The Joy o' Kanji Essays
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丙
third
JOK: 1773
Through this essay you’ll find out when the Japanese use the system of sequencing and ranking that includes 丙, and you’ll see why 丙 is excluded more often than not. With an explanation of the sexagenary system, you’ll come to understand how 丙 relates to the 12 zodiacal kanji. And you’ll discover how 丙 can factor into the name of the fifth day of a month while meaning “third”!
柄
pattern
JOK: 1776
This essay will help you grasp a kanji with a dizzying array of meanings. By reading about 柄, you'll learn how to say the following:
* Her true character is starting to show.
* I'm on good terms with him.
* He seems familiar with the subject.
* I want to talk with him about the matter.
* His arrogance is no longer tolerable.
* She swears by that brand.
* She married him for his family name.
* The red kills the whole pattern.
* My son is tall for his age.
One kanji gives you all of this!
塀
fence
JOK: 1777
Fans of Japanese architecture: this essay abounds in photos! Japanese fences and boundary walls make definitive statements in residential settings and at temples, castles, and restaurants. Learn terms for bamboo and wooden fences, as well as earthen and cinderblock walls. Find out what a black fence represents and what Japan's boundary walls mean culturally and psychologically.
弊
abuse
JOK: 1779
Japan may pride itself on its long traditions and conservative ways. But armed with 弊, people criticize antiquated thinking and talk about abandoning customs. The same kanji enables the Japanese to discuss exhaustion and worn-out objects. Despite all this negativity, people commonly use 弊 for upbeat statements such as “Thank you for your interest in our company.”
偏
lean towards
JOK: 1782
Find out why the kanji that appears in terms for "prejudice," "eccentricity," and "mental imbalance" also represents "left-hand radical." Also learn how this kanji might factor into your acceptance speeches for prestigious awards (E.g., "I owe what I am today to ...").
捕
catch
JOK: 1784
Some of the six Joyo yomi associated with 捕 sound like tongue twisters. This essay tames them through mnemonics and an exercise. Learn to say, "Television viewers see only what the camera captures," "She's a slave to fashion," and "He was eaten up with guilt." See what it means for a person in Japan to have a "main point" or, conversely, to be incomprehensible to others.
浦
inlet
JOK: 1785
See how 浦 conveys all that is beautiful about untouched seashores. Learn the folktale of Taro Urashima. Find out how people use 浦 to say that their hometowns have changed beyond recognition. And become acquainted with a word that features the "water" radical four times!
慕
pine
JOK: 1788
With 慕 we can express nonromantic love, as in sentences that mean “The girl is deeply attached to her aunt,” “He is longing for his mother,” and “He was pining for his hometown.” But 慕 can also represent romantic adoration, as in “She went to Tokyo to follow the man she adored.” See why one would use 喪う over 失う and what it means to steer a ship up a mountain.
暮
get dark
JOK: 1789
You might expect a kanji meaning 'to live' to be exuberant. Instead, 暮 captures the gloomy sense of 'We're born with one foot in the grave." Still, you can use this very flexible kanji to talk about all these things: scraping by on a small income, what one does for a living, year-end gifts, twilight, living alone, being lost in thought, and spending all one's time doing something.
邦
home country
JOK: 1792
If you think you know how to say 'Japan,' 邦 comes as a surprise. In Japan, native speakers call each other 日本人 (Japanese), but in other countries they could also use 邦人 (overseas Japanese national). Crossing borders means that vocabulary changes, along with currency and converters! The essay compares 邦 with other kanji for "Japan," looking at the nuances 邦 lends to words.
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