The Joy o' Kanji Essays

潤

Learn to say, “moisturizing skin cream,” “dry hair,” and “hydrating my body,” plus “Humid climates seem to suit me,” “When water leaks in, it stains the walls,” and “Mediators act like lubricants.” Also find out how to say, “The Shinkansen has made the area prosperous,” “Tourism enriched the city's finances,” and “Thanks to investment income, my life has become comfortable.”

遵

Find out about a kanji that means "to obey" but has alcohol at its heart! Learn to say "You should follow school regulations," "The Japanese are a law-abiding people," "Noncompliance will not be permitted," and "I feel no need to abide by the law as long as nobody is watching me." Also see how 遵 relates to 順, and learn terms for "civil disobedience" and "nonconformist."

緒

Though 緒 looks simple, its yomi and meanings constantly shift in fascinating ways. It means what you see above, plus “clue,” and is associated with “together” and “secret.” Learn to say all this: “Just between you and me, he is a liar.” “To know someone, travel with him for a week.” “Space science is still in its infancy.” “She told me in confidence.” “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

叙

From autobiographies to mystery novels to epic poems, stories take many forms. But all involve narration and description, and 叙 drives both. Learn to say, "I will describe the incident as it happened.” Find out about inverted descriptions and inverted mysteries, as well as a "Gulf War novel." Also discover two manga artists, including one who created a Fred Flintstone look-alike.

徐

Learn to read signs about slowing down, and discover who the target audience is. Find out how to say, “She gradually became arrogant,” “I was nervous at first but gradually relaxed,” “The city plan is gradually getting under way,” and “The number of people who prefer to marry late is gradually increasing.” Learn a word that can mean both “quickly” and “slowly,” prompting confusion!

升

Find out why the Japanese drink saké out of small wooden boxes. Learn how their role has changed in Japan over time, and see how they have brought out the playfulness in designers. Learn when to interpret 升 as a unit of measurement or as a container, and distinguish 升 from 枡, 斗, 合, and 昇, which have overlapping meanings. Finally, see why 升 is popular in a Chinese context. By the way, the JOK Notebook entry for March 1, 2013, takes a close look at eight of the Japanese sentences that appear in this essay.

匠

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.

肖

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.'

沼

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

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."