Remembering the Kanji, Volume 3_ Writing and Reading Japanese Characters for Upper-Level Proficiency

194 | remembering the kanji 3

2085

r-2466 chick

Ÿ Jesus (old form) 2680
question mark 2334
r-2467 2524
r-2468 old man
r-2469 old man; grandpa

palm tree
palm tree

Ÿ Pluto (the planet) 2841
providence; divine favor 2842
r-2470 2843
r-2471 meditation
r-2472
Hades; underworld

new pure groups | 195

Ÿ 2074

r-2473 since then
“let it be” (Buddhist term)
r-2474 only; in that manner
thou
r-2475 used in names
r-2476
2075
Ÿ
State Seal
r-2477
jawbone 2795
jaw; chin 2824

alligator

2446

used in names
used in names
used in names

196 | remembering the kanji 3

r-2478 2287

used in names
used in names
Note that the character does not have a kun-yomi and has
therefore not been included in this group.

Ÿ tracer bullet 2848
to pull 2849
r-2479
r-2480 leak; disclosure
to leak

Ÿ 2928
prefecture in central Japan
r-2481
r-2482 2189

wharf; pier; quay

Ÿ 2877

r-2483 Ch’in Dynasty (255–206 bce)
used in family names

new pure groups | 197

2475

r-2484 hazel tree
used in names
r-2485 used in names

r-2486 triumphal return 2077
used in names 2076
Ÿ victory cry
ease; be mitigated
r-2487 used in names
r-2488
suit of armor
r-2199
rapture; ecstasy 2277
r-2489 2431
suddenly
all of a sudden

2786

ligament; fascia
quiver

chapter 9

Semi-Pure Groups

The semi-pure groups, it will be recalled from vol. 2, are groups of on-yomi
based on a common signal primitive—but with a single exception.

Strictly speaking, the addition of secondary and tertiary readings would do
away with most semi-pure groups. But the classification is a useful one, and it is
worth the strain to preserve it.

We begin here with semi-pure groups already learned, and conclude the
chapter with a number of new groupings.

r-685 r-686 r-687 r-688 r-689 r-690

r-2490 2382
r-2491 town in Kumamoto Prefecture
r-2492
2112
r-2493
r-2494 minstrel; court musician

2278

clever
wise
used in names
used in names

2285

water canal

2568

Reiko (woman’s name)
used in names
used in names

semi-pure groups | 199

r-2495 2228

peak
peak; summit

Note that this character does not—as you would otherwise
expect—follow the reading of the lower element, but keeps the
reading of the signal primitive.

r-1980

r-2496 phosphoric acid 2052
r-2497 2054
fish; finned family 2053
r-2498 fish scales 2051
r-2499 fish scales
2061
體 giraffe

r-2074 pity; compassion
take pity

r-2023

r-2500 flat refusal
to be completed
to complete
used in names
used in names

200 | remembering the kanji 3 2059
r-2501
r-2502 repentance
r-2503
2062
completion of construction

2060

fleet steed
used in names
used in names
used in names

r-671 r-672 r-673 r-674 r-675 r-676

r-2504 2109
r-2505
one of Japan’s
“new religions”

2337

crafty
cunning; sly

r-1885 r-1839 2158
2926
r-2506 long-winded 2726
r-2507 to chatter
r-2508
mark; symbol; code

counter-espionage

semi-pure groups | 201

r-838 r-837 r-836

r-2509 water oat; matting rush 2383
r-2510 2342
foxes and badgers
fox

r-730 r-731 r-732 r-733 r-734 r-735

r-2511 lively; cheerful; bustling 2739
r-2512 flourish 2443

morning star
tomorrow
used in names
used in names

r-929 r-930 r-931

r-2513 bate one’s breath 2223
r-2514 Japanese folding screen 2802

rice cracker
rice cake

202 | remembering the kanji 3

r-760 r-761 r-762 r-763

abundant 2943

r-2515

À r-854 r-855 r-856 2460

r-2516 cowardice; timidity

r-824 r-825 r-826

cotton rose 2361
lotus
r-2517

r-797 r-798 r-799

holding up; present 2265
to offer
r-2518

r-878 r-879 r-880

Chinese bellflower 2499

r-2519

semi-pure groups | 203

r-691 r-692 r-693 r-694 r-695

2614

r-2520 constriction
constrict
to close up

r-899 r-900 r-901

r-2521 2656
Imperial edict (China)
satin cloth; used in names
used in names

r-422 r-423

2335

r-2522 cunning
sly

r-720 r-721 r-722 r-723 r-724

2796

r-2523 carotid artery
r-2524 neck

2990

hardy plants . An-
sturdy

Note that the primitive to the left is the old form of
other example appears in the following frame.

204 | remembering the kanji 3

2989

r-2525 shinbone
shins
leg

The following groups did not exist in vol. 2, but can now be formed as semi-
pure groups, using characters already known as signal primitives.

r-1070 2471

r-2526 galbanum (bitter gum resin)
maple tree

2619

r-2527 gallant; dashing

B

r-1691 r-1137

r-2528 2143

name of an Early Han-Dynasty
emperor

2324

r-2529 distillation
store up

2555

r-2530 Loochoo Islands
lapis lazuli

semi-pure groups | 205

r-1602 r-1810 2714
2274
r-2531 parting; farewell
r-2532
gouging out
r-1706 gouge out

r-2533 2355

r-2534 withering; atrophy
wither; droop
r-1543 droop; be downcast
droop; wither
r-2535
2106

name ancient Chinese used to
refer to the Japanese

used in names
used in names
used in names
Ancient Japan

r-1554 2307

sprightly; lively

206 | remembering the kanji 3 r-755

胡

r-752 r-753 r-754

2314

r-2536 sprinkling; irrigation

r-756 r-757 r-758 r-759

stupidity; ignorance 2445

r-2537

r-848 r-849 r-850

persimmon 2481

r-2538

r-1720 r-2181 2506
2814
r-2539 cask; keg
r-2540 trout

r-218 r-219 r-220

2667

r-2541 beautiful
used in names

semi-pure groups | 207

2480

r-2542 chair

r-287 r-288 r-289

2715

r-2543 attainments; scholarship

r-342 r-343

r-2544 2954
r-2545
Sanskrit

2327

pantheism
Note that all the characters allow for both readings. The divi-
son indicates only “primary” reading.

r-2015 r-1643

2346

r-2546 baboon

r-1820 r-1873 2320

r-2547 used in names
used in names

208 | remembering the kanji 3

The following group contains a final character that was classified in vol. 2 as
having no on-yomi. The secondary reading has, however, been added here for
the sake of completeness.

r-764 r-765 r-766 r-767 r-641

2743

r-2548 handwriting specimen

r-1791 r-2000 2108

r-2549 fatigue; weariness
be untiring

Ÿ r-2179 r-1681

2095

r-2550 used in names
used in names
used in names

Ÿ r-703 r-702 r-701 r-702 r-696

r-2551 r-697 r-698 r-699 r-700 2105

immense; colossal
must not

semi-pure groups | 209

r-1154 fall to one’s knees 2745
kneel down 2462
r-2552
r-2553 brittleness; frailty

r-715 r-716 r-717 r-718 r-719

2188

r-2554 even; flat

r-1909 r-1895

r-2555 2229

inlaying with gold
to inlay; set in; throw into

2482

r-2556 mandarin orange

The following groups were introduced as pure groups in vol. 2, but the addi-
tion of new characters makes them now semi-pure.

r-414 r-415

r-2557 2923
adhesive plaster (for wounds)

210 | remembering the kanji 3

2224

r-2558 used in names
used in names

r-358 r-359

2406

r-2559 growing luxuriantly

r-374 r-375

r-2560 shield; escutcheon 2513
r-2561 excuse; subterfuge 2416

r-224 r-225 r-226

r-2562 signal fire 2536
used in names 2585

r-2563 rectangle

semi-pure groups | 211

r-153 r-154 r-155 r-156 2590

r-2564 grindstone; whetstone

Ÿ r-242 r-243 r-244

r-2565 2090

r-2566 baton of command
take hold of
used in names
used in names
used in names

2430

have full knowledge of
Strictly speaking, the signal primitive does not appear in this
kanji, but since is occasionally used in place of , we have
included an example to draw attention to the difference.

r-914 r-915

r-2567 2600
licenced quarters in Kyoto

r-480 r-481

2268

r-2568 riot; commotion

212 | remembering the kanji 3

r-144 r-145 r-146 r-147

r-2569 2184
earth’s axis (ancient China)

r-346 r-347

2633

r-2570 bamboo slat used to alert
drowsy meditators

spatula

r-1941 r-2082 2167

r-2571 lie; falsehood
lie; falsehood

Ÿ r-2019

r-2572 north wind 2846
first day of the month 2847
r-2573 used in names
used in names

go against the stream

semi-pure groups | 213

r-1114 sprain 2251
2607
r-2574 fully ripened
r-2575 used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

In the following group, the signal primative must stand alone and to the right.
We have seen in other cases as well how certain primitives, in order to serve as
a signal primitive, must be in a dominant position.

r-989 r-1759 2717

r-2576 search; exploration

r-330 r-331

r-2577 court; ministry 2239
r-2578 2155
mockery; ridicule
to make fun of

214 | remembering the kanji 3

r-372 r-373

2705

r-2579 consultation; inferring
consult
used in names

2290

r-2580 weeping silently
r-2581 used in names

2664

dazzling; gorgeous; gaudy
used in names

Finally, there are a small number of entirely new semi-pure groups, composed
only of kanji learned in this volume.

Ÿ 2056

r-2582 hermit’s cell
r-2583 hermitage
r-2584
2055
gasp for breath; huff and puff

2057

cover; obscuration
to cover

r-2585 semi-pure groups | 215

Ÿ 2058
me
r-2586
r-2587 neighborhood; vicinity 2427
r-2588 2336
indecency; lewdness 2569
D   loose

r-2589 wince; flinch
r-2590
r-2591 2392

r-2592 to thatch; shingle

2732

compilation; editing

2263
bowing with arms folded

2674

steering wheel; helm

216 | remembering the kanji 3 rudder; helm 2955
Buddha 2718
r-2593 dupe; deceive
r-2594

Ÿ 2151

r-2595 counterfeit
r-2596
r-2597 2150
side by side, like flying geese

2237

hawk

r-905 r-906 r-907

2159

r-2598 throat
throat

The following group was not learned as a pure group in vol. 2, but if its signal
primitive is made to stand alone and on the right, it is convenient to make the
group now.

semi-pure groups | 217

r-1160 r-590 r-963 r-1995

r-2599 three nautical miles 2951
r-2600 2338
foxes and badgers 2950
r-2601 badger-dog 2973

r-2602 five miles
mile

back side
behind (old form)

r-892 r-890 r-891 2339

r-2603 Sirius; Dog Star
sly; cunning

Ÿ r-1216 2650

r-2604 makeshift
paste; glue

218 | remembering the kanji 3

r-2605 pepper 2470
sesame
r-2606 suspicious-looking 2562
r-2607 barbarians 2749
used in names

coral

zest for life

The following group was learned as a pure group in vol. 2, but the primary
reading of the signal primitive makes it better to reclassify it as a semi-pure
group.

r-324 care; tending 2270
to stroke; pet 2401
r-2608
r-2609 unpolished; crude
turnip

r-2188 r-1991 r-2071

r-2610 2326

chaos; confusion

semi-pure groups | 219

r-2611 ready wit 2788
r-2612 a ton 2949

E r-1918

r-2613 2212

r-2614 vast; extensive
used in names
r-2615 used in names
used in names

2662

“everything under one roof ”
used in names
used in names

2469

right-hand man
elbow

It happens occasionally, as in the following group, that the signal primitive forms
an exception to the reading it takes in other characters in which it appears.

r-1012 2548

r-2616 rice cracker
to roast

220 | remembering the kanji 3 2636
r-2617
r-2618 message attached to an arrow
r-2619 arrow

2941

pruning

2255

to assemble; muster

chapter 10

Mixed Groups

The 162 kanji treated in this chapter make up the most difficult of the signal-
primitive-based groups. Let us begin by recalling the three classes of “mixed
groups” introduced in Vol. 2:

Group a includes groups with two readings. As distinct from the
“semi-pure” groups, there must be at least 2 kanji for each
reading.

Group b is made up of groups with only two exceptions to the stan-
dard reading of the signal primitive, which must apply to at
least 3 kanji.

Group c is made up of miscellaneous groups where it is still useful to
see a signal primitive with a standard reading, but which has
exceptions other than those that apply to Groups A and B.

With the addition of so many new kanji in this volume, several of the groups
from vol. 2 will change classification. What is more, once we have left the con-
fines of the readings assigned for “general use,” the number of secondary and
tertiary on-yomi increases dramatically, making the distinction between Group
a and Group b less useful. Accordingly, the two groups have been combined in
the present volume. For further information on the layout of the frames, see the
opening remarks to Chapter 7 and the full diagram on page 8.

groups a & b

r-348 r-349

2579

r-2620 paralysis
go numb

222 | remembering the kanji 3 2196
r-2621
r-2622 servants
r-2623
2873

medallion
mah-jong tiles (Chinese)

2608

legend; fiction
barnyard grass

r-851 r-852 r-853 2117
2728
r-2624 prejudice
r-2625 be biased against

metaphor
compare; liken to

r-725 r-726 r-727 r-728 r-729

r-2626 a sheath 2784
r-2627 patrol; guard 2154
r-2628 waste; rubbish 2219

groups a & b mixed groups | 223

r-346 r-347

r-2629 aegis; protection 2236
protect; grant sanctuary
r-2630 eaves; canopy 2218
2519
r-2631 breaking wind 2912
r-2632 passed gas

腸 loquat

r-2633 lute
r-2634
r-2635 r-780 r-781 r-782 r-783

wooden bowl 2487
teacup 2591
euphemistic 2197

224 | remembering the kanji 3

r-800 r-801 r-802

r-2636 nirvana 2522
r-2637 2586
huge rock
boulder

r-748 r-749 r-750 r-751

r-2638 2371
temple for Buddhist training
indigo

r-544 r-1416 ÀÀ

r-2639 2146

tonsure; cutting off the hair
to shave

2283

r-2640 obedience
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

2479

r-2641 step; threshold; guide
ladder

groups a & b mixed groups | 225

À r-1202 r-1203 r-1199 r-1200 r-1201 r-1201

r-2642 2630

shop-entrance curtain
bamboo blind

r-806 r-807 r-808

2541

r-2643 soot and smoke
soot

À r-1205 r-1208 r-1209 r-1204 r-1205 r-1206 r-1207

r-2644 2770

a bell and drum
bell clapper

r-1168 r-1169 r-1170 r-1171 r-1172 r-1173

2755

r-2645 saké holder

À r-1188 r-1189 r-1193 r-1191 r-1192 r-1193 r-1190

r-2646 2177

fermented bean paste

226 | remembering the kanji 3

r-1174 r-1175 r-1177 r-1174 r-1175 r-1176

2438

r-2647 clear
used in names

r-1754 divine favor; providence 2126
used in names 2599
r-2648 aid; assist

r-2649 secretary; amanuensis
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

r-1270 r-1269 r-1271 r-1272 r-1273 r-1274 r-1275

r-2650 snoring voice 2944
r-2651 snoring
2441
drought damage
drought

groups a & b mixed groups | 227

r-2652 top of a pole 2632
r-2653 pole 2523

bookmark

r-1264 r-1265 r-1266 r-1267 r-1268

r-2654 training; cultivation 2137
r-2655 2871
r-2656 almost 2356

mosses
moss
seaweed

r-1215 r-1218 r-1217 r-1219 r-1220

2205

r-2657 stopgap; makeshift
mother-in-law
mother-in-law

228 | remembering the kanji 3

r-1234 r-1233 r-1235 r-1236 r-1237 r-1238 r-1239 r-1235

r-2658 r-1234 r-1240 r-1241 r-1234

肪 2902

r-2659 rebellion; insurrection
r-2660 disobey

r-1259 r-1260 r-1261 r-1262 r-1263

2991

letter paper

2735

high and low (social rank)
lowly; humble

r-1221 r-1222 r-1223 r-1224 r-1225

2411

r-2661 reeds
reeds
肱
r-1210 r-1211 r-1212 r-1213 r-1214
r-2662
2398

confrontation; discord
kudzu; arrowroot

groups a & b mixed groups | 229

r-1253 r-1254 r-1255 r-1256 r-1257 r-1258

r-2663 winnowing fan 2643
r-2664 winnow; winnowing fan 2840

giraffe

À r-1074 r-1813

r-2665 2281
r-2666
shape; form
as if

2776
father of the Imperial adviser

r-784 r-785 r-786 r-787

intelligent; bright 2134
be clear; serene
r-2667

À r-360 r-361 2587

r-2668 anchorage; mooring
anchor

230 | remembering the kanji 3

2670

r-2669 failure; bankruptcy
unravel

Ÿ r-522 r-523 this shore (this world) 2043
this one 2044
r-2670 2045
r-2671 brushwood 2046
r-2672
r-2673 fort; citadel
fort; fortifications

trifling; trivial
slightly
small amount

r-1828 2318

r-2674 pure and immaculate heart
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

groups a & b mixed groups | 231

r-2675 refinement; sublimation 2751
r-2676 warm; cordial 2279
r-2677 used in names 2931
used in names

warm; cordial
used in names
used in names

simplicity; naivete
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

À r-1247 r-1248 r-1249 r-1250

r-2678 r-1251 r-1252 r-1246

2246

get-up; disguise

r-736 r-737 r-738 r-739

saliva; sputum 2165

r-2679

232 | remembering the kanji 3

group c

Ÿ r-61 r-62 r-63 r-64 r-650

r-2680 grape; grapevine 2378
r-2681 2730
assistant; counselor
r-2682 used in names 2097
r-2683 to help; assist 2975
r-2684 2918
used in names
used in names

paved road

ridges in fields

r-788 r-789 r-790

r-2685 2115

song in praise of the Buddha
(gatha)

temple; monastery
nursing

group c mixed groups | 233

2852

r-2686 approval; appreciation
praise as good
used in names
used in names

2372

r-2687 ( eggplant

2959

r-2688 Shakyamuni the Buddha

2962

r-2689 coffee

2803

r-2690 palanquin; litter
imperial carriage

2700

r-2691 monk’s surplice

r-923 r-924 r-925

r-2692 Chinese black pine 2492
r-2693 details; full account 2789
r-2694 fill up; compensate for 2190

234 | remembering the kanji 3 r-743

肩 2704

r-740 r-741 r-742 shout of delight
question mark; used in names
r-2695 indeed; used in names
used in names
r-2696 used in names
r-2697 used in names

2703

distinct; sharp
sever; cut

2702

accept; receive

r-1281 r- 1282 r-1283 r-1284 r-1286 r-1285

r-2698 stimulant; drug 2750
r-2699 to wake someone 2910
r-2700 2628
nephew

flutes and drums
13- or 19-reed pan flute

group c mixed groups | 235

2940

r-2701 resuscitation; rebirth
revive; resucitate

r-926 r-927 r-928

r-2702 2934

畐 pearly-white teeth
used in names
r-2703 used in names
r-2704
r-744 r-745 r-746 r-747

2731
radiation (of heat, light, etc.)
spoke of a wheel

2420
dropping out of the picture
after a failure

r-1396 r-1397 r-1398 r-1399 r-1399

r-1400 r-1401

2578

r-2705 traces; vestiges
scar

236 | remembering the kanji 3

À r-1464 r-1458 r-1459 r-1460 r-1461 r-1462
r-1463
r-1465 2312
r-2706 2766
beach line
r-2707 beach
waterside

book-binding
nail

r-1325 r-1323 r-1324 r-1321 r-1322 r-1325

2183

r-2708 clay

À r-1328 r-1329 r-1326 r-1327 r-1330

r-2709 brick 2542
r-2710 temper; soften 2708

admonition
remonstrate

group c mixed groups | 237

À r-1500 r-1501 r-1502 r-1503

r-1504 r-1505

2646

r-2711 expectation; should

r-1470 r-1471 r-1472 r-1473 r-1474

r-2712 old bones; advanced age 2986
body 2828

r-2713 seagull

À r-1301 r-1299 r-1300 r-1300

r-2714 2777

court (national) mourning
darkness
dark; shadowy

r-1433 r-1434 r-1435 r-1436 r-1437 r-1438

r-2715 r-1439 r-1440

2575

hemorrhoids

238 | remembering the kanji 3

2395

r-2716 to sow
to plant
used in names

r-1429 r-1430 r-1431 r-1426 r-1427 r-1428 r-1432

r-2717 2897

town in Shimane Prefecture
used in names
reason for living

2659

r-2718 red (gold) carp
r-2719 red
r-2720 red; crimson

2724

slander; calumny
accuse; slander

2963

coffee

r-1418 r-1419 r-1420 r-1421 r-1422 r-1423 r-1424

r-2721 r-1425

2793

partiality; favoritism
exceedingly; extremely

group c mixed groups | 239

2647

r-2722 winnowing fan

F r-949 r-1868 r-952 r-1117

À

2244

r-2723 eulogy; dirge
grind (meat)

r-776 r-777 r-778 r-779

r-2724 allegory; fable 2211
r-2725 20,000 (old form) 2969
r-2726 lofty; noble 2970

À r-1442 r-1443 r-1444 r-1445 r-1444 r-1445

r-2727 r-1441 r-1445 r-1446 r-1447 r-1448

2423

stayover; sojourn
city near Kamakura

240 | remembering the kanji 3

r-976 r-2076 r-2208

r-2728 shine; sparkle 2880
r-2729 used in names 2534
used in names 2381
r-948 2262
shine brightly
used in names 2885

r-2152

r-2730 red pepper
r-2731
sowing; planting
to sow

r-1370 r-1371 r-1372 r-1373

r-1374 r-1375

r-2732 fluent (in speaking)
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

group c mixed groups | 241

used in names 2473
used in names
r-2733
toothpick
used in names
willow

Note similarities in the following kanji that seem to create “pure” groups in an
otherwise mixed group by adding a second element.

À r-1362 r-1363 r-1364 r-629 r-1367 r-1360 r-1361

r-2734 r-1365 r-1366 r-1367 r-1368 r-1369 r-1368
r-2735
r-2736 first light of dawn 2448
r-2737 dawn; daybreak 2365
used in names 2402
2994
sweet potato
potato

sweet potato
potato

hesitation; warning

242 | remembering the kanji 3

r-2738 profits; earnings 2118
profits
r-2739 make a profit 2192
r-2740 2217
feeling of relief

slaughterhouse
defeat

À r-1355 r-1356 r-1357 r-1351 r-1352 r-1353 r-1354

r-2741 r-1358 r-1359 r-1354
r-2742
r-2743 in Kyoto 2302
2545
branding; stigma 2738
to burn

bribe

group c mixed groups | 243

In the following group, the primitive must stand alone and on the right to qual-
ify as a signal primitive.

À r-2177 r-938 r-1917

r-2744 2247
r-2745
r-2746 pillage; looting
to plunder; loot

2474

gray starling
used in names

2710

court (national) mourning
used in names
used in names

r-1962 r-2190 r-1760

r-2747 2429

provocation
to attract; solicit

r-1387 r-1386 r-1388 r-1384 r-1385
r-1384
r-1389

2932

r-2748 used in names