Henshall Kanji Mnemonics

This page contains mnemonics for the kanji taught in the first six years of school in Japan (i.e.
1,006 kanji), as developed by Professor Kenneth Henshall. They have been extracted from his
book: "A Guide To Remembering Japanese Characters" (Tuttle, 1995). The book covers all 1,945
general-use kanji.
This page has been prepared by William Clausing and Jim Breen with the kind permission of
Professor Henshall and Tuttle Publishing. The material on this page is copyright and must not be
reproduced elsewhere in any form without the permission of Tuttle Publishing.
Kanji Number Mnemonic

132

pound threads with spoon to make paper

349

ten eyes fixed directly on corner

418

consider plan around restful wooden table

419

person uses plow as starting point

421

person stands according to rank

422

enclosure surrounds well

425

hand presses down on person as on seal

426

England has superior plants in its center

427

tree flourishes gloriously under ornate cover

428

person throws salty dish from mouth to ground

431

strengthened by added mouth

432

change goods for money and vice-versa

433

section of lesson contains fruitful words

434

plant with fang-like shoots

435

force oneself to reform

436

wooden device for admonishing

437

covering live mouth can cause harm

438

each person sits crosslegged and open mouthed

439

remember to be awake when learning by looking

441

government official in building sits on backside

443

bamboo pipe under control

445

look and observe crested bird

446

wish springs from head not heart

447

interwoven cloth threads desirable but rare

449

chronicle of self threads from beginning to end

450

food pot at mouth makes samurai happy

451

person at side of winnowing device holds flag

453

on how many occasions is wooden loom used?

454

discussion involves righteous use of words

455

cross water to seek spotted fur coat

456

rescue by coercive request

457

supply joined threads

458

raise laden table by hand: some act!

462

shout aloud at bent legs in metal mirror

464

person pushed into opening between wooden poles

467

village belongs to lord of county district

468

model punishment for earthy types

469

sunny capital is a bright scene

470

two nosey people examine art of planting

472

bind samurai's mouth with thread

473

hand holds pen erect

474

healthy person stands erect

476

solid old enclosure

477

meritorious service entails effortful work

478

person points to weather signs with arrow

479

desktop boat voyage

480

hand pounds healthy bran flakes in building

481

proclaim with bull-like roar from mouth

482

sheep on left is different

483

hand plucks vegetables near tree

484

take most sun when it's at its highest point

485

lots of timber in dam of felled trees

487

""buttock cloth"" has finely cut print

489

surmise why one worships under roof

490

go to get big nose with three hairs attended to

491

live birth standing on cliff

492

hand strikes meat, scattering twenty-one pieces

493

two cruel halberds leave only bare bone

496

hand of man central to history

497

one official administers corner entrance

499

test forms of words

500

decline with words from sharp tongue

501

man about to lose baton

502

person who has borrowed in the past

503

kind of rice plant heavy with seed

504

earth around mouth of hoop

506

compliant heads in sequence like flowing river

507

clothes must first be cut

508

preacher's mouth recites for two days

511

moreover, shells are prizes

512

retainer keeps watchful eye out

515

become exact after trimming with halberd blade

516

few eyes examine ministry: an omission

518

strong power forces up round earthen mounds

519

conflict quieted by sight of calming green

520

building with twenty-one cloth seats

521

take blame for pile-up of rice plants

523

bamboo has joints, namely sections

525

water shallow: depth of two halberds

526

fight war with simple halberd

527

choose to move together like twisting threads

528

duly eat roast dog meat, but . . .

529

vie with bent old man, stick in hand

531

warehouse has cover and doored entrance

535

be at side of model person

536

continue to sell threads

537

ten soldier-men in top hats

538

descendants are children in thread-like lineage

539

find cloth belt in mountain zone

540

unit of pig-like soldiers on hill

541

sheep move on ground to attain goal

542

simple unit of ten fields

544

govern from a watery platform

545

put net directly in path

546

stored wealth fits exactly under roof

547

fleshy intestines exposed to rising sun

549

scoop out base of building

550

person stops at inn

552

bend six rules

554

follower runs futilely along road

555

try with slave-like effort

557

furthermore, hall is on raised ground

560

earthen mounds round fire become hot

561

have thoughts in heart even now

562

shell ""defeated"" by striking hand

564

gain ten exclusive points by extensive gambling

565

opposed to eating cooked rice

566

two long beaked cranes fly through tall reeds

567

unwind and spend money

570

vote shows west is best

571

tree is a signpost showing west

575

large building attached to government center

576

deputy cut down at single entrance to field

577

minutely divided rice becomes powder

580

movement cuts through boundary

581

change to a sort of red as one sits crosslegged

583

serpent-like embryo enveloped in womb

584

constrained by law to leave water

585

king gazes at moon, wishing for death

586

hand with stick makes cow go into pasture

588

both grass and water can be filling

589

veins are tributaries of the body

593

every western has vital need for woman in it

594

rear sheep for food

595

valley water is good for bathing

597

hills and earthen mounds indicate land

599

measure of rice has fixed charge

600

village gets measured quantity, for one day

601

vehicle has aligned and capped wheels

602

variety of rice with big head

603

kneeling person ordered to don cap

604

ice rules in freezing cold

605

people in line show example of precedent

606

history stops with indoor rice plants?!

610

labor with effort under ornate roof

616

ornately roofed barracks with joined rooms

617

opening to go on guard for almost five years

619

make profit on eight sets of tableware

620

need for liquid, even water at night

621

perform in building by yellow river

622

react with feeling to building

624

feelings are cause of kind favor

625

person opposed to even temporary falsehood

626

person from west has price on head

629

excessive movement makes backbone pass mouth!

630

congratulations on adding to one's money

631

no water, but decidedly cheerful feelings

632

solve problem by cutting off cow's horn

633

each tree sets a standard

634

ascertain that bird under roof is a roc

635

visitor's forehead looks like plaque

636

publish book on how to keep sword dry

637

person dries trunk as sun rises through grass

638

become used to having heart pierced

640

stop and stare with wide eyes

641

winnowing device based on firm ground

642

draw near to strange house

643

adult male looked upon as standard

644

support from skilled hands facilitates craft

645

I am like a sheep, full of righteousness

646

big upside-down man moves in reverse

647

stooping person propped up for a long time

648

only one day old, but old nonetheless

649

old person sitting slumped is at home

650

permit speech at noon

651

stand on sunny ground, legs astride boundary

652

same hands raised at table--how interesting

653

level ground with one ladle?!

654

altar in forbidden forest

655

mouth wraps itself around phrase

656

words flow like river in lesson

657

lord of sheep flock

658

guiding hand passes threads to ground

659

master cuts threads, washes clean in water

660

person leading away cow is a serious matter

661

start two fires with cut up tickets

662

elder brother dons cap to climb steep hill

663

elder brother investigates wooden cover

664

silk threads from round fleshy worm

665

stop and stare from hill, having reached limits

666

see jewel that now appears

667

decreased water brings on heartless feeling

668

old stick in hand a thing of the past

669

that individual is a hard person

670

wordily defend hand seizing bird in grass

671

exchange of strength proves most effective

673

till around well and many branched tree

674

extensive metal ore

675

do you mind if it's built with wooden baskets?

676

lecture built with ""baskets"" of words

677

compare sun and water--a confusing mix

678

furthermore, wood should be investigated

679

add one basket again

682

gather fruit from tree with two hands

683

festival at edge of hill is quite an occasion

684

funny dam is located near countryside dwelling

685

dam full of money means great wealth

686

not a network, but still criminal

687

nine miscellaneous birds gathered in tree

688

silkworm is a heavenly insect

689

alcohol has lingering bitter acid taste

690

two males praised and given money

692

warrior's heart shows will

693

model teacher has one bit of cloth over buttocks

694

next sum of money provides capital

695

drops from altar sacrifice show will of gods

696

starting point for person is to resemble one

698

have knowledge of a word sounding like lance

699

two axes chop pawned shell to ascertain quality

700

quarters with roof and entrance below ground

701

words of apology and thanks as one shoots off

702

teacher's hand confers receipt

703

hand obtains pitchfork from supply store

704

person practices to master striking with brush

705

mass of odd people under watchful eye with lash

707

state how one moved around funny tree

708

go around funny tree with certain technique

709

ten birds on water, all at same level

710

building already beginning to show order

711

surplus hills must be removed

712

invite by summoning with hand

713

hear about a bristly water-baby

715

correct words are proof

716

item about sitting crosslegged in tree

717

dog eats bar of ice, now in bad condition

718

furthermore, the usual cloth, as always

719

heart made blue with feeling of pity

720

weave threads with noise like a lance

721

job as lancer leaves noise in ears

722

tree cut in shape of cow shows system of sorts

723

one's nature is the heart one is born with

724

government forces correctness

725

refined green rice fills one with spirit

726

system for manufacturing clothing

728

growing money debts mean growing liability

729

blame threads for poor achievements in spinning

730

join hands with woman standing alone

731

build with words, despite hammer in hand

733

sever colorful threads

734

two gold halberds reduced to mere coin

735

sheep has one small but good mouth

736

furthermore, at altar one worships ancestors

737

raw threads are bare and basic elements

738

thread runs through public feeling

739

proclaim that one has made a move

740

image of elephant man

741

build up earth in field over eight days

742

rules regarding the cutting of money

743

measure water with fathom-rule

744

insect with buttocks, legs, and head belongs to which genus?

745

member has hand missing--serious loss

746

stop and stare, then move back in retreat

747

loan is replacement money

748

have appearance of able heart

750

decisively decline rice cut with ax in corner

751

mediocre work with wood and bamboo in building

752

draw longbow to full stretch

753

hold properly in hand

754

to an extent, rice ends up in king's mouth

755

move in manner befitting old emperor

756

old emperor strikes suitably matched enemy

757

supervise lineage full of threads

758

copper is same metal as red metal

759

measured guiding hand leads along way

761

measure potential gains in movement over one day

762

move that virtuous heart is worth ten eyes

763

insect-ridden German Shepherd dog is left alone

764

entrust jewels to person on duty

765

dog meat duly burns with extra fire

766

fleshy bear with claws and nose can perform Noh

767

skin a rock!? must mean break it

768

dog commits crime of assaulting prone person

769

cut in half--a judgment with Solomon's seal

770

opposed wooden board makes print

772

fleshy bending body has been fattened

774

person equipped with grass uses it for roof

775

listed persons receive sacks

776

even words are fair comment

777

money divided, so now poor

779

woman holding broom may be wife

780

house at single entrance to field grows wealthy

781

warrior advances on foot with halberd

782

person goes repeatedly to sit crosslegged in sun

783

person crosslegged in sun with double clothing!

784

Buddha has prominent nose

785

books bound with thread left at editor's door

786

speech about twenty noses!?

787

person preserved in wooden box

788

sun shines on big, grass covered, earthen grave

789

by good fortune, seize person, report for reward

790

food vessel bends under weight of rich content

791

defensive hill to one side prevents attack

792

exchange bent sword for money in trade deal

793

exposed to violent sun together with insufficient water

795

lance forces effort in performing duty

797

rice is moved and lost--how perplexing

799

transport cut meat under cover in vehicle

800

eight excessively dry beams under ample roof

801

already faced with having to look after deposits

802

roofed valley looks able to contain a lot

803

ten bits of thread command top rate

804

abbreviated outline of each field

805

stop in field to fasten on bent sword

806

head rules, controlling possessed territory

807

together again in different field--how strange

808

move on and leave behind something precious

809

lance in ground at sole entrance--off limit area

811

child lies stiff under roof, set to go to heaven

814

drag feet in extended movement

815

go alongside of water, through eight openings

817

I have a tasseled halberd, a symbol of me myself

819

road-town is just crossroads of raised earth

820

spread hands wide

821

get leather from middle of ten horned creatures

822

each gate leads to cabinet

823

sword harms by dividing

826

light two fires by oneself with rolled volumes

827

put hand above eye to watch better

829

space left on brief and simple bamboo letter

833

army hand wields command

834

one precious shell in middle of collection

835

two people felled by one arrow? doubt if correct

837

if it reaches mouth, then suck it in

838

person stands weeping watery tears

839

attendant offers togetherness to person

840

flesh encircling scarred ""container"" is the chest

841

odd stringy food served in village

842

work with effort to grow plants from seed-box

843

bamboo has strong fleshy sinews

845

direct path entails moving with hands on ground

846

force person to use respectful phrases of plants

847

warn with respectful words

848

tiger attacks pig with sword?!--what drama!

851

crested bird had right to balance in tree

852

constitutional law covers all one sees and feels in life

853

water source is in original spring on plain

854

daringly ornate building is strictly solemn!

856

odd hand by mouth stops breathing or calling

857

mistaken words given

858

empress comes behind, cutting opening with ax

863

descend hill and sit crosslegged by well

864

metal in hills proves to be steel

865

mince threads by cutting tops off

866

samurai beats rice under cover to make cereals

867

flesh covered bones

868

tree in difficulty, trapped in box

871

text about odd moon seen in settled water

872

judge decides to cut cloth with fancy halberd

873

plan to fix droopy tree branches with bamboo

877

next woman has a good figure

878

look and see what's on show

879

parts of speech are official words

880

samurai's heartfelt words recorded in journal

881

rock has invisible magnetic threads

882

hand shoots measured arrow into body

883

find abandoned hand in one's quarters!

886

plants on right are young

888

samurai's hand stands food pot next to tree

889

building with altar is main center of religion

890

take up issue of crippled dogs in capital

891

follow eight roads correctly

892

threads to follow are the vertical ones

893

reduced to threadbare lodgings

894

mature child puts round lid over mouth of fire pit

895

pure threads look like hair

896

sit crosslegged on stool to deal with situation

897

person netted, signs up for government office

898

person's words are many and various

899

commander's hand about to reach for bar of ice

900

big person bent over like bamboo, laughing

901

wounded persons left exposed to rising sun

902

get badge for overcoming hindering hill

903

castle consists of earthen ramparts

904

grass covered waterbaby steams on fiery hotplate

905

ten metal needles

906

two people show benevolent relationship

907

look like riding hanging down to ground!

908

push bird ahead with hand

911

saintly king's earhole is sacred

912

words become sincere

913

state that roof will be finished in two days

914

exclusive possession of ten measured fields

916

wash tip in water

917

soak nine shrubs in water to make dye

918

two big men play heavenly music

919

nose makes hole in window, left feeling down

920

for a start, put sword in warehouse

921

layers of corpses build up in field over eight days

922

three wooden boxes take some handling

923

store and guard halberds under grassy cliff

924

entrails are harbored in body

926

child knows of existence of funny dam

927

pour out measure of wine for esteemed guest

928

seven roomed house with roof on top

929

carry burden in hand for one whole day

930

hand probes hole in tree

931

cut steps by striking cliff

932

three hands warming in the sun

933

person has fixed price

934

person in middle makes for good relationship

935

reason for space under roof is to let in sky

936

loyalty and devotion at center of one's heart

937

person writes notable book about plants

938

government office is building of exactitude

940

receive nail exactly through top of head

941

seawater rises with morning tide

942

entrust with wages money

943

pain passes through sick body

944

slumped figure in shorts spread out on grass

945

attack and defeat with measured words

946

elder brother's faction meets under fancy roof

947

rice from Tang China looks like sugar

948

deliver corpse and report reason

949

bird in trouble in waterless Han China

951

child reaches for breast swollen with milk

952

words of appreciation as blade reaches heart!?

953

store obtained threads inside, ready to resupply

954

body's brain-box marked by cross and hairs

955

faction is like tributary relative to river

956

hand offers eight-leaved plant in worship

957

turn back defiantly on meat from the north

958

bodies in cities have bad lungs

959

non-person is an amusing actor

960

squad receives a cut of the jewels

961

sun escapes every evening

962

deny, saying not so

963

criticism can involve an handy comparison

964

rice plant necessarily kept secret

965

person sits crosslegged, fleshy belly in sun

966

big bird stirs, flying excitedly from field

967

his majesty's throne compares to earthen hill

969

one side of a tree is some piece!

970

use needle point to make good torn clothes

972

visit someone to have words on the side

975

two big wooden clubs with nails through

976

hand holds thin flat wooden stick for counting

977

big curtain of threaded grass shades out sun

978

building in dense mountains necessarily secret

979

bright alliance pledged over bowl of blood

980

plant copies model tree and grows big in sun

982

person translating carries a load of words

983

mail in village left dangling

984

gentle actor's superior display of person's grief

985

infant short on strength, like tiny thread

987

greedy person lacks valley so desires one

988

wings of time leave, till the next time

989

kneeling figure puts tongue out--leads to riot

991

person with one staring eye sees all

992

clothing made at rear of village has good lining

993

moving hand writes down the law

994

person faces goods and stares

995

good moon is clear and bright

996

argument of neatly capped and aligned words

1036

woman half claws way up tree to get cherry blossom

1210

fiercely agitated water releases white spray

1315

tree branch

1322

rear animals by administering food to them

1476

serve heaped dishes when one becomes prosperous

1524

samurai wears clothes in bed

1535

manage to put box-like bundle in tree

1568

use stretched words to deceive about birth

1689

every tree should be a plum tree

1775

line up in two rows of eight

1789

live to see sun set among big plants at end of day

1844

cover eyes at night and dream of grass