Kanji and kana
Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
Kanji and kana · Page 4
Kanji for Crane: 鶴 (Tsuru), Origami Cranes and 千羽鶴
The Japanese kanji for crane is 鶴, read tsuru on its own and kaku in a few compounds. It has 21 strokes and ends in 鳥, the kanji for bird. The crane stands for long life and good fortune, and the folded paper crane, 折り鶴, is one of the best-known symbols of Japan.
10 min readKanji for Soul: 魂 vs 霊 vs 心, and Words Like 魂を込める
The main Japanese kanji for soul is 魂, read tamashii on its own and kon in compounds. 霊, rei, is a spirit, especially the spirit of the dead or a ghost, and 心, kokoro, is the heart and mind. If you mean the inner spirit you put into your work, 魂 is the word.
10 min readKanji for Friend: 友 (Tomo), 友達, 親友 and 友情 Explained
The Japanese kanji for friend is 友, read tomo on its own and yū in compounds. It is usually explained as two hands joined together. You will use it every day in 友達, tomodachi, friend, and meet it in 親友, shin'yū, best friend, and 友情, yūjō, friendship.
10 min readKanji for Journey: 旅 (Tabi), 旅行 vs 旅, 一人旅 and 旅館
The Japanese kanji for journey is 旅, read tabi on its own and ryo in compounds. 旅, tabi, has the feel of a journey, often with a personal or emotional side, while 旅行, ryokō, is the everyday word for a trip. You will see 旅 in 一人旅, travelling alone, and in 旅館, a traditional Japanese inn.
10 min readKanji for Sword: 刀 vs 剣, with 日本刀, 剣道 and 竹刀 Explained
Japanese has two kanji for sword: 刀 (katana, tō), the single-edged blade that most people picture as the Japanese sword, and 剣 (tsurugi, ken), the older word for a straight, often double-edged sword, which is also the kanji of swordsmanship, as in 剣道 (kendō). Both are correct; they simply point at different swords and different words.
11 min readKanji for Thunder: 雷 (Kaminari), 雷雨 and 雷が鳴る Explained
The Japanese kanji for thunder is 雷, read kaminari on its own and rai in compound words such as 雷雨 (raiu, thunderstorm). One word, 雷, covers both the rumble and the bolt, so 雷が鳴る means thunder rumbles and 雷が落ちる means lightning strikes.
10 min readKanji for Darkness: 闇 vs 暗 vs 影, and When Each One Fits
The Japanese kanji for darkness is 闇 (yami), the deep dark itself. In everyday speech, though, you will say 暗い (kurai, dark) far more often, and when you mean a shadow cast by something, the kanji is 影 (kage).
10 min readKanji for Victory: 勝 in 勝つ, 勝利 and 勝負, With Real Examples
The Japanese kanji for victory is 勝, read katsu in the verb 勝つ (to win) and shō in compounds such as 勝利 (shōri, victory) and 勝負 (shōbu, a match or contest). For winning a whole tournament, Japanese uses another word with it: 優勝 (yūshō).
10 min readKanji for Way: 道 (Michi, Dō) in Roads, Judo, Kendo and Tea
The Japanese kanji for way is 道. On its own it is read michi and means a road, a path or a way of doing something; at the end of a word it is read dō and means a discipline, a path of training, as in 柔道 (jūdō), 剣道 (kendō) and 茶道 (sadō, the way of tea).
11 min readKanji for Ki: 気 vs 氣, Its Readings and Words Like 元気 and 天気
The Japanese kanji for ki is 気, a character for air, breath, energy and mind. Its older form 氣 is still seen in martial arts and on designs. You meet 気 every day in words such as 元気 (genki, healthy), 天気 (tenki, weather), 気持ち (kimochi, feeling) and 気をつけて (ki o tsukete, take care).
11 min readKanji for Sincerity: 誠 (Makoto), 誠実, 誠に and 真心 Explained
The Japanese kanji for sincerity is 誠, read makoto on its own and sei in compounds such as 誠実 (seijitsu, sincere, honest) and 誠意 (seii, good faith). In formal Japanese, 誠に (makoto ni) means truly, as in 誠に申し訳ございません, I am truly sorry, and the warm, everyday word for a sincere heart is 真心 (magokoro).
11 min readKanji for Calm: 静 in 静か, 冷静 and 静寂, Plus 穏やか
The main Japanese kanji for calm is 静, which gives 静か (shizuka, quiet, calm), 冷静 (reisei, cool-headed) and 静寂 (seijaku, deep stillness). For calm in the sense of gentle and mild, as in a calm sea or a calm personality, Japanese uses 穏やか (odayaka).
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