Today's kanji is 放.The blue part describes "dead person is hanged on tree for charm against evil spirits".The red part describes "hit, knock, beat".Dead person is hanged on tree and hit by people!Hope the evil spirits will...Can you guess the meaning?See the comments page for the answer!
It's the best season for 桜 (sakura, cherry blossoms) now in Tokyo.In this season, a lot of people drink and eat under sakura trees in the park or river side.It's getting warm but still quite cold outside especially in the evening, but people try to drink in the park with coat and scarf. (^ ^;)The event is called 花見 (hanami).(Just in case... 花見 (hanami) is seeing cherry blossoms and 花火 (hanabi) is fireworks.)I did hanami last weekend with my friends, too.Do you have similar event in your country?Do you sometimes drink outside even if it's cold!?By the way, there is another meaning for the word "Sakura".Another sakura is usually written in katakana and describes people.When people are trying to sell something, if there isn't any customer, people usually don't care about the shop.But if there are many customers, you could be interested in the shop.So shops sometimes hire people who pretend customers.The people are called サクラ (sakura).They are called sakura because sakura trees seem very gorgeous and the flowers fall soon.The people try to do same thing.The way of using the word "sakura" is popular in Japanese.Try to use the word when you talk with your Japanese friends.Like..."Wow! That store is very crowded!""Well... maybe some of them are sakura, don't you think so?"
The blow 5 kanji made from their shapes.
Click the picure to expand.
Can you guess which kanji describes which picture?There is the answer in the blow explanations.
These are simple, basic and important kanji.Japanese people learn them for first year of elementary school.These kanji almost look like pictures!Don’t you think so?
By the way, the above kanji, especially 山, 川 and 田 are often used in Japanese family names because a lot of Japanese people decided their family name depend on where they lived.Do you have any Japanese friends with these kanji?These are example words including the above kanji.山 mountain山（yama）：mountain富士山（fujisan）：Mt.Fuji火山（kazan）：volcano田 field田んぼ（tanbo）：rice field田畑（tahata）：field田植え（taue）：rice planting口 mouth口（kuchi）：mouth入り口（iriguchi）：entrance口づけ（kuchizuke）：kiss門 gate門（mon）：gate門限（mongen）：curfew門番（monban）：doorkeeper, gatekeeper川 river川（kawa）：river川原（kawara）：riverbank, river sideナイル川（nairu gawa）：Nile riverThere are a lot of kanji made from the shape.But some of them are too difficult (actually almost impossible!) to tell the meaning from the kanji.老 means "old"This kanji (should) look like old person who cannot stand straight.肉 means "meat"This kanji (should) look like meat with nerve.卵 means "egg"This kanji (should) look like eggs of fish or frog.
Hmm... what do you think!?
Today's kanji is 包.The blue part describes "body".The red part describes "unborn baby".What does the body do for the unborn baby?Can you guess the meaning?See the comments page for the answer!
In Japan, when parents give name for their child, they often care about the meaning of kanji which they use in the name.
As you may know, each kanji has meaning.
For example, my name Akiko is “明子” in kanji.明 means “bright” and 子 means “child” also 子 is often used in girl’s name.My parents hoped that I became a bright child.My mum’s name is Sachiko, “幸子” in kanji.幸 is happy and 子 is child, I guess my grandparents hoped that my mum became a happy child.
There are some popular Japanese names in the following list.Girl’s nameYuki 有紀 有(exist) ＋ 紀(methodical) Hope she becomes a person with methodical ideaNatsuko 夏子 夏(summer) ＋ 子(child) She was born in August.Kimie 喜美恵 喜(glad) ＋ 美(beautiful) ＋ 恵(bless) Hope she is always glad, beautiful and blessed. (What an ambitious name!!)Youko 陽子 陽(sun) ＋ 子(child) Hope she becomes a cheerful child like sun.Boy’s nameKen 健 健(healthy) Hope he is always healthy.Tetsuya 哲也 哲(smart) ＋ 也(“yes, it’s true.”) Hope he becomes a 100% smart person.Jiro 次郎 次(next, second) ＋ 郎(boy) He is their second son.Ryoichi 良一 良(good) ＋ 一(one, best, first) Hope he becomes the best boy in the world!Do you know any people having the above name?Do you think the name is suitable for the person?
How do parents decide the names for their children in your country?
