The Joy o' Kanji Essays

峡

In a nation of islands separated by straits that can be dangerously rough, geography is a vivid reality. The most common 峡 word by far is 海峡 (strait), so this photo-studded essay mainly looks at significant Japanese straits and at the bridges, whirlpools, and important events associated with them. You will emerge from this essay with a much sharper sense of Japanese geography!

挟

Find out why several places are called Fusabami, what it means to "discuss something across a table," and what to call attacks from two sides. Learn how one powerful verb can refer to sandwiching something or to filling that sandwich. Discover ways to talk about fingers slammed in doors, houses facing each other, hearsay, interruptions, and meddling (or "sticking your beak in"!).

狭

The word 'narrow' makes me think of 'skinny,' as in the delightfully named diet book Skinny Bitch. But skinny isn't what you'll find with 狭, even though it means 'narrow.' The Japanese associate 狭 with crowdedness. Learn various words for cramped spaces, from a tiny apartment to a clogged artery. We'll even cover narrow-mindedness and narrow interpretations of words. You'll get the skinny on all of it!

恐

Discover the link between courtesy and extortion. Learn to talk about widespread panic, formidable talent, and possible accidents. Find out how to make requests sound timid, not pushy. See how one term means everything from 'Sorry, but can you ...' to 'I'm impressed!' to 'Thank you'! And learn about the 恐 associated with dinosaurs, moas, おそらく, and かしこ (in women's letters).

驚

Find out what this means to a Japanese person: "Right now I'm so surprised that my feelings are like a bluefin tuna from the shelf.' Also learn to say these things: "Much to my surprise, the door opened without a sound," "Everyone marveled at her courage," "The most precious thing in life is wonder," "I didn't mean to surprise you," and "His stupid answer surprised everybody."

暁

Although あかつき sounds like “red moon,” it doesn’t mean that. Learn the etymology of this yomi. Find out how dawn connects to success and enlightenment and how to say such things as “When completed, this building will be the world’s tallest.” Learn the Japanese for “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Read about a fascinating artist and an architect with 暁 in their names.

斤

The kanji 斤 originally meant 'ax' and now means 'loaf (of bread).' En route from one definition to another, it acquired yet another meaning: 600 grams. Find out how the Japanese came to associate one kanji with such disparate things! Also learn about 斤 as a radical and as a very common component.

琴

The koto (Japanese zither) connects to dragons, blindness, class differences, rice paddies, marriage, and an important myth. Find out why one needs to read each 琴 in 琴の琴 with different yomi. See which natural feature in Japan was named after a type of 琴, and learn about hidden kotos in the garden. Also discover certain Japanese words that always pull on people's heartstrings.

謹

Learn about a New Year’s greeting that you’ll read but not hear. See what it means when 謹製 is stamped on products in red. Find out how to talk about being conscientious and careful (e.g., with words) or conversely indiscreet (in oh so many ways!). Read about stay-at-home orders that long preceded our current era, as well as respectful terms to include in formal letters.

襟

Find out which lemurs and lizards look stylish because of their collars and which collars make humans look dorky. Learn to talk about turtlenecks, open-necked shirts, necklines, and collars. See how collar styles and lapel badges relate to uniforms in schools and the military. Learn to say, "I'm really sorry, but I seem to have misplaced your scarf." And find out why Cape Erimo is famous.