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

244 | remembering the kanji 3 ridge between rice fields 2571
r-2749 ridge; furrow 2815
r-2750 2564
r-2751 salmon 2693
r-2752 2200
r-2753 silicon

raucous voice
a frog

beautiful

r-1402 r-1403 r-1404 r-1405 r-1406

r-2754 arts; handicrafts 2122
r-2755 Kabuki 2199
used in names
used in names

brothel

This next group of characters, you may recall, was given special attention in
vol. 2 because of the overlap of readings. Having come this far already, it is no
doubt clear to you that this exception has become rather the rule in vol. 3.

group c mixed groups | 245

胃 r-932 r-934 r-933 r-934

r-2756 2233
flag; banner; one’s position
a banner; a streamer

r-1449 r-1450 r-1451 r-1452 r-1453 r-1454 r-1455

r-2757 r-1456 r-1457

2572

itching; interest
itchy

À r-1520 r-1521 r-1522 r-1523

r-2758 vertigo; dizziness 2439
halo
r-2759 shade off; blur 2295
r-2760 fade; grow dim 2440

astrolabe

a glow
to glow
ray of light
used in names
used in names

246 | remembering the kanji 3

À r-1331 r-1332 r-1333 r-1335

r-1336 r-1337

2727

r-2761 annotate

Ÿ r-2083 r-1618

r-2762 2096

r-2763 lymph glands
r-2764 a swirl
r-2765 used in names

2913

Japanese lute

2386
Bashõ (haiku poet); banana

2501

loquat

À r-1531 r-1532 r-1533 r-1534

2135

r-2766 withering; decline
wither

group c mixed groups | 247

2812

r-2767 sea bream

r-640 r-1535 r-1536 r-1537 r-1538

r-2768 cough and spittle 2162
r-2769 cough 2874

corpse

Ÿ r-1287 r-1288 r-1287 r-1289 r-1291

r-2770 2094
r-2771
to the amount of (on receipts)
r-2772 used in names
used in names

2242

relaxation; slackening
tightening and loosening
slacken
slacken

2805

treat; hospitality
run; gallop

248 | remembering the kanji 3

À r-1302 r-1303 r-1304 r-1305

r-2773 r-1306 r-1307 r-1308

s obscurity; ambiguity 2452
last day of the month
r-2774 2574
r-2775 r-1656 r-1940 2291
r-2776 2720
measles

percolation; exuding
spread; blot
to blot

infallibility

À r-1347 r-1348 r-1345 r-1346 r-1349

r-2777 r-1350 r-2147 r-1345
r-2778
pongee 2666
teach; guide 2412

group c mixed groups | 249

used in names

2486

r-2779 ( ) citron

脾 r-1338 r-1339 r-1340 r-1341 r-1342

r-2780 r-1343 r-1344

2870

festival of thanks following
enthronment of an emperor

À r-1887 r-2029 r-994

2573

r-2781 bloody phlegm

Chapter 11

A Potpourri of Readings

intuition from dominant primitive

We begin this hodge-podge of readings with a group of kanji whose on-yomi
you should be able to guess by “intuition” from the dominant primitive, even
though there are too many exceptions to allow us to make a group as such.

r-2782 () pheasant 2584
r-2783 2185
rocks piled up high 2505
r-2784 be piled up high
2760
r-2785 vertebra 2712
r-2786 chinquapin
used in names
kind of mushroom

pyramid-shaped
a gimlet; a drill

Who goes there?
who

dominant primitive a potpourri of readings | 251

r-2787 sound expressing assent 2276
consider; reflect
r-2788 this (classical) 2114
r-2789 used in names 2111
r-2790 2121
r-2791 bitter enemy 2886
r-2792 enemy; enmity 2222

r-2793 farming 2286
r-2794 new field 2457
r-2795 2113
companion; associate

barge; cargo vessel
go around

corpse; remains
corpse; remains
corpse; remains

rough; crude

urinary bladder

circumstances

252 | remembering the kanji 3 2859
r-2796
Notes Lamenting Differences
r-2797 (famous work by the noted
r-2798 Buddhist reformer, Shinran)
r-2799
r-2800 grief; lamentation
r-2801
r-2802 2631
r-2803
r-2804 cabinet

2303
thou

2293

bathing

2497

nest
roost; dwell

2292

free-thinking; unconventional
cleaning

2297

blasphemy

2781

good offices; services

2450

flourishing; prospering
flourishing; prospering
used in names

dominant primitive a potpourri of readings | 253

r-2805 open sea 2321
r-2806 2368
r-2807 sash padding 2589
r-2808 2313
Chinese ink slab
r-2809 inkstone 2807
r-2810 2692
r-2811 (family name) 2797
giant swan
r-2812 used in names 2754
r-2813 2332
tame; domesticate
get used to

cicada

diet
bait
animal feed

button

Pusan (Korean city)
iron pot; kettle

254 | remembering the kanji 3

r-2814 stone axe 2333
r-2815 axe 2510
r-2816 2544
r-2817 dipper; ladle 2831
r-2818 2493
r-2819 incandescent heat 2794
to burn

parrot

Japanese oak

song of praise
sing the praises of
to praise

intuition from meaning

The on-yomi for this next group of kanji can be guessed at from their meaning.
That is, the reading of another, more common character of the same meaning
supplies the reading. To help you, the character of related meaning is given in
each frame.

¥ 2294

r-2820 tear

meaning a potpourri of readings | 255

¥ 2588

r-2821 Blue Cliff Records (classic
Zen kõan collection)

used in names
used in names

¥ 2393
¥
r-2822 ¥ pistil
r-2823 ¥
r-2824 2676
r-2825
regiment

2432

side dish

2660

comprehensive; synthetic
to rule; control
used in names

¥ 2319

r-2826 destruction; demolition
destroy

¥ 2903

r-2827 pinnacle; spire; steeple
come to a point

¥ 2546

r-2828 fire; blaze
flames
flames

¥ 2409

r-2829 collector

256 | remembering the kanji 3

¥ 2240
¥
r-2830 strenuous effort
r-2831
2529

splendid form
used in names
used in names
used in names

¥ 2282
¥
r-2832 recovery
r-2833
2436

to advance
used in names
used in names
used in names

¥ 2780

r-2834 writing brush and ink
copper pheasant

¥ 2082

r-2835 drawing of lots
tally

¥ 2922

r-2836 written advice to the throne
distant; alienated

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 257

unclassified readings

The on yomi for this next group can be guessed at from their meaning. That is,
the reading of another, more common character of the same meaning supplies
the reading. To help you, the character will often be supplied in the frame.

r-2837 2900

in; at
Ah! (exclamation)
used in names
used in names

The reading of this character was learned in vol. 2 as the root
character for the hiragana .

r-2838 lunar eclipse 2800
r-2839 be worm eaten 2093
r-2840 2747
r-2841 anyhow; in any case 2210
rabbit
r-2842 2148
zest for life

indulgence; pardon
soothe; pacify
forgive
used in names
used in names

slope; gradient

258 | remembering the kanji 3 birds and beasts 2049
r-2843 bird
2050
r-2844 apple 2699
r-2845
denunciation; abuse 2508
r-2846 verbally abuse
2642
r-2847 oars 2102
r-2848 turret; tower 2891
r-2849 2298
r-2850 India; a foreign land 2657
r-2851 2130
r-2852 etc., etc.

spoon

debauchery; lewdness

carpet

cultivate; pursue
used in names

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 259

r-2853 gauze; gossamer 2673
r-2854 light silk 2888

r-2855 joyfully 2396
r-2856 used in names 2543
r-2857 used in names 2855

r-2858 parsley 2878
r-2859 2734
r-2860 brilliance; radiance 2623
r-2861 clear 2079

refreshing
refreshing; bracing
used in names

peacock; peahen
sparrow

sudden change

open collar
collar

fertile land

260 | remembering the kanji 3 fairy 2078
r-2862 dubious; fishy 2328
r-2863 2275
r-2864 filtering 2857
r-2865 2152
r-2866 to fear 2936
r-2867 2638
r-2868 world-destroying fire
2983
r-2869 miniature shrine 2458
r-2870 kitchen; galley

used in names
used in names

pillbox
to load; fill up
cage

school for the deaf

germ; embryo bud

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 261

r-2871 2364
r-2872
r-2873 shoreline with reeds
r-2874 reed
r-2875
r-2876 2530
r-2877
bucket
r-2878
2394
r-2879
mushroom

2655

mooring
fasten; tie

2485

holly tree

2175

stammering
stammer; stutter

2736

pasting; affixing
pasting; affixing
to stick; paste

2231

copy book printed from old
calligraphy masters’ works

notebook

2273

short cut
fast

262 | remembering the kanji 3 used in names 2817
used in names 2883
r-2880 used in names 2895
r-2881 used in names 2772
r-2882 2467
r-2883 sweet smelt 2209
r-2884 2808
r-2885 gallbladder 2898
r-2886 pouch; bag
r-2887
anthology; collection
clump of bushes; thicket

stalactites
gather together

swelling; boil
become swollen

assiduously
work diligently

refutation

high court officials
cardinal (Catholic)

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 263

r-2888 2465
r-2889
r-2890 oral (medicine)
r-2891 empty; hollow
r-2892 body

r-2893 2961
r-2894
Shakyamuni the Buddha
covet; greed for

2580

one’s eyes
pupil of the eye

2850

comet
comet
used in names

2241

stopgap; temporizing
Catholic mass
all the more; increasingly
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

2851

practicing Buddhist discipline
keen eye

2601

ritual Shinto priest

264 | remembering the kanji 3 2454
r-2895
r-2896 second self; right-hand helper
r-2897 crotch; groin
r-2898 thigh; femur
r-2899
2957
r-2900
r-2901 enlightenment (bodhi)

2862

distortion; falsification
warp; get distorted

2537

burning Chinese classics and
burying Confucian scholars alive

kindle; build a fire
to burn

2889

dauntless; resolute
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

2299

pillar; chief support
beam; girder

2748

low-class saké

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 265

r-2902 jealousy; envy 2195
r-2903 be jealous; envy 2654
r-2904 burn with jealousy 2622
r-2905 2561
r-2906 millet seeds 2560
r-2907 2920
child by a concubine
r-2908 concubine; mistress 2425
r-2909 2550
coral

diligent application
used in names
used in names

used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

courtesy; civility

check; restraint

266 | remembering the kanji 3 affixing a seal to 2250
r-2910 press down
used in names 2901
r-2911 2145
r-2912 conventional 2583
r-2913 2080
r-2914 taxidermy 2071
r-2915 to peel off 2679
r-2916 2665
r-2917 crescent eyebrows 2073
r-2918 eyebrows

annexation; absorption
to drink

spinal cord

aestheticism

embroidery
crewelwork

interspersion
bind; stitch
to spell (words)

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 267

r-2919 spiral-shaped; helical 2691
r-2920 2507
r-2921 fortress 2503
r-2922 weir 2982
r-2923 2166
r-2924 pestle 2179
r-2925 2215
r-2926 grace; divine favor 2214

r-2927 kowtow 2213
to beat on

reproof; reproach
to scold

Sung dynasty

blockade
barricade
to block up
fortress

prison; jail
prison

268 | remembering the kanji 3 2194
r-2928
r-2929 adultery
r-2930 boisterous
r-2931
r-2932 2168

r-2933 to peck at
r-2934 to beat on

2169

curse; spell
to curse

2170

to bark

2905

wisdom; intellect
clear
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

2149

pessimism; world-weariness
be fed up
loathe

2142

balsam; touch-me-not
great swan
used in names

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 269

r-2935 2449

r-2936 elated; triumphant
r-2937 used in names
r-2938 used in names
r-2939 used in names
r-2940
r-2941 2856

melancholy; depression

2904

copper boiler
pot

2906

chief; chieftain
chief; head
head

2539

candlepower
candle
torch

2308

dotage; infatuation
to sink; drown

2311

expansive; broadminded
used in names
used in names
used in names

270 | remembering the kanji 3 lined up close together 2476
r-2942 comb 2688
r-2943 2616
r-2944 candle 2592
r-2945 2141
r-2946 drill press 2551
r-2947 to bore; drill 2552
r-2948 2576
r-2949 insulator 2683
r-2950 to obstruct

early in the morning
early

a mare
female

tree peony
male

lung cancer

protein

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 271

r-2951 ridicule 2558
r-2952 to toy with 2325
r-2953 2315
r-2954 bottom of the abyss 2377
deep pool
r-2955 2379
r-2956 internal hemorrhage 2698
r-2957 to overflow 2764
r-2958 2838
germination; sprout
show signs of
bud
burst into bloom
used in names
used in names

grapes

lined paper

a priest’s staff
tin

dust; garbage
dust

272 | remembering the kanji 3 practice; training 2088
r-2959 to ponder 2494
r-2960 2882
r-2961 citrus fruits 2380
r-2962 mandarin orange 2865
r-2963 2065
r-2964 relatives 2606
r-2965
revival; resurrection 2403
r-2966 2174
r-2967 tripartite talks
tripod

rat

baldness; bald head
bald
short hair of a child

thicket

kiss

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 273

r-2968 2193
r-2969
infant
r-2970
r-2971 2123
r-2972
r-2973 outspoken
r-2974 strong and proper
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

2271

watering; sprinkling
to scatter

2914

tuning fork
she-devil
fork; crotch

2729

deafening roar
to roar; rumble

2063

dislocation
mortar

2909

the 4 cardinal Buddhist activities:
walking, stopping, sitting, lying

lie prostrate

274 | remembering the kanji 3 kidney 2453
r-2975 2956
r-2976 sweet potato 2775
r-2977 2426
r-2978 faint; fall in convulsions
be in agony 2707
r-2979 2464
r-2980 gap; opening; crevice 2463
r-2981 chink; crack 2390
r-2982 chink; time 2869
r-2983
revenge
foe

elbow

ribs
ribs

derision
to deride

swallow-tailed coat
swallow

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 275

r-2984 canopy 2388
r-2985 lid 2774
r-2986 to cover 2653
r-2987 2254
r-2988 flash of light 2221
r-2989 to flash; fulgurate 2921

r-2990 excrement 2881
dung

sweep away; wipe out
wipe off
wipe

in succession
frequently

descendant
issue; offspring
used in names
used in names
used in names

eastern barbarians
barbarian

276 | remembering the kanji 3 capture 2866
r-2991 rock salt 2407
r-2992 2549
r-2993 madder; red dye 2385
r-2994
cooking 2272
r-2995 2269
r-2996 thatched cottage 2960
r-2997 miscanthus reed 2804
r-2998 used in names 2790
r-2999
select; choose
excel; surpass

progress; advance
to progress

master; husband
used in names

area in Gifu Prefecture

gain recognition

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 277

r-3000 2907
r-3001
r-3002 Japanese bush warbler
r-3003
2087
r-3004
r-3005 something superior
reasonable; of course
r-3006
r-3007 2733
r-3008
overview; full picture

2892

used in names
used in names
used in names

2612

quiet; dutiful

2893

used in names
used in names
used in names

2526
game played with one die

2070
5th lunar month; rainy season

2424

used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

278 | remembering the kanji 3 2500
r-3009
r-3010 saké maker
r-3011 woods
r-3012 to close
r-3013
r-3014 2663

r-3015 involvement; entanglement
r-3016 coil around; follow about
attire oneself

2384

Enlightenment (European)
be subjected to; suffer loss

2798

plain meal

2896

food and drink
tidbits; relish

2593

erudite scholar
used in names
used in names
used in names

2261

greetings; salutations

2890

this world; this field
this

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 279

r-3017 overflowing 2317
r-3018 fill up 2069
r-3019 2101
r-3020 rhinoceros 2201
r-3021 devilwood tree
r-3022 2472
r-3023 rag; cloth
r-3024 width; breadth; range 2124
2723
grandniece 2163
niece

pillow and bed
pillow

club

common saying
maxim; proverb

a quarrel
noisy
noisy

280 | remembering the kanji 3

r-3025 grab; grasp 2249
r-3026 a handful 2924

r-3027 ringleader 2860
r-3028 vanguard 2517
r-3029 chief; leader 2937
r-3030 used in names 2684
r-3031 used in names 2992
r-3032 used in names 2993

public opinion
palanquin; bier

box tree

already; yet
stop; quit

staying indoors

religious service
worship; enshrine

Shinto purification
purify; exorcise

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 281

r-3033 2938
r-3034
r-3035 thorns; brambles
r-3036 thorns

r-3037 2740
r-3038
r-3039 fall head-over-heels
r-3040 stumble

2089

enormous
large

2156

admonition; a warning
rebuke; criticize; challenge
fault; blame

2620

impedimenta
come to a stop

2939

colony
gather

2066

sorting; delving into
chisel

2930

shamanism
Shinto priestess

282 | remembering the kanji 3 2428
r-3041
possession (by a spirit)
r-3042 be possessed
r-3043 obsess; possess
r-3044
r-3045 2144

r-3046 famous temple
r-3047 an instant; a moment
r-3048
r-3049 2067

damage; injury
be broken

2837

decapitation
an owl

2138

intense
severe
cold

2435

the Pleiades

2083

confession; repentance

2933

fly; cover
fly; soar

2288
Natsume Sõseki (novelist)

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 283

r-3050 rinse one’s mouth 2863
r-3051 rinse out 2131
r-3052 2181
used in names
r-3053 2996
r-3054 one’s own son 2598
r-3055 2153
r-3056 amazement 2171
r-3057 idiot; fool 2173
be astonished

vacillation; hesitation

prayer
to pray

learn by hearsay
faint; indistinct

hanging strap
to hang; suspend

be able; be realized
used in names
used in names

284 | remembering the kanji 3 townsfolk 2180
r-3058 town
used in names 2238
r-3059 used in names
used in names 2248
r-3060 2331
r-3061 squire 2389
r-3062 used in names 2391
r-3063 used in names 2414
r-3064 2521
r-3065 greetings; salutations 2563
r-3066
nirvana

onion

hollyhock; mallow
used for names

such; of this kind
to crawl

sled

good omen

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 285

r-3067 water
r-3068 used in names
r-3069
r-3070 2570

r-3071 in the final analysis
r-3072 in the end
r-3073 to end

2617

furnace; oven
stove
hearth

2678

summons; invitation
to call; summons

2706

repeatedly; patiently
polite
used in names
used in names
used in names

2722

area in Nagano Prefecture
to confer; consult

2809

to set off

2810

donkey

286 | remembering the kanji 3

r-3074 ( ) black kite 2836
r-3075 2827
r-3076 fin 2830
r-3077 2835
r-3078 parrot 2854
r-3079 2858
r-3080 duck 2876

r-3081 helmet 2884
r-3082 2917
erection
to occur; arise

used in names
used in names
used in names
used in names

rice bowl

hand gun
fist
used in names
used in names

unclassified readings a potpourri of readings | 287

r-3083 2935

r-3084 dawn
a covering
r-3085 used in names
r-3086
r-3087 2997
r-3088
glossary
hedgehog
to gather together

2064

father-in-law

2665

(Chinese) millet

2511

under a plum; conspicuous
Japanese plum

3000

turtle shell
snapping turtle

chapter 12

Kanji with Japanese Readings Only

In this chapter we will bring together all the characters learned in this vol-
ume that do not have an assigned on-yomi or whose on-yomi are too rare to
bother with.

In general the readings are given in hiragana, although this does not neces-
sary mean that there is a direct correspondence to a kun-yomi. In cases where
the pronunciation is clearly based on a foreign word or an original Chinese
reading, however, the reading is given in katakana.

r-3089 aged woman 2204
r-3090 candy; rice jelly 2801
r-3091 lined kimono 2625
r-3092 chopsticks 2640
r-3093 oak 2509
r-3094 balances; scales 2604
r-3095 riddle; hint 2709

japanese readings only | 289

r-3096 2520

r-3097 gutter; downspout; aqueduct
r-3098 gutter; downspout; aqueduct
r-3099
r-3100 2785
r-3101
r-3102 suitcase; briefcase
r-3103
2491
r-3104 oak

r-3105 2813

sardine

2651

unhulled rice

2946

kilometer

2763

rivet; tack; thumbnail

2147

to smell something
a smell; a stink

2140

a lull; a calm
become calm; die down

2139
kite

290 | remembering the kanji 3 2490

r-3106 sacred Shinto tree
r-3107
r-3108 2489
r-3109
spindle tree
r-3110
r-3111 2947
r-3112
r-3113 centimeter
r-3114
r-3115 2488
r-3116
hemlock; hemlock spruce
hemlock; hemlock spruce

2528

Japanese cedar

2216

meat

2965

horse’s bit

2243

rice gruel

2413

pursue a course

2818

horse mackerel

2894

used in personal names

japanese readings only | 291

r-3117 garlic 2404
garlic
r-3118 2685
r-3119 fly 2206

r-3120 older sister 2502
r-3121 Miss 2695
r-3122 2400
r-3123 oar; shaft 2671
r-3124 2737
clam
r-3125 2397
r-3126 straw 2323

stripe

get; receive; accept
tip; gratuity

rush matting

pool (in a river)

292 | remembering the kanji 3 2822

r-3127 bonito
r-3128
2444
r-3129
r-3130 bleach; refine; air (out)
r-3131 bleaching; bleached cotton
r-3132
r-3133 2821
r-3134
r-3135 shark
r-3136
r-3137 2514

hackberry; lotus tree

2387

mow (grass)

2819

codfish

2816

tunny; tuna

2825
carp

2157

to whisper

2208

to conceive; get pregnant

2132

to cause to happen

japanese readings only | 293

2350

r-3138 strawberry
r-3139
r-3140 2868
r-3141
r-3142 twenty
r-3143
r-3144 2047
r-3145
r-3146 beard; moustache
r-3147
r-3148 2072
path between rice paddies

2081

garlic chives

2091

some one; a particular

2098

counter for animals

2125

as is; as one likes

2127
crotch; thigh; fork in a road

2161

rumor; gossip

2172

to chew; to bite