Questions tagged [kanji]
漢字. Chinese characters as used in Japanese writing as opposed to the two kana syllabaries and rōmaji (Latin letters).
1,140
questions
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1answer
155 views
The origin of the kanji 買
The kanji 買 （buy) contains the kanji 貝 （shellfish).
Is it because the origin of the kanji 買 lies in the process of buying shellfish?
Does anyone know the story behind the kanji 買?
Thank you!
1
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1answer
85 views
The origin of the kanji 読
The kanji 読 appears to consist of 言 and 売.
How come 言 (say) + 売 (sell) = 読 （read)?
Could you please shed some light on the origin of the kanji?
Thank you!
3
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1answer
125 views
Help identifying blurry kanji [closed]
I am currently trying to learning Japanese by reading manga. So far so good, but this kanji is too blurry for me to figure out. Anyone know what this could be?
I'm 98% sure the first character means '...
4
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1answer
2k views
What is this Kanji? I can’t find it anywhere?
I’ve been searching radicals on Jisho and other places but I can’t find a kanji to match this one.
0
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1answer
108 views
Trying to create a name but something is strange
I'm trying to create a name for my fictional character and I was trying to translate something like "wolf of the snow" in Japanese. I was using Jisho.org and Google translate (just because it reads ...
2
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1answer
192 views
夕立: why 立 if the word means “a sudden evening shower/rain”?
夕立 means (sudden) evening shower (rain).
夕 is for evening, but 立 means to stand, doesn't it?
What's the connection between a sudden evening shower and standing?
4
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2answers
230 views
Why was on'yomi (音読み) created?
As far as I understand it the Japanese Kanjis are derived from the Chinese ones. This was to introduce a writing system in Japan. But for the on‘yomi reading, the Japanese also took the spoken word ...
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1answer
238 views
In kanji 外, why is タ used instead of ソ? [closed]
Why is タ used instead of ソ in 外 despite it's read as ソト?
3
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1answer
176 views
風邪: reading and writing
Why do we write かぜ (cold) as 風邪, not just 風?
The second kanji (邪) is left unread, so why isn't it redundant?
Perhaps, that's to make sure cold doesn't sound like wind. But then why don't we read it ...
0
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1answer
150 views
Is my transcription of the handwritten kanji correct? [closed]
I just want to make sure my transcription is correct of the sentence pictured. (it probably isn't, but this is really the closest I could come up with.)
読みとみバーグアフ。微妙...
Is that correct?
For the ...
0
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1answer
84 views
Can someone help me identify the handwritten kanji? [closed]
Hi everyone, can someone please help me identify the kanji in the picture? Just the middle two kanji.
玲音がXXしているもの。
Is the kanji 使用?
Also what is the middle katakana/character between ミ and レ?
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1answer
141 views
What does 私はお願いしたいんですけど mean in this context?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4WlniHylrU&t=143s
This is a part of a legendary speech made by the former president of Nintendo at SpaceWorld. From my understanding, he is talking about the ...
0
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1answer
76 views
What is the difference between 北 and 北部 [duplicate]
What is the main difference between 北 and 北部?
I heard that's words that contain 2 kanji sounds more polite, but not sure that it's the current situation.
3
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1answer
155 views
Different stroke order in two similar kanji 戚 and 歴
According to some databases, (see 戚 vs
歴), the order of strokes of the upper part (厂) of the kanji 戚 is different from the same part in 歴. They may have been some historical reasons, but as they look ...
2
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1answer
109 views
Adopting a Japanese Name
すみません, I am trying to adopt a Japanese name. I have a Chinese name written as 吳虎威。 In modern standard Japanese orthography, it would be written as 呉 虎威. I understand that typically, Chinese names are ...
2
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1answer
237 views
Kanji identification (low res)
I am trying to read the text from a Nintendo DS game, but have encountered a kanji that's (at least for me) difficult to recognise because of the very low resolution of the screen:
I have tried to ...
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1answer
94 views
How do I remember a Kanji with more than two readings and when to use them [duplicate]
I'm currently studying Kanji using a flashcard app on my computer. I do know that there are two readings for each character, On and Kun. What I don't understand, is when a Kanji has more than two ...
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3answers
4k views
Does the on'yomi of 輪 (リン) have any relation to the English “ring”, or is it a coincidence?
Is there an etymological connection between 輪{リン} as in 車輪{しゃりん} and "ring" in English? Or is this a false cognate?
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1answer
184 views
What is the difference between 描【か】く and 描【えが】く?
I believe the two forms of to draw are 描{か}く and 描{えが}き. What are the differences between them? Which one is used more commonly?
3
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2answers
633 views
What is mostly used on signs in Tokyo: Katakana, Hiragana or Kanji?
I am going to travel to japan the next spring and I just want to be able to read most of the signs (and of course speak some Japanese). Any answers on what is the most common to use on signs: Katakana,...
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1answer
62 views
Help with kanji [closed]
What is the kanji on this teabox?
I tried various websites that let you look up kanji, but I could not find an exact match.
Any help appreciated.
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1answer
2k views
Sharp vs rounded (tomed) vertical stroke in kanjis
How can I know for sure in what situation I should use sharp vertical line and in what situation I should use rounded vertical line?
For example, from videos on youtube I do know for sure that ...
4
votes
1answer
182 views
The writing of “襖”
It seems that 襖 has two forms of writing. Here are the two screenshots from Jisho.com:
The first kanji has an extra stroke (ノ).
My questions are the following:
Why does it have two forms?
Are they ...
1
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1answer
196 views
What is the difference between the terms 課長 and 小頭?
I saw the term 小頭 and translated it from an online chat. Are the terms used differently? Both terms relate to a boss, an organizational leader of some sort. I am more familiar with the usage of 課長. ...
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1answer
457 views
Say I want to speak with someone
How do you express that you want to speak with someone using Kanji? So far I imagine I would us something like マリオ話{はなせ}欲{ほ}しいます。Combining the name of the person "マリオ", expressing a want "欲{ほ}しい", and ...
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1answer
141 views
What is the counter for kanji characters?
I want to count the number of kanji characters in a word. What is the counter for characters? I am thinking that the term mai would be used as they are written on paper.
2
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1answer
133 views
what does と and other kanjis stand for in this sentence?
I was reading an article and learning new kanji. However, I am having hard time determining some grammatical structures and kanji from this sentence:
有坂銃{ありさかじゅう}とは、大日本帝國のボルトアクション方式の軍制式小銃の系列であり、...
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1answer
120 views
Expressing action of taking off
Like saying I'm going to take off my hat as in 帽子{ぼうし}を抜{ぬ}きます. I believe 抜{ぬ} "nu" means to get ride of or dispose of, but I guess I'm certain context it could mean to take off or remove. I'm ...
3
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0answers
42 views
Why is 今年 written in hiragana in this NHK news article? [duplicate]
Article in question
(Note that it's not NHK easy news, but the regular nhk news)
ことしのノーベル賞の受賞者の発表が７日から始まり、日本人としては去年、医学・生理学賞を受賞した京都大学特別教授の本庶佑さんに続き、アメリカ国籍を取得した人を含め27人目の受賞者がでるか注目されます。
I thought at ...
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1answer
95 views
Kanjied 出した vs kananed だした in -dasu/dashta pattern
雪が降り出した。
It started to snow (unexpectedly).
In Maggie's article on this pattern "How to use V + 始める ( = hajimeru) / だす ( = dasu) / かける ( = kakeru)" she uses hiragana for this verb.
In jisho.org ...
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1answer
91 views
What are the names for the sets of kanji taught in secondary schools?
I know that some kanji are educational and others are general use, with kyouiku (1006 characters) learned in grades 1-6 included in jouyou (2136 characters). What is the other set of kanji (1136 ...
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1answer
87 views
How do I count pieces of Halloween candy of different shapes?
I know that a bag of candy is counted as fukuro. Are the pieces counted differently based on the shape, long, thick, square, round, triangular, or is everything ko?
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1answer
171 views
Does the kanji term Mitsukoshi 三越 have a meaning when the 2 terms are combined?
三越 is the name of a department store. Three is the meaning of the first character and I get the meanings of surpass, cross over, move to, exceed, and Vietnam when I research the term. Is there a ...
9
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3answers
468 views
Can I use both 気温 and 温度 when asking for the weather temperature?
Can I use 気温 and 温度 when asking for the weather temperature? Both terms indicate temperature. Which one is more commonly used?
9
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2answers
2k views
What term would be used for words that are borrowed from Japanese and used in other languages?
Many Japanese words are used in other languages, sushi, anime, karaoke, tsunami....
Is there a term to identify these words? I am familiar with terms such as 外来語 to indicate loanwords borrowed from ...
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0answers
154 views
What is the meaning of these Kanji? [closed]
I bought this shirt from Monogatari Series but I want to know the meaning of the kanjis
3
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1answer
83 views
What is the difference between 編修 and 編集?
According to the translator, 編修 and 編集 are pronounced as "Henshū" and given the same meaning of "Edit". Also, both can be used as a noun.
So are there any specific situations to use these words?
...
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1answer
87 views
Need help with the famous 11 second intercom audio from Mega Man Legends 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dJxBnRth-A&t=1m40s
Need 日本語字幕 subtitles for this short 11 second announcement heard in the background. I've listened to this for over a decade, and could never ...
3
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2answers
127 views
aru Kanji confusion
In the sentence:
今日は宿題があります。
would I use
在る or 有る?
(I know that today it's almost always written in Kana)
Thanks in advance :)!
1
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1answer
131 views
What is the difference between 売女 vs 街娼?
After reading, What's the difference between 変態 and 痴女 (or 痴漢)?, I did a few word searches.
Jisho lists multiple words when searching for the term Whore:
売女 - prostitute; whore
街娼 - prostitute; ...
0
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0answers
53 views
Express fast speed or someone arriving early [duplicate]
I've seen two writings of this on Duolingo and Jisho. Either as 速い or 早い. I believe both are read as はやい, but which of the two is more relevant in expressing how fast something is or how early someone ...
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1answer
191 views
Can 参加 be used to invite someone to a chat?
Context: I invited a person to participate in a chat. チャットに参加してください was my original sentence. Is my sentence and word choice correct? I was considering the word 関与.
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1answer
226 views
Does 病 refer to a short or long term illness?
Does 病 refer to a short or long term illness? I was in a chat and the word was used
in response to someone chatting about a head cold. I asked the person if they were hospitalized, and they were not. ...
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3answers
163 views
Is there a difference between a カーニバル and an お祭り?
Is there a difference between a カーニバル and an お祭り? I researched the terms on Jisho. Does it have to do with the duration or type of the activities? Thank you.
5
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2answers
311 views
Why is the term for can as in ''aluminum can" written in kanji?
I noticed that the term "can" is written with a kanji term but pronounced as in English. Why use a kanji? The word coffee has a kanji, but is commonly written in katakana.
It might be ateji, but I ...
2
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1answer
231 views
How to create adjectives in Japanese?
Look at the following words:
意 Idea
圧 Pressure
おとこ Man
女性 Woman
子 Child
ヘア Hair
想い Thought
Some of the above words are single kanjis, some kana, and some combination of kanji-kana.
Is there a ...
0
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0answers
66 views
Is there kanji(s) to mean “from court” or “court-related”?
I found a kanji for emperial court/governmental court as follows:
廷:
courts, imperial court, government office jisho.org
I am looking for an adjective for this word made with this kanji or another ...
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1answer
138 views
Are groups of kanji classified as on or kun'yomi overall or individually?
Individual kanji have on and kun readings. Which character in a multiple kanji word determines if the word has an on or kun reading? 月曜日 is a better example, on on kun. Would Nichiyoubi be considered ...
1
vote
2answers
354 views
Do the Japanese speak with On and Kun in daily conversation?
I am trying to wrap my head around how the Japanese speak and how that differs from kanji. On and Kun makes a difference when reading kanji, depending usually how the sentence is made up of kanas and ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
Whats the difference between yama and san in the title of a mountain?
Whats the difference between yama and san in the title of a mountain? 富山 and 富士山 Toyama and Fujisan for example? Is one simply a mountain and the other a volcano?
