2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 1

All the Kanji on the JLPT Level 2 Test with ONE reading : #1
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used or used only in names AND with recent changes in the test a few of these may actually be 3 kyuu kanji!

The Kanji	Reading & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
愛	あい love 愛している - I love you! 愛妻 ai sai - beloved wife 愛知県 ai chi ken - Aichi prefecture 愛読 ai doku - a Book lover
圧	あつ pressure 気圧 ki atsu - atmospheric pressure 電圧 den atsu - voltage
委	い commit; to entrust with 委員 i in - committee member 任せる makaseru - to entrust, leave ~ to
胃	い stomach 胃 i - stomach 胃液 i eki - stomach juices, the gastric juices
域	いき boundary 地域 chi iki - a region, area 地域時刻 chi iki ji koku - local time
宇	う universe, eaves, house 宇宙 u chuu - the universe, space 宇宙人 u chuu jin - an alien 宇宙飛行士 u chuu hi kou shi - an astronaut 宇宙旅行 u chuu ryo kou - Space travel
液	えき - liquid 毒液 doku eki - venom (from a snake...) 血液型 ketsu eki gata - blood type
演	えん to act;; to perform a play 演歌 enka - Enka (style of Japanese music) 開演 kai en - curtain opening (start of a play)
王	おう king 王国 ou koku - kingdom, monarchy 王子 ou ji - a prince 王手 ou te - checkmate, check (shougi/chess) 王様 ou sama - a king
央	おう center 震央 shin ou - center of earthquake; epicenter中央 chuu ou - the center; central; middle
欧	おう Europe 西欧 sei ou - Western Europe 欧風 ou fuu - European style
億	おく hundred million 一億 ichi oku - 100,000,000
科	か subject of study 学科 gakka - subject; course of study 科学 ka gaku - science 教科書 kyou ka sho - a textbook
貨	か money, goods 金貨 kin ka - a gold coin 硬貨 kou ka - a coin
課	か section, lesson 課長 ka chou - section chief 課税 ka zei - taxes, taxation
可	か possible, approve 許可 kyo ka - permission, approval 可愛い kawaii - cute, pretty 不可能 fu ka nou - impossible 可能性 ka nou sei - possibility
菓	か candy, confectionery お菓子 okashi - sweets, snack 菓子屋 kashi ya - confectionery shop
貝	かい shell; shellfish 貝 kai - a shell 貝塚 ka zuka - a shell mound (remains of ancient socities' dump)
階	かい (1st, 2nd) floor (of a building); rank; 音階 on kai - music scale 武士階級 bushi kai kyuu - warrior class 階段 kai dan - stairs
械	かい machine 機械 ki kai - a machine 機械翻訳 ki kai hon yaku - machine translation
介	かい mediate; come between; to aid 紹介 shou kai - introduce 自己紹介 ji ko shou kai - self-introduction
害	がい harm; calamity 迫害 haku gai - persecution 煙害 en gai - smoke pollution
活	かつ active, live, activity 生活 sei katsu - life, living,lead a life 復活 fukkatsu - revival, restoration 活火山 kakkazan - an active volcano 活動 katsu dou - activity, movement
感	かん feeling, sense, feel 実感 ji kan - real feelings 第六感 dai rokkan - the 6th sense, a hunch 女の直感 onna no chokkan - women's intuition 感じる kanjiru - to feel, experience 感謝 kan sha - thanks, gratitude 感動 kan dou - to be moved (emotionally)impressed
完	かん complete, perfect 完璧 kan peki - perfect, completeness 完全 kan zen - perfection, completeness 完全主義者 kan zen shu gi sha - a perfectionist (person)
官	かん government 警察官 kei satsu kan - a policeman 官庁 kan chou - government office
観	かん view 観光 kan kou - sightseeing 観光ビザ kan kou biza - tourist visa
刊	かん publish 月刊 gekkan - a monthly publication 週刊 shuu kan - published weekly 夕刊 yuu kan - evening paper
簡	かん simple 簡単 kan tan - easy, simple 簡略 kan ryaku - simplicity
缶	かん a can (drink or food can) 空缶 aki kan - an empty can 缶詰 kan zume - packed can, canned goods 缶切り kan kiri - a can opener

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 2

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #2
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Readings & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
希	き rare, aspire, desire 希望 ki bou - wish, desire, hope 希望者 ki bou sha - person wishing to do something (join something...)
季	き season (of the year) 四季 shi ki - the 4 seasons 季節 ki setsu - the seasons, season 季節的 ki setsu teki - seasonal
規	き rule, regulation, compass 規格 ki kaku - norm, standard 規則 ki soku - rule, regulations
議	ぎ discuss, debate 会議 kai gi - a meeting, conference 不思議 fu shi gi - strange, mysterious 議会 gi kai - Diet, congress, parliament
喫	きつ inhale, drink 受動喫煙 ju dou kitsu en - passive smoke 喫茶店 kissaten - coffee house, coffee shop
級	きゅう grade 一級 ikkyuu - 1st class, 1st grade 高級 kou kyuu - high class (expensive) 上級 jou kyuu - advanced level, upper class 武士階級 bu shi kai kyuu - the warrior class
給	きゅう supply, pay 給食 kyuu shoku - school lunch 給料日 kyuu ryou bi - pay day
旧	きゅう old, former 復旧 fukkyuu - restoration, rehabilitation 旧姓 kyuu sei - maiden name (former name) 旧約聖書 kyuu yaku sei sho - the Old Testament
協	きょう cooperate 協会 kyou kai - association,society, organization 日本放送協会 nippon hou sou kyou kai - NHK (public television in Japan)
況	きょう conditions, state of things, still more 状況 jyou kyou - circumstances, situation 準備状況 jun bi jyou kyou - preliminary conditions, initial conditions
局	きょく bureau, segment 結局 kekkyoku - after all, in the end 米航空宇宙局 bei kou kuu u chuu kyoku - NASA (USA) 放送局 hou sou kyoku - broadcasting office
均	きん even, level 平均 hei kin - equilibrium, balance,average 平均寿命 heikin jyu myou - life expectancy
禁	きん prohibit, not allowed 禁煙 kin en - no smoking! 禁煙車 kin en sha - non-smoking car 禁止 kin shi - prohibited, not allowed
区	く - district, ward 行政区 gyou sei ku - administrative district 区別 ku betsu - distinction, to make a distinction
具	ぐ - tool; utensil; ingredients 雨具 ama gu - rain gear (umbrella, raincoat...) 家具 ka gu - furniture (lit. house equipment) 道具 dou gu - tool, equipment, implement 具合 gu ai - condition 具体的 gu tai teki - concrete, definite, tangible
偶	ぐう - by chance; couple; even numbers 配偶者 hai guu sha - spouse 配偶者ビザ hai guu sha biza - spousal visa 偶然 guu zen - by chance, unexpectantly 偶像 guu zou - idol, statue
訓	くん - instruct 遺訓 i kun - dying instructions 音訓 on kun - kanki readings 訓練 kun ren - practice, drill
軍	ぐん - army, military 救世軍 kyuu sei gun - the Salvation Army 将軍 shou gun - Shogun, general 軍歌 gun ka - war song
景	けい - scene 景色 kei shiki - scenery, landscape 全景写真 zen kei sha shin - panoramic phot
警	けい - gaurd against, warn 警察 kei satsu - police 警衛 kei ei - guard, patrol, escort 警官 kei kan - a policeman 警告 kei koku - a warning
芸	げい - art, skill 隠し芸 kakushi gei - hidden talent 芸者 gei sha - geisha 芸術 gei jutsu - art, the arts 芸術的 gei jutsu teki - artistic
劇	げき - drama 演劇 en geki - theatrical play 劇的 geki teki - dramatic
県	けん - prefecture 各県 kaku ken - all prefectures 福井県 fukui ken - Fukui prefecture 県庁 ken chou - prefectural head office 県立 ken ritsu - prefectural ~, (built by the prefecture)
件	けん - matter 条件 jyou ken - conditions, terms 労働条件 rou dou jou ken - working conditions
券	けん - ticket, certificate, coupon 証券 shou ken - securities, bonds 商品券 shou hin ken - gift certificate 旅券 ryo ken - passport
検	けん - examine 車検 sha ken - car inspection ($$$) 探検 tan ken - explore, expedition 検査 ken sa - inspection, examination 検事 ken ji - public prosecutor
権	けん - right, power 議決権 gi ketsu ken - right to vote 特権 tokken - privilege, special right 権利 ken ri - right, privilege
個	こ - individual 個人的 ko jin teki - personal, individual, 個人タクシー ko jin takushi- - privately owned taxi
航	こう - navigate 航海 kou kai - voyage, sailing 米国航空宇宙局 bei koku kou kuu u chuu kyoku - NASA
鉱	こう - ore, mine 金鉱 kin kou - a gold mine 炭鉱 tan kou - a coal mine 鉱物学 kou butsu gaku - mineralogy

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 3

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #3
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Readings & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
講	こう - lecture 講演 kou en - lecture 講師 kou shi - lecturer 講談 kou dan - story-telling
肯	こう - assent, consent 首肯 shu kou - assent, consent 肯定的 kou tei teki - affirmative
郊	こう - suburb 近郊 kin kou - suburbs, the outskirts 郊外 kou gai - suburbs, the outskirts
号	ごう - number, signal, sign 青信号 ao shin gou - a green (blue) signal light 暗号 an gou - code, password, cryptic message 記号 ki gou - symbol, mark, code 背番号 se ban gou - number on player's back
婚	こん - marry, marriage 結婚 kekkon - marriage 新婚 shin kon - newly wed 婚約 kon yaku - engagement
査	さ - look into 検査 ken sa - inspection, examination 捜査 sou sa - search, investigation 探査機 tan sa ki - a probe (space)
才	さい - talent, age 天才 ten sai - genius, natural gift 才媛 sai en - a talented woman
材	ざい - timber, materials 教材 kyou zai - teaching materials 木材 moku zai - lumber, timber, wood
咲	さく - bloom, come out (flowers), blossom 咲き誇る saki hokoru - to be in full bloom 咲く saku - to bloom
昨	さく - yesterday, last... 昨日 saku jitsu - yesterday (note: this is also the kanji for kinou) 昨晩 saku ban - last night
察	さつ - inspect, guess 警察 kei satsu - police 観察 kan satsu - observation
皿	さら - plate, dish 皿洗い機 sara arai ki -a dishwasher machine 皿 sara - dish, plate
算	さん - to calculate 算数 san su - arithmetic 算盤 soroban - abacus (non-regular reading)
賛	さん - approve, praise 賛否 san pi - for & against, yes and no 賛美歌 san bi ka - hymn, praise song
史	し - history 史上 shi jyou - historical 史上最大 shi jyou sai dai - the greatest in history
師	し - master, teacher 教師 kyou shi - an instructor, teacher 講師 kou shi - a lecturer 牧師 boku shi - a pastor, minister, clergyman
資	し - resources 学資 gaku shi - school fund, money needed for school 資格 shi kaku - qualifications, requirements, capabilities 天然資源 ten nen shi gen - natural resources
詞	し - words 歌詞 ka shi - lyrics, words to a song 形容詞 kei you shi - adjective (grammar) 作詞 saku shi - write a song, song making 台詞 serifu - lines (of a play...), speech
誌	し - magazine 雑誌 zasshi - magazine 日誌 nisshi - diary 釣りバカ日誌 tsuri baka nisshi - 'the diary of a fishing fool' - a popular long running comedy movie series
式	しき - ceremony, style 結婚式 kekkon shiki - a wedding ceremony 最新式 sai shin shiki - the newest style 略式 ryaku shiki - informal, simplified
識	しき - know 知識 chi shiki - knowledge, information 識字率 shiki ji ritsu - literacy rate
術	じゅつ - an art 技術 gi jutsu - technology, a technique, skill 読唇術 doku shin jutsu - lip reading 忍術 nin jutsu - the art of the Ninja, stealth & combat
順	じゅん - order,a turn, obey 従順 juu jun - obedience 順調 jun chou - favorable, smoothness, smoothly
準	じゅん - standard, a rule, semi~ 水準 sui jun - water level 準備中 jun bi chuu - in preparation, not open yet (business)
純	じゅん - pure, purity 単純 tan jun - simplicity 単純に言えば tan jun ni ieba - to put it simply, simply put...
処	しょ - deal with, to manage 処理 sho ri - managment 処分 sho bun - disposal, punishment
署	しょ - government office 消防署 shou bou sho - fire station 税務署 zei mu sho - tax office
諸	しょ - many 諸君 sho kun - Ladies and Gentlemen! 諸国 sho koku - various countries
章	しょう - chapter (in a book) 序章 jo shou - preface 第一章 dai isshou - the first chapter
賞	しょう - prize, award ノーベル賞 no-beru shou - the Nobel Prize 賞品 shou hin - prize, trophy

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 4

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #4
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Readings & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
将	しょう - general officer 将棋 shou gi - Japanese chess (game) 将軍 shou gun - Shogun, general 将来 shou rai - the future
紹	しょう - introduce 紹介 shou kai - introduce, introduction 自己紹介 ji ko shou kai - self-introduction
状	じょう - form, letter 果たし状 hatashi jou - letter of challenge, challenge to a duel 招待状 shou tai jou - invitation card
職	しょく - employment 求職 kyuu shoku - seeking employment, looking for work 辞職 ji shoku - resignation
信	しん - believe, message 確信 kaku shin - confidence, conviction 信仰 shin kou - faith, creed 遭難信号 sou nan shin gou - distress signal, SOS
制	せい - system, control 規制 ki sei - regulation 無制限 mu sei gen - limitless
製	せい - manufactured, made in ~ アメリカ製 amerika sei - made in America 木製 moku sei - made of wood
税	ぜい - tax 関税 kan zei - customs, duty, tarrif 税制改革 zei sei kai kaku - tax reform
席	せき - seat 運転席 un ten seki - driver seat 欠席 kesseki - absence, non-attendance
績	せき - achievements 実績 jisseki - actual results, achievements 成績表 sei seki hyou - report card
隻	せき - one of a pair; counter for boats 数隻の船 suu seki no fune - several boats 一隻 isseki - one (counter for boats)
籍	せき - register 国籍 koku seki - nationality 本籍地 hon seki chi - permanent residence
線	せん - a line 境界線 kyou kai sen - boundary line 曲線 kyoku sen - curve
祖	そ - ancestor 祖国 so koku - father land, native country 祖先 so sen - ancestor
総	そう - total, general 総合的 sou gou teki - synthetic 総理大臣 sou ri dai jin - Prime Minister
層	そう - stratum, layer 階層 kai sou - class, level 成層圏 sei sou ken - stratosphere
燥	そう - dry up 乾燥 kan sou - dried, dehydrate 乾燥洗濯 kan sou sen taku - dry cleaning
像	ぞう - image 現像 gen zou - developing (film) 雪像 setsu zou - snow sculpture 想像 sou zou - imagination
臓	ぞう - internal organ, entrails 肝臓 kan zou - liver (body part) 心臓の鼓動 shin zou no kodou - heartbeat
則	そく - a rule, law, to act on 規則 ki soku - rule, regulation 不規則動詞 fu kisoku dou shi - irregular verb
卒	そつ - graduate 卒業証書 sotsu gyou shou sho - diploma 高卒 kou sotsu - high school graduate
第	だい - rank, No. ~ 安全第一 an zen dai ichi - safety first 第一印象 dai ichi in shou - first impression
宅	たく - house, home 自宅 ji taku - one's house 宅配便 taku hai bin - express home delivery
濯	たく - to rinse 洗濯挟み sentaku basami - clothes pin 洗濯物 sen taku mono - clothes to be washed
単	たん - single 単身赴任 tan shin fu nin - transfer without family; the father working in another city 単独会見i tan doku kai ken - exclusive interview
談	だん - talk 怪談 kai dan - ghost story 冗談抜き jou dan nuki - no joking, jesting aside
段	だん - step 手段 shu dan - means, way 段ボール dan bo-ru - cardboard
畜	ちく - livestock 家畜 ka chiku - domesticated animals, cattle 畜産 chiku san - stock breeding
宙	ちゅう - outer space 宇宙基地 u chuu ki chi - space station 宇宙人 u chuu jin - alien, space man 宙返り chuu gaeri - somersault

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 5

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #5
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Reading & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
駐	ちゅう - stationed 駐車場 chuu sha jou - parking lot 駐屯所 chuu ton jo - military station, post
貯	ちょ - lay up 貯金 cho kin - savings, save money 貯水池 cho sui chi - reservoir (of water)
庁	ちょう - government agency 環境庁 kan kyou chou - environmental agency 県庁 ken chou - prefectural headquarters
停	てい - stop, halt バス停 basu tei - bus stop 停学 tei gaku - suspend from school
適	てき - suitable 快適 kai teki - pleasant, comfortable 不適当 fu teki tou - inadequacy, unfitness
鉄	てつ - iron 地下鉄 chi ka tetsu - subway, underground train 鉄棒 tetsu bou - iron bar, crowbar
点	てん - point, marks, dot 凝固点 gyou ko ten - freezing point 交差点 kou sa ten - intersection, crossing
徒	と - follower 使徒 shi to - apostle, disciple 偶像教徒的 guu zou kyou to teki - idolatrous
途	と - way 途中 to chuu - on the way 前途有望 zen to yuu bou - a promising future
党	とう - party, sect, group 反対党 han tai tou - opposition party 民主党 min shu tou - Democratic party
到	とう - arrive 人跡未踏 jin seki mi tou - unexplored 到着 tou chaku - arrival
塔	とう - tower 管制塔 kan sei tou - control tower バベルの塔 baberu no tou - the Tower of Babel
銅	どう - copper, bronze 銅メダル dou medaru - a bronze medal 銅山 dou zan - copper mine
毒	どく - poison 働き中毒 hataraki chuu doku - workaholic, work poisoning 毒見 doku mi - tasting for poison (for a king...) 解毒剤 ge doku zai - antidote
念	ねん - toughts, remembering 記念 ki nen - commemoration, in memory 望郷の念 bou kyou no nen - a sense of nostalgia
農	のう - farming 農家 nou ka - farmer, farm family 農場 nou jou - farm
能	のう - ability 日本語能力試験 nihongo nou ryoku shi ken - the Japanese Language Proficiency Test 人工知能 jin kou chi nou - AI, Artificial Intelligence 不可能 fu ka nou - impossible
脳	のう - brain 洗脳 sen nou - brain washing 頭脳 zu nou - head, brains, intellect
倍	ばい - times X, double 二倍 ni bai - twice, double x2 倍増 bai zou - double
爆	ばく - to explode 原爆 gen baku - atomic bomb 爆弾 baku dan - bomb 爆発 baku hatsu - explosion
箱	はこ - box ごみ箱 gomi bako - garbage box, trash can 主の箱 shu no hako - the Ark of the Lord 巣箱 su bako - nest, hive (bees)
肌	はだ - skin 鳥肌 tori hada - goose bumps, get goose pimples 肌寒い hada samui - chilly
版	はん - print, publishing 英語版 ei go ban - English edition 吹き替え版 fuki kae ban - dubbed version (videos...)
般	はん - to sort, generally 一般的 ippan teki - generally, typically 全般的 zen pan teki - universally
販	はん - to sell 自動販売機 ji dou han bai ki - vending machine 通信販売 tsuu shin han bai - mail order
番	ばん - order, turn, watch 一番 ichi ban - #1, the best, favorite 交番 kou ban - police box 夜番 yo ban - night watch
晩	ばん - evening 一昨晩 issaku ban - night before last 一晩中 hito ban chuu - all night, over night
非	ひ - not, not good 是非 ze hi - certainly, of course 非金属 hi kin zoku - non-metal 非常に hi jou ni - extremely, very

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 6

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #6
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Reading & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
秒	びょう - a second 数秒 suu byou - a few seconds 秒読み byou yomi - countdown
府	ふ - prefecture, agency 大阪府 oo saka fu - Osaka prefecture 政府 sei fu - government
婦	ふ - a woman 看護婦 kan go fu - nurse 夫婦 fuu fu - husband and wife
符	ふ - symbol 引用符 in you fu - quotation marks "" 切符 kippu - ticket
普	ふ - wide, universal, general 普段着 fu dan gi - everyday clothes 普通列車 fu tsuu ressha - regular local train
膚	ふ - skin 皮膚科 hi fu ka - dermatology 完膚なきまで kan pu naki made - completely, thoroughly
部	ぶ - a department, section 倶楽部 ku ra bu - (school) club 警部 kei bu - police inspector 部屋 heya - room (irregular reading)
福	ふく - fortune 祝福 shuku fuku - blessing 福井県 fukui ken - Fukui prefecture 福引き fuku biki - lottery, drawing 福音 fuku in - the Gospel, the Good News 福祉 fuku shi - welfare
副	ふく - secondary 副詞 fuku shi - adverb 副社長 fuku sha chou - vice-president (of company)
復	ふく - return to, again 往復 ou fuku - round trip, return ticket 回復 kai fuku - recovery (from an illness) 復習 fuku shuu - review (studies) 復讐 fuku shuu - revenge
複	ふく - compound, complex 複雑 fuku zatsu - complex, complicated 複数 fuku suu - plural (grammar...) 複製 fuku sei - reproduction, reprinting, duplication
貿	ぼう - trade 貿易会社 bou eki gai sha - trading company 交換貿易制 kou kan bou eki sei - barter system
棒	ぼう - a stick, rod 指揮棒 shi ki bou - conductor's stick 泥棒 doro bou - theif, robber 用心棒 you jin bou - a bodygaurd
帽	ぼう - headgear 脱帽 datsu bou - take off one's hat; my hat's off to you 麦藁帽子 mugi wara bou shi - straw hat
枚	まい - counter for sheets (of paper) 一枚 ichi mai - one flat object (paper) 三枚目 san mai me - a comedian, comic actor 二枚目 ni mai me - a love scene's actor, handsome man
未	み - not yet, still to come 未確認飛行物体 mi kaku nin hi kou buttai - UFO 未知 mi chi - unknown, not known yet 未来型 mi rai gata - futuristic
約	やく - promise, contract 旧約聖書 kyuu yaku sei sho - the Old Testament 契約 kei yaku - contract 婚約 kon yaku - engagement
輸	ゆ - transport 禁輸 kin yu - embargo 密輸 mitsu yu - smuggling 輸入 yu nyuu - import
郵	ゆう - mail 郵税 yuu zei - postage 郵便為替 yuu bin kawase - postal money order
予	よ - in advance, I 予言者 yo gen sha - a prophet 予算 yo san - budget, estimate 予約 yo yaku - reservation, booking
陽	よう - sun, positive 太陽 tai you - the Sun 陽光 you kou - sunlight, sun shine
容	よう - appearance, contain 儀容 gi you - manners 美容院 bi you in - beauty parlor 容疑者 you gi sha - a suspect (person)
翌	よく - the following, the next 翌日 yoku jitsu - the next day 翌年 yoku nen - the following year
陸	りく - land 上陸 jou riku - landing (from plane) 大陸 tai riku - continent
略	りゃく - abridged, strategy 省略 shou ryaku - omission, abbreviation 侵略 shin ryaku - invasion, raid
両	りょう - both 両思う ryou omou - mutual love 両手 ryou te - both hands
領	りょう - territory 大統領 dai tou ryou - president (of country) 領事館 ryou ji kan - consulate
了	りょう - finish, comprehend 完了 kan ryou - completed, finished 終了 shuu ryou - end, finish, termination 了解 ryou kai - understand, roger

2 kyuu Kanji with One Pronunciation Page 7

All the Kanji on the Level 2 Test with ONE reading: #7
NOTE: Actually, most of these kanji DO have more than one reading, however they are rarely used

The Kanji	Reading & Meanings Useful and/or interesting words
療	りょう - treat 治療 chi ryou - medical treatment 医療 i ryou - medical care, medical
類	るい - a kind, a type 書類 sho rui - papers, documents 人類 jin rui - humanity, mankind
令	れい - command 制令 sei rei - regulations 年令 nen rei - age 命令 mei rei - command, order
零	れい - zero 零下 rei ka - below zero, sub-zero 零時 rei ji - midnight
齢	れい - age 学齢 gaku rei - school age 年齢 nen rei - age
歴	れき - personal history 学歴 gaku reki - school history, acedemic background 歴史家 reki shi ka - historian
列	れつ - row, a line 戦列 sen retsu - line of battle 列を作る retsu o tsukuru - make a line 最後列車 sai go ressha - last train
労	ろう - labor, effort 肉体疲労 niku tai hi rou - totally fatigued 勤労者 kin rou sha - worker
録	ろく - record 回顧録 kai ko roku - memoirs, recollections (written down) 黙示録 moku shi roku - the Apocalypse, Book of Revelation 録画 roku ga - recording (video)
論	ろん - argue, theory 意味論 i mi ron - semantics, study of meaning 議論 gi ron - discussion, argument 結論 ketsu ron - conclusion 理論 ri ron - theory
湾	わん - bay 台湾 tai wan - Taiwan 湾岸 wan gan - gulf coast

Cats & Bears

Here are those kanji masquerading as cats!

The Kanji in Question	meaning / readings	Combos and related words
猫	Readings: びょう byou , ねこ neko Meaning: Cat	猫舌 neko jita - A sensitive tongue to heat 猫背 neko ze - stooping, stooping over (like a cat)
描	Readings: びょう byou , えが＋く ega+ku, か＋く ka+ku Meaning: To draw, to picture, to describe	描写 byou sha - a description, to describe
苗	Readings: びょう byou , なえ nae ,  なわ nawa Meaning: a seedling; a young plant, tree	苗代 nawa shiro - a nursery; a bed for rice seedlings 苗木 nae gi - a young tree

Have a look at the bear's cousins...

The Kanji in Question	meaning / readings	Combos and related words
熊	Readings: くま kuma Meaning: Bear	洗熊 arai guma - raccoon (lit. washing bear - because this animal washes his paws) 熊のプーさん kuma no pu-san - Winnie the Pooh 白熊 shiro kuma - Polar Bear
能	Readings: のう nou Meaning: ability; the Noh (play)	可能 kanou - possible 不可能 fukanou - impossible 性能 seinou - ability; efficiency
態	Readings: たい tai Meaning: appearance; state of affairs	態度 taido - attitude

Reversable Kanji Combinations

Here we will explore the wonderful world of kanji. A 熟語 jukugo is a kanji compound where each kanji has a meaning that somehow relates (usually) to the combined kanji's overall meaning. Some kanji combinations can be reversed to give a similar meaning or sometimes opposite meaning. It is this kanji phenomena that we shall explore here. Why? I don't know. It's fun!

#1 Reversed Kanji with the same pronunciation

事故 ji ko - (traffic) accident
故事 ko ji - tradition, historical fact  [submitted by Eduardo]

慣習 kan shuu - usual (historical) custom
習慣 shuu kan - custom, habit, manners

名著 mei cho - famous book, masterpiece
著名 cho mei - well-known

魚雷 gyo rai Torpedo
雷魚 rai gyo A type of fish - snakehead mullet (whatever that is...)

進行 shin kou progress, advance
行進 kou shin march, parade

和平 wa hei peace
平和 hei wa peace

画面 ga men terminal screen, scene, picture, the field (in TV), photo
面画 men ga surface-drawing

社会 sha kai society
会社 kai sha a business

決議 ketsu gi a resolution, resolve
議決 gi ketsu

議会 gi kai an assembly
会議 kai gi a meeting

議論 gi ron an argument; a discussion
論議 ron gi discussion; to discuss or talk about

楽器 gakki - a musical instrument
器楽 ki gaku - instrumental music

光栄 kou ei - honor, glory, privilege
栄光 ei kou - glory

海外 kai gai foreign countries
外海 gai kai open ocean

数人 suu nin - Several People
人数 nin zuu Number of people

材木 zai moku - wood, lumber, timber
木材 moku zai - lumber

実現 jitsu gen - realization (of a dream)
現実 gen jitsu - a reality, actual, real

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#2 Reversed Kanji with a different pronunciation

日本 nihon Japan
本日 hon jitsu Today

家出 ie de  running away from home, leaving home
出家 shukke entering the priesthood, priest, monk

力学 rikigaku mechanics, dynamics
学力 gaku ryoku scholarship, knowledge, literary ability

男優 dan yuu actor
優男 yasa otoko man of gentle manners

根性 kon jyou will-power (vs), guts, temper, nature, spirit
性根 shou ne character, nature

様子 you su aspect, state, appearance
お子様 o ko sama child (polite)

凸凹 dekoboko - rough; uneven
凹凸 ou totsu - unevenness; uneven

敬愛 kei ai - respect & affection
愛敬 ai kyou - love & respect

口出し kuchi dashi - meddling, interference
出口 de guchi - exit

切腹 seppuku - commiting suicide by cutting the stomach
腹切り harakiri - same as above

The Many Mushis

THAT IS, a look at the words that have the pronunciation of ' mushi .'

BEGINNER:

1) 虫 mushi - insect, bug

EXAMPLE: 虫が 好きです。 mushi ga suki desu.  - (I) like bugs.    

VOCAB:
mushi - bug
suki - to like                        
desu - the ending verb that ties it all together  

2) 無視  mushi - disregard, ignore

EXAMPLE: 無視して下さい。 mushi shite kudasai.  Please ignore me.    

VOCAB:   
mushi - ignore
shite - a form of the verb 'suru' - to do
kudasai - together with 'shite kudasai' it means 'please do something' (by itself it means, 'give me.'  I had a friend who occasionally called his sensei's house.  The sensei's husband would answer the phone.  My friend who had then just began his Japanese studies asked very politely, "NAME OF SENSEI, kudasai."  Meaning "NAME OF SENSEI, please."  It was only after 4 or 5 calls that the husband broke down in laughter and explained that my friend was literally asking to HAVE his wife!  It is in such a case where the above example sentence could prove useful!)  

INTERMEDIATE:

3) 蒸し暑い mushi atsui humid

EXAMPLE: フロリダの夏はいつもとても蒸し暑い。
furorida no natsu wa itsumo totemo mushi atsui.
Florida's Summer is always very humid.    

VOCAB:   
furorida - Florida (USA)
no - 's (the possessive marker)
natsu - Summer
itsumo - always
totemo  - very, so

4) 虫歯 mushi ba cavity, decayed tooth

EXAMPLE: チョコレートが好きなので、虫歯が 多いです。
chokore-to ga sukina node, mushiba ga ooi
Because I love chocolate, I have many cavities    

VOCAB:
chokore-to - Chocolate
ga - subject marker / particle
suki - like, love
node - because, since - * notice word order *
ooi - many, a lot

 

ADVANCED:

5) 虫眼鏡 mushi megane - magnifying glass  (lit. 'bug (insect)' 'glasses (spectacles)')

EXAMPLE: ホームスはやっと虫眼鏡で証拠を見つけました。
ho-musu wa yatto mushimegane de shouko wo mitsukemashita.
Holmes, at last, found the evidence with his magnifying glass.    

VOCAB:   
ho-musu - Sherlock Holmes
yatto - finally, at last
de - by means of, at, with...
shouko - evidence  (<BONUS> shouko inmetsu - destruction of evidence)
wo - direct object marker / particle
mitsukemashita - past tense of mitsukeru  - to find
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HAVE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS MUSHI-FREE DAY!