The Joy o' Kanji Essays
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肌
skin
JOK: 1704
Through this quiz-rich essay, you'll find out about "gem skin," "egg skin," and "bird skin." You'll see how bare skin connects to doing one's best and helping others. You'll learn to say "artisan's temperament" and "having the qualities of a leader," as well as "I miss being around people," "This cloth has a nice texture," "There is a little chill in the air," and "They are very compatible."
鉢
bowl
JOK: 1705
Is a hibachi really what you think it is? If begging is illegal, why can priests carry begging bowls? Find out! See how skulls and an Iwo Jima mountain are figurative pots or bowls. Learn to talk about bumping into someone. And discover ways to say, "He formed the clay into a bowl," "The flowerpot crashed to the sidewalk and broke," and "This antique hibachi isn't actually used these days."
髪
hair
JOK: 1706
Learn about historic Japanese hairstyles, including those resembling peaches or ginkgo leaves and one inspired by prostitutes, as well as a boxy pillow women used so as not to muss their hair. See what unexpected roles Edo-era barbershops played. Find out why you should grab the goddess's bangs, where to pray for your hair, and what Japanese men said about Marilyn Monroe.
伐
fell (an enemy)
JOK: 1707
See how trees can be difficult! Find out why marketers emphasize that products have been made from wood felled in thinning the forest, and discover the thinking behind thinning forests at all. Then explore figurative uses of 伐 in terms about savage behavior, punitive expeditions to subjugate rebels, and the conquest of other countries. Also learn about a Japanese Robin Hood!
畔
paddy ridge
JOK: 1713
Find out how the Japanese use a ridge between rice fields metaphorically to represent other objects. Learn to say all of the following: “Today we plan to stay at the riverside hotel,” “Many flowers are blooming on the riverbank,” “The English capital, London, is on the Thames,” “The old church by the lake is very beautiful,” and “He gave us a tour around the lake.”
販
sell
JOK: 1715
Find out the staggering range of items that Japanese vending machines sell (including eggs!), as well as several terms for such machines. Learn to say that a type of car is on the market or will soon be (which requires a different word!), retailing for a certain amount, though a sales promotion will bring a discount. Scads of photos reinforce the most important 販 terms.
搬
conveyor
JOK: 1716
Learn to talk about transporting everything from people who need medical care to felled trees. See how martial arts relate to emergency services. And find out how to say, “We’ll carry out furniture and household appliances later,” “A train can transport huge amounts of cargo,” “The man is loading the moving truck,” and “Software portability gives many companies an advantage.”
頒
partition
JOK: 1718
One shrine is handing out sweets. Other shrines sell amulets or magic beans. The essay contains signs with details about such offerings because 頒 represents the way in which people distribute goods. That includes printed matter; sample sentences are about disseminating manga at the Comic Market, handing out brochures at City Hall, and publishing stories in booklet form.
繁
luxuriant
JOK: 1720
The uplifting kanji 繁 is associated with thriving people, places, and plants. Learn to say, “The town has an air of prosperity,” “Your business is flourishing,” and “March is the busiest time.” Discover how 繁 connects to elaborate Chinese characters, and see how people use it to discuss frequency, as in, “Trains come more often than buses” and “Aspiring artists frequent this coffee shop.”
妃
queen
JOK: 1724
Think you know what a princess is? This essay, which is largely organized around photos, illuminates the meanings of “princess,” “empress,” and “crown princess”; 妃 versus 姫; “regnant” versus “consort”; and much more. We look closely at Japan’s imperial household (especially Princess Masako), as well as royalty in Britain and France, even touching on Monaco and Manchuria!
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