Mastering_Kanji_1500

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A RADICAL APPROACH TO

MASTERING

KANJI

THE SECRET TO
LEARNING 1500+ KANJI

A RADICAL APPROACH TO

MASTERIN

THE SECRET TO LEAR

Master the radicals that appear in 75% of all jōyō kanji!

NG KANJI:

RNING 1500+ KANJI

AN INTRODUCTION TO RA

Hello there! Are you starting your kanji learning adventure
and noticing that it’s a big, scary world out there? 2,000
kanji is a lot! Well, this book puts your fears to rest. You’ll
learn kanji using one very powerful method.

By learning the top 50 radicals. These 48 radicals (plus two
bonus radicals) appear in over 75% of the jōyō kanji!

What are radicals?

They each carry their own meanings and sounds. Radicals
are the building blocks of kanji. Simply by knowing the
radicals inside of unknown kanji, you get an instant general
understanding of the kanji you haven’t yet learned.

THE 48 RADICALS THAT APPEAR IN 75% OF THE JŌYŌ KANJI

6 most frequent = 25%

+

12 most frequent

+

30 most frequent

ADICALS

And jōyō kanji? These are the 2000 most commonly
used kanji characters, as set by the Japanese Ministry
of Education. Knowing these is necessary to reach a
comfortable literacy level as possessed by Japanese adults.

By the time you’re done with this book, you’ll easily
recognize, read and know the meanings of 75% of the
must-know kanji.

Simply put, you’ll know more Japanese words and read and
understand a ton of Japanese!

Check out our site for a basic overview of kanji:
http://www.japanesepod101.com/write-japanese/

= 50%

= 75%

1

How to use this book

There are over 2,000 jōyō kanji. How long would it
take to memorize all of these kanji one by one? Years!
If you try to learn kanji while ignoring radicals, you will
need to learn each stroke separately. Some kanji have
over 20 strokes! For example:

The powerful technique in this book will help you
understand radicals, so you can recognize them inside of
kanji characters. Soon you’ll be seeing kanji as just a group

clearly easier than remembering 20 strokes, and most kanji
are made up of only 2 radicals!

In this book we introduce the top 50 kanji radicals;
these are the most common radicals you will find in
everyday situations.

Each radical component is displayed over two pages. The
first page shows the visual aspects of the radical; the shape,
name, meaning and stroke order. The second page gives
kanji examples and associated vocabulary for both the On
and Kun readings. The appendix displays more example
vocabulary attached to each reading.

The kanji examples on the main pages, and the first three
kanji in each radical section of the appendix, are the most
frequently used. We recommend learning these first.
Most of the vocabulary is designed for beginner
levels, associated with the JLPT Levels 4 and 5. We’ve also
included some useful examples which are at an advanced
level. These are indicated with the following icon:

Advanced
Feel free to skip over these advanced readings and come
back to them at a later stage.

Good luck on your great kanji learning adventure!

2

Types of radicals

Radicals are generally formed from characters that have
been simplified. Some radicals retain a square shape, while
many others are distorted to fit into the block format of the
kanji character.

meaning.

and (“human”) (“heart”)
and are derived from (“water”)
and are derived from
and (“sword”)
and (“fire”)
and (“animal”)
and (“point out”)
and (“clothing”)
and (“hand”)

on the left side or the right side.

There is , which is derived and simplified from

, meaning ”city.” The radical is placed on the right side of

the kanji. For example, , .

And , which is derived and simplified from
, meaning ”hill.” The radical is placed on the left side of

the kanji. For example, , , .

for “moon” or “meat”
as radicals. The form is the same,

just means “moon.” Of course, as
“moon” was created to symbolize “crescent moon.”

But meaning ”meat” is derived from
(“meat”). So this radical is often used with kanji related
to the body. For example, (”arm”), (“shoulder”),
(”chest”), and so on.”

3

Radical Positions

Radicals can be categorised by their position in the kanji charac

/ hen / tsukuri
left-sided element right accompanying

element

/ ashi / tare
Foot element Dangle / left
shoulder element

cter: / kamae
Posture (box, enclosure)
/ kanmuri
Crown element element

/ nyō
Surround / left and

bottom element

4

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CHAPT

An Intro
to Rad

WHAT ARE HOW TO
RADICALS? USE THIS

BOOK

TER 1

oduction
dicals

RADICAL TYPES OF
POSITIONS RADICALS

CHAP

The Top 50

PTER 2

0+ Radicals

亻
Variatio

Radical Nam
Radical mean

1

亻2

亻
on of
me: にんべん
ning: human

Common positions:

10

Kanji Examples V

human ON: ジン、ニン ア
being, KUN: ひと 男
person

ON: ダイ、タイ 時

age, era, KUN: か(わる)、 代
substitute か(える)、よ、しろ

body, ON: タイ、テイ 体
object, KUN: からだ 体
reality

Vocabulary Words

アメリカ人; アメリカじん; American
男の人; おとこのひと; man

時代; じだい; era
代わる手段; かわるしゅだん; alternative plan

体育館; たいいくかん; gymnasium
体を壊す; からだをこわす; harm one's health

11

䴀
Variatio

Radical Name: ひと
Radical mean

䴀1 2

䴀
on of 亻
とがしら・ひとやね
ning: human

Common positions:

12

Kanji Examples V

meet, ON: カイ、エ 学
association, KUN: あ(う) め

join

now ON: コン、キン 今
KUN: いま 今

ON: ゼン 全

all, KUN: まった(く)、 全
complete, すべて

fulfill

Vocabulary Words

学会; がっかい; academic conference
めぐり会う; めぐりあう; encounter

今度; こんど; this time
今から; いまから; starting now

全部; ぜんぶ; all of them
全く知らない; まったくしらない; don't know at all

13

口

Radical Name: く
Radical mean

2

口1
3

口

くち・くちへん
ning: mouth

Common positions:

14

Kanji Examples V

same, ON:ドウ 同
agree KUN:おな(じ)
こ
T

ON:ゴウ、ガッ、カッ 合

fit, join KUN: あ(う)、あ(わ 助
す)、あ(わせる)

ON:イン 駅

employee,
member,
number

Vocabulary Words

同時に; どうじに; at the same time
これはあれと同じ; これわあれとおなじ;
This is the same as that over there.
合格をする; ごうかくをする; pass a test
助け合う; たすけあう; help each other

駅員; えきいん; train station attendant

15

心
Variation o

Radical Name
Radical meani

3

心1 2 4

心
of 忄 and ⺗
e: こころ
ing: heart
Common positions:

16

Kanji Examples ON: イ V

idea, 誠
intention,

heart

think ON: シ 意
KUN: おも(う) 思

heart, mind, ON: シン 関
spirit KUN: こころ 心

Vocabulary Words

誠意; せいい; sincerity

意思; いし; intention
思い出す; おもいだす; remember

関心; かんしん; interest
心掛ける; こころがける; to bear in mind

17

忄
Variation o

Radical Name: り
Radical meanin

忄1 2
3

忄
of 心 and ⺗
りっしんべん
ng: heart

Common positions:

18

Kanji Examples V

sex, ON: セイ、ショウ 女
gender,
nature

ON: ジョウ、セイ Adv. 感

feelings, KUN: なさ(け) 情
facts,

circumstances

humility, ON: シン 慎
be careful, KUN: つつし(む) 言

discreet

Vocabulary Words

女性; じょせい; woman

感情; かんじょう; emotion
情けない; なさけない; That's too bad.
慎重; しんちょう; careful
言葉を慎む; ことばをつつしむ; mind one's language

19

⺗
Variation o

Radical Name:し
Radical meani

1

⺗2 3 4

⺗
of 心 and 忄
したごころ
ing: heart

Common positions:

20

Kanji Examples V

respect, ON: キョウ 恭
reverent
pining, KUN: うやうや(しい) 恭
love dearly m

ON: ボ 慕
KUN: した(う) 亡

Vocabulary Words

恭順; きょうじゅん; obeying reverently
恭しくお辞儀する; うやうやしくおじぎする;
make a respectful bow
慕情; ぼじょう; yearning heart
亡き母を慕う; なきははをしたう; miss my late mother

21

扌
Variatio

Radical Nam
Radical mea

2

扌1
3

扌
on of 手
me: てへん
aning: hand

Common positions:

22

Kanji Examples ON: ジ V
KUN: も(つ)
pick up, 持
hold, own 持

ON: シ 指

finger, KUN: ゆび、さ(す) 親
point to,
indicate

throw ON: トウ 投
KUN: な(げる) 石

Vocabulary Words

持参する; じさんする; take something
持ち越す; もちこす; defer

指摘する; してきする; indicate
親指; おやゆび; a thumb

投書; とうしょ; letter to the editor
石を投げる; いしをなげる; throw a stone

23

手
Variatio
Radical N

Radical mea

12

手3

4

手
on of 扌
Name: て
aning: hand

Common positions:

24

Kanji Examples V

raise ON: キョ 挙
beat, 手
attack, KUN: あ(げる)、
defeat あ(がる)

ON: ゲキ 目
KUN:う(つ) 撃

ON:ショウ 承

receive, KUN: うけたまわ(る) 私
accept I