The Joy o' Kanji Essays
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匠
artisan
JOK: 1388
See how marketers have coopted 匠, which conveys an impressive mastery of an art or craft. This kanji was originally associated with carpentry, which carries little prestige in the United States. To grasp how it could be the opposite in Japan, I consulted Len Brackett, once a temple carpenter in Kyoto. His comments illuminate this essay, as do photos of his work.
床
floor
JOK: 1389
From "hotbed" to "sickbed," see how the Japanese use 床 as "bed," as with the fun metaphor "eel bed." Learn to discuss going to bed, getting up again, and making a bed, finding out how to say, "I went to bed later than usual." Discover rationales for raising floors, and read about riverside dining platforms in Kyoto (with tricky nomenclature) and tokonomas, alcoves in traditional buildings.
肖
resemble
JOK: 1391
Learn to talk about painted portraits, as well as abstract ones (e.g., a portrait of age 17). Find out how the idea of being inferior to one's parents spawned a word with many meanings, including a humble first-person pronoun. See how luck is considered contagious, and learn how a verb expressing this can also mean 'to follow someone's example' and 'to be named after.'
松
pine tree
JOK: 1394
See how pines connect to New Year's rituals, Noh plays, Basho, bamboo and ume (symbolically), and matsutake mushrooms. Discover a pine tree that matters in Buddhism and twin pines that represent marital happiness, as well as figurative uses of "pine needle." Learn about two sarin gas attacks and the sabotage of railroad lines. Also find out about cows that receive regular massages.
沼
marsh
JOK: 1395
Learn to talk about bogging down in paperwork or endless war. Find out how to refer to an Instagram addict and a recession that threatens to become a quagmire. See how 沼 relates to 沢 (marsh), 湖 (lake), and 瓊 (beautiful ball)! Learn derogatory slang involving 沼. Find out about a man whose policy decisions increased bribery and famine in Japan. And see how methane can clear the mind.
宵
early evening
JOK: 1396
This essay shines a light on nighttime, the hidden part of the day. See why one term for "nightfall" includes the mouth kanji 口. Find out which flower people associate with waiting—often for men who don't show. Discover the bad habits of Edo residents. And learn to say, "The night is still young," "I'm sure there are lots of night owls in the IT world," and "Soon evening will come."
祥
good omen
JOK: 1398
This kanji takes us on quite a ride, from good omens to scandals ("unlucky things," according to the kanji) to discussions of origins and birthplaces (e.g., of reiki, golf, or a "super embankment"). Learn to say that Osaka is the birthplace of "conveyor belt" sushi, and find out about a crazy theory that Noah's Ark departed from Japan, making that country the birthplace of world civilization!
紹
introduce
JOK: 1400
Find out about “stealth marketing” and legitimate articles versus advertorial. See why one term for “employment agency” sounds offensive to people. Learn about a man who brought an unlikely sport to Japan. Discover what happens if you see a doctor at a large Japanese hospital with no letter of introduction. Along the way learn a bit about hairy litchi and the origins of takoyaki!
掌
palm
JOK: 1402
Find out about palm prints and palmistry, and see what 掌 as "palm" represents figuratively. Discover the role of palms in a charming architecture style featured at two World Heritage Sites. Learn about taking charge and having control over things or people, as in "It looks like I can finally get the company under my control." Also see how 掌 relates to trains, martial arts, cacti, bears, and prayer.
詳
detailed
JOK: 1409
Through this essay you'll learn how to ask in Japanese for further details, say that an artist is unknown, and mention that Apple sued several unidentified individuals. You'll also be able to say, "It's natural that he knows a lot about Miles Davis," "Are you familiar with this area?" and "The prime minister elaborated on the financial crisis." With these details (詳), you'll know 詳 well (詳しい)!
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