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一
First of all, there are 6 types of Kanji as follows.
１
Shokei-moji
A kanji that has been created based on a line, drawing of the shape of what is visible, like Hieroglyphs.
2
Shiji-moji
A kanji that has been created based on a diagram of things that are difficult to express as a shape, indicated by dots and lines
3
Kaii moji
A kanji that is a combination of two or more hieroglyphs, simple ideograms, etc., and has a different meaning from the original kanji.
４
Keisei-moji
A kanji that is formed by combining a kanji for pronunciation and a kanji for meaning. It accounts for more than 80% of all kanjis.
５
Tenchu-moji
A kanji that has changed from the original meaning of it to another meaning. For example, "raku"( ) was originally a hieroglyphic character meaning "music," but since listening to music is "fun," it was converted to the sound "raku" and the meaning "fun".
６
Kasya-moji
Originally, there was no unique character for the word, so the word was tentatively borrowed from another character with similar phonetics.
Origin
⼀
This kanji ( ) is one of Shijimojis (see the page.2 ) By putting one horizontal line, this kanji shows the number, one.
≒
Meaning
1: one 2: make something together 3: once 4: first or beginning 5: same, pure 6: solely 7: all, every 8: at some time 9: another 10: a little, a few, small 11: entirely
Reading Chinese reading: Ichi, Itu Japanese reading: Hito, Hito(-tsu) What is "Chinese reading"and "Japanese reading" ?
- Chinese reading: readings which was derived from Chinese pronunciations. - Japanese reading: original, indigenous Japanese readings.
Idioms
⼀括（Ikkatsu）…
in a lump, lumping together
⼀ 千金（Ikkoku senkin）…
A moment in time is worth a thousand dollars. It means to spare a wonderful time or an important time from passing.
⼀貴⼀ 情 ⾒（Ikki issen koujou sunawachi arawaru）…
When one's status becomes high or low, one can understand the true feelings of people in the world. It means that human feelings are frivolous.
Source of this post
Page. 4 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten , 2001
⽥正 ⽶ 郎『⼤ （⼤ 書 、 ）4⾴
典』
2
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二
Origin
This kanji is one of Shiji-mojis. By putting two horizontal lines, this kanji means the number, two.
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Meaning 1: Two 2: Twice 3: Separate something into two, or make something double 4: Next to 5: Something to rival, comparable. 6: Doubt
Reading
Chinese reading: Ni Japanese reading: Huta(-tsu)
Idioms
⼆元論（Ni-gen-ron）：
In philosophy, the idea that phenomena of the universe are based on two fundamental principles.
⼆ 者不 ⼀ （Nito wo oumonoha itto womo ezu）：A man who chases two rabbits and tries to
catch them will not be able to catch one of them. It is a metaphor for the failure of aspiring to two things at the same time.
⼀⽯⼆⿃（Isseki-nichou）：
Killing two birds with one stone.
Source of this post Page. 4 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）4⾴
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三
Origin
This kanji is one of Shiji mojis. By putting three horizontal lines, this kanji means the number, three.
≒
Meaning
1: three 2: three times 3: to separate something into three
Reading
Chinese reading: San Japanese reading: Mi (-tsu, ttsu)
三 友（San-eki-yu）... Friends that do Idioms
The three kinds of friends that benefit you. People who are righteous, people who are honest, and people who are knowledgeable.
三
(San-mu-shi)...The fairness of heaven, earth, sun and moon. It means that there is no self-covering in the heavens, no self-inclusion in the earth, and no self-sighting in the sun and moon. The word "I" means to favor one over another.
三 （San-mon）...A word for a little money, something of little value.
三 成 （Sannin-torawonasu）...If there is no tiger, but
many people say there is, people will believe it. If many people say something even if it is not true, people will believe it as fact.
Source of this post
Page. 12 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）12⾴
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四
Origin This kanji is of "symbol"kanji. This kanji was originally four horizontal lines, but before long it became this character. This kanji shows a mouth and teeth when you say "shi" (means "four" in Japanese).
shi
〜〜〜
≒
Meaning
1: Four 2: Four times 3: Four direction
Reading
Chinese reading: Shi Japanese reading: Yo, Yon, Yo(-ttsu)
（Shi-tan）：The four minds
Idioms
that human beings are born with and should become the four virtues of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, and wisdom through cultivation.
（Shi-ki）：Four seasons in a year 知（Shi-chi）：That the heaven, the earth, your
friends, and yourself know it. Even when you do something secretly, it is a warning that even if something is done in secret, it will always be revealed. From the words of Wang Mian to Yang Zhen of the Later Han Dynasty when he secretly brought him a bribe at night.
（Shihou）：East, west, north, and south.
Every direction.
Source of this post
Page. 239 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）239⾴
5
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五
Origin
sky
earth
It represents the meaning of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) that act alternately between heaven and earth, thus the meaning of the number, five.
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Meaning
1: Five 2: Five times 3: Make something into five, or five times
Reading
Chinese reading: Go Japanese reading: Itsu, Itsu(-tsu)
情（Gojo）: The five emotions.
Idioms
Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, and resentment.
⼗ 百 （Gojuppo-hyappo）：That there is little
difference. It doesn't matter whether you run away for 50 steps or 100 steps on the battlefield as the fact that you ran away is the same. This phrase means that even if there is a slight difference on the surface, the essence is the same.
⾥ 中(Gori muchu) ⾥ is a unit of distance that is 3.9 meters in old days (so ⾥ means a distance that is very far to walk ) is fog. 中 is inside. So this phrase
means that when you walk in fog for long time. Therefore this phrase eventually means that you don't know which direction to go and when the mind is lost and cannot discern things properly.
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）
6
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六
Origin
At first, it was a hieroglyphic character in the shape of a house, but later it came to represent the number six.
≒
Meaning
1: Six 2: Six times 3: Sixth
Reading
Chinese reading: Roku Japanese reading: Mu, Mu(-tsu, -ttsu)
六書(Riku-sho)：A classification of Idioms
六
Chinese characters into six types based on their origins and usage (see the origin section of post for " " )
⼀
：
(Riku-shin) Six kinds of family members (as follows), also it means all the family members: 1. Father 2. Children 3. Older brother 4. Younger brother 5. Husband 6. Wife
六 不和有
：
(Riku-shin wasezushite-koujinari) Because generally family members do not get along well, when there is a virtue of being able to support family it stands out. This is a saying known as a paradoxical refutation of Confucianism, which emphasizes the virtues of filial piety and love.
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）
7
2,136
七
Origin
⼗
This kanji was originally " " and it meant cutting but time after time it becomes to mean the number, seven.
≒
Meaning
1 Seven 2 Seven times
Reading
Chinese reading: Shichi Japanese reading: Nana, nana(-tsu), nano
Idioms
七草（nana-kusa）：Seven kinds of green vegetables that are said to be good to eat in Spring. It is a tradition since 1362 to eat them on the seventh day of the New Year to ward off evil spirits and all illnesses of the year.
七
（Nanakorobi yaoki）：No matter how many
times you fall, get up each time. Don't give in to repeated failures, but get up. " " means falling. " " means getting up so is falling seven times, and is getting up eight times.
七
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）
８ 2,136
八
Origin
This kanji has originally meant something split in two. Before long the meaning changed and today it means the number, 8.
≒
Meaning
1 Eight 2 Eight times
Also because as it goes down this kanji gets wide, this kanji is also means something lucky or flourish, and prosperity.
Reading
Chinese reading: Hachi Japanese reading: Ya, Ya(ttsu) You
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten Daisyukan shoten 鎌⽥正, ⽶⼭寅太郎 『⼤修館漢語新辞典』 （⼤修館書店、2001）
9
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九
Origin This kanji expresses that something is refracted and exhausted. The meaning of the number exhausted and extreme, nine. Kanjis that include this kanji means something bent and pressed together.
Reading
Chinese reading: Kyu Japanese reading: Kokono, kokono(tsu)
≒
Meaning
1 nine 2 nine times 3 end point in measuring numbers, many 4 getting old, long-continued
⽜の⼀⽑(Kyu-gyu-no ichimou)：
Idioms
A single hair among many cows. A tiny number among many. An expression like "A drop in an ocean".
⼀⽣(Kyushi-ni-issho)：When your live is
saved at the possibility of being saved is about 10%.
の も累⼟より こる(Kyu-so-noutenamo-ruidoyori-okoru)：A metaphor for
that a large project starts out very small. It means that even a nine-story high palace begins with a small pile of earth.
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）
10
2,136
十
Origin
This kanji originally come from the shape of needle and meant needle, but time after time the meaning of this kanji has changed and today it gets to mean the number, 10.
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Meaning
1 Ten 2 Ten times 3 Many 4 Enough, thoroughly 5 All
Reading
Chinese reading: Juu Jit Japanese reading: Toh
Idioms
⼗ ⼗
：
(Juunin-Toiro) This is a Japanese proverb (Kotowaza) that says "Ten people, ten colors" As you may have guessed, this one simply means "everybody is different": ie. if you meet ten people, you meet ten different colors of personality.
Idioms
⾺⼗駕 (Doba-Ju-ga)： This is a saying based on an old story in ancient China. ⾺ is a mongie horse. ⼗駕 means a tenday running for a horse. There is a great horse that can run 1000 ⾥ (⾥ is an unit for distance) in a day. However, even if it is mongie that can run only for 100⾥ in a day, if it runs for 10 days, will be able to reach same place. Therefore this is a metaphor for that any ordinary person can succeed if s/he makes efforts constantly.
Source of this post
https://taiken.co/single/sixinsightful-japanese-proverbskotowaza-part-two/ Page 175 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）175⾴
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人
Origin
The kanji character for "person" was created from the shape of a person viewed from the side.
人
JFYI
In a Japanese famous TV drama, ””Mr. Kinpachi in Class 3B”” Mr. Kinpachi says that "We humans help each other, this is why the Kanji for people made of two lines support each other."
人
Reading
Chinese reading: Jin, Nin Japanese reading Hito
：
≒
Meaning 1 Person 2 Human, mankind 3 People, ordinary people 4 Others 5 Respectable person 6 Inferiors 7 Personality 8 Each person, per each person, one by one 9 An unit to count person
Idioms
⽣（Jinsei）：Life of human （Jinkaku）：Personality,
nature, obligation, qualification of a person who is responsible for oneself.
（Jinken）：Human right, the rights that a
person is considered to be entitled to as a person.
間（Ningen）：Human, human society ⽣は 露のごとし（Jinsei-ha-asatsuyu-nogotoshi）：
A person's life is as fleeting as the morning dew that dries up as soon as the sun comes out.
Source of this post
Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）
12
2,136
化
Origin
化
This kanji is one of Shiji-mojis (see my post that introduces " ") Originally this kanji was made of two symbols that mean " ", which were placed in a pointsymmetrical position. Therefore it meant change of people, death. Today " " is also used as a note to show the sound: ka or the meaning: change.
⼀
Reading
Chinese reading: Ka, Ke Japanese reading Ba (-keru), Ba (-kasu)
：
≒
Meaning 1. Change 2. A function that nature give a birth to everything 3. The work and teachings of the saints to transform / change people for the better. 4. To be born, to give a birth, generate something, produce something 5. To transform the shape and make it bizarre 6. To die, perish 7. Magic 8. Manners and customs
Idioms I hope this post helps you when you travel in Japan and look for us :)
(Kesho) : Cosmetics
化粧室(Kesho-shitsu) : Toilet
Source of this post Page 63 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）63⾴
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介
Origin
This kanji has come from shape of a man in an armor, a function of which is to divide the space for him into outside and inside and protect himself. Time after time it became to mean "meditating" "help" "binding".
Reading
Chinese reading: Kai
≒
Meaning 1: To help or helper 2: To mediate, mediation, 3: To let something separated, or to seperate, divide. 4: Being between some things, pinch. 5: Edge, border. 6: To put on armor, an armor. 7: One, one person. 8: Depend on. 9: Big, make something bigger.
Idioms
：
(Kaigo) Care, nursing
：
(Kainyu) Intervention. Getting in between people
：
(Kaihou) Taking care of others.
在 (Kaizai)：
To lie or stand in between / in the middle of something
Source of this post Page 63 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）63⾴
1
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今
Origin
（ ⼀）
This kanji is one of Shijimojis see the post that introduces " " . By using signals that covers something completely, it meant "now".
Reading
Chinese reading: Kon, Kin Japanese reading: Ima
≒
Meaning 1: Now 2: Today 3: These days, recently 4: Soon 5: This, Here 6: If, Or 7: On on top of that 8: Again
Idioms (Ke-sa): This morning
年 (Kotoshi): This year ⽉ (Kongetsu): This month ⾬ (Kin-u): A person whom you just made friends with
Source of this post
Page 64 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）64⾴
1
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仁
Origin
This kanji is made of two parts, (left side) (right side) and means warmness that goes across humans
＋⼆
Reading
Chinese reading: Jin, Ni
≒
Meaning 1: love, philia, heart, affectionateness, tenderness 2: to be intimate with; to befriend 3: thoughtfulness, consideration, understanding, sympathy 4: to nurture, nourish 5: human mind, heart 6: person of virtuous character 7: seed of a fruit, which is a core part and become bud
Idioms
仁王(Niou)：
the Kongorikishi who stand on either side of the temple gate as protectors of Buddhism.
Source of this post
Page 65 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001）6５⾴
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６ 2,136
仏
Origin
This kanji was changed from to
was taken from and this word is used when it looks like something, but you can't see it clearly as it is vague and subtle Also, it has been used as an abbreviation for "Buddha" since it sounds close ("Butsu")
≒
Meaning 1: Subtle 2: To violate principles 3: Twist 4: Big, popular 5: Buddha, Buddhism 6: Franc 7: Support, assist 8: The dead 9: Softhearted person, person of good character 10: France
Reading
Chinese reading: Butsu, Futsu Japanese reading: Hotoke
：
Idioms
(Bukkyo) Buddhism
⼿
：
(Kishu-Busshin) Surgeons operate brutally and boldly, but this is due to their tender heart to heal their patients. Buddha's heart and devil's hands.
の も三度まで(Hotokeno kaomo sandomade)：
It is a metaphor for the fact that even the most mild-mannered person will become angry if you are repeatedly rude to them.
Source of this post
Page 65-66 Kamata, T and Yoneyama, R (2001) "Daisyukan Kango Shinjiten"
Daisyukan shoten
⽥正, ⽶ 郎 『⼤ 典』 （⼤ 書 、2001） 6５-６６⾴