kanji study - 白 white

Although I'm introducing origins of various kanji, they are not 100% sure.
Researchers guess the origins of kanji from the pictographs left on the "oracle bones", animal bones or turtle plastrons.


image taken from wikipedia

So depending on the researchers, they sometimes insist different theories on the same kanji.
Look at the pictograph below.
It's the origin of the kanji "white"


Now I introduce some theories that the researchers established.

Theory no.1, skeleton

A researcher says it's people's skeleton killed for ritual sacrifice.

Theory no.2, light

According to the other researcher, it indicates shiny-white sunlight

Theory no.3, an acorn

Another reasearcher says it is the shape of an acorn.
Before it becomes brown, its color is white.






As seen above, sometimes they have different theories for the origins of kanji.
What would you think it is like when you see the pictograph?





Now let's practice some combinations of kanji including "白".

Yomi	しろいろ shiroiro
Meaning	white color

Yomi	はくちょう hakuchou
Meaning	swan

Yomi	めいはく meihaku
Meaning	obvious

download and print a practice sheet here.

Do you need corrections for Japanese writing?

You can get free correction ticket now!
If you are interested, please contact me from the button below.



Regular correction tickets are below.

Kanji study - 集 collect

Three birds are gathering on a tree.
This picture stand for a kanji.

What do you think this kanji stands for?
The answer is ....
↓↓↓











It's "集" (to collect, to gather)

On-yomi	しゅう shu
Kun-yomi	あつ(める) atsumeru, あつ(まる) atsumaru, つど(う) tsudou
Meaning	collect, gather

First take a look at the transition of the kanji below.


The pictograph(A) stands for 3 birds and a tree.
This pictograph became the kanji "雧"(B).
However, the kanji "雧" is too complicated to write, so they had to simplify it.
It finally became "集" (C), and we usually use this simplified version of kanji nowadays.



The "隹" means a bird, and it is used for various kanji.
Here's a couple of examples.

On-yomi	じゅん jun
Kun-yomi	はやぶさ hayabusa
Meaning	falcon

It's a combination of "隹" and "十".
For this kanji, the "十" part means straight.

On-yomi	しん shin
Kun-yomi	すす(む) susumu, すす(める) susumeru
Meaning	move forward, advance, make progress,

It's a combination of "隹" and "辶".
The "辶" part means "to go", and the kanji "進" indicates to move something forward or to go forward like flying birds.


Here are some more examples of kanji for practice.

Yomi	しゅうごう shugou
Meaning	gathering, meeting

Yomi	しゅうしゅう shushu
Meaning	collection, gathering

download and print a practice sheet here.

Do you need corrections for Japanese writing?

You can get free correction ticket now!
If you are interested, please contact me from the button below.



Regular correction tickets are below.

Kanji study - 父 father

Get correction tickets!

Don't anger your father

Although there are some different theories, this kanji "父" stands for a man with an axe.
Take a look at the picture below.


Fathers go out to hunt, cut trees and cultivate a field while mothers take care of their children.
The axe and the right hand are a sort of a symbol of power.

On-yomi	ふ fu
Kun-yomi	ちち chichi
Meaning	father

This kanji "父" originally means axe, but as time goes by, it has come to mean father.
So they had to prepare the other kanji for axe instead of the kanji "父"

On-yomi	ふ fu
Kun-yomi	おの ono
Meaning	axe

This kanji is a combination of "父" and "斤", and after "父" became the meaning "father", "斧" has come to mean axe.

On-yomi	きん kin
Kun-yomi
Meaning	counter for loaves of bread

The origin of this kanji is also a shape of an ax.
Nowadays this kanji is used when you count loaves of bread.



I prepared a practice sheet for the kanji that I introduced in this article.
I also added some combination with "父", so please practice them as well

Practice sheet

父母

Yomi	ふぼ fubo
Meaning	parents

父親

Yomi	ちちおや chichi-oya
Meaning	father

Download thepractice sheet

Do you need corrections for Japanese writing?

You can get free correction ticket now!
If you are interested, please contact me from the button below.



Regular correction tickets are below.

Kanji study - 貝 shell

Shells are money!?

On-yomi	かい kai
Kun-yomi	-
Meaning	shell(s)

Let's take a look at the origin of the kanji "貝 (kai)"
It's the shape of a cowrie, a species of shell fish.




In ancient times, these types of shells had been used as money until they started using coins instead.
This kanji "貝" mainly means shell(s), but also stands for money and wealth.

Look at these kanji below.
買 財 貨
They are some kanji that include the kanji "貝".
And they all mean something related to money.

On-yomi	ばい bai
Kun-yomi	か(う) kau
Meaning	buy

The kanji "買" is a combination of "shell" and "net".
People take the collected shells(money) out of their net to "buy" something.

On-yomi	か ka
Kun-yomi	-
Meaning	currency, freight

The kanji "貨" is a combination of "shell" and "change".
They get something in exchange for shells(money).
So shell and change has come to mean "currency".

On-yomi	ざい zai
Kun-yomi	-
Meaning	wealth

The kanji "財" is a combination of "shell" and "talent".
"才" originally means high quality wood that prevent rivers from flooding.
So the kanji "才" comes to mean something(someone) very useful.
This kanji indicates money and wealth.




I prepared a practice sheet for these new kanji.
Download and print it to practice on it!

Do you need corrections for Japanese writing?

You can get free correction ticket now!
If you are interested, please contact me from the button below.



Regular correction tickets are below.