The Joy o' Kanji Essays

挨

Manners are paramount in Japan, and 挨 has to do with the right words said at the right time (though it originally represented rude behavior!). See how 挨 relates to greeting and parting from others, apologies, expressions of sympathy, speeches, the yakuza, visiting relatives, Zen dialogues, writing letters, and more. Also learn why you might give toilet paper as a gift!

薦

People typically use this kanji to recommend things (e.g., restaurants, books, and hotels) or people (e.g., for positions). But 薦 also has connections to everything from saké barrels, straw mats, and wall coverings to Shinto rituals, flute-playing priests, and beggars, as well as the sacrum, wild rice, and azuki beans. This essay explores the relationships between these disparate themes!

漸

Learn to discuss gradual changes, saying things such as, "They're gradually making progress toward the goal" and "Someone with dementia gradually loses cognitive abilities." Also acquire adverbs that help you say, "The dispute was finally settled," "My daughter is barely 15," "Discipline is rather lenient at this school," "He finally broke up with her," and "I barely made the 9:20 train."

繕

Learn to talk about smoothing over a gaffe, making excuses, and keeping up appearances. Find out how to say, “Show me clothes you think will look good on me,” “He got dressed quickly,” and “I had my mother mend this sweater.” Consider whether the Japanese view of mending has Shinto underpinnings. And see how a mushroom relates to darning and how beans relate to cloth!

双

This photo-studded essay will have you seeing double! You'll learn which items in Japan are countable in pairs. On the flip side, you'll also see which sorts of entities have been deemed "peerless" (that is, not a pair). One expresses that idea with a negated form of 双. You'll encounter words for "twin" and "mutual," as well as sentences such as this: "He is as great a poet as ever lived."

桑

The Japanese have found uses for every part of the mulberry - the fruit, leaves, wood, bark, and roots. In Japan, mulberries have been so important that some maps mark mulberry fields. Aside from its mulberry connections, 桑 factors into the names of several significant places, including San Francisco and Japan itself! Our kanji also pops up in surprising sayings and a famous bit of wordplay.

巣

Nests—they’re not just for the birds. Spiders, bees, and even dragons live in homes symbolized by 巣. Humans, too, inhabit “nests” until they leave their parents’ home (a move expressed with 巣). Find out about nest-building agreements between crows and people. Learn to discuss feelings strongly rooted in the heart. And see why 巣 is embroiled in a radical controversy.

槽

Though 槽 isn't glamorous, representing sturdy containers such as tanks, tubs, vats, and troughs, it is relevant to everyday life. This kanji pops up in terms for bathtubs, washing machines, fish tanks, oil tanks, saké vats, water tanks, and vessels for purifying human waste. Enjoy wordplay involving washing machines, and learn how scallop shells can help clean these appliances!

燥

By understanding 燥, you can talk about everything from dry skin and dehydration to dried fruit and dryers. You'll be able to say, "We preserve shiitake mushrooms by drying them," and you'll know terms for "instant miso," "sun-dried mackerel," and "powdered milk," as well as "arid land" and "dry season." With 燥 you can even have a good time, as that's a minor meaning!

霜

Find out how to talk about frost, saying things such as, "The ground was covered with frost this morning," "Flowers wither when exposed to frost," and "She watched the first frost turn the leaves to bright yellow and red." Also see how people use 霜 in connection with white hair, marbled beef, expressions of time, swords, hardship, and harshness, as in “His discipline is as harsh as autumn frost.”