Remembering the Kanji

vol. 3
Writing and Reading Japanese Characters
for Upper-Level Profciency
James W. Heisig
third edition

University of Hawaii Press
honolulu
Contents
Introduction 1
part one: writing
1 New Primitives and Kanji Primitives 7
2 Major Primitive Elements 16
3 Miscellaneous Kanji 95
4 Western Measurements 108
5 Phonetic Characters 110
6 Old and Alternate Forms 112
part two: reading
7 Old Pure Groups 123
8 New Pure Groups 140
9 Semi-Pure Groups 159
10 Mixed Groups 178
11 A Potpourri of Readings 208
12 Kanji with No Chinese Readings 238
13 Readings of Old and Alternate Forms 248
indexes
Index i Kanji 253
Index ii Primitive Elements 260
Index iii Signal Primitives 263
Index iv Kanji in Stroke Order 267
v
Index v Chinese Readings 283
Index vi Japanese Readings 301
Index vii Key Words and Primitive Meanings 333
vi | contents
vi
Introduction
The present volume, which completes the Remembering the Kanji series,
is an update of the 1995 and 2008 editions. When the Japanese Ministry of
Education and Science issued its revised list of general-use kanji () in
fall of 2011, the material in all three volumes had to be reorganized to refect
the changes. As a result, vol. 3 now contains 800 characters. Together with
the 2,200 covered in vols. 1 and 2, this makes for a total of 3,000 kanji. Te
number is not based on any established measure of upper-level profciency. I
had found it mentioned in one of the dictionaries I consulted as the estimated
number of characters a university graduate in Japan might be able to read,
1

and that seemed enough. In the course of preparing the book, 3,000 proved a
workable convenience.
Te choice of characters was complicated. What are most useful for one
specialization would not hold for another. With the kind assistance of Tanya
Sienko, who computerized a database for the project, I decided to aim for the
most commonly used, and with that in mind I turned frst to a list of 3,505 char-
acters published in 1963 by the National Japanese Language Research Institute.
Since 1956 the Institute had been issuing periodic reports of research on kanji
frequency in various felds of study. Based on some ninety academic and popu-
lar journals, a team of scholars turned up 3,328 characters, to which the Institute
added another 177.
2
Although the list was not based on the Ministry of Educa-
tions list of general-use kanji (), it covered all the kanji found in the
1977 list but did not include all the characters from the Ministrys 1990 and 2011
revised lists. Preference was given to kanji identifed as higher-frequency.
Te resulting list was later checked against tables based on frequency of
appearance in the Asahi shimbun over a span of fourteen years,
3
excluding a
small number of proper names not in the 2011 general-use list. In addition,
computerization brought its own problems and a fair share of debateall of
which needed due consideration. A brief history of the early years has been cov-
ered in earlier editions of this volume but may be passed over here.
1
1
(Tokyo: Taishkan, 1992).
2
22 (1963).
3
See, for example,
(Tokyo: Sanseid, 2000), the frst in an ongoing series of volumes known as the ntt data-
base.
2 | introduction
Even with the list of 3,000 kanji in hand, the pronunciation of the kanji,
on-yomi and kun-yomi, presented a special problem. In the case of personal
names, the range of readings is far too extensive to merit committing to mem-
ory. What is more, Japanese authors frequently draw on uncommon kun-yomi
or even create their own. Once again, the absence of established criteria for
common usage made a certain degree of arbitrariness unavoidable. Te on-
yomi presented an additional difculty. Given the use of signal primitives
introduced in vol. 2, there were a handful of cases in which learning the on-
yomi was automatic, even if rare. In the end, I decided to allow most of these
to stand.
Tere are six indexes at the end of the volume. Index i shows hand-drawn
examples of all the new kanji introduced in this book. Index ii is a cumulative
listing of all the primitive elements and signal elements introduced in Vols. 1,
2, and 3. Index iii lists all the signal primitives from vols. 2 and 3. Index iv
arranges all the kanji from all 3 volumes in order of strokes. Indexes v and vi
contain cumulative lists of all the Chinese (on) and Japanese (kun) readings for
the kanji of all three volumes. Finally, Index vii is a comprehensive list of all
the key words and primitive meanings in Vols. 1 and 3.
Parts One and Two follow, respectively, the methods of Vols. 1 and 2 of
Remembering the Kanji. The layout of the frames has changed slightly to
include cross-referencing. Frames in Part One look like this:
Frame number. Te enumeration is continued from Vol. 1.
Frame number of reading. Te corresponding frame appears in Part
Two of the present volume. Te enumeration continues from Vol. 2.
Key word.
Kanji.
Primitive elements.
Number of strokes.
Explanatory note. Italics are used to refer to primitive element, bold type
to the key word.
Cross-reference to frame numbers in vols. 1 and 3.
2807
pliable

r-2546
Leather . . . blade. [12]
2808
terminate

r-2499
Leather . . . bound up . . . rice. [17]

head
2809
overturn

r-2745
True . . . head. [19]
2810
brush tip

r-3032
Spoon . . . wheat . . . head. [16]
2811
exceedingly

r-2775
Pelt . . . head. [14]
2812
accolade

r-2886
Public . . . head. [13]
2813
neck and throat

r-2605
Spool . . . head. [14]
Te key word here is meant to specify the anatomical neck, to distin-
guish it from the broader uses of the character (frame 74).
92 | remembering the kanji 3

introduction | 3
Te frames of Part Two are patterned on the following sample:
Signal primitive for the following frames.
Primary on-yomi of the signal primitive.
Kanji from Vol. 2 with the signal primitive and its primary on-yomi.
Secondary on-yomi of the signal primitive.
Kanji from Vol. 2 with the signal primitive and its secondary on-yomi.
Cross-reference to frame number in Vol. 2.
Kanji.
On-yomi of the frame kanji.
Cross-reference to frame in Part One.
Frame number for Part Two (reading). Tese numbers are continued
from Vol. 1.
Sample compound and writing for on-yomi.
Readings of sample compound and on-yomi.
English translation of sample compound and Japanese meaning.
Kanji infected for kun-yomi.
Full kun-yomi.
English translation of kun-yomi example.
In conclusion, I should like to express my thanks to Sano Takayo for her
meticulous checking of the completed typescript, and to Pat Crosby of the
University of Hawaii Press for taking over the publication of this and other
volumes in the series.
James W. Heisig
Nagoya
groups a & b mixed groups | 181

r-860 r-861 r-862 r-863

2759

r-2701
I metaphor

compare; liken to

r-872 r-873 r-874 r-875

2310

r-2702
euphemistic

2550

r-2703
wooden bowl

2637

r-2704
teacup

r-900 r-901 r-902

2582

r-2705
nirvana

2632

r-2706
huge rock

boulder

chapter 1
New Primitives and Kanji Primitives
new primitives
We begin our journey to 3,000 kanji with the addition of a few new primitive
elements to those already included in vol. 1. Tey have been included only if
they appear frequently enough in the kanji in general to be useful, or if at least
three instances appear in this volume. Each new element is followed by the new
characters in which it appears.
Afer this, all the primitives in this volume should already be familiar to you.
If you get stuck, consult the comprehensive list in Index ii at the end of this vol-
ume.
2201
this here

r-2846
Footprint . . . spoon. [6]

v Used as a primitive, this character will take on the meaning of a
laser pointer, the kind you might use to highlight something on a
screen during a demonstration.
2202
brushwood

r-2847
Laser pointer . . . tree. [10]
2203
whit

r-2849
Laser pointer . . . two. [8]
8 | remembering the kanji 3
2204
fort

r-2848
Laser pointer . . . stone. [11]
2205
beard

r-3189
Mane . . . shape . . . laser pointer. [16]
v sheik

Top hat . . . villain . . . belt . . . elbow. Tis element is already familiar

from the character (frame 1605). Te element for elbow here actu-
ally requires three strokes instead of the usual two, the combination of
elements being a radical classically defned as having fve strokes.
Tus, although the general-use character draws the last three strokes
with two strokes, in less commonly used characters like the three that
follow, dictionaries follow the older stroke counteven though most
people today prefer the simpler writing, as shall we. [10]

2206
fowl

r-2907
Umbrella . . . sheik. [12]
2207
apple

r-2908
Tree . . . fowl. [16]
v shoeshine

Rice . . . sunglasses. This combination of elements has already been

learned from the character (frame 1408). Te assignation of the
primitive meaning is almost entirely arbitrary. [12]

chapter 2
Major Primitive Elements
The kanji treated in this chapter comprise the bulk of part one of this book,
615 characters in all. Each character is entered under its principal primitive ele-
ment, and the elements themselves are arranged in their dictionary order.

person
2244
Yamato

r-3109
Person . . . committee. [10]
2245
chivalry

r-2425
Person . . . scissors. [8]
2246
fed up

r-2638
Person . . . scroll. [11]
2247
abrupt

r-2442
Person . . . ego. [9]
2248
work a feld

r-2860
Person . . . rice feld. [7]
2249
animal ofspring

r-2865
Person . . . child. [5]
chapter 4
Western Measurements
The handful of characters presented in this chapter are meant to introduce
you to the basic principles used in writing Western units of measurement. Con-
temporary Japanese has by and large discarded this way of writing, but it is not
uncommon to meet these characters in historical texts. As frightening as they
might appear at frst, there is a very clear logic to their composition.
2953
kilometer

r-3200
Rice . . . one thousand. [9]
Te character is used for meter (from the sound). Tus, a kilometer
is made by adding the element for thousand.
2954
centimeter

r-3199
Rice . . . one rin. [15]
Te reason that the rin (, frame 190) or 1/1000th of a yen is added to
the meter to give us centimeter is that originally meant 1/100th, and
1/1000th, as we see in the following frame.
2955
millimeter

r-3198
Rice . . . fur. [10]
Incidentally, you should note that the same conventions are used to
create liters, centiliters, and milliliters, based on another kanji chosen
for its sound: , , and .
2956
ton

r-2717
Mouth . . . immediate. [16]
chapter 5
Phonetic Characters
While the kana syllabaries have taken over most of the chores of incorporat-
ing loan words in their original sounds, a few exceptions have survived. Te
following group of characters are used mainly today for their sound value,
rather than for their meaning. In each case, the sound is provided by a sig-
nal primitive, as will be indicated in Part Two of this volume. To make things
simpler, signal primitives (or there composite elements) have been underlined
throughout this chapter.
2961
brahman

r-2650
Tis is the sound character for the Sanskrit word brahman, and is also
used to indicate the Sanskrit language as such. Its elements are: grove
. . . mediocre. [11]
2962
bodhisattva

r-3016
Flowers . . . pinnacle . . . products. [16]
Although this character can be used as an abbreviation of bodhi sattva,
the full writing combines it with that in the following frame. Both of
them are transliterations of Sanskrit terms.
2963
bo tree

r-2950
Flowers . . . muzzle. [11]
2964
babble

r-2529
Mouth . . . Asia. [10]
Te sense of the key word is that of a baby oohing and aahing.
chapter 6
Old and Alternate Forms
Earlier on, in frame 2440 of chapter 2, we introduced an old form of the
character for technique ( ). In this chapter we pick up 32 more old and
alternate forms. In some cases, the older form has never been updated. In oth-
ers, both forms are still in use. Examples of other cases where older forms and
newer abbreviations occur are given in their respective frames.
2969
Japanese cypress
[old]

r-3210
Tree . . . meeting . . . pent in . . . little . . . sun. [11]
Te right side of this character looks rather more formidable than its
simplifed form (, frame 1446) is. Te tricky part lies in the elements
that have been described as pent-in . . . little. (Te latter element you
will remember from the element for outhouse or candle .) The
combination, when it appears in other characters, is generally abbre-
viated to the shape of the element for sun. In any case, drawing the
shape will show it to be quite natural. Here are some examples of the
old form and their standard, simpler forms:
old form modern abbreviation
(814)
(1446)
2970
tinkling bell

r-3154
Tread . . . words . . . thread . . . mouth. [22]
Te primitive at the top of this character is abbreviated in more com-
mon words as , a primitive element that was learned in vol. 1 (page
379). Note the following examples:
chapter 7
Old Pure Groups
The first group of readings center on what were called in Remem bering the
Kanji 2 Pure Groups. Each character that belongs to a pure group contains
a signal primitive which prescribes a given on-yomi for that character and all
others in the group with it.
Te number to the far right of the top line set in bold type indicates the
frame number in which the writing of the kanji was introduced. In almost all
cases this refers to a frame in Part One of the present volume. Te number
under the character in each frame is preceded by an r- to indicate that it
refers to a reading frame. Tese numbers begin where vol. 2 lef of.
Unlike vol. 2, the frames also include not only on-yomi but kun-yomi as
well. In some cases, the assigned readings are almost never used, or used only
for names. Because the number of special readings for names is virtually lim-
itless, we have included only those that are practically never used except for
names. For further information about the layout of the frames, see page 3.
We begin this chapter with groups whose signal primitives were already
introduced in vol. 2. Te signal primitive, its pronunciation, and characters
belonging to the same appear in a separate frame at the head of each section.
Te number under the characters in the group frames refers to the frame
in vol. 2. which introduced the reading (hence the r- preceding it.) Where a
number is missing, the single primitive in question was learned as a primitive.

r-89 r-90 r-91 r-92 r-93 r-94

2432

R-2410
Kohaku Shrine (Tokyo)
lion-dogs guarding shrines
Te character is actually the name of one of the lands of an-
cient Korea. Te on-yomi is rarely used, even in names.
124 | remembering the kanji 3

2678
R-2411
gold leaf

2690

R-2412
lees; dregs

lees

r-78 r-79 r-80 r-81 r-82 r-83 r-84

2666

R-2413
a country ruled in peace

2793

R-2414
protection against rust

rust

r-95 r-96 r-97 r-98 r-99 r-100

2341

R-2415
kitchen knife

r-132 r-133 r-134 r-135 r-136

2880
R-2416
soap
old pure groups | 125

r-69 r-70 r-71 r-73 r-73

2529

R-2417
to catch on; click

r-128 r-129 r-130 r-131

2490

R-2418
Sugawara family
Note how the family is referred to by using the on-yomi of
the frst character of their full name.
sedge

Sugawara (family ame)

r-74 r-75 r-76 r-77

2726

R-2419
formic acid

ant

r-101 r-102 r-103 r-104

2655

R-2420
bumper crop
bear fruit; fructify
fruitful