A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese Fourth Edition

685–689 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ॄ KEI, circles of longitude; KYƿ,
the sutras, (law, reason, way,
685 ordinary course of things); he(ru),
11 strokes to pass, to pass through

ढ़ ⤒㈝ keihi, expenditure

686 ⤒⏤ keiyu, by way of, through
15 strokes
⚄⤒ shinkei, nerve
ॣ
KETSU; isagiyo(i), manly, brave,
687 pure
6 strokes
Ύ₩ seiketsu, clean
२ ₩ⓑ keppaku, innocent, pure,
upright
688 ⡆₩ kanketsu, concise
8 strokes

ঃ
KEN, matter
689
11 strokes ஦௳ jiken, event, matter

⏝௳ yǀken, business
᮲௳ jǀken, condition, terms



KEN, bond, ticket

ᐃᮇๆ teikiken, commutation ticket
᪑ๆ ryoken, passport
ධሙๆ nynjjǀ-ken, admission ticket,

platform ticket



KEN; kewa(shii), steep, ¿erce

༴㝤 kiken, danger
ಖ㝤 hoken, insurance
ෑ㝤 bǀken, adventure



138

ॳ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 690–694

690 KEN to examine
12 strokes ᥈᳨ tanken, exploration
᳨デ kenshin, medical examination
ঔ ᳨ᐃ kentei, of¿cial approval

691
9 strokes
GEN; kagi(ri), limit, end, as far as
এ possible; kagi(ru), to limit, to restrict

692 ไ㝈 seigen, limitation
11 strokes ᮇ㝈 kigen, term
↓㝈 mugen, in¿nity
ঌ

693
12 strokes GEN present, now; ara(wareru), to
show oneself, to come into sight,
ঠ to be found (out); ara(wasu), to
manifest, to expose, to express
694
9 strokes ᐇ⌧ jitsugen, realization

⾲⌧ hyǀgen, expression
⌧௦ gendai, present age

GEN; he(ru), to decrease (v.i.), to
wear out; he(rasu), to decrease (v.t.)

ຍῶ kagen, state of health, degree,
adjustment, inÀuence,

addition and subtraction

ῶᑡ genshǀ, diminution, decrease
ῶ㏥ gentai, decline, failing

KO old, former times; reason; yue
reason,cause

஦ᨾ jiko, accident, hindrance

ᨾ㒓 kokyǀ, one‫ތ‬s native place
ᨾ㞀 koshǀ, mishap, trouble,

accident, hindrance



139

695–699 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

খ KO individual, suf¿x for
enumeration
695
10 strokes ಶே kojin, individual
ಶᛶ kosei, individual character,
ী
personality
696 ᩘಶ snjko, several
20 strokes

ৌ
GO to protect, to defend
697
8 strokes ಖㆤ hogo, protection
┳ㆤ፬ kangofu, trained nurse
ৎ ᘚㆤኈ bengoshi, lawyer

698
9 strokes
Kƿ, ef¿cacy, effect; ki(ku), to be
ৼ effective

699 ຠᯝ k ǀka, effect, ef¿cacy, result,
10 strokes
ຠຊ sound effects
᭷ຠ
kǀryoku, effect, ef¿cacy

ynjkǀ, valid, effective,

ef¿cacious

Kƿ; atsu(i), thick, cordial

ཌ⣬ a tsugami, thick paper,
cardboard

ཌព kǀi, kindness
ཌ⏕ kǀsei, public welfare



Kƿ; tagaya(su), to till
⪔ᆅ k ǀchi, arable (cultivated)

land
⪔స kǀsaku, cultivation
㎰⪔ nǀkǀ, farm labor



140

਋ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 700–704

700 Kƿ ore
13 strokes 㖔ᒣ kǀzan, mine
㖔≀ kǀbutsu, mineral
৭ 㕲㖔 tekkǀ, iron ore

701
14 strokes
Kƿ; kama(e), structure, posture;
࣓ kama(eru), to put oneself in a

702 posture, to build
16 strokes
ᵓᡂ kǀsei, composition
ਆ
ᵓ㐀 kǀzǀ, structure, construction
703
17 strokes ᚰᵓ࠼ k okorogamae, mental

਼ attitude, preparation

704 Kƿ, KYƿ; interest; oko(ru), to
11 strokes prosper; oko(su), to restore

⯆࿡ kyǀmi, interest, appeal
⯆ዧ kǀfun, excitement
᚟⯆ fukkǀ, revival, reconstruction



Kƿ investigation, lecture; to think
out, to study, to explain

ㅮ₇ kǀen, lecture
ㅮᇽ kǀdǀ, auditorium
ㅮ⩦ kǀshnj, short training course



KON; ko(mu), to be crowded;
ma(zeru), to mix, to mingle; ma(jiru),
to be mixed, to be mingled; ma(zaru)
(=majiru)

ΰ஘ konran, confusion
ΰ㞧 konzatsu, congestion,
confusion
ΰྜ kongǀ, mixture

141

705–709 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ੈ SA to examine, to investigate

705 ᳨ᰝ kensa, inspection,
9 strokes examination

੔ ᕠᰝ junsa, policeman
ᑂᰝ shinsa, screening
706
6 strokes

੠ SAI, SA re- (pre¿x); futata(bi),
again
707
7 strokes ෌ᘓ saiken, reconstruction
෌఍ saikai, meeting again
੘ ෌୕ saisan, again and again

708
8 strokes
SAI; wazawa(i), disaster, misfortune
ੜ
⅏ᐖ saigai, disaster, calamity
709 ⅏㞴 sainan, misfortune, calamity
11 strokes ⅆ⅏ kasai, ¿re, conÀagration



SAI, my wife; tsuma, wife

ኵጔ fusai, husband and wife
ጔᏊ saishi, wife and children
✄ጔ inazuma, lightning



SAI; to(ru), to gather (fruit, etc.),
to employ (a person), to adopt (a
measure)

᥇㞟 saishnj, collection
᥇⏝ saiyǀ, employment,

adoption

᥇᥀ saikutsu, mining

142

੫ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 710–714

710 SAI, occasion; kiwa, verge, occasion
14 strokes
ᐇ㝿 jissai, actual state, truth,
੭ reality

711 ᅜ㝿 kokusai, international
6 strokes ஺㝿 kǀsai, intercourse,

ੰ acquaintance, association

712
10 strokes
ZAI, country, suburbs, to exist; a(ru),
੯ to be, to exist

713 Ꮡᅾ sonzai, existence, being
13 strokes ᅾ taizai, sojourn
⌧ᅾ genzai, present time,
ઔ
present tense
714
14 strokes

ZAI, SAI treasure

㈈⏘ zaisan, property, fortune
㈈ᨻ zaisei, ¿nance(s)
⚾㈈ shizai, private property



ZAI; tsumi, crime, sin

≢⨥ hanzai, crime
⨥ᝏ zaiaku, sin, crime
ㅰ⨥ shazai, apology



ZATSU, rough; Zƿ miscellaneous,
rough

」㞧 fukuzatsu, complexity,

complication

㞧ㄅ zasshi, magazine

㞧ࡁࢇ zǀkin, Àoorcloth,

mopping cloth

143

715–719 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

બ SAN, acid; su(ppai), sour

715 㓟⣲ sanso, oxygen
14 strokes ሷ㓟 ensan, hydrochloric acid
㓟໬ sanka, oxidization
ફ

716
15 strokes SAN to praise, to assist, to agree

ૅ ㈶ᡂ sansei, approval, support
㈶ຓ sanjo, support, help
717 ༠㈶ kyǀsan, cooperation
4 strokes

ૂ
SHI branch; to branch off,
718 to support; sasa(eru), to support,
7 strokes to hold

૊ ᨭ㓄 shihai, rule, management

719 ᨭᡶ࠺ shiharau, to pay
8 strokes
ᨭᗑ shiten, a branch (store,

of¿ce)

SHI; kokorozashi, will, intention,
ambition, aim, kindness;
kokoroza(su), to intend, to aim at

ពᚿ ishi, will

ᚿᮃ shibǀ, desire
ྠᚿ dǀshi, comrade



SHI; eda, branch, twig

ᯞⴥ shiyǀ, minor details, side
issues

ᯤࢀᯞ kare-eda, dead branch
ᑠᯞ koeda, twig



144

ુ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 720–724

720 SHI, teacher, expert; army
10 strokes ∾ᖌ bokushi, pastor
ᩍᖌ kyǀshi, teacher
૝ ᖌᅋ shidan, division (army)

721
13 strokes
SHI wealth, help, nature
ૠ
㈨※ shigen, resource
722 ㈨᱁ shikaku, capacity,
13 strokes
quali¿cation
૲ ≀㈨ busshi, goods, materials

723
5 strokes
SHI; ka(u), to raise/keep/feed
ૣ (animals)

724 㣫ᩱ shiryǀ, fodder, animal-feed
7 strokes 㣫࠸୺ kainushi, animal owner
㣫⫱ shi-iku, breeding, rearing



JI, SHI; shime(su), to show, to point
out

♧၀ shisa, suggestion
ᥖ♧ keiji, notice
ᣦ♧ shiji, instructions, indication



JI; ni(ru), to resemble

㢮ఝ ruiji, similarity
ఝ㢦 nigao, portrait, likeness
୙ఝྜ funiai, unbecoming



145

725–729 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ૻ SHIKI to know, to write down, to
distinguish
725 ▱㆑ chishiki, knowledge
19 strokes ᶆ㆑ hyǀshiki, mark
ᖖ㆑ jǀshiki, common sense
ଋ

726
15 strokes SHITSU, quality, substance;
to inquire; simple and honest;
କ SHICHI, pawn
㉁ၥ shitsumon, question
727 ⣲㉁ soshitsu, makings, quality
8 strokes ㉁ᒇ shichiya, pawnshop

ଟ

728 SHA house, lodging
17 strokes ᰯ⯋ kǀsha, school building
∵⯋ gynjsha, cowshed
ୂ ᐟ⯋ shukusha, lodging

729
11 strokes
SHA; sha(suru), to apologize, to
thank; ayama(ru), to apologize
ឤㅰ kansha, thanks
ㅰ⤯ shazetsu, refusal
ㅰ♩ sharei, remuneration, thanks



JU; sazu(keru), to grant, to instruct;
sazu(karu), to be blessed with
ᤵᴗ jugyǀ, lesson(s), teaching
ᩍᤵ kyǀju, teaching, professor
ᤵ㈹ jushǀ, awarding a prize



146

ୌ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 730–734

730 SHNj, SHU; osa(meru), to study,
10 strokes to ¿nish, to practice; osa(maru), to
behave well
୺
ಟ⌮ shnjri, repair
731 ᨵಟ kaishnj, improvement, repair
8 strokes ಟṇ shnjsei, amendment

୹

732 JUTSU; no(beru), to speak, to
11 strokes express, to state

ஈ ⴭ㏙ chojutsu, writing (of books),
one‫ތ‬s writings
733
13 strokes ཱྀ㏙ kǀjutsu, oral statement
㏙ㄒ jutsugo, predicate (gram.)
஠

734
7 strokes JUTSU, art, arti¿ce, means, magic

ᡭ⾡ shujutsu, surgical operation
ᢏ⾡ gijutsu, technique
⨾⾡ bijutsu, art



JUN, water level; rule; to imitate;
pre¿x denoting “semi-,” “associate”

ᶆ‽ hyǀjun, standard
ᇶ‽ kijun, standard
‽ᛴ junkynj, semi-express



JO, preface

㡰ᗎ junjo, order, method
⛛ᗎ chitsujo, public order,

discipline
ᗎᩥ jobun, preface



147

735–739 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

஽ SHƿ; mane(ku), to invite, to beckon

ᣍᚅ shǀtai, invitation
ᣍᚅ≧ shǀtaijǀ, invitation card

735
8 strokes
SHƿ; uketamawa(ru), to hear
஻
ᢎ▱ shǀchi, consent, knowledge
736 ᢎㄆ shǀnin, approval
8 strokes ஢ᢎ ryǀshǀ, acknowledgment

௠

737 SHƿ evidence, testimony
12 strokes
ド᫂ shǀmei, proof, certi¿cation
௸ ドே shǀnin, witness (law), surety
ಖド hoshǀ, guarantee, security
738
7 strokes

௻ Jƿ clause in a law or treaty, logic,
stripe
739
7 strokes ᮲௳ jǀken, terms, conditions
᮲⣙ jǀyaku, treaty
↓᮲௳ mujǀken, unconditional



Jƿ state, condition, letter

≧ែ j ǀtai, state (of things),
⌧≧ condition
♩≧
genjǀ, existing state of
affairs, present condition

reijǀ, letter of thanks



148

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 740–744

௵ Jƿ; tsune, usual, ordinary; toko-,
everlasting
740
11 strokes 㠀ᖖ࡟ hijǀ-ni, very (much)
ṇᖖ seijǀ, normal
௶ ᪥ᖖ nichijǀ, everyday

741
11 strokes
Jƿ, feeling, sympathy; nasa(ke),
ఉ feeling, sympathy, love, mercy

742 ឡ᝟ aijǀ, affection
18 strokes ᝟ࡅ῝࠸ nasakebukai,

ఊ compassionate

743 ᝟ໃ jǀsei, state of things
18 strokes

౫
SHOKU, SHIKI; ori, textile; o(ru),
744 to weave
8 strokes
⧊≀ orimono, textile fabric
⧊ᶵ shokki, weaving machine
⤌⧊ soshiki, organization



SHOKU, employment, duties

⫋ᴗ s hokugyǀ, occupation,
business

ෆ⫋ naishoku, side job
⫋ሙ shokuba, place of work



SEI law, rule; sei(suru), to restrain,
to control
ไᗘ seido, system, institution
ไ᭹ seifuku, uniform
ไ㝈 seigen, restriction



149

745–749 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

౯ SEI, sex, nature; SHƿ, nature,
temperament
745
8 strokes ᛶ㉁ seishitsu, nature, property
⩦ᛶ shnjsei, habit
౱ Ẽᛶ kishǀ, temper

746
9 strokes
SEI, SHƿ; matsurigoto, government
౬
ᨻᗓ seifu, government
747 ᨻ἞ seiji, administration, politics
13 strokes ᨻ⟇ seisaku, policy

౼

748 SEI; ikio(i), force, vigor, power,
14 strokes inÀuence

౿ ໃຊ seiryoku, power, inÀuence
኱ໃ
749 taisei, general trend; ǀzei,
14 strokes ㌷ໃ
large number of people

gunzei, number of soldiers,

troops

SEI, spirit, vitality, essence; SHƿ

⢭⚄ seishin, spirit, mind, soul
⢭ᕦ seikǀ, exquisite

(workmanship)

⢭㐍 shǀjin, diligence



SEI to manufacture, suf¿x for
“make” or “manufacture”

〇ရ seihin, manufactured goods
㖟〇 ginsei, made of silver
⡿ᅜ〇 Beikokusei, of American

make



150

ಉ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 750–754

750 ZEI, tax
12 strokes ⛯㔠 zeikin, tax
⣡⛯ nǀzei, tax payment
ಗ ⛯㛵 zeikan, custom house

751
11 strokes
SEKI; se(meru), to blame, to urge, to
ಕ torture

752 ㈐௵ sekinin, responsibility
17 strokes ㈐௵⪅ sekininsha, person

ಞ responsible
↓㈐௵ musekinin, irresponsibility
753
11 strokes

ಡ SEKI to spin; meritorious deed

754 ᡂ⦼ seiseki, result, record
11 strokes ຌ⦼ kǀseki, meritorious deeds
⣳⦼ bǀseki, spinning



SETSU; ses(suru), to come in
contact with, to receive, to adjoin;
tsu(gu), to join together, to splice,
to set (a broken bone)

┤᥋ chokusetsu, directly
᥋ᚅ settai, reception
᥋⥆ setsuzoku, junction

SETSU; mǀ(keru), to establish

タഛ setsubi, equipment
タィ sekkei, plan, design (for

construction)
ᘓタ kensetsu, construction



151

755–759 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ಧ ZETSU; shita, tongue

755 ⯉ᡴࡕ s hita-uchi, click of the
6 strokes tongue, smacking one‫ތ‬s lips

ದ ⯉㰘 shita-tsuzumi, smacking of
the lips
756
12 strokes

ೌ ZETSU; ta(eru), to cease,
to become extinct; ta(tsu), to sever,
757 to discontinue
14 strokes
⤯ᑐ zettai, absoluteness
೤ ⤯㡬 zetchǀ, peak, zenith,

758 summit
9 strokes
Ẽ⤯ kizetsu, fainting
೧
SEN, former unit of money (a
759 hundredth part of a yen); zeni,
10 strokes money

㔠㖹 kinsen, money

ࡇ࡙࠿࠸㖹 kozukaisen, pocket

money



SO, ancestor, founder

♽ᅜ sokoku, fatherland
♽ẕ sobo, grandmother
ඛ♽ senzo, ancestor



SO, SU white, origin, source
⣲ᮔ soboku, simple
せ⣲ yǀso, element, important

factor
⣲㢦 sugao, unpainted face



152

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 760–764

഍ Sƿ whole, general

760 ⥲⌮኱⮧ sǀri-daijin, prime
14 strokes minister

ഢ ⥲ဨ sǀin, entire staff, all
hands, full force
761
10 strokes ⥲㑅ᣲ sǀsenkyo, general
election
ജ
Zƿ; tsuku(ri), structure, build (n.);
762 tsuku(ru), to make, to create, to
14 strokes
build; ~zuku(ri), made of ~ (suf¿x
ഝ
denoting type of structure)
763
14 strokes ᮌ㐀 mokuzǀ, made of wood
ே㐀 jinzǀ, arti¿cial
ഥ ▼㐀ࡾ ishizukuri, built of stone

764 Zƿ, image, ¿gure
9 strokes
㖡ീ dǀzǀ, bronze statue
௖ീ butsuzǀ, image of Buddha
⌧ീ genzǀ, development (of a

¿lm)



Zƿ; ma(su), to increase (v.i. & v.t.);
fu(eru) (v.i.), to increase, to

proliferate; fu(yasu) (v.t.), to

increase, to add (to)

ቑຍ zǀka, increase
ቑᙉ zǀkyǀ, reinforcement
ቑ㐍 zǀshin, promotion

SOKU law; to act on

ἲ๎ hǀsoku, law
つ๎ kisoku, rule

ཎ๎ gensoku, principle



153

765–769 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

പ SOKU; haka(ru), to fathom,
to measure
765
12 strokes ほ  kansoku, observation
 㔞 sokuryǀ, surveying
മ  ᐃ sokutei, measurement

766
12 strokes
ZOKU, genus (biol.); zoku(suru),
ᆎ to belong to

767 㔠ᒓ kinzoku, metal
11 strokes ᡤᒓ shozoku, one‫ތ‬s position
௜ᒓ⑓㝔 fuzoku-byǀin, attached
ഹ
hospital
768
13 strokes

൞ SOTSU; hiki(iru), to lead, to
command; RITSU, rate
769
9 strokes ⬟⋡ nǀritsu, ef¿ciency

ฟᖍ⋡ shussekiritsu, percentage

of attendance

⤫⋡ tǀsotsu, command,

leadership

SON, loss, disadvantage; son(suru),
to suffer a loss; soko(nau),
soko(neru), to hurt, to damage

ᦆᐖ songai, loss, damage
ᦆኻ sonshitsu, loss
◚ᦆ hason, damage, breakdown



TAI; shirizo(ku), to retreat, to withdraw,
to retire (v.i.); shirizo(keru), to drive
back, to keep away, to refuse (v.t.)

㏥ሙ taijǀ, leaving, walk-out, exit
㏥἞ taiji, stamping out,

ᚋ㏥ subjugation

kǀtai, retreat

154

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 770–774

൝ TAI; ka(shi), loan; ka(su), to lend,
to loan, to hire out
770
12 strokes ㈚ᐙ kashiya, house for rent
㈚୍࣎ࢺ kashibǀto, boat for hire
ൔ ㈚೉ taishaku, borrowing and

771 lending
14 strokes

ච
TAI appearance, state of affairs
772
6 strokes ែᗘ taido, attitude
≧ែ jǀtai, state (of things)
ඣ
condition
773
11 strokes ᐜែ y ǀdai, condition (of a
patient)
භ

774
16 strokes DAN; TON, round, group, party

ᅋయ dantai, party, organization
ᴦᅋ gakudan, band (musical)
ᕸᅋ futon, Japanese quilt



DAN; kotowa(ru), to decline, to refuse,
to give notice, to ask leave; ta(tsu),
to sever, to give up (drinking), to
exterminate

᩿㣗 danjiki, a fast
Ἔ᩿ yudan, negligence, careless-
ness, unpreparedness
ุ᩿ handan, judgment


CHIKU; kizu(ku), to build

ᘓ⠏ kenchiku, building

⠏㐀 chikuzǀ, construction
᪂⠏ shinchiku, new building



155

775–779 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ෟ CHƿ; ha(ri), tension, expansion;
ha(ru), to stretch, to spread, to cover
775
11 strokes ぢᙇࡾ mihari, lookout
ᘬࡗᙇࡿ hipparu, to pull
อ ୺ᙇ shuchǀ, insistence,

776 opinion
12 strokes

า
TEI; sa(geru), to carry in one‫ތ‬s hand
777
12 strokes ᥦฟ t eishutsu, presentation

ไ ᥦ౪ (of a thesis), ¿ling (of an
ᥦ᱌
778 application)
14 strokes
teikyǀ, offer, tender (law)
เ
teian, suggestion,
779
15 strokes proposition

TEI degree, rule; hodo, extent, limit

⛬ᗘ teido, degree, standard, limit
᪥⛬ nittei, day‫ތ‬s program,

schedule

⾜⛬ kǀtei, distance



TEKI; teki(suru), to be ¿t for

㐺ᙜ tekitǀ, suitable, moderate
㐺௵ tekinin, ¿tness
ᛌ㐺 kaiteki, agreeable



TEKI, kataki, enemy, opponent
ᙉᩛ kyǀteki, formidable enemy
ᩛព teki-i, hostile feeling
ᩛᅜ tekikoku, enemy country



156

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 780–784

ຕ Tƿ; su(beru), to control

780 ⤫ィ tǀkei, statistics
12 strokes ኱⤫㡿 daitǀryǀ, president (of a

າ country)
ఏ⤫ dentǀ, tradition
781
14 strokes

ຩ Dƿ, copper

782 㟷㖡 seidǀ, bronze
15 strokes 㖡⥺ dǀsen, copper wire
㖡ᒣ dǀzan, copper mine
ື

783
14 strokes Dƿ; michibi(ki), guidance;
michibi(ku), to guide, to lead
຾
ᣦᑟ shidǀ, guidance
784 ᣦᑟ⪅ shidǀsha, leader
9 strokes ⿵ᑟ hodǀ, guidance



TOKU, virtue, power of
commanding love and respect

㐨ᚨ dǀtoku, morality
ᚨᮃ tokubǀ, moral inÀuence
ேᚨ jintoku, natural virtue



DOKU; hito(ri), one person;
Germany
⊂❧ dokuritsu, independence
⊂≉ dokutoku, peculiar, unique
⊂ၐ dokushǀ, vocal solo



157

785–789 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

໸ NIN, duty; maka(seru), to entrust,
to leave (v.t.)
785
6 strokes ㈐௵ sekinin, responsibility
㌿௵ tennin, change of post
༇ ௵ົ ninmu, duty

786
16 strokes
NEN; mo(eru), to burn (v.i.);
༑ mo(yasu), to burn (v.t.)

787 ⇞ᩱ nenryǀ, fuel
10 strokes ⇞↝ nenshǀ, combustion
୙⇞ᛶ funensei, incombustible
༟

788
10 strokes Nƿ, ability, expert, skill, the Noh

ེ ⬟ຊ n ǀryoku, ability, capacity,
faculty
789
5 strokes ᡯ⬟ sainǀ, talent
⬟⋡ nǀritsu, ef¿ciency



HA; yabu(re), a tear (rent); yabu(ru),
to tear, to break (a promise)

◚ᦆ hason, breakdown
◚⏘ hasan, bankruptcy
㞴◚ nanpa, shipwreck



HAN; oka(su), to commit, to violate,
to rape
≢⨥ hanzai, crime
≢ே hannin, criminal
㜵≢ bǀhan, crime prevention



158

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 790–794

཯ HAN to decide; seal for stamping;
BAN, size
790
7 strokes ุ᩿ handan, judgment,
divination
ཹ
⿢ุ saiban, justice, trial,
791 judgment
8 strokes
኱ุ ǀ-ban, large size (paper,
྘ book)

792 HAN, plate, printing, edition
4 strokes
∧⏬ hanga, woodblock print
ྠ ∧ᶒ hanken, copyright
ฟ∧ shuppan, publication
793
8 strokes

ྥ HI, ratio, comparison; kura(beru), to
compare
794 ẚ㍑ hikaku, comparison
8 strokes ẚ⋡ hiritsu, ratio
ẚ౛ hirei, proportion



HI; ko(eru), to grow fat; koyashi,
manure, fertilizer; ko(yasu), to
fertilize, to fatten, to enrich (oneself)
⫧ᩱ hiryǀ, manure, fertilizer
ࡓ࠸⫧ taihi, compost



HI, fault, wrong; non-, un-
㠀ᖖ࡟ hijǀ-ni, very
㠀ᖖཱྀ hijǀguchi, emergency door
㠀㞴 hinan, censure



159

795–799 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ྩ BI; sona(e), preparation(s);
sona(eru), to furnish, to prepare;
795 sona(waru), to be possessed of,
12 strokes to be furnished with

࿆ ‽ഛ junbi, preparation(s)
Ᏺഛ shubi, defense
796 ணഛ yobi, reserve
10 strokes
HYƿ; tawara, straw bag
࿎
ᅵಥ d ohyǀ, sandbag; sum
797 (wrestling) ring
12 strokes
୍ಥ ippyǀ, one straw bag
࿟ Ⅳಥ sumidawara, charcoal sack

798 HYƿ, criticism; hyǀ(suru), to
11 strokes criticize, to comment

࿫ ホุ h yǀban, reputation,
popularity, rumor
799
5 strokes ホ౯ hyǀka, appraisal,
appreciation

ᢈホ hihyǀ, criticism

HIN, poverty; BIN; mazu(shii),
poor

㈋ᙅ hinjaku, meager, poor
㈋ஈ binbǀ, poverty
㈋ᅔ hinkon, poverty, lack



FU; nuno, cloth

ẟᕸ mǀfu, blanket
㓄ᕸ haifu, distribution
⥥ᕸ menpu, cotton cloth



160

࿨ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 800–804

800 FU woman, wife
11 strokes ፬ே fujin, woman
୺፬ shufu, housewife
࿩ ኵ፬ fnjfu, husband and wife

801
12 strokes
FU, FNj; tomi, riches; to(mu), to be
က rich, to abound (in)

802 ㇏ᐩ hǀfu, abundance
8 strokes ᐩ㈗ fuki, fnjki, fukki, rich and
noble
ဌ ᐩ⿱
fuynj, riches, wealth
803
12 strokes

ထ BU, MU, military

804 Ṋ⿦ busǀ, arms, weapons
14 strokes Ṋჾ buki, weapon

Ṋຊ buryoku, military power



FUKU re-, again, repeat

ᅇ᚟ kaifuku, recovery
᚟⯆ fukkǀ, revival,

reconstruction

᚟ά fukkatsu, revival,
resurrection



FUKU to repeat; pre¿x for “double”

」㞧 fukuzatsu, complication,
complexity
」〇
㔜」 fukusei, reproduction

chǀfuku, jnjfuku,
duplication, repetition



161

805–809 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ဗ BUTSU; hotoke, Buddha; France

805 ኱௖ d aibutsu, colossal statue
4 strokes of Buddha

၂ ௖ീ butsuzǀ, image of Buddha
௖ᩍ bukkyǀ, Buddhism
806
15 strokes

၉ HEN; a(mu), to knit, to edit

807 ⦅㞟 henshnj, editing
5 strokes ⦅㞟⪅ henshnjsha, editor
⦅ᡂ hensei, formation
။

808
9 strokes BEN, speech

ၖ ᘚㄽ benron, debate
ᘚㆤே bengonin, counsel
809 ᘚᙜ bentǀ, lunch
13 strokes


HO; tamo(tsu), to keep, to maintain

ಖㆤ hogo, protection
ಖᏑ hozon, preservation
ಖ㝤 hoken, insurance



BO; haka, grave

቎ᆅ bochi, graveyard
቎▼ boseki, haka-ishi,

gravestone
቎ཧ bosan, visit to a grave



162

ၡ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 810–814

810 Hƿ, report; muku(i), retribution;
12 strokes muku(iru), to reward, to return (a
favor)
ၹ
ሗ࿌ hǀkoku, report
811 ᫬ሗ jihǀ, announcement of time
13 strokes 㟁ሗ denpǀ, telegram

႕

812 Hƿ; yuta(ka), abundance
7 strokes
㇏ᖺ hǀnen, year of abundance
႓ ㇏స hǀsaku, good harvest

813
12 strokes
Bƿ; fuse(gu), to defend, to keep off,
ႉ to prevent

814 ண㜵 yobǀ, prevention
15 strokes ᾘ㜵 shǀbǀ, ¿re ¿ghting
㜵Ἴሐ bǀhatei, breakwater



Bƿ to purchase, to exchange

㈠᫆ၟ bǀekishǀ, trader
㈠᫆఍♫ bǀekigaisha, trading ¿rm
㈠᫆㢼 bǀekifnj, trade wind



Bƿ, BAKU, violent; to disclose;
aba(ku), to divulge; aba(reru), to
behave violently

ᭀຊ bǀryoku, violence, force
஘ᭀ ranbǀ, violence,
unreasonableness
ᭀ㟢
bakuro, disclosure

163

815–819 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ო MU; tsuto(maru), to be quali¿ed
for; tsuto(meru), to discharge one’s
815 duties, to enact (a role)
11 strokes
஦ົᡤ jimusho, of¿ce
პ ໅ົ kinmu, service, duty
⩏ົ gimu, duty
816
13 strokes

წ MU; yume, dream, vision

817 ᝏክ akumu, nightmare
9 strokes ክ୰ muchnj, unconsciousness;

ჴ ecstasy, rapture

ክᗁ mugen, dreams, visions



MEI; mayo(u), to be puzzled, to

lose one‫ތ‬s way, to go astray, to be
tempted by; mayo(wasu), to lead

astray, to puzzle, to tempt

㏞ಙ meishin, superstition
㏞ᝨ meiwaku, trouble,

annoyance

MEN; wata, cotton

⥥ᒇ wataya, cotton shop (dealer)
⥥ᐦ menmitsu, minute, careful

818
14 strokes
YU to send
ᄪ ㍺ฟ yushutsu, export
㍺⾑ yuketsu, blood transfusion
819 ㍺㏦ yusǀ, transportation
16 strokes


164

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 820–824

ᅆ YO, more (than), above; ama(ri),
the remainder, the balance;
820 ~ama(ri), more than, over; ama(ru),
7 strokes to remain, to be beyond (one‫ތ‬s
power); ama(su), to leave over
ᅊ
వศ yobun, surplus
821 వᬤ yoka, spare time
13 strokes వᆅ yochi, room, scope

ᅎ YO; azu(karu), to keep, to take charge
of, to refrain from, to receive; azu(keru),
822 to deposit, to put into the charge of
10 strokes
㡸㔠 yokin, money on deposit
ᆒ 㡸ࡾ≀ azukarimono, item left in

823 someone‫ތ‬s charge
11 strokes 㡸ࡾド azukarishǀ, deposit receipt

ᆗ

824 Yƿ ¿gure; to admit
10 strokes
ᙧᐜモ keiyǀshi, adjective
ෆᐜ naiyǀ, content, substance
ᐜ✚ yǀseki, capacity, cubic

measure



RYAKU, abbreviation, omission,
outline; ryaku(suru), to omit

ィ␎ keiryaku, stratagem, plan,
plot

┬␎ shǀryaku, omission
␎⛠ ryakushǀ, abbreviation



RYNj, RU; to(meru) (v.t.), to(maru)
(v.i.), to fasten, to stop

೵␃ᡤ teirynjjo, streetcar (bus) stop
␃Ꮫ rynjgaku, studying abroad
␃Ᏺ rusu, absence



165

825–829 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ᆴ RYƿ chief point; to control

825 せ㡿 yǀryǀ, the point, knack
14 strokes 㡿ᅵ ryǀdo, territory
㡿஦ ryǀji, consul
‫ڽ‬

826
11 strokes I; koto(naru), to be different,
to be unusual
‫ۆ‬
␗ᖖ ijǀ, unusual
827 ␗ㄽ iron, different opinion,
15 strokes
objection
‫ۊ‬
␗ᵝ iyǀ, strange, odd,
828 extraordinary
11 strokes
I, YUI to leave behind, to bequeath
ۧ
㑇᪘ izoku, bereaved family
829 㑇㊧ iseki, remains, relics
6 strokes 㑇ゝ yuigon, will, testament



IKI, region, limits

ᆅᇦ chi-iki, region, area
༊ᇦ kuiki, domain, zone, limits
㡿ᇦ ryǀiki, territory, sphere



U canopy of heaven, space, eaves
Ᏹᐂ uchnj, universe, cosmos
Ᏹᐂ᭹ uchnjfuku, space suit
ᇽᏱ dǀ-u, hall, temple, edi¿ce



166

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 830–834

‫܇‬ EI; utsu(ru), to be reÀected, match,
come out (of photos); utsu(su), to
830 project, reÀect; ha(eru), to shine (v.i.)
9 strokes
ᫎ⏬ eiga, ¿lm, movie
‫ܤ‬ ୖᫎ jǀei, screening
཯ᫎ hanҲei, reÀection, inÀuence
831
8 strokes

‫ܨ‬ EN; no(biru), to be postponed,
to be extended; no(basu), to
832 postpone, to extend; no(be), total
8 strokes
ᘏ㛗 enchǀ, prolongation,
‫ބ‬ extension

833 ᘏ╔ enchaku, late arrival
7 strokes ᘏᮇ enki, postponement

‫ޡ‬ EN; so(u), to run along, lie along

834 ἢᓊ engan, coast, shore
6 strokes
ἢ㐨 endǀ, roadside
ᕝἢ࠸ kawazoi, riverside



GA; ware, self, oneself, I

ᡃࠎ ware-ware, we
↓ᡃ muga, selÀessness, ecstasy
ᡃὶ garynj, one‫ތ‬s own way,

self-taught method



KAI; hai, ash, ashes

▼⅊ sekkai, lime
⅊Ⰽ hai-iro, grey
ⅆᒣ⅊ kazanbai, volcanic ash



167

835–839 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

߄ KAKU to extend, to unfold,
to spread
835
8 strokes ᣑ኱ kakudai, magni¿cation
ᣑᙇ kakuchǀ, extension,
ߓ
expansion
836 ᣑኌᶵ kakuseiki, loud-speaker
9 strokes
KAKU leather; to reform
ߑ
㠉࿨ kakumei, revolution
837 㠉᪂ kakushin, innovation,
14 strokes
reform
ߠ ᨵ㠉 kaikaku, reform

838
12 strokes
KAKU tower, pavilion, the Cabinet
߰
ෆ㛶 naikaku, the Cabinet
839 㛶൉ kakuryǀ, Cabinet member
10 strokes 㛶ୗ kakka, Your Excellency



KATSU; wa(ru), to split, divide,
separate (v.t.); wa(reru), to break,
split (v.i.); wa(ri) proportion, rate;
sa(ku), to cut, spare

ศ๭ bunkatsu, division, partition
๭ྜ wariai, rate, ratio
๭ᘬ waribiki, discount, rebate



kabu, shares, stocks, speculation in
shares; stub

ษࡾᰴ kirikabu, stump
ᰴᘧ఍♫ kabushiki-kaisha, joint-

stock corporation
ᰴๆ kabuken, share certi¿cate



168

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 840–844

ࠍ KAN to dry, to drain, shield, thrust;
ho(su), to dry, to drain (v.t.); hi(ru),
840 to dry, to ebb (v.i.)
3 strokes
ᖸࡋⲡ hoshikusa, dry grass, hay
ࠆ
ᖸ₻ kanchǀ/hishio, ebb tide
841
9 strokes ᖸ΅ kanshǀ, interference,

ࠡ intervention

842 KAN; ma(ki), volume, manuscript
9 strokes roll; ma(ku), to roll, wind (v.t.)

ࠤ ᕳ㢌 kantǀ, the beginning part
of a book
843 ᕳ≀ makimono, a scroll
18 strokes ❳ᕳ tatsumaki, whirlwind,
tornado
ࡇ

844 KAN to see, to observe, to examine
6 strokes
┳ㆤ kango, nursing, caring for
┳Ᏺ kanshu, warder, jailer
┳ᯈ kanban, signboard, sign,

placard



KAN simple, brief; document

⡆༢ kantan, simple, easy
⡆᫆ kanҲi, easy, elementary
᭩⡆ s hokan, letter,

correspondence



KI; abu(nai), dangerous, critical
(of condition), doubtful; aya(ui),
dangerous, doubtful

༴㝤 kiken, danger
༴⠜ kitoku, critical condition
(illness)
༴ᶵ kiki, crisis

169

845–849 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ࡓ KI; tsukue, desk

845 ᮘୖࡢ k ijǀ no, theoretical,
6 strokes impractical

ࡒ ஦ົᮘ jimuzukue, of¿ce desk
ᮘ୍ᮼ tsukue-ippai, a deskful
846
12 strokes

ࡦ KI to wield, to brandish

847 ᣦ᥹ shiki, command; conducting
12 strokes (of music)

ࡷ Ⓨ᥹ hakki, display, exhibition
᥹Ⓨᛶ kihatsusei, volatility
848
14 strokes

࢓ KI noble, dear, precious; tatto(bu),
to esteem, to prize; tatto(i),
849 valuables, precious
6 strokes
㈗㔜 kichǀ, precious
㈗㔠ᒓ kikinzoku, precious
metals
㈗㔜ရ kichǀhin, valuables

GI; utaga(i), doubt, suspicion;
utaga(u), to doubt, to suspect

␲ၥ gimon, question, doubt
㉁␲ shitsugi, question
␲ᝨ giwaku, suspicion, doubt



KYNj; su(u), to sip, to breathe in,
to suck, to smoke (tobacco)
྾཰ kynjshnj, absorption
྾⾑㨣 kynjketsuki, vampire
࿧྾ kokynj, breathing, respiration



170

ࢷ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 850–854

850 KYƿ; tomo, attendant; sona(eru),
8 strokes to offer (to a god)
౪⤥ kyǀkynj, supply, provision
࣑ ᥦ౪ teikyǀ, offer
౪ฟ kyǀshutsu, quota delivery
851
10 strokes

ࣕ KYƿ; mune, chest, heart, mind
ᗘ⬚ dokyǀ, courage
852 ⬚↝ࡅ muneyake, heartburn
11 strokes ⬚ᅖ kyǀi, chest measurement

ࣦ

853 KYƿ, Gƿ country, village, native
12 strokes place

ࣰ 㒓ᅵ kyǀdo, one‫ތ‬s native place;

854 ㏆㒓 local
12 strokes 㒓ឋ
kingǀ, neighboring districts

kyǀshnj, nostalgia,

homesickness

KIN; tsuto(me), duties, service;
tsuto(meru), to serve (in an of¿ce)

໅ົ kinmu, service, duty
໅ຮ kinben, diligence
ฟ໅ shukkin, attendance



KIN; suji, muscle, sinew; thread,
plot, line; sources
➽⫗ kinniku, muscle
➽㐨 sujimichi, reason, logic
➽᭩ࡁ sujigaki, outline, plan



171

855–859 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ृ KEI system, family line

855 ⣔⤫ keitǀ, system, family line
7 strokes ⣔ᅗ keizu, genealogical table
ᐙ⣔ kakei, family line
ऽ

856
12 strokes KEI; uyama(u), to respect

् ᑛᩗ sonkei, respect
ᩗㄒ keigo, honori¿c word
857 ᩗព kei-i, respects
19 strokes

॔
KEI to warn, to caution
858
15 strokes ㆙ᐹ keisatsu, police
㆙࿌ keikoku, warning, caution
ॗ ㆙ሗ keihǀ, alarm, warning

859
16 strokes
GEKI, drama, play; intense, severe

๻ሙ gekijǀ, theater
₇๻ engeki, play, theatrical

performance

๻⸆ gekiyaku, powerful
medicine



GEKI; geki(suru), to become
excited/agitated; hage(shii), violent,
intense, passionate

ឤ⃭ kangeki, deep emotion
ᛴ⃭
⃭Ⅿ kynjgeki, sudden, abrupt

gekiretsu, severe, intense,

violent

172

फ़ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 860–864

860 KETSU; ana, cave, hole
5 strokes ቎✰ boketsu, a grave
✰ᇙࡵ ana-ume, stopgap
ॺ ✰ᒃ kekkyo, cave-dwelling

861
13 strokes
KEN; kinu, silk
ॴ
⤱⣒ kinu-ito, silk thread
862 ⤱⧊≀ kinu-orimono, silk fabrics
15 strokes ே⤱ jinken, arti¿cial silk, rayon

९

863 KEN weight, authority, power; GON
16 strokes
ேᶒ jinken, human rights
঍ ∧ᶒ hanken, copyright
ᨻᶒ seiken, political power
864
13 strokes

KEN law, regulation

᠇ἲ kenpǀ, constitution
᠇ර kenpei, military police,

shore patrol
᠇❶ kenshǀ, charter, constitution



GEN; minamoto, origin, source

㈨※ shigen, resources
※Ặ Genji, Minamoto Clan
Ỉ※ suigen, head of a

stream/river



173

865–869 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

উ GEN, GON severe, strict, austere;
kibi(shii), strict, harsh; ogoso(ka),
865 solemn, severe
17 strokes
ཝ⚗ genkin, strict prohibition
জ ཝ᱁ genkaku, stern, austere
Ⲯཝ sǀgon, sublime, solemn
866
3 strokes

ঘ KO, KI myself, oneself, I

867 ⮬ᕫ jiko, one‫ތ‬s self, self
8 strokes ฼ᕫ୺⩏ rikoshugi, egoism
▱ᕫ chiki, acquaintance,
ি
appreciative friend
868
14 strokes

৑ KO to call, to breathe; yo(bu),
to call, to invite, to name
869
6 strokes Ⅼ࿧ tenko, roll call
࿧ࡧ≀ yobimono, drawcard,

attraction
࿧Ẽ koki, exhalation



GO; ayama(ri), fault, mistake, error;
ayama(ru), to err, to mistake

ㄗゎ gokai, misunderstanding
ㄗᏐ goji, wrong word
ㄗヂ goyaku, mistranslation



Kƿ empress, queen
ⓚྡྷ kǀgǀ, Empress (of Japan)
ⓚኴྡྷ kǀtaikǀ, Empress Dowager

(of Japan), Queen Mother
(of England)



174

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 870–874

ৗ Kƿ, ¿lial duty

870 Ꮥ⾜ kǀkǀ, ¿lial piety
7 strokes Ꮥᚰ kǀshin, ¿lial affection
Ꮥ㣴 kǀyǀ, discharge of ¿lial
৴
duties
871
9 strokes

৸ Kƿ, ƿ monarch, emperor

872 ⓚኴᏊ k ǀtaishi, Crown Prince (of
9 strokes Japan)

ਏ ⓚᐊ kǀshitsu, Imperial Family
(of Japan)
873
10 strokes ኳⓚ tennǀ, Emperor (of Japan)

਍

874 Kƿ, KU; kurenai, crimson; beni,
16 strokes lipstick, rouge

ཱྀ⣚ kuchibeni, lipstick

⣚Ⲕ kǀcha, black tea
⣚ⴥ kǀyǀ, crimson foliage;

momiji, maple



Kƿ; fu(ru), to fall (of rain/snow);
o(riru), to come down, to get off (a
vehicle, etc.); o(rosu), to lower

୕᪥ ௨㝆 (mikka) ikǀ, (falling)
on and after (the 3rd)
஌ࡾ㝆ࡾ noriori, getting on
and off
kǀ-u, rainfall
㝆㞵

Kƿ; hagane, steel

㗰㕲 kǀtetsu, steel
㗰Ⰽ hagane-iro, steel-blue

〇㗰 seikǀ, steelmaking



175

875–879 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ਟ KOKU engrave; short period of
time; kiza(mu), to cut ¿ne, to carve,
875 to engrave
8 strokes
᫬้ jikoku, time
ਢ ῝้
᙮้ shinkoku, grave, serious
876
14 strokes chǀkoku, carving, engraving,

ਬ sculpture

877 KOKU grain, cereals
10 strokes
✐≀ kokumotsu, grain, cereals
ਲ 㞧✐ zakkoku, minor cereals
✐㢮 kokurui, cereals, grain
878
7 strokes

ੋ KOTSU; hone, bone, frame,
“backbone”
879
9 strokes 㦵ᢡࡾ hone-ori, pains, trouble,
effort

㦵ᢡ kossetsu, a fracture
Ẽ㦵 kikotsu, spirit, grit, mettle



KON; koma(ru), to be in trouble/in
a ¿x

ᅔ㞴 konnan, dif¿culty, adversity
ᅔ❓
㈋ᅔ konkynj, destitution
hinkon, poverty, indigence



SA, SHA; suna, sand

◁⢾ satǀ, sugar
◁㔠 sakin, gold dust
◁฼
jari, gravel



176

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 880–884

੐ ZA, seat, gathering, constellation;
suwa(ru), to sit
880
10 strokes ᗙᖍ zaseki, seat
ᫍᗙ seiza, constellation
੟ 㖟ᗙ Ginza, the Ginza (major
street/district in Tokyo)
881
11 strokes

੩ SAI; su(mu), to end, to be settled;
su(masu), to ¿nish, to pay back (a
882 debt), to manage with (little money,
12 strokes etc.)

઄ ⤒῭ keizai, economics, thrift

883 ୙⤒῭ fukeizai, bad economy
12 strokes
㏉῭ hensai, repayment
ઋ
SAI; saba(ku), to judge; ta(tsu),
884 to cut (cloth etc.)
5 strokes
⿢ุ saiban, trial
⿢⦭
⊂⿢ saihǀ, needlework
dokusai, dictatorship



SAKU, policy, scheme, measure,
plan

ᨻ⟇ seisaku, policy
⟇␎ sakuryaku, stratagem
ᑐ⟇ taisaku, counterplan



SATSU, SAKU; counter for books
and magazines

୍෉ issatsu, one volume
෉Ꮚ sasshi, booklet, pamphlet,
brochure
ู෉ bessatsu, separate volume



177

885–889 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

઩ SAN; kaiko, silkworm

885 㣴⺋ yǀsan, sericulture
10 strokes ⺋ᐊ sanshitsu, silkworm rearing

૖ room
㣴⺋ᆅ yǀsanchi, silkworm raising
886
6 strokes district

ૐ

887 SHI; ita(ru), to reach, to go so far
7 strokes (as to), to come, to lead to, to be
brought to
ઽ
⮳ᛴ shikynj, urgency
888 ෤⮳ tǀji, winter solstice
9 strokes

૗
SHI, watakushi, watashi, I, personal
889 (affairs), privacy
11 strokes
⚾⏝ shiyǀ, private use (business)
⚾≀ shibutsu, private property
⚾᭷
shiynj, private ownership



SHI; sugata, shape, ¿gure;
appearance, condition

ጼໃ shisei, posture, pose, stance

ᐜጼ yǀshi, one‫ތ‬s form,

appearance

ᚋࢁጼ ushirosugata, view from

the back

SHI to look at carefully

ど⏺ shikai, ¿eld of vision
どຊ shiryoku, eyesight, vision
↓ど mushi, disregard



178

૘ ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 890–894

890 SHI speech, words
12 strokes ḷモ kashi, words (of a song)
ྡモ meishi, noun
૛! ᙧᐜモ keiyǀshi, adjective

891
14 strokes
SHI document, magazine, record
૱
㞧ㄅ zasshi, magazine
892 㐌หㄅ shnjkanshi, weekly
14 strokes
magazine
ଗ ᆅㄅ chishi, a topography

893
10 strokes
JI magnet; porcelain
ଘ
☢▼ jishaku, magnet, compass
894 ☢Ẽ jiki, magnetism
11 strokes ☢ჾ jiki, porcelain ware



SHA; i(ru), to shoot (an arrow);
to strike (one‫ތ‬s eyes)

ᑕᧁ shageki, ¿ring, shooting
Ⓨᑕ hassha, discharge, ¿re
᪥ᑕ⑓ nisshabyǀ, sunstroke,

heatstroke



SHA; su(teru), to throw away,
to abandon

ᤞ࡚Ꮚ sutego, abandoned child
႐ᤞ kisha, charity, alms
ྲྀᤞ shusha, adoption or

rejection; choice



179

895–899 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ଦ SHAKU old unit of length (approx
30 cm); length
895 ᑻᗘ shakudo, linear measure,
4 strokes
scale, gauge
ଭ ᑻ㈏ἲ shakkanhǀ, Japanese system

896 of weights and measures
8 strokes ᑻඵ shakuhachi, shakuhachi

ୃ Àute

897 JAKU; waka(i), young; immature;
16 strokes mo(shikuwa), or

େ ⱝ⪅ wakamono, young people
ⱝࠎࡋ࠸ wakawakashii, youthful,
898
4 strokes young-looking

୉ ⱝᖸ jakkan, some, a few, a

899 little
8 strokes
JU tree, plant; ki, tree

ᶞᮌ jumoku, trees and shrubs
ᶞ⬡ jushi, resin
ᶞ❧ juritsu, establishment,
founding



SHNj; osa(meru), to obtain, to pay
(taxes), to accept, to store, to seize;

osa(maru), to be restored, contented

཰✭ shnjkaku, harvest
཰ᐜ shnjyǀ, admission,
accommodation
཰ධ
shnjnynj, income

SHNj, Sƿ foundation, source, origin

᐀ᩍ shnjkyǀ, religion
᐀ὴ shnjha, sect
᐀໶ sǀshǀ, master (in an art),
teacher



180

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 900–904

୊ SHNj, JU to sit, to engage in, to be
completed; tsu(ku), to engage in, to
900 set about (a job)
12 strokes
ᑵᏛ shnjgaku, entering school
୘! ᑵ⫋ shnjshoku, ¿nding
employment
901 ᡂᑵ jǀju, accomplishment,
12 strokes realization

୦
SHNj many
902
10 strokes ⾗㆟㝔 Shnjgi-in, House of
Representatives
୬
ほ⾗ kanshnj, spectators
903 Ẹ⾗ minshnj, the masses
16 strokes

୴
JNj; shitaga(u), to obey, to comply
904 with, to observe (rules), to yield to,
17 strokes to follow

᭹ᚑ fukujnj, obedience
ᚑ஦ jnjji, engaging in (business)
ᚑᴗဨ jnjgyǀin, employee



JNj; tate, length, height; warp

᧯⦪ sǀjnj, handling, operation
⦪᭩ࡁ tategaki, vertical script
⦪ᶓ tateyoko, length and breadth



SHUKU; chiji(meru), to shrink (v.t.);
chiji(mu), chiji(maru), to shrink
(v.i.); chiji(reru), to be frizzy, wavy
⦰ᑠ shukushǀ, reduction,

curtailment, retrenchment
⦰ࢀẟ chijirege, curly hair
㌷⦰ gunshuku, arms reduction



181

905–909 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

୷ JUKU; juku(suru), u(reru), to ripen,
to mature
905
15 strokes ᡂ⇍ seijuku, ripeness, maturation
ᮍ⇍ mijuku, immature
஋ ⇍⦎ jukuren, skill, dexterity,
mastery
906
10 strokes

ஐ JUN purity, innocence

907 ༢⣧ tanjun, simple
5 strokes ⣧⢋ junsui, pure, genuine
⣧᪥ᮏ㢼 jun-nihonfnj, purely
஘
Japanese style
908
13 strokes

ஜ SHO; sho(suru), to manage, to deal
with, to sentence, to conduct oneself
909
15 strokes ฎ⌮ shori, management,
ฎ⨨ transaction
ฎศ shochi, measure, treatment
(medical)
shobun, disposal,
punishment


SHO station (police, ¿re, etc.);
(public) of¿ce; write, sign

㆙ᐹ⨫ keisatsusho, police station
⨫㛗 shochǀ, head of a

government of¿ce

⨫ྡ shomei, signature



SHO many

ㅖᅜ shokoku, various countries
ㅖྩ shokun, gentlemen, you
ㅖᓥ shotǀ, group of islands



182

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 910–914

த JO, JI division (math.); nozo(ku),
to take off, to remove, to exclude,
910 to omit
10 strokes
㝖ᖥᘧ jomakushiki, unveiling
ள! ceremony

911 㝖ྡ jomei, dismissal from
10 strokes membership

஥ 㥑㝖 kujo, extermination

912 SHƿ to lead; about to
13 strokes
኱ᑗ taishǀ, a general, leader
௩ ᑗᲦ shǀgi, Japanese chess
ᑗ᮶ shǀrai, the future
913
14 strokes

௱ SHƿ; kizu, wound, injury, cut;
kizu(tsukeru), to injure; kizu(tsuku),
914
9 strokes to get injured; ita(mu), to be painful

യᐖ shǀgai, wound, injury,
accident

Ṛയ⪅ shishǀsha, casualties
യ㊧ kizuato, scar

SHƿ to hinder; to separate; sawa(ru),
to hinder, to interfere with, to harm

㞀ᐖ shǀgai, obstacle,
ᨾ㞀 impediment
㞀Ꮚ
koshǀ, obstacle, impediment,
breakdown

shǀji, paper sliding door

Jƿ; shiro, castle

ᇛ㊧ shiroato, castle ruins/site

ᇛୗ⏫ jǀkamachi, castle town
ጲ㊰ᇛ Himeji-jǀ, Himeji Castle



183

915–919 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

௾ Jƿ; mu(su), to steam, be steamy;
mu(rasu), to steam (v.t.); mu(reru),
915 to be steamed, steamy, stuffy, musty
13 strokes (v.i.)

య ⵨Ẽ jǀki, steam, vapour
⵨ࡋᬬ࠸ mushiatsui, hot and muggy
916 jǀhatsu, evaporation,
10 strokes ⵨Ⓨ strange disappearance

ల SHIN; hari, needle, pin, pointer

917 㔪㔠 harigane, wire
4 strokes ᪉㔪
⛊㔪 hǀshin, policy, line
ె byǀshin, second-hand (of a
watch)
918
8 strokes

ై JIN, perfect virtue, benevolence,
humanity
919
11 strokes ோᚨ jintoku, benevolence
ோ⩏
jingi, humanity and justice,
ோឡ
humanity, duty, gamblers‫ތ‬

moral code

jinҲai, benevolence

SUI; ta(reru), to hang down, dangle
(v.i.); ta(rasu), to drip, dribble, spill
(v.t.)

ᆶ┤ࡢ suichoku, vertical,
perpendicular

㞵ᆶࢀ amadare, raindrops,
eavesdrops

ᆶࢀ㣭ࡾ tarekazari, pendant

SUI; o(su), to infer, to guess, to
recommend, to boost (a candidate)

᥎⌮ suiri, reasoning
᥎ᐃ suitei, inference,
presumption
᥎⸀ suisen, recommendation



184

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 920–924

౥ SUN, old unit of length (approx. 3
cm)
920
3 strokes ᑍἲ sunpǀ, measurements; plan
ᑍศ sunbun, a little
౻! ᑍ๓
sunzen, just before
921
11 strokes

౽ SEI, Jƿ abundant, plentiful; mo(ru),
to pile up; saka(n), prosperous;
922
13 strokes saka(ri), prime, heyday

ಁ ┒኱ seidai, splendid, prosperous
኱┒ࡾ ǀmori, large serve, helping
923 ⦾┒ hanjǀ, prosperity, success
13 strokes

ಭ
SEI sage, saint
924
9 strokes ⪷ே seijin, sage, saint
⪷᭩ seisho, the Bible
⚄⪷ shinsei, sacred, holy



SEI; makoto, sincerity, truth

ㄔᐇ seijitsu, sincerity,
faithfulness
ㄔព sei-i, sincerity, good faith
⮳ㄔ shisei, sincerity, one‫ތ‬s true
heart



SEN to promulgate, to state

ᐉゝ sengen, declaration
ᐉఏ senden, propaganda
ᐉᩍᖌ senkyǀshi, missionary



185

925–929 • ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS

ಮ SEN sole, exclusive; moppa(ra),
wholly, exclusively
925
9 strokes ᑓ㛛 senmon, specialty
ᑓ⏝
ಶ ᑓ኎ senҲyǀ, exclusive use
senbai, monopoly
926
9 strokes

ಸ SEN; izumi, spring, fountain,
source
927
9 strokes  Ἠ onsen, hot spring
ἨỈ sensui, garden pond,
ಹ fountain
※Ἠ gensen, source, origin
928
9 strokes

೑ SEN; ara(u), to wash, cleanse

929 Ὑ℆ sentaku, washing, laundry
12 strokes Ὑ๣ senzai, washing powder
Ὑ⦎ senren, polishing,
re¿nement



SEN; so(meru), to dye; shi(miru),
to pierce, to penetrate, to soak into;
to smart; shi(mi), a stain

ᰁᩱ senryǀ, dyestuffs, dyes
ᰁࡳᢤࡁ shiminuki, stain remover

ởᰁ osen, pollution



ZEN, good, goodness, virtue; yo(i),
virtuous, goodnatured

ぶၿ shinzen, amity, friendship
᭱ၿ saizen, the best
ឿၿ jizen, charity



186

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS • 930–934

೵ Sƿ; kana(deru), to play/perform on
(an instrument)
930
9 strokes ₇ዌ ensǀ, (musical)
కዌ performance, recital
ഋ! ྜዌ bansǀ, (musical)
accompainment
931 gassǀ, concert, ensemble
11 strokes

೯
Sƿ; mado, window
932
12 strokes ❆ཱྀ madoguchi, service window
ྠ❆఍ dǀsǀkai, alumni association
ക ❆㝿 madogiwa, by the window

933
12 strokes
Sƿ, tsukuru, origin, beginning
೸
๰❧ sǀritsu, establishment
934 ๰స sǀsaku, literary creation,
14 strokes
original work
⊂๰ⓗ dokusǀteki, original,

creative



Sƿ, SHƿ; yoso-o(u), to dress,
wear; to pretend

⿦⨨ sǀchi, equipment, device
⾰⿦ ishǀ, clothes, costume
ኚ⿦ hensǀ, disguise



Sƿ layer, stratum

ୗᒙ㝵⣭ kasǀkaikynj, the lower
classes

᩿ᒙ dansǀ, (geological) fault
㧗ᒙࣅࣝ kǀsǀ-biru, high-rise

building



187