The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji. Kenneth G. Henshall

from ca. 100AD in Shuowen jiezi. SS1984:379-80; GY2008:331.

      Mnemonic: A CHILD AT HOME LEARNING LETTERS

      31

      L5

      耳

      JI, mimi

      ear

      6 strokes

      耳科 JIKA otology

      耳鳴り miminari tinnitus

      耳飾り mimikazari earring

      OBI is based on a pictograph of an ear. MR2007:457-8; SS1984:380; QX2000:178.

      Mnemonic: POINTED EAR

      32

      L5

      七

      SHICHI, nana-

      seven

      2 strokes

      七月 SHICHIGATSU July

      七日 nanoka* seventh day

      七重 nanae seven-fold

      Derives from OBI and bronze graph similar to modern ‘ten’ 十 35 for a cut bone, the curve coming later. In early Chinese ‘cut’ and ‘seven’ had a similar pronunciation, and so the graph was borrowed to represent ‘seven’. SS1984:387; TS2010:3; AS2007:419,312.

      Mnemonic: BADLY WRITTEN TEN: ONLY WORTH SEVEN

      33

      L5

      車

      SHA, kuruma

      vehicle

      7 strokes

      電車 DENSHA train

      洗車場 SENSHAJŌ carwash

      手車 teguruma handcart

      Based on a pictograph of a two-wheeled chariot. OBI SS1984:391; KJ1970:490.

      Mnemonic: CHARIOT WITH TWO WHEELS

      34

      L5

      手

      SHU, te

      hand

      4 strokes

      手段 SHUDAN means

      手袋 tebukuro gloves

      上手 JŌZU* skill

      Bronze form shows five-fingered hand . In compound graphs, usually扌. SS1984:399; QX2000:178.

      Mnemonic: HAND WITH FIVE FINGERS BUT THE MIDDLE ONE BENT

      35

      L5

      十

      JŪ, tō

      ten

      2 strokes

      十月 JŪGATSU October

      十日 tōka tenth day

      十字 JŪJI a cross

      Etymology disputed. Katō sees early (bronze) forms of one vertical stroke, often with a small swelling halfway down, as showing a needle, later borrowed phonetically for ‘ten’: Mizukami is in agreement. The protrusion became a horizontal stroke. Shirakawa, by contrast, interprets 十 as a wooden counting stick. It has also been interpreted as a knotted rope. KJ1970:50; SS1984:50; TS2010:4; MS1995:v1:164-5.

      Mnemonic: A PROPER CROSS GETS TEN OUT OF TEN

      36

      L5

      出

      SHUTSU, deru, dasu

      emerge, put out

      5 strokes

      出発 SHUPPATSU departure

      思い出 omoide a memory

      引き出し hikidashi drawer

      Based on early forms such as , Qiu sees the graph as a foot stepping out of a pit dwelling, noting the ancients lived in pits. Katō takes a broadly similar view, interpreting such forms as depicting a foot wearing a sandal setting out. See also 止 143 ‘stop’. QX2000:192; KJ1970:301-2. Suggest using 山 26 ‘mountain’ as a mnemonic.

      Mnemonic: MOUNTAIN EMERGES ON TOP OF ANOTHER

      37

      L5

      女

      JO, NYO, NYŌ, onna, me

      woman

      3 strokes

      女性 JOSEI woman

      女房 NYŌBŌ wife

      女の子 onna-no-ko girl

      OBI forms show a kneeling woman , later stylized. MR2007:463; SS1984:432; QX2000:178; KJ1970:253.

      Mnemonic: KNEELING WOMAN

      38

      L5

      小

      SHŌ, chiisai, ko, o-

      small

      3 strokes

      小説 SHŌSETSU a novel

      小犬 koinu small dog, puppy

      小川 ogawa brook, stream

      OBI forms show a few small objects together (typically three) – shells or suchlike MR2007:226; SS1984:435; QX2000:175.

      Mnemonic: A STROKE DIVIDED INTO TWO SMALL ONES

      39

      L5

      上

      JŌ, ue, uwa-, kami, ageru/garu, noboru

      up, top, over, rise

      3 strokes

      以上 IJŌ over, above

      川上 kawakami upstream

      値上げ neage price rise

      OBI forms show two horizontal strokes, upper one being shorter but more commonly written as a short horizontal line above a longer line gently curving upwards – perhaps the palm of the hand A vertical stroke was added later. ‘Go up’ etc. are extended meanings. MR2007:210; SS1984:456; KJ1970:541; KJ1985:3.

      Mnemonic: BAR WITH HANDLE RISES UP OVER THE BASE LINE

      40

      L4

      森

      SHIN, mori

      woods

      12 strokes

      森林 SHINRIN forest, woods

      森閑 SHINKAN silence

      青森 Aomori Aomori City/Pref.

      OBI is based on pictograph of three trees