漢字. Chinese characters as used in Japanese writing as opposed to the two kana syllabaries and rōmaji (Latin letters).
1
vote
1answer
55 views
What does 通常進行 mean in the context of a two week serialized mangaka job?
I can understand both words separately, and even together in some specific contexts. I can't understand the meaning of these two together in the following phrase and context:
「締切りを３日早めてほしいの。...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
What are the common practices for writing Korean names?
Some manga made by Korean writers and illustrators write their names entirely with kanji (especially without any clue as to how to pronounce them), while credits in anime write Korean staffers' names ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Reading of 管 as in “かん” vs “くだ” and its meaning regarding those two readings
こんにちは。
After reading jisho, here's some of the information that I found:
管 (kun: くだ on: カン)
Interestingly, if you search the details, jisho lists 管 read as 【カン】 and
【かん】, even though the ...
0
votes
0answers
88 views
Why are some words (e.g., 処方箋) sometimes partially written with hiragana? [duplicate]
Some words with complex Kanji are sometimes written in a mixture of Hiragana and Kanji. For example 処方箋 (prescription) is often written as 処方せん in pharmacies. This is used by native speakers that have ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
What is the difference between 都市 and 郷?
Do they mean the same thing? What situations should I use one over the other?
0
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0answers
47 views
how many kanji is the recommend amount i should complete in kclc (kodansha kanji learners course) before jumping into tobira [closed]
right now i am just about to finish genki 2 and move on to tobira. at the moment i am using kclc for my kanji study, so i was wondering as kclc introduces kanji at a different order then normal (such ...
-3
votes
0answers
74 views
Kanji translation from a hollow bamboo incense burner [closed]
I need some help translating a kanji. I've received a gift from a friend, a hollow bamboo incense burner, and it has a Japanese text in it. My friend doesn't know what it means, and the store owner ...
5
votes
1answer
145 views
Iki versus Yuki meaning “bound for”
Can we read ー行き as "iki" talking about trains bound for some stations?
For example,
この列車は東京行きです。
Here they say we should read it as "yuki."
Here I see that "iki" is used to mean "bound for". ...
3
votes
1answer
631 views
Kanjis to Romajis first letter [closed]
I'm fond of Unicode and what romanization attempts. My goal is to get a first latin char (for sorting purposes) of a non-latin character - so far I succeeded by transcribing Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, ...
2
votes
2answers
256 views
Are there official kanji attached to popular particles?
After some research on my own (looking through the list of kun-readings for more obscure kanji), I can more or less surely claim:
に is 于 (which is simultaneously many things, including ここに and を);
...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
Why use the kanji 伸 for “no” instead of the hiragana の, and the kanji 手 for “te” instead of the hiragana て?
In an anime opening song, at 0:08, I read the following sentence:
omokage no naka te wo nobasu no
おもかげのなか 手を伸ばすの
Please, can you tell me:
for "no", why is the kanji 伸 used instead of the ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
The differences with おちる (落ちる、堕ちる、墜ちる)
Can someone explain the differences with these kanji 落ちる、堕ちる、墜ちる. I've seen them used in manga.
Looking at Jisho.org and get a bunch of definitions. Googling and I can't find an English explanation. ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Why the pronunciation of some words is different than their components? [duplicate]
美味しい is being pronounced おいしい, but it is not the sum of the way its kanji components are being pronounced. I think I have also seen it in some other words. So why is that the pronunciation of some ...
7
votes
2answers
348 views
How to arrive to the meaning of the kanji tonari 隣 through its components?
the kanji 隣 tonari, it is formed by:
- the radical ⻖ : こざとへん hill, mounds;
- the radical 舛 : まいあし contrary, to err;
- the kanji 米 : ベイ rice.
Knowing such components, if it is possible, how can I ...
14
votes
1answer
5k views
Meaning of 人 in Japanese internet slang
In a page from the Dead Tube manga, a man is being killed during a live video. Some of the viewers comment the scene simply with "人". What is the meaning of this kanji when used in this way? Could its ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Different pronunciations of 主
I just stumbled across this - rather simple - sentence from the novel 堕落の王:
それは魔王の意思ですらない。その目的は力の使用だけで、結果には興味すら抱かない。
ただ、主を見ていた。
It wasn't even the demon lord's will. His goal was only to ...
0
votes
2answers
96 views
The basis for kanji frequency
What is the basis for kanji frequency? For example, 悠{ゆう｝ has the Frequency of 1921 in the kanji dictionary of Yomichan. What does it mean? Does it mean that in everyday conversation or in newspapers ...
3
votes
0answers
65 views
Why does ―・appear on Japanese dictionary? [duplicate]
For example this definition of 臨む: 風景・場所などを目の前にする。向かい対する。面する。「海に―・んだ部屋」
Why does ―・appear instead of the word itself? What's the reason behind it, how do I call it and why that only exist in a ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Kanji for みない in 調べてみない
詳｛くわ｝しく調｛しら｝べてみないと分｛わ｝かんないって
In the sentence above, what is the kanji for みない?
24
votes
1answer
3k views
Why is 私 a sixth grade kanji?
Can anybody explain why 私 is a sixth grade kanji?
I find it funny that such a common word appears on the list so late.
12
votes
1answer
893 views
Are there any words that are longer in kanji than in hiragana?
The number of hiragana to write the pronunciation of kanji always seems to be longer than or equal to the number of kanji. I.e. each kanji corresponds to one or more hiragana.
Are there any words ...
23
votes
3answers
2k views
Which is the most popular non-Jōyō kanji?
Basically, a trivia question that someone could answer with a script.
What is the statistically most popular kanji in Japanese texts not in the jōyō list? Was it ever considered for inclusion? Is it ...
1
vote
2answers
203 views
What's the meaning of these kanji in this image still?
This is a sincere question, I apologize for the lewdeness, though.
I was watching a japanese pornographic film and I stumbled upon this written phrase. I wanted to know what it means (I'm also ...
0
votes
1answer
131 views
I am looking for cursive forms of the kanji for 'zu'. It means a drawing. Thanks. [closed]
I am looking for cursive forms , not standard, of the kanji for zu 'drawing'. Thanks for your help.
7
votes
0answers
220 views
Understanding difficult handwriting/calligraphy
I'm having trouble deciphering this handwriting. So far, I can definitely tell that the first column says 参拾弐 in 大事, and the fourth column says 手本. Really struggling with column two and some of column ...
6
votes
4answers
306 views
Is it possible to write Japanese in pure Kanji?
Is it possible to write Japanese in pure Kanji?
I think I have seen in one TV news show in Osaka that they are showing snippets of newspaper written in all Kanji.
7
votes
2answers
276 views
Is there a meaning to the 6 stroke component that 恵, 専, and 敷 share?
The three kanji 恵, 専, and 敷 share the same first 6 strokes. Using the traditional radicals I could describe them as being composed "一, 日, 丨..." at the start and then finishing "...心", "...寸", "...⼂, 方,...
11
votes
3answers
400 views
Meaning of 然 in conjunctions and other grammatical words
Here are a few grammatical words that use 然 according to jisho.org:
然し（しかし）
however; but
然して（そして）
and; and then; thus; and now; and finally
然うして（そうして）
and; like ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Literal meaning of 去場 (Saruba) [closed]
There is a place in Hokkaidō called Saruba 去場 (さるば)
What can be the literal meaning of this place name??
3
votes
1answer
114 views
In 上旬・中旬・下旬, why is 上 the start and 下 the end of the month?
I understand that 上旬 means the first 10 days of the month, and that 下旬 means the last (approximately) 10 days of the month. However, I would like to understand the underlying logic for the choice of 上 ...
2
votes
0answers
84 views
What common words are written one way - but almost always pronounced a different way? (eg. 言う is generally spoken as 「ゆう」)
I am aware that [行く]{いく} is sometimes read 「ゆく」 but I do not think it is mostly read as 「ゆく」except in combinations. 例えば、行く手・行く先・行く春.
Whereas I almost never hear 言う as いう. These are the only two ...
-1
votes
1answer
84 views
what is the correct reading for this kanji [closed]
I can't find this kanji in the dictionary jsho. I tried all given readings in the dictionary.
What does it mean ?
Question nr 9
Thanks a lot
Updated: without I at the end could not find
10
votes
1answer
196 views
intuitively, why do かねる and かねない roughly mean “cannot” and “can”?
I understand the grammatical usage of these words, but I don't understand why they (roughly) mean "cannot" and "can".
For example, if we write them with kanji, we get 兼ねる and 兼ねない. According to jisho....
0
votes
1answer
117 views
What does this mean? '誰もがここで生まれたので、学校は大変でした.'
I have been trying to translate 'school was hard because everyone was born here (australia)' and am not sure if this is the right grammar or not.
2
votes
2answers
122 views
Why does this kanji use “sora” as its reading?
There's a song called 碧羅の天へ誘えど and it's read as "Hekira no Sora e Izanaedo". Is "Sora" another reading for 天？ I don't see it listed on Jisho.org, and 天 seems to almost always use "Ten" as its reading.
2
votes
1answer
96 views
The reading of お母さん
beginner in Japanese here.
I was curious about why you read the Kanji in お母さん (Okāsan) differently from just 母 (Haha). I know that there's Kun and On reading but I can't find this Kanji read as "kā" ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
Adding 駄 on the beginning of the word
I've met a word 駄女 だおんな though not sure if wrote it well in kanji.
Can I use this 駄 with other words? For example, like 駄先輩 or 駄宏 (with the name of a man)?
Are there words that suit this scheme most ...
4
votes
1answer
334 views
What is the character etymology of 風?
The Etymological Dictionary of Han Chinese Characters (which is the pdf/book format of the database for an old website called "Kanji Networks") states:
風 (9) フウ;フ;かざ;かぜ
A variant form of 鳳 (large ...
0
votes
1answer
165 views
Foreign names in Kanji. On'yomi, Kun'yomi or a mix of readings?
It is known that Japanese names often have multiple readings depending on what reading (on'yomi, kun'yomi, nanori ...) is applied to each kanji.
But my question is about foreign names written in ...
1
vote
1answer
197 views
Is there a defined cause for the recent rise in the popularity of gairaigo?
I was looking on the web for Japanese graphic design and found some pre-WWII material. Then I saw some more recent advertisement material. Comparing the two eras, I notice a difference that was beyond ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
When are foreign language based words written with kanjis?
I was reading the wikia of an anime and I found this,
Red Riot Unbreakable 烈怒頼雄斗安無嶺過武瑠
(レッドライオットアンブレイカブル)
(Reddo Raiotto Anbureikaburu)
The name of a ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
会いたかった : What does it mean?
I've an instagram friend who is far older than me. One day, he figured out that I lived near his house, then he commented this in my instagram post:
あなたに会いたかった。
What does that mean? Did he want me ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Meaning of the phrase 表す通り
The context for this phrase is in a list of kanji spellings (kanji with hiragana), thus the definitions are not provided.
Breaking the phrase into its components:
表す - to reveal, show, display
通り - ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
二十歳を[頭]{かしら}に translation
This kanji 頭 what does it mean in this sentence?
うちには二十歳を頭に、3人の男の子がいる。
I looked up the meaning of かしら and still don't understand the meaning of the whole sentence. Please help translate.
Thanks
0
votes
1answer
112 views
Can anyone help identify this character 僮?
I found this character on a website and the only associated meaning was "child, servant." Can anyone elaborate on when it may be used and why?
0
votes
1answer
74 views
When a kanji term is listed as outdated, is it for specific words or all of the words that use it?
I read jisho a lot and I run into words with outdated kanji. Does this mean that the kanji term is outdated for a particular word or all words that use it?
4
votes
0answers
114 views
Which onyomi would be used for a Chinese name? [duplicate]
Let us pick a Chinese name with differently read kanji:
李清雲
The possible onyomi are:
リ・ショウドン for Go’on
リ・セイタン for Kan’on
リ・シン(or チン)タン for Tousou’on
Now we open the Japanese Wikipedia to learn ...
0
votes
1answer
148 views
Does a kanji with only a kun'yomi reading indicate a Japanese origin? [closed]
Does a kanji with only a kun reading mean that it originated in Japan? There are kanji that only contain an on reading, so I am assuming that kanji that have only a kun reading would indicate that the ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Would a japanese person recognize this icon (fa-language) to represent translation or language change? [closed]
https://fontawesome.com/v4.7.0/icon/language
https://fontawesome.com/icons/language?style=solid
(Somewhat unrelated but what are those kanjis? I guess the lower one is 文? Is the upper one just a ...
0
votes
0answers
91 views
How many of Japanese text can be written using only kanji?
With many frequent words normally written in kana having their rare kanji (looking at ‘ya, 一寸待{ちょっとま}って!), one starts to wonder of an exercise: is it even possible to rewrite any complete text using ...
