This page provides a synopsis of all 546 kanji that have so far been featured by Joy o' Kanji. Each section provides the ability to purchase and download a kanji essay (), study flashcards for the essay content (), play entertaining study games (), or view the kanji's details on Kanshudo ().
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秩
regularity
JOK: 1580
The 秩 kanji represents a type of orderliness way beyond the Marie Kondo kind. A life can be in order, though a sentence in the essay demonstrates what can happen: "His well-ordered life collapsed when his alcoholic brother showed up." Societies can be orderly, thanks to internalized social mores, the police, or martial law. Even the whole world has an order. Find out about all of this via 秩.
沖
offshore
JOK: 1583
This kanji brings us into fascinating realms, including an island so sacred that women are forbidden to enter, offshore earthquakes that cause tsunamis, and World War II battles that the Japanese still analyze for their lessons about failure. Above all, studying 沖 takes us to Okinawa, whose distinctive culture bears the influences of surrounding nations. As such, it is the birthplace of karate!
衷
inmost
JOK: 1585
With this short, energetic essay you'll learn the following things:
* How to express sympathy when someone loses a close relative or a business.
* Mnemonics for distinguishing 衷 from two look-alikes.
* Words related to compromises and happy mediums.
* How to talk about styles that blend East and West.
* Terms that sound like sneezes!
駐
stop over
JOK: 1587
This character once involved controlling horses. Now 駐 enables people to control cars and bikes (especially in terms of parking) and even to control each other! Using 駐, you can say that a company has posted you to Japan or that the government has stationed troops in a war-torn country. With 駐, you can also speak of envoys, such as the Japanese ambassador to France.
挑
challenge
JOK: 1589
This kanji has three sides to its personality. One part is ambitious; you can use 挑 for setting world records, trying skydiving, launching a spacecraft, or just challenging yourself with an exam. Another aspect of 挑 causes trouble, enabling you to have a defiant attitude and challenge others (even bears!) to a fight. The final side is sexual; with 挑, you can turn people on!
彫
sculpt
JOK: 1590
Do you know the purpose of the tiny sculptures known as netsukes? Do you know how a pharmacist’s mortar relates to a way of engraving? Do you know why the Japanese compare some people to sculptures or why two constellation names include 彫? Do you know about traditional tattoos that cover a great deal of the body, with the picture often coming directly from ukiyoe? You soon will!
眺
watch
JOK: 1591
Japan has countless views to rave about, and this essay teaches many ways of doing so. You’ll learn to refer to a view “of” a tower versus a view “from” that tower. You’ll also understand the meaning of 眺 versus 見, plus 眺め (view) versus 眺望 (view) versus 眼差し (look). Bonus: finding out about Japan’s first Western-style skyscraper (with the nation’s first electric elevator)!
嵐
storm
JOK: 1593
Whether you're discussing a literal storm that uproots trees or a figurative tempest that blows through the political world, 嵐 is your kanji. This essay abounds in sample sentences describing all aspects of actual storms (from winds that rattle shutters to power outages and crop damage). Small excerpts from works such as Botchan also showcase 嵐 as an intriguing metaphor.
澄
become clear
JOK: 1597
Clean waterfalls, cloudless skies, and a resonant voice. The clear taste of a malt beer. A mind cleansed of distracting thoughts. The senses heightened at a spa. Listening attentively, observing carefully, and taking careful aim. The 澄 kanji affords all these experiences. Learn to say, “The water is clear to the bottom,” “I can see a clear blue sky,” and “I sit in Zen meditation and clear my mind.”
朕
royal we; we
JOK: 1603
By focusing on a pronoun that emperors have used for themselves, you enter the world of their pronouncements. Learn why one said it’s as if he were being choked. Enjoy a close reading of the speech Hirohito made when telling his citizens (whom he called his “babies”!) that the war was over. See a photo of the handwritten speech. Also find out why they couldn’t grasp his basic point!
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