
‫ޟ‬


KAI; arata(meru), to change,
to reform, to revise; arata(maru),
to be reformed
ᨵⰋ kairyǀ, improvement
ᨵᚰ kaishin, conversion, reform
ᨵᮐཱྀ kaisatsuguchi, ticket gate



KAI shackles
ᶵᲔ kikai, machine
ჾᲔ kikai, instrument, apparatus

459
11 strokes

92

ޮ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 460–464

460 GAI, harm, calamity
10 strokes ᐖ⹸ gaichnj, harmful insect
ᦆᐖ songai, loss, damage
޵ 㞀ᐖ shǀgai, obstacle, hindrance

461
12 strokes
GAI, KAI; machi, street, town,
߂ quarters

462 ၟᗑ⾤ shǀtengai, shopping centre
6 strokes ᕷ⾤ shigai, the streets; city,

ߌ town
⾤㐨 kaidǀ, highway, route
463
12 strokes

ࠊ KAKU; ono-ono, each, every

464 ྛᆅ kakuchi, every place
7 strokes ྛே kakujin, each person
ྛ㥐 kaku-eki, each station



KAKU; obo(eru), to remember, to
understand; sa(masu), to awake (v.t.);
sa(meru), to wake up (v.i.)

ぬ࠼᭩ oboegaki, memorandum note
ឤぬ kankaku, sensation, sense,
feeling

⮬ぬ jikaku, consciousness,
self-consciousness


KAN end, completion

᏶඲ kanzen, perfection
᏶ᡂ kansei, completion
᏶⤖ kanketsu, completion,

¿nish, termination



93

465–469 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ࠋ KAN, government, government
position
465
8 strokes ᐁᗇ kanchǀ, government of¿ce
⿢ุᐁ saibankan, judge
ࠣ ㆙ᐁ keikan, policeman, police

466 of¿cer
14 strokes

࠲
KAN, to control, to administer;
467 kuda, tube, pipe
14 strokes
㕲⟶ tekkan, iron pipe (tube)
ࠫ ⾑⟶ kekkan, blood vessel
⟶⌮ kanri, administration,
468
18 strokes control, charge

ࡄ

469 KAN; seki, barrier; kan(suru),
19 strokes kaka(waru), to relate to

㛵ᚰ kanshin, concern, interest

⋞㛵 genkan, entrance hall,

entrance

ᶵ㛵㌴ kikansha, engine,

locomotive

KAN to look at carefully, to show

ほග kankǀ, sightseeing
ほᐹ kansatsu, observation
ほ  kansoku, observation,

survey



GAN; nega(i), wish, petition,
request; nega(u), to ask, to request,
to wish, to beg

㢪᭩ gansho, written application
ᚿ㢪 shigan, volunteering, desire,

application



94

ࡏ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 470–474

470 KI rare; desire
7 strokes ᕼᮃ kibǀ, hope, desire
ᕼᮃ⪅ kibǀsha, aspirant, applicant
ࡠ ᕼⷧ kihaku, thin, weak, sparse

471
8 strokes
KI, season
ࡢ
Ꮨ⠇ kisetsu, season
472 ᅄᏘ shiki, the four seasons
9 strokes 㞵Ꮨ uki, rainy season

ࡈ

473 KI history, chronicle
12 strokes
ୡ⣖ seiki, century, period
ࡔ ஧༑ୡ⣖ nijisseiki, twentieth

474 century
14 strokes ⣖ඖ kigen, era, epoch



KI; yoroko(bi), joy, happy event,
congratulation; yoroko(bu), to
rejoice, to be glad

኱႐ࡧ ǀ -yorokobi, great joy, great

delight

႐๻ kigeki, comedy

Ḽ႐ kanki, joy, ecstasy

KI; hata, Àag

ᅜ᪝ kokki, national Àag

ᰯ᪝ kǀki, school Àag
ᫍ᮲᪝ seijǀki, the Stars and Stripes



95

475–479 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ࡉ KI; utsuwa, vessel, utensil, capacity,
caliber
475
15 strokes 㣗ჾ shokki, tableware
㝡ჾ tǀki, pottery, ceramics
࡙ Ὑ㠃ჾ senmenki, wash basin

476
16 strokes
KI; hata, loom
ࡼ
ᶵᲔ kikai, machine, mechanism
477 ᶵ఍ kikai, opportunity, chance
20 strokes ༴ᶵ kiki, crisis, emergency

࢙

478 GI discussion
7 strokes
఍㆟ kaigi, conference
࢛ ㆟ㄽ giron, argument, discussion
㆟఍ gikai, Diet
479
8 strokes

KYNj; moto(me), request, demand;
moto(meru), to request, to search for,

to buy, to wish for

ồே kynjjin, offer of a job
ㄳồ seikynj, demand
ồ⫋ kynjshoku, seeking

employment

KYNj; na(ku), to cry, weep, sob

Ἵࡁኌ nakigoe, crying, sobbing
Ἵࡁ⹸ nakimushi, crybaby
ឤἽ kankynj, weeping with

emotion



96

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 480–484

ࢗ KYNj; suku(i), rescue, help; suku(u),
to rescue, to help
480
11 strokes ᩆ῭ kynjsai, relief
ᩆຓ kynjjo, rescue
ࢣ ᩆᛴ㌴ kynjkynjsha, ambulance

481
12 strokes
KYNj to supply
ࢫ
⤥ᩱ kynjryǀ, pay, salary
482 ౪⤥ kyǀkynj, supply
10 strokes ᭶⤥ gekkynj, monthly salary

ࢱ

483 KYO to conduct, to perform;
14 strokes a(geru), a(garu) (v.i), to raise,
to hold (a function)
ࢼ
㑅ᣲ senkyo, election
484 ᣲ⾜
6 strokes ᣲᡭ kyokǀ, performance

kyoshu, raising one‫ތ‬s hand,

a show of hands

GYO; RYƿ, ¿shing

⁺⯪ gyosen, ¿shing boat

⁺ᴗ gyogyǀ, ¿shing industry
⁺ᖌ ryǀshi, ¿sherman



KYƿ; tomo, both, as well as,
together
ඹ㏻ kyǀtsnj, commonness
ඹ࿴ᅜ kyǀwakoku, republic
ඹ⏘ඪ kyǀsantǀ, Communist Party



97

485–489 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ࢾ KYƿ to be in harmony

485 ༠ຊ kyǀryoku, cooperation
8 strokes ༠఍ kyǀkai, society, association
༠㆟ kyǀgi, conference,
ࣖ
consultation
486
19 strokes

ࢻ KYƿ; kagami, mirror

487 㙾ྎ k yǀdai, dressing table,
20 strokes mirror stand

࣡ ཮║㙾 sǀgankyǀ, binoculars
㢧ᚤ㙾 kenbikyǀ, microscope
488
12 strokes

थ KYƿ, KEI; kiso(u), to rival, to
compete; se(ru), to bid, to compete
489
10 strokes for

➇த kyǀsǀ, competition
➇ᢏ
kyǀgi, match, tournament,
➇㤿
sporting events

keiba, horse race

KYOKU, terrestrial poles, magnetic
poles, zenith; GOKU very,
extremely; kiwa(maru) (v.i.), to reach
an end, an extreme; kiwa(mi), apex

ᴟ➃ kyokutan, extremity
໭ᴟ hokkyoku, North Pole
⮳ᴟ shigoku, very, quite

KUN, precept, Japanese rendering
of a Chinese character (i.e., “kun”
reading)

ᩍカ kyǀkun, teachings, lesson
カ⦎
カ㎡ kunren, training, drill

kunji, address of

instructions

98

ध ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 490–494

490 GUN, army, military authorities
9 strokes ㌷ഛ gunbi, armaments
㌷㝲 guntai, troops, army
न ㌷Ⰴ gunkan, warship

491
10 strokes
GUN, county, district
श
㒆㒊 gunbu, rural district,
492 counties
8 strokes
㒆㛗 gunchǀ, head of a county
ळ
KEI; path, course, direct
493
9 strokes ᚄ㊰ keiro, course, path

ा ┤ᚄ chokkei, diameter

494 ┤᝟ᚄ⾜ chokujǀkeikǀ,
12 strokes
impulsiveness

KEI; kata, type, model, mold,
conventionality

ᶍᆺ mokei, model
ᑠᆺ kogata, small size
኱ᆺ ǀ-gata, large size



KEI, KE view, scene

㢼ᬒ fnjkei, scenery, view
୙ᬒẼ fukeiki, bad times,

depression
ගᬒ kǀkei, spectacle, scene



99

495–499 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

॑ GEI, arts, accomplishments

495 ⱁ⾡ geijutsu, art
7 strokes Ẹⱁ mingei, folk art
ⱁ⪅ geisha, Japanese singing
ज़
and dancing girl
496
4 strokes

य़ KETSU lack, absence; ka(keru), to
be broken off, to lack (v.i.); ka(ku),
497 to lack, to want (v.t.)
12 strokes
ḞⅬ ketten, fault
८ Ḟᖍ kesseki, absence
Ḟஈ ketsubǀ, shortage
498
9 strokes

० KETSU; musu(bi), end, knot;
musu(bu), to tie, to bind, to conclude,
499 to link; yu(u), to dress (the hair);
11 strokes yu(waeru), to fasten, to bind

⤖ᯝ kekka, result
⤖፧ kekkon, marriage
㐃⤖ renketsu, coupling,

connection, linking

KEN, KON; ta(teru), to build, to
establish; ta(tsu), to be built; ~date,
~-storied building

ᘓ≀ tatemono, a building
ᘓ⠏ kenchiku, construction,

architecture, building
஧㝵ᘓ nikaidate, two-storied

building

KEN; suko(yaka), healthy, sound

ᙉ೺ kyǀken, robust
ಖ೺ hoken, (preservation of)

health

೺඲ kenzen, healthy, sound



100

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 500–504

অ KEN, GEN, effect; to examine

500 ᐇ㦂 jikken, experiment
18 strokes ⤒㦂 keiken, experience
ヨ㦂 shiken, examination,
ঙ
experiment
501
8 strokes

ো KO; kata(meru), to harden, to make
hard (v.t.); kata(maru), to become
502 hard; kata(i), hard, ¿rm
5 strokes
ᅛ᭷ koynj, peculiar, one‫ތ‬s own
৕ ᅛయ
ᙉᅛ kotai, a solid (body)
503
6 strokes kyǀko, ¿rmness, solidity,

ে stability

504 Kƿ, merits, effect, service; KU
10 strokes
ᡂຌ seikǀ, success
ຌ⦼ kǀseki, meritorious deed
ຌປ kǀrǀ, service



Kƿ; kono(mu), su(ku), to like, love;
su(ki), fond of, like

ዲព kǀi, goodwill, kindness
ዲࡁ᎘࠸ sukikirai, likes and

dislikes
ዲࡁዲࡴ sukikonomu, like, prefer



Kƿ, season, sign; to inquire after

Ẽೃ kikǀ, climate, weather
ኳೃ tenkǀ, weather
ೃ⿵ kǀho, candidacy, candidate



101

505–509 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ਂ Kƿ to sail on the water
⯟ᾏ kǀkai, voyage, navigation
505 ⯟㊰ kǀro, sea route, air route
10 strokes ⯟✵ kǀknj, aviation, air voyage

য়

Kƿ to enjoy
೺ᗣ kenkǀ, health, good health
୙೺ᗣ fukenkǀ, bad health

506
11 strokes
KOKU; tsu(geru), to tell, to inform
ਠ
ሗ࿌ hǀkoku, report
507 ᗈ࿌ kǀkoku, advertisement
7 strokes ᛅ࿌ chnjkoku, advice

ੇ

508 SA, difference, remainder (math.);
10 strokes sa(su), to thrust, to insert

੨ ᕪู sabetsu, distinction,
discrimination
509
11 strokes ኱ᕪ taisa, great difference
ᕪฟே sashidashinin, sender,

addresser

SAI; na, greens, rape (vegetable)

㔝⳯ yasai, vegetables
⳯ࡢⰼ na-no-hana, rape blossoms
⳯ᅬ saien, vegetable garden



102

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 510–514

੕ SAI pre¿x for forming superlatives;
motto(mo), most
510
12 strokes ᭱ึ saisho, the ¿rst, beginning
᭱ᚋ saigo, the last
੮ ᭱ၿ saizen, the best

511
7 strokes
ZAI, material (for work), timber,
઀ ability, talent

512 ᮌᮦ mokuzai, lumber, wood
9 strokes ᮦᩱ zairyǀ, raw material,

ઑ ingredients

513 ேᮦ jinzai, capable man
5 strokes

ઌ
SAKU yesterday, ancient times
514
8 strokes ᫖᪥ sakujitsu, yesterday
᫖ᖺ sakunen, last year
᫖ኪ sakuya, last night



SATSU, paper money; fuda, label,
namecard, tag, placard; bid

ᮐධࢀ satsu-ire, wallet
ྡᮐ nafuda, nameplate, name-tag
ධᮐ nynjsatsu, bid, bidding



SATSU; su(ru), to print; ~zuri, suf¿x
for “printing”

༳ๅ insatsu, printing

ᰯṇๅࡾ kǀseizuri, proofs

(printing)

ㅞ෗∧ๅࡾtǀshaban-zuri, mimeo-

graphed copy

103

515–519 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

઒ SATSU, SAI, SETSU; koro(su), to
kill
515
10 strokes ẅே satsujin, homicide, murder
ẅ㢼ᬒ sappnjkei, tasteless, dreary
ઍ ⮬ẅ jisatsu, suicide

516
14 strokes
SATSU; sas(suru), to guess, to
ઞ perceive, to sympathize with

517 ほᐹ kansatsu, observation
8 strokes どᐹ shisatsu, inspection
㆙ᐹ keisatsu, police
દ

518
11 strokes SAN, three (used in legal papers);
mai(ru), to go, to come, to surrender,
ઢ to be nonplussed, to visit for worship

519 ཧຍ sanka, participation
12 strokes ཧほ sankan, visit
ཧ⪃᭩ sankǀsho, reference book



SAN, childbearing, product, fortune;
u(mu), to give birth to, to produce;
u(mareru), to be born; ubu, birthing,
bearing

⏘≀ sanbutsu, products

⏘ᆅ sanchi, place of production

⏘ᴗ sangyǀ, industry

SAN; chi(ru), to fall (leaves), to be
scattered (v.i.); chi(rasu), to scatter,
to disperse (v.t.); chi(rakaru), to be in
order; chi(rakasu), to scatter

ᩓṌ sanpo, walk, stroll
ゎᩓ kaisan, breakup, dissolution
⫶ᩓ isan, medical powder for
the stomach


104

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 520–524

ર ZAN; noko(ri), remainder; noko(ru),
to be left over, to remain; noko(su), to
520 leave, to save
10 strokes
ṧᛕ z annen, regret, disappointment
઺
ṧ㔠 z ankin, balance, money left
521
3 strokes over

્ ṧࡾ≀ nokorimono, remains,

522 left-overs
4 strokes
SHI man, ¿gure
ષ
Ṋኈ bushi, samurai
523 ⤀ኈ shinshi, gentleman
5 strokes ຬኈ ynjshi, brave man, hero

શ

524 SHI Mister (used as suf¿x); uji,
5 strokes family name, lineage

Ặྡ shimei, full name
Ặ᪘ไᗘ shizoku-seido, the clan or

the family system
ㅖẶ shoshi, Messrs., gentlemen



SHI annals, history, chronicles

Ṕྐ rekishi, history
ዪྐ joshi, Madame, Mrs., Miss
ྐୖ shijǀ, in history, in the

annals

SHI to rule, to manage

ྖ఍⪅ s hikaisha, master of
ceremonies, moderator,
chairman

ྖ௧ shirei, order, command
ྖ௧㒊 shireibu, headquarters

105

525–529 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

૚ SHI; kokoro(mi), trial, test;
kokoro(miru), to try; tame(su), to try,
525 to test
13 strokes
ヨ㦂 shiken, examination
૥ ヨ㐠㌿ shi-unten, test driving, trial

526 run
7 strokes
ヨྜ shiai, match, contest
૭
JI, NI infant, child
527
8 strokes ඣ❺ jidǀ, child, boys and girls,
juvenile
૷
Ꮩඣ koji, orphan
528 ᑠඣࡲࡦ shǀni-mahi, infantile
13 strokes
paralysis
଄

529
5 strokes JI, CHI; osa(meru), to rule over;
osa(maru), to be peaceful; nao(ru)
(v.i.), to heal; nao(su) (v.t.), to cure

ᨻ἞ seiji, politics, administration
⮬἞ jichi, self-government
἞⒪ chiryǀ, medical treatment



JI, word, speech; ji(suru), to resign,

to take one‫ތ‬s leave, to decline;
ya(meru), to retire, to quit

㎡᭩ jisho, dictionary

㎡⫋ jishoku, resignation

⚃㎡ shukuji, congratulatory

address

SHITSU; ushina(u), to lose, to miss

ኻ♩ shitsurei, impoliteness
ኻᩋ shippai, failure
ኻᮃ shitsubǀ, despair,

disappointment



106

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 530–534

ତ SHAKU; ka(ri), borrowing, debt;
ka(riru), to borrow, to rent, to
530 substitute temporarily, to obtain
10 strokes (help)

ହ ೉㔠 shakkin, debt, loan
೉ࡾ≀ karimono, borrowed thing
531 ᣏ೉ haishaku, loan,
14 strokes borrowing

ୈ SHU kind, sort; tane, seed

532 ✀ࡲࡁ tanemaki, sowing seed
8 strokes ✀㢮 shurui, sort, kind
ே✀ jinshu, human race
୳

533
9 strokes SHNj circumference; to go round;
mawa(ri), border, periphery
ஏ
࿘ᅖ shnji, circumference,
534 surroundings
12 strokes
࿘㎶ shnjhen, outskirts
୍࿘ isshnj, one round



SHUKU; SHNj; iwa(i), celebration;
iwa(u), to celebrate

⚃㈡ shukuga, celebration
⚃⚟ shukufuku, blessing
⚃᪥ shukujitsu, festival day



JUN, order, turn

㡰ᗎ junjo, order, procedure,
method
㡰␒ junban, order, turn
㡰ㄪ junchǀ, normal condition,
smooth progress



107

535–539 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

஑ SHO; hatsu, hajime(te), ¿rst; ui,
haji(me), beginning, ¿rst time;
535 -so(meru), to begin-
7 strokes
ึ⛅ shoshnj, early autumn
௄
ึ㞷 hatsuyuki, ¿rst snow of the
536
8 strokes year

௖ ึᮇ shoki, ¿rst stage

537 SHƿ, matsu, pine
10 strokes
ᯇⴥ matsuba, pine needles
஭ ᯇᯘ matsubayashi, pine forest
ᯇ➉ᱵ shǀchikubai, pine-bamboo-
538
11 strokes plum decorations

ௌ

539 SHƿ; wara(u), to laugh, smile;
12 strokes e(mu), to smile, beam

኱➗࠸ ǀwarai, loud laughter
ⱞ➗ kushǀ, forced laugh
ᚤ➗ bishǀ/hohoemi, smile



SHƿ; tona(eru), to chant, to recite,
to say

⊂ၐ dokushǀ, vocal solo
ྜၐ gasshǀ, chorus
ၐḷ shǀka, song, singing



SHƿ, ya(ku), to burn, to bake, to grill,
to toast (v.t.), to burn with jealousy;
ya(keru), to be burned, to be roasted,
to be jealous of

ኤ↝ࡅ y njyake, evening glow,
sunset colors

↝ኻ shǀshitsu, destruction
by ¿re

108

௣ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 540–544

540 SHƿ image; Zƿ, elephant
12 strokes ᑐ㇟ taishǀ, object
༳㇟ inshǀ, impression
௎ ㇟ࡆ zǀge, ivory

541
13 strokes
SHƿ; te(rasu), to shine on, to
௤ compare with, to shed light on;

542 te(ru), to shine; te(reru), to be shy,
15 strokes
to be embarrassed
ధ
᪥↷ࡾ hideri, drought
543
7 strokes ↷᫂ shǀmei, illumination
ᑐ↷ taishǀ, contrast
ఒ
SHƿ, prize
544
9 strokes ㈹ရ shǀhin, prize (thing)
㈹㔠 shǀkin, prize (money)
㚷㈹ kanshǀ, appreciation



SHIN, JIN, retainer, subject

኱⮧ daijin, cabinet minister
ᛅ⮧ chnjshin, loyal retainer



SHIN, sincerity, trust, faith; shin(jiru),
to believe, to trust, to believe in

ಙ⏝ s hinҲyǀ, trust, con¿dence,
belief, credit

ಙྕ shingǀ, signal
㏻ಙ tsnjshin, communication



109

545–549 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

౰ SEI, Jƿ; na(ru), to become, to be
completed, to consist of, to come to,
545 to succeed; to come, to go (honori¿c);
6 strokes na(su), to do, to perform

ௐ ᡂ㛗 seichǀ, growth
᏶ᡂ kansei, completion
546 ㈶ᡂ sansei, agreement, approval
9 strokes

౸
SEI to look; habu(ku), to omit, to cut
547 down; kaeri(miru), to reÀect upon
11 strokes (oneself); SHƿ suf¿x for “government
department”
ಇ
┬␎ shǀryaku, omission
548 እົ┬ Gaimushǀ, Ministry of
14 strokes
Foreign Affairs (Japan)
ಌ ཯┬ hansei, self-examination

549 SEI; kiyo(i), kiyo(raka), pure, clear;
10 strokes kiyo(meru) (v.t.), kiyo(maru) (v.i), to
cleanse, purge, to exorcize

Ύ₩ seiketsu, cleanliness
Ύ᭩ seisho, fair copy
⾑Ύ kessei, (blood) serum



SEI, Jƿ; shizu, shizu(ka), quiet,
silent, peaceful; shizu(maru), to

become quiet; shizu(meru), to make

calm, to soothe

㟼Ṇ seishi, stillness, standstill
㟼≀ seibutsu, still life

Ᏻ㟼 ansei, complete rest

SEKI, seat, place

ฟᖍ shusseki, attendance,
presence

Ḟᖍ kesseki, absence
ᗙᖍ zaseki, seat



110

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 550–554

ಓ SEKI, product (math.); tsumo(ri),
intention; tsu(mu), to pile up, to
550 load, to accumulate (v.t.); tsumo(ru),
16 strokes to be piled up

ಠ 㠃✚ menseki, area
✚ᴟⓗ sekkyokuteki, positive,
551
7 strokes active, progressive
✚Ⲵ tsumini, cargo, a load
ಣ
SETSU; ori, o(ru), to break, to fold, to
552 bend; o(reru), to break, to be broken
13 strokes
᭤ᢡ kyokusetsu, winding,
ತ complications
ᢡ ࡾ ྜ ࠸ oriai, mutual relations,
553 compromise
14 strokes ᢡ ࡾ ┠ orime, crease
kussetsu, inÀection
ಷ ᒅᢡ

554
9 strokes
SETSU, SECHI, paragraph, season,
time; fushi, joint, knot, tune

⠇⣙ setsuyaku, economy, frugality

ㄪ⠇ chǀsetsu, regulation, control
౑⠇ shisetsu, delegate, envoy



SETSU, opinion, theory; ZEI;
to(ku), to explain, to persuade, to
preach

ㄝ᫂ setsumei, explanation
ఏㄝ densetsu, legend
♫ㄝ shasetsu, editorial



SEN; asa(i), shallow

ὸぢ senken, super¿cial view
ὸⷧ senpaku, super¿cial
㐲ὸ tǀasa, shoaling beach,

shallowness extending far
from shore



111

555–559 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ಱ SEN; ikusa, tataja(i), tataka(i), ¿ght,
war, struggle; takaka(u), to ¿ght, to
555 make war, to struggle, to compete in
13 strokes games

ೊ ᡓத sensǀ, war
⤊ᡓ shnjsen, end of a war
556 ᡓሙ senjǀ, battle¿eld
15 strokes
SEN; era(bu), to choose, to select
೓
㑅ᣲ senkyo, election
557 㑅ᡭ senshu, player, champion
12 strokes ᙜ㑅 tǀsen, victory in an election

ഈ

558 ZEN, NEN yes, but, however
6 strokes
⮬↛ shizen, nature
ೲ ᙜ↛ tǀzen, natural, just, as a

559 matter of course
10 strokes ኳ↛ tennen, nature



Sƿ; araso(i), quarrel, dispute,
competition; araso(u), to struggle,

to dispute, to quarrel

➇த kyǀsǀ, competition
ゝ࠸த࠺ ii-arasou, to quarrel

தዣᡓ sǀdatsusen, scramble,
contest, challenge

Sƿ; kura, warehouse

಴ᗜ sǀko, warehouse
⯪಴ sensǀ, hold (of a ship)
⡿಴ komegura, rice granary



112

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 560–564

ഃ Sƿ; su, nest, den, breeding place

560 ᕢ⟽ subako, nesting box
11 strokes ᕢ❧ࡘ sudatsu, to leave the nest,

ഩ home
Ⴀᕢ eisǀ, nest building
561
7 strokes

ത SOKU; taba, bundle, bunch; bind

562 ⣙᮰ yakusoku, appointment;
11 strokes ᮰⦡
ⰼ᮰ promise
റ
sokubaku, restriction,
563
13 strokes restraint

ല hanataba, bouquet, bunch

564 of Àowers
8 strokes
SOKU; gawa, side

ෆഃ uchigawa, the inside
ྑഃ migigawa, usoku, right side
ഃ㠃 sokumen, the side



ZOKU; tsuzu(ki), continuation,
sequel, range; tsuzu(ku), to continue,
to follow, to last (v.i.); tsuzu(keru),
to continue, to resume (v.t.)
⥆ฟ z okushutsu, successive

occurrence
ᡭ⥆ tetsuzuki, procedure

┦⥆ sǀzoku, inheritance

SOTSU, a private, common soldier;
to ¿nish
༞ᴗ sotsugyǀ, graduation
༞ᴗ⏕ sotsugyǀsei, graduate
ර༞ heisotsu, private (soldier)



113

565–569 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ഷ SON; mago, grandchild
ᏊᏞ shison, descendants
565 Ꮮㄳࡅ m ago-uke, sub-sub
10 strokes
contractor
൑ ᭯Ꮮ sǀson/himago, great grand

566 child
10 strokes

ൠ
TAI; obi, girdle; o(biru), to wear
567 ᆅᖏ chitai, zone
12 strokes ⇕ᖏ nettai, torrid zone, tropics
ᖏᑒ obifnj, half wrapper
ൿ

568
12 strokes TAI, a party, a corps, band, unit
ර㝲 heitai, soldier
ඍ ᴦ㝲 gakutai, band (musical)
㝲㛗 taichǀ, captain, commander,
569
9 strokes leader



TATSU; tas(suru), to arrive, to reach,
to attain (one‫ތ‬s object)
Ⓨ㐩 hattatsu, development
㓄㐩 haitatsu, delivery
㐩ே tatsujin, an expert



TAN single
༢⣧ tanjun, simple
⡆༢ kantan, simple, easy
༢౯ tanka, unit price



114

඲ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 570–574

570 CHI; o(ku), to put, to place
13 strokes
఩⨨ ichi, position
ස ⨨≀ okimono, ornament (for a

571 tokonoma)
6 strokes ≀⨨ mono-oki, storeroom

෕

572 CHNj; naka, relationship
12 strokes ௰ࡀ࠸࠸ naka ga ii, to be on good

෗ terms with
௰㛫 nakama, workmate,
573
6 strokes colleague, associate
௰⿢ chnjsai, mediation
෬

574
13 strokes CHO to store, to save

㈓Ỉᆅ chosuichi, reservoir
㈓ⶶ chozǀ, storage
㈓㔠 chokin, savings



CHƿ, trillion (U.S.), sign; kiza(shi),
sign, omen; kiza(su), to show signs

඙ೃ chǀkǀ, sign, omen
஧඙෇ nichǀen, two trillion yen
๓඙ zenchǀ, omen, portent



CHƿ, the intestines
┣⭠ mǀchǀ, (vermiform)

appendix
኱⭠ daichǀ, large intestine
⭠࢝ࢱࣝ chǀkataru, intestinal

catarrh



115

575–579 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ฝ TEI; hiku(i), low, short; hiku(meru)
(v.t.), hiku(maru) (v.i.), to lessen
575
7 strokes పẼᅽ t ei-kiatsu, low atmospheric
pressure
ฦ
ప✵ teiknj, low altitude
576 పᆅ teichi, low ground
8 strokes

พ
TEI; soko, bottom, depth
577
11 strokes ㇂ᗏ tanizoko, bottom of a ravine
ᾏᗏ kaitei, bottom of the sea
โ ᚭᗏⓗ tetteiteki, thoroughgoing,

578 out-and-out
8 strokes

ํ
TEI to stop
579
8 strokes ೵Ṇ teishi, stop, suspension
೵㟁 teiden, electricity stoppage
೵␃ᡤ teirynjjo, stopping place,

streetcar (bus) stop



TEKI like, similar, suf¿x for
forming adjectives from nouns;
mato, mark, target

┠ⓗ mokuteki, purpose

ୡ⏺ⓗ sekaiteki, international,

world-wide

♫఍ⓗ shakaiteki, social

TEN ceremony, celebration

㎡඾ jiten, dictionary
ྂ඾ koten, classics
⚍඾ saiten, festival, rite



116

๙ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 580–584

580 DEN; tsuta(eru) to report, to impart,
6 strokes to transmit; tsuta(waru), to be
reported, imparted, transmitted,
๤ tsuta(u), to follow along
ఏグ denki, biography
581 ఏᰁ⑓ densenbyǀ, epidemic
10 strokes
ᐉఏ senden, propaganda
๰
TO companion
582 ⏕ᚐ seito, pupil, student
7 strokes ᚐṌ toho, going on foot
ᚐ➇㉮ tokyǀsǀ, running match
ຌ

583
6 strokes DO; tsuto(meru), to make efforts
ດຊ doryoku, effort
ຨ ດຊᐙ doryokuka, hard worker

584
11 strokes
Tƿ, hi, light, lamp

㟁ⅉ dentǀ, electric light
Ᏻ඲ⅉ anzentǀ, safety lamp
᠜୰㟁ⅉ kaichnjdentǀ, Àashlight,

electric torch



Dƿ, temple, hall

㣗ᇽ shokudǀ, dining room,

eating house

බ఍ᇽ kǀkaidǀ, town hall,

public hall

ᅜ఍㆟஦ᇽ Kokkai-gijidǀ, the

Diet Building

117

585–589 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ລ Dƿ; hatara(ki), work (n.); hatara(ku),
to work, to do (evil), to come into play
585
13 strokes ປാ⪅ rǀdǀsha, laborer
ാࡁᡭ hatarakite, bread winner,
ູ
worker
586 ാࡁ⪅ hatarakimono, hard worker
10 strokes

ຶ
TOKU special
587
11 strokes ≉ู tokubetsu, special, particular
≉㛗 tokuchǀ, strong point
ຽ ≉ᛴ tokkynj, limited express

588
8 strokes
TOKU, pro¿t, bene¿t, advantage;
༂ e(ru), to get, to obtain; -u(ru), to be
able to
589
15 strokes ᚓព tokui, proud satisfaction;
⣡ᚓ customer; one‫ތ‬s forte
ᚓⅬ nattoku, understanding,
compliance
tokuten, score (in a game)

DOKU, poison

Ẽࡢẘ ki-no-doku, sorry, pitiful

ẘⲡ dokusǀ, poisonous herb
୰ẘ chnjdoku, poisoning



NETSU, heat, fever, craze, zeal;
nes(suru), to heat, to become hot;
atsu(i), hot

⇕⑓ netsubyǀ, fever
⇕ᚰ nesshin, zeal

⇕ᖏ nettai, tropical zone



118

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 590–594

༄ NEN, thought, feeling, desire

590 グᛕ kinen, commemoration
8 strokes ṧᛕ zannen, regret,

༨ disappointment
ᛕ㢪 nengan, one‫ތ‬s heart‫ތ‬s desire
591
11 strokes

༳ HAI; yabu(reru), to be defeated

592 ᩋᡓ haisen, lost battle
10 strokes ⭉ᩋ fuhai, putrefaction,

ག corruption
ኻᩋ shippai, failure
593
12 strokes

྅ BAI; ume, plum, plum tree

594 ᱵ㞵 baiu/tsuyu, rainy season
12 strokes ᱵ㓇 umeshu, plum brandy
ᱵᖸࡋ umeboshi, pickled plums



HAKU, BAKU learned; to spread;
abundant
༤ኈ hakushi, doctor (degree)
༤≀㤋 hakubutsukan, museum
༤ぴ఍ hakurankai, exposition



HAN; meshi, boiled rice, a meal
ᮅ㣤 asahan, asameshi, breakfast
᫨㣤 hirumeshi, lunch
ኤ㣤 ynjhan, ynjmeshi, supper



119

595–599 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ྦ HI; to(bu), to Ày; to(basu), to let Ày,
to launch
595
9 strokes 㣕ࡧ㎸ࡴ tobikomu, to jump in, to
dive into, to rush in
ྣ
㣕⾜ᶵ hikǀki, airplane
596 㣕⾜ሙ hikǀjǀ, airport
12 strokes

ྼ
HI; tsui(yasu) (v.i.), tsui(eru) (v.t.),
597 to spend, to consume, to squander
5 strokes
㈝⏝ hiyǀ, expense
࿌ ᪑㈝ ryohi, traveling expenses
ฟ㈝ shuppi, expenditure
598
11 strokes

࿈ HITSU; kanara(zu), without fail,
by all means, invariably, necessarily
599
15 strokes ᚲせ hitsuyǀ, need
ᚲṚ hisshi, inevitable death,

desperation
ᚲ຾ hisshǀ, sure victory



HYƿ, vote

ᢞ⚊ tǀhyǀ, voting
ఏ⚊ denpyǀ, chit
஬༑⚊ gojippyǀ, ¿fty votes



HYƿ mark, sign; to write down,
to express

ᶆᮏ hyǀhon, specimen
ᶆㄒ hyǀgo, motto
┠ᶆ mokuhyǀ, mark, object



120

࿤ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 600–604

600 FU dis-, in-, un-, mal-, ill-
4 strokes ୙⮬⏤ fujiynj, inconvenience, want
୙ᖹ fuhei, discontent, complaint
࿧ ୙ᖾ fukǀ, misfortune,

601 unhappiness, death
4 strokes

࿥
FU, FNj; otto, husband
602 ᕤኵ kǀfu, laborer, coolie
5 strokes ኵ፬ fnjfu, husband and wife
ኵே fujin, married lady, Mrs.
࿬

603
8 strokes FU; tsu(ku), to adhere, to stick (v.i.);
tsu(keru), to attach, to stick (v.t.)
ဋ ௜㏆ fukin, neighborhood
ᐤ௜ kifu, contribution
604 ཷ௜ uketsuke, acceptance,
11 strokes
information of¿ce



FU, urban prefecture, center
ᨻᗓ seifu, government
㤳ᗓ shufu, capital
ᗓ┴ fuken, prefectures



FUKU vice-, sub-, secondary
๪モ fukushi, adverb
๪఍㛗 fukukaichǀ, vice-president

(of a society)
๪ᴗ fukugyǀ, side job



121

605–609 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ဢ FUN; kona, ko, powder

605 ⅆࡢ⢊ hi-no-ko, spark
10 strokes ᑠ㯏⢊ komugiko, wheat Àour
〇⢊ seifun, milling (Àour)
ဪ

606
7 strokes HEI, soldier; HYƿ

် ර㝲 heitai, soldier
රჾ heiki, arms
607 රኈ heishi, soldier
7 strokes

၃
BETSU, distinction, exception;
608 different, particular; waka(reru),
5 strokes to part (from)

ဿ ≉ู tokubetsu, special
ูၥ㢟 betsumondai, another
609
9 strokes question
ูࢀ wakare, parting,

separation

HEN, -be, side, neighborhood;
atari, vicinity

ᗏ㎶ teihen, the base (geom.)

࿘㎶ shnjhen, outskirts
㏆㎶ kinpen, neighborhood



HEN, odd; disturbance, accident,
change; ka(waru), to change, to be
uncommon, to move (v.i.); ka(eru),
to change, to reform

ኚ໬ henka, change, variety,
conjugation
኱ኚ taihen, serious, great,
terrible

122

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 610–614

၆ BEN, convenience, bodily waste;
BIN, mail; tayo(ri), tidings,
610 communication, a letter
9 strokes
౽฼ benri, convenience
ၟ ౽ᡤ benjo, toilet
⯟✵౽ kǀknjbin, air mail
611
5 strokes

ၭ Hƿ; tsutsu(mu), to wrap, to cover

612 ᑠໟ kozutsumi, postal package
8 strokes ໟࡳ⣬ tsutsumigami, wrapping

ႊ paper
ໟᅖ hǀi, encirclement
613
11 strokes

႞ Hƿ, HA(TT), HO(TT), law,
doctrine, reason, method
614
8 strokes ᪉ἲ hǀhǀ, way, method
ἲᚊ hǀritsu, law
ᩥἲ bunpǀ, grammar



Bƿ, Mƿ; nozo(mi), desire, wish;
nozo(mu), to desire, to expect,
to see

ኻᮃ shitsubǀ, disappointment
ᕼᮃ kibǀ, hope, wish
⤯ᮃ zetsubǀ, despair



BOKU; maki, pasture

∾ሙ bokujǀ, makiba, stock farm
∾ⲡ bokusǀ, grass
ᨺ∾ hǀboku, grazing



123

615–619 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

Ⴢ MATSU; sue, end, future, youngest
child, triÀe
615
5 strokes ᮎࡗᏊ suekko, youngest child

჊ ᭶ᮎ getsumatsu, end of the

616 month
12 strokes
ጞᮎ shimatsu, management,
჎
circumstances
617
5 strokes MAN fullness; mi(chiru), to rise
(tide), to wax (moon); mi(tasu),
ი to ¿ll, to meet (a requirement)

618 ‶ဨ manҲin, ¿lled to capacity
10 strokes
‶᭶ mangetsu, full moon
მ
‶୐ṓ man-shichisai, full seven
619
5 strokes years old

MI yet, never, till now, un-

ᮍ᮶ mirai, future
ᮍ㛤 mikai, uncivilized,

uncultivated
ᮍ▱ michi, unknown, strange



MYAKU, pulse, hope, range

ᒣ⬦ sanmyaku, mountain range
㟼⬦ jǀmyaku, (blood) vein
㖔⬦ kǀmyaku, vein of ore



MIN; tami, people, subjects

ᕷẸ shimin, townsman
ᅜẸ kokumin, nation
Ẹ᪘ minzoku, race



124

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 620–624

ჟ MU, BU; na(shi) (lit.), na(i), to
be non-existent, not to have, to be
620 missing, to lack, to be deceased
12 strokes
↓⌮ m uri, unreasonable, com-
ᄝ pulsory, impossible, excessive

621 ↓⥺ musen, wireless (radio)
9 strokes ↓஦ buji, safe, peaceful, well

ᄮ

622 YAKU, promise, abridgment;
9 strokes approximately, about (pre¿x)

ᅟ ⣙᮰ yakusoku, promise,
appointment, regulation
623 ண⣙ yoyaku, subscription,
9 strokes pre-engagement
⣙ᅄ༑ศ yaku-yonjippun, about
ᅤ forty minutes

624
15 strokes YNj; isa(mashii), isa(mu), brave

ຬẼ ynjki, courage
ຬኈ ynjshi, brave man
ຬᩒ ynjkan, bravery



Yƿ; the main point, necessity;
yǀ(suru), to require, to need; i(ru),
to need, to be required; kaname,

the pivot, the mainpoint

ᚲせ hitsuyǀ, necessity, need

せồ yǀkynj, request, demand

㔜せ jnjyǀ, important

Yƿ; yashina(u), to bring up, to
support, to recuperate, to cultivate

ᩍ㣴 kyǀyǀ, culture
㣴ᡂ yǀsei, training
㣴Ṫ yǀshoku, raising, culture



125

625–629 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ᅩ YOKU; a(biru), to bathe oneself in
(water, the sun); a(biseru), to pour
625 (liquid) on, to shower with (abuse)
10 strokes
Ỉᾎࡧ mizu-abi, bathing
ᆀ
ධᾎ nynjyoku, taking a bath
626 ᪥ගᾎ nikkǀ-yoku, sun bath
7 strokes

ᆌ
RI, advantage, pro¿t, interest (on
627 money); ki(ku), to function well
11 strokes
฼⏝ riyǀ, utilization
ᆯ ฼┈ rieki, gains, bene¿t

628 ᶒ฼ kenri, a right, a claim
7 strokes

ᆧ
RIKU, land
629
10 strokes ኱㝣 tairiku, continent
ୖ㝣 jǀriku, landing
╔㝣 chakuriku, landing (of an

airplane)



RYƿ; yo(i), good, well, ¿ne, right,
satisfactory

ᨵⰋ kairyǀ, improvement
Ⰻᚰ ryǀshin, conscience
᭱Ⰻ sairyǀ, the best, the ideal



RYƿ, charge, materials

ཎᩱ genryǀ, raw material
ᩱ⌮ ryǀri, cooking
ᩱ㔠 ryǀkin, charge



126

ᆲ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 630–634

630 RYƿ, quantity, measure; haka(ru), to
12 strokes weigh, to measure
㞵㔞 uryǀ, rainfall
ᆾ 㔜㔞 jnjryǀ, weight
ศ㔞 bunryǀ, quantity
631
15 strokes

ᇆ RIN; wa, ring, circle, wheel
୕㍯㌴ s anrinsha, tricycle, three-
632
18 strokes wheeled vehicle
㌴㍯ sharin, wheel
ᇇ 㤳㍯ kubiwa, collar (for a dog)

633
5 strokes
RUI, a kind, a variety; tagu(i),
ᇊ a kind, a type; an equal, a match
✀㢮 shurui, kind, sort
634 ぶ㢮 shinrui, a relative
7 strokes ศ㢮 bunrui, classi¿cation



REI proclamation, law, order
ྕ௧ gǀrei, (word of) command
࿨௧ meirei, command, order
ᣦ௧ shirei, order, instructions



REI; tsume(tai), cold; hi(eru), to grow
cold, feel chilly; hi(ya), cold water;
hi(yakasu), to banter; hi(yasu), to
cool (v.t.); sa(meru) (v.i.), to cool off;
sa(masu) (v.t.), to let cool

෭Ỉ reisui, cold water
෭Ẽ reiki, cold air
෭ⶶ reizǀ, cold storage,
refrigeration

127

635–639 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ᇉ REI, example; tato(eru), to liken to;
tato(eba), for example
635
8 strokes ౛እ reigai, exception
ᐇ౛ jitsurei, (concrete) example
ᇘ ౛ᖺ reinen, ordinary year, every

636 year
14 strokes

ᇦ
REKI to pass, to travel about
637
10 strokes Ṕྐ rekishi, history
⤒Ṕ keireki, background (of a
ᇻ
person), career
638 ᒚṔ᭩ rirekisho, personal history
6 strokes

ᇯ
REN, a ream (of paper), a group; ~ren,
639 suf¿x for “group”; tsu(reru), to take
7 strokes along; tsura(naru) (v.i.), tsura(neru)
(v.t.), to range; ~zure, suf¿x for
“companion”

㐃⤡ renraku, connection,

communication, contact

㐃┕ renmei, league

Rƿ, old age; o(i), old age, the aged;
o(iru), to grow old; fu(keru), to grow

old

⪁ே rǀjin, old man
⪁ᮌ rǀboku, aged tree
㣴⪁㝔 yǀrǀin, asylum for the aged



Rƿ, labor, service, trouble

ⱞປ kurǀ, toil, care
໅ປ kinrǀ, labor
ປാ⪅ rǀdǀsha, laborer



128

ሃ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 640–644

640 ROKU to copy, to write down
16 strokes グ㘓 kiroku, record
᪂グ㘓 shinkiroku, new record
‫!ڗ‬ 㘓㡢 rokuon, (sound) recording,

641 transcription
5 strokes

‫ھ‬
ATSU pressure
642 Ẽᅽ kiatsu, atmospheric pressure
11 strokes ᅽຊ atsuryoku, pressure
㟁ᅽ denҲatsu, voltage
ۚ

643
6 strokes I; utsu(ru), to move (to a place, into a
house), to change (v.i.), to sink into,
‫܊‬ to be infectious; utsu(su), to remove
(v.t.), to infect
644
5 strokes ⛣Ẹ imin, immigration
(emigration), immigrant
⛣ࡾኚࢃࡿ utsurikawaru, to
change, to shift


IN, cause; yo(ru), to be due to, to be
based on

ཎᅉ genҲin, cause
ᅉᯝ inga, cause and effect, fate

ᅉく i nshnj, long-established
custom



EI long, eternal, perpetual; naga(i),
everlasting

Ọ㐲 eien, eternity
Ọ╀ eimin, death
Ọఫ eijnj, permanent residence



129

645–649 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

‫܄‬ EI; itona(mi), occupation; itona(mu),
to run (a hotel), to perform (a
645 religious service)
12 strokes
⤒Ⴀ keiei, management,
‫ܒ‬ operation

646 Ⴀᴗ eigyǀ, business, trade,
16 strokes operation

‫ڹ‬ EI to protect, to defend

647 ⾨⏕ eisei, hygiene
8 strokes
㜵⾨ bǀei, defense
‫ܗ‬ Ᏺ⾨ shuei, guard, watchman

648
10 strokes
EKI, divination; I; yasa(shii), easy
‫ܕ‬
ᐜ᫆ yǀi, easy
649 ㈠᫆ bǀeki, trade
11 strokes ᫆⪅ ekisha, fortuneteller



EKI, YAKU, bene¿t, pro¿t

฼┈ rieki, gain, bene¿t
᭷┈ ynjeki, instructive, pro¿table
┈⹸ ekichnj, useful insect



EKI, liquid, Àuid, juice

ᾮయ ekitai, liquid
⾑ᾮ ketsueki, blood
ᾘẘᾮ shǀdoku-eki, antiseptic

solution



130

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 650–654

‫ܩ‬ EN; en(jiru), to act, to perform a
play, to create (a comic scene), to
650 commit (a blunder)
14 strokes
₇ㄝ enzetsu, speech
ܾ ₇ᢏ engi, acting
₇ዌ ensǀ, (musical) performance
651
7 strokes

ܽ ƿ, ǀ(jiru), to answer, to comply
with, to apply for, to accept;
652 kota(eru), to answer, to respond
8 strokes
ᛂ᥼ ǀen, aid, cheering
ઇ ᛂ⏝ ǀyǀ, practical application
ᛂ᥋㛫 ǀsetsuma, parlor
653
10 strokes

‫ݖ‬ ƿ to go; ancient times

654  ᮶ ǀrai, (street) traf¿c, going
10 strokes and coming, street

 ᚟ ǀ fuku, going and returning,
round trip

❧ ⏕ tachi-ǀjǀ, standstill



ƿ; sakura, cherry tree, cherry
blossom, pink

ᱜⰼ ǀka, cherry blossoms (lit.)
ᱜ⫗ sakuraniku, horsemeat
ᒣᱜ yamazakura, wild cherry

ON, favor, kindness
ᜠே onjin, benefactor
ㅰᜠ shaon, expression of

gratitude
ᜠ㏉ࡋ ongaeshi, requital of

another‫ތ‬s favor

131

655–659 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

‫ݢ‬ KA, good, approval

655 ྍỴ kaketsu, approval
5 strokes ྍ⬟ kanǀ, possibility
୙ྍ⬟ fukanǀ, impossibility
‫ݜ‬

656
6 strokes KA, KE; kari, temporary, false

‫ݟ‬ ௬ᐃ katei, supposition
௬⿦ kasǀ, disguise
657 ௬⑓ kebyǀ, pretended illness
8 strokes

‫ݭ‬
KA; atai, price, value
658
8 strokes ᐃ౯ teika, ¿xed price
౯್ kachi, value
‫ݿ‬ ≀౯ bukka, prices of

659 commodities
12 strokes


KA; kawa, river

Ἑཱྀ kakǀ, mouth of a river
㖟Ἑ ginga, Milky Way
㐠Ἑ unga, canal



KA; su(giru), to elapse, to pass,
to exceed; su(gosu), to pass (a day),
to go to excess; ayama(chi), error,
mishap

㏻㐣 tsnjka, passage
⤒㐣 keika, progress, lapse

㐣ཤ kako, past, past tense

132

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 660–664

‫ފ‬ GA congratulations

660 ᖺ㈡ n enga, New Year‫ތ‬s
12 strokes greetings

‫ޕ‬ ᖺ㈡≧ nengajǀ, New Year‫ތ‬s card
⚃㈡ shukuga, celebration,
661
7 strokes congratulation

‫ސ‬

662 KAI; kokoroyo(i), pleasant,
13 strokes refreshing

߆ ᛌᬕ kaisei, ¿ne weather
ទᛌ yukai, pleasant
663 ᛌά kaikatsu, cheerful
10 strokes

ߊ
KAI, explanation; to(ku), to untie,
664 to solve; to(keru) (v.i.), to relent,
15 strokes become loose; hodo(ku), to untie

⌮ゎ rikai, understanding
ゎᩓ k aisan, breaking up,

dissolution
ศゎ bunkai, analysis,

decomposition

KAKU, Kƿ, status, case (in
grammar)

ᛶ᱁ s eikaku, personality,
character

ே᱁ jinkaku, character
౯᱁ kakaku, price
᱁Ꮚ kǀshi, grid, lattice

KAKU; tashi(ka), sure, accurate,
reliable; tashi(kameru), to ascertain,
to con¿rm

ṇ☜ seikaku, correctness
☜ᐇ kakujitsu, certainty
☜ᐃ kakutei, decision



133

665–669 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ߗ GAKU, framed picture, amount (of
money); hitai, forehead
665
18 strokes 㔠㢠 kingaku, amount of money
⥲㢠
ࠃ ከ㢠 sǀgaku, sum total
tagaku, large sum
666
5 strokes

ࠎ KAN publication, edition

667 ห⾜ kankǀ, publication
13 strokes 㐌ห shnjkan, weekly publication
᪂ห shinkan, new publication
ࠑ

668
14 strokes KAN; miki, trunk of a tree

࠽ ᖿ㒊 k anbu, the executive,
leading members
669
11 strokes ᰿ᖿ konkan, basis, root
ᖿ⥺ kansen, trunk line



KAN; na(reru), to get accustomed
(to), to become inured (to)

⩦័ shnjkan, habit, custom
័⏝ kanҲyǀ, common use,

practice
ぢ័ࢀࡿ minareru, to get used

to seeing, to be
familiar (with)

GAN; manako, eye

⫗║ nikugan, naked eye
㏆║ kingan, near-sightedness
཮║㙾 sǀgankyǀ, binoculars



134

ࡊ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 670–674

670 KI; motoi, foundation, basis;
11 strokes moto(zuku), to be based on

ࡍ ᇶᮏ kihon, foundation, basis,
standard
671
11 strokes ᇶᆅ kichi, (air, etc.) base
ᇶ♏ kiso, foundation, basis
ࡤ

672
11 strokes KI; yo(ru), to approach, to drop in,
to gather (v.i.); yo(seru), to draw up
ࡳ (a chair), to push (a desk) aside

673 ᐤ  kikǀ, call at a port
7 strokes ᐤ௜ kifu, contribution
ᐤ୚ kiyo, contribution, service
ࡹ

674
13 strokes KI compass

つᚊ kiritsu, order, discipline
つᶍ kibo, scale, scope
つ‽ kijun, standard



GI, waza, art, skill

ᢏᖌ gishi, engineer
➇ᢏ kyǀgi, sporting events,

contest
ᢏ⾡ gijutsu, art, technique



GI, justice, morality, loyalty,
relationship; pre¿x for “in-law,”
“arti¿cial”

୺⩏ shugi, principle, ~ism
ㅮ㆟ kǀgi, lecture
⩏඗ gikei, elder brother-in-law



135

675–679 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ࢍ GYAKU, inverse, reverse; gyaku(ni),
inversely, reversely; saka(rau),
675 to oppose, to go against
9 strokes
㏫㌿ gyakuten, reversal, going
࢏ backward
㏫ቃ
676 ཯㏫ gyakkyǀ, adversity
3 strokes hangyaku, treason

ࢤ KYNj, KU; hisa(shii), long (time),
lasting; hisa(shiku), for a long time
677
5 strokes Ọஂ eikynj, permanence,

ࢧ eternity

678 ஂࡋࡪࡾ hisashiburi, after a long
8 strokes
time
ࢮ
ஂ㐲 kuon, eternity
679
11 strokes KYNj, old

ᪧᘧ kynjshiki, old-style
ᪧ㊧ kynjseki, place of historic

interest
ᪧᬺ kynjreki, lunar calendar



KYO dwelling place; i(ru), to be,
to be present, to dwell

ఫᒃ jnjkyo, dwelling
ᒃ╀ࡾ inemuri, napping, dozing (n.)
ᒃ㛫 ima, living room



KYO; yuru(shi), permission, pardon,
approval; yuru(su), to permit, to
forgive, to approve

チྍ kyoka, permission, license,
admission, approval
≉チ tokkyo, patent, concession
චチ menkyo, license, certi¿cate



136

ࣃ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS• 680–684

680 KYƿ, KEI; sakai, border, boundary,
14 strokes border line

ࣧ ቃ㐝 kyǀgnj, circumstances,
surroundings
681
7 strokes ᅜቃ kokkyǀ, frontier
ቃෆ keidai, precincts
࣮

682
13 strokes KIN level, equality

ࣽ ᖹᆒ heikin, average, balance
ᆒ➼ kintǀ, equality, identity
683
5 strokes

द KIN; kin~, pre¿x for “forbidden” or
“prohibited”; kin(jiru), to forbid, to
684 abstain from
13 strokes
⚗Ṇ kinshi, prohibition, ban
⚗↮ kinҲen, “No Smoking”
⚗㓇 kinshu, abstinence from

alcoholic beverages

KU, clause, phrase, verse, line

ᩥྃ monku, words, objection
ㄒྃ goku, words and phrases
ྃㄞⅬ kutǀten, punctuation marks



GUN; mu(re), group, Àock, herd;
mu(reru), mura(garu), to throng (v.i.)
㨶⩌ gyogun, school of ¿sh
⩌ᓥ guntǀ, group of islands
⩌⾗ gunshnj, crowd (of people)



137