250 Essential Japanese Kanji Characters Volume 1 Read online

  案内所 ぁんない じょ/しょ annai jo/sho information center

  案内書 ぁんないしょ annai sno guidebook

  入学案内 にゆうがく あんない nyūgaku annai guide to admission into school

  ______

  げんあん gen'an original plan/bill

  案内図 あんないず annai zu guide/information map

  名案 めいあん meian good idea/proposal

  115 洗

  ara-u, sen

  あら・う、セン

  wash

  洗 combines the radical water (cf. 28 水) and 先 toes (cf. 48). 洗 originally meant washing toes with water, and came to mean wash in general.

  洗う あらう arau to wash

  (お）手洗い (お）てあらい (o) tearai washroom, toilet

  手洗所 てあらいじよ tearai jo washroom, toilet (formal)

  洗面所 せんめんじよ semmen jo washroom, restroom

  ________

  せんたくき sentaku ki washing machine

  せんざい senzai cleanser, detergent

  116 子

  ko, shi

  こ、シ

  child

  子 depicts a baby in a bundle, indicating child.

  子ども こども kodomo child

  男の子 おどこのこ otokonoko boy

  男子 だんし danshi boy, man, male

  女子 じよし joshi girl, woman, female

  ______

  京子さん きようこさん Kyōko san Ms. Kyoko

  女子大 じょしだい joshi dai women's university/college

  女子学生 じょしがくせい joshi gakusei female student

  117 事

  koto, (goto), ji

  こと、(ごと) 、ジ

  thing, affair; job

  事 depicts a hand holding a bamboo case containing fortunetelling sticks. A fortuneteller’s job is to forecast various things.

  事 こど koto things, matter

  火事 かじ kaji fire (destructive burning)

  用事 よぅじ yōji business, errand, things to do

  工事中 こうじちゆう kōji chū under construction

  ______

  しごど shigoto work, job

  大事な だいじな daiji na important

  じけん jiken event, incident

  へんじする henji suru to answer, to reply

  118 故

  ko

  コ

  deceased, old; accidental

  故 combines 十 ten, 口 mouth, and 攵, indicating an action (cf. 47 攻). 古 implies the act of oral transmission through some ten generations, meaning old. 故 thus means deceased as well as old. An associated meaning is accidental, because old things break down easily.

  事故 じこ jiko accident

  こしようする koshō suru (for a machine, etc.) to break down, to become out of order

  ______

  故人 こじん kojin the deceased

  こきよう kokvō hometown, native place

  119 不

  fu

  フ

  non-, un- (prefix)

  不 depicts a bird that has hit a ceiling and is not able to fly farther up. 不 is generally used as a prefix like un- or non-.

  不通 ふつう futsū interruption of traffic or telephone service

  不便な ふべんな fuben na inconvenient

  ______

  不用品 ふようひん fuyōhin unnecessary/useless goods

  ふか fuka failure (in a school subject)

  ふそくする fusoku suru to be insufficient, to lack

  不明な ふめいな fumei na unknown, obscure

  4 Practice

  I. Write the readings of the following kanji in hiragana.

  1. 案 内 所

  2. 男 子

  3. 女 子

  4. お 手 洗 い

  5. 手 洗 所

  6. 事 故

  7. 不 通

  8. 故

  9. 北 口

  10. 南 口

  11. 北 部

  12. 東 南 ア ジ ア

  13. 東 西 南 北

  14. 入 学 案 内

  15. 洗 面 所

  16. 男 の 子

  17. 火 事

  18. わ た し の 大 学 を 案 内 し ま し た 。

  19. ご は ん の 前 に 手 を 洗 い ま す 。

  20. 子 ど も は す ぐ 大 き く な り ま す 。

  II. Fill in the blanks with appropriate kanji.

  5 Advanced Placement Exam Practice Question

  Heavy snow is falling in the Tokyo area. A reporter for a news program is broadcasting from Tokyo Station.

  レポーター: こんにちは。わたしは、今、東京駅にいます。みてください。 がたくさんふっていま す。 今日は 1 東地方が ゆき のため、 中央線の東京・新 間が不通、山手線の東京 ・ 新間が不通です。 また、鉄、地下鉄も 2 のろのろ です。 東京にこんなに雪がふる です。東京にこんなに雪がふる のは、 20 年ぶりのことです。

  タクシーり場にもたくさんの人がならんでいます。 では、こちらの男性にインタビュ ーしてみましょう。

  こんにちは。すごい 雪ですね。

  男性: 電車が動かなくて、 こまったよ。 タクシーにろうと北口に行ったんだ。 そうしたら、事故があって道は車でいっぱい。 ぜんぜん動いてなかったんだ。 案内所できいて、いそ いで南口にきたんだよ。 でも、もう 1 時間もまっている。

  レポーター: このじゃタクシーもあまりきませんね。

  男性: 東京はによわいね。

  1 東地方: Kanto region,

  2 のろのろ: low speed service

  1. What is the situation with the Chuo Line between Tokyo and Shinjuku station?

  A. interruption of train service

  B. operating a special train

  C. low speed service

  D. construction delay

  2. What is the situation with the subway and the private railway?

  A. interruption of train service

  B. operating a special train

  C. low speed service

  D. construction delay

  3. What is the situation with the north exit?

  A. Bus services were interrupted.

  B. blocked by heavy snow

  C. major traffic jam

  D. There was no cabstand.

  4. What does the man think of Tokyo?

  A. It is very convenient.

  B. The person in the information office is kind.

  C. Sometime he gets lost, because it is very wide and complicated.

  D. It becomes gridlocked with traffic when it snows.

  5. Which item does not match the text?

  A. Many people are waiting for the taxi at the south exit.

  B. The traffic system of Tokyo is weak in snow.

  C. People of Tokyo are used to snow.

  D. When it snows, a taxi will seldom come.

  LESSON 10

  On the Platform

  駅のホーム

  If you’ve lived in Japan for some time, you probably have had the experience of taking the wrong train and wasting time and money. Most lines have local trains, semi-express trains, express trains, and special express trains. Maps posted inside the stations and trains show where each type of train stops. The sign in the upper photo shows departure times. The lower photo shows a platform at a station.

  1 Introductory Quiz

  Look at the illustrations below and refer to the words in Vocabulary. Then try the following quiz.

  I. The guide below shows all the stops between terminal stations on a particular line. The various types of trains are marked with ○▲■◎ and labeled in kanji. Naturally, the fewer stops a train makes, the faster it goes. Fill in the spaces with the correct letters (a through g).<
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  1. （ ）と（ ）と（ ）は どの 駅にも とまります。

  2. （ ）が 一番 はやいです。

  3. （ ）には だれも のりません。

  4. （ ）は 二番目に はやいです。

  5. （ ）は 三番目に はやいです。

  a. かくえきていしゃ

  b. とっきゅう

  c. じゅんきゅう

  d. きゅうこう

  e. かくてい

  f. かいそう

  g. ふつう

  II. Timetables for both weekdays and Sundays/holidays are found on the platforms. Shown below is part of a timetable for the Marunouchi Line. Read the timetable and fill in the spaces with the correct times.

  1. 水曜日の 始発は ( ) 時 ( ) 分です。

  2. 日曜日の 終発は ( ) 時 ( ) 分です。

  III. This is part of a timetable for the Shinkansen Nozomi のぞみ, Hikari ひかり and Kodama こだま trains. Along the top row from left to right is a list of trains. Along the left-hand column from top to bottom is a list of stations. Departure and arrival track numbers are also indicated.

  Choose the answers that correctly complete the statements on the next page.

  1. のぞみ 34 は (a. 東京へ 行きます。 b. 東京からきます。)

  2. こだま 586 は 東京 (a. 発 b. 着) 20 時 56 分です。

  3. ひかり 422 の 発車番線は (a. 16 b. 26) 番線です。

  4. この 時表は (a. 上り b. 下り) の 新線の 時表です。

  2 Vocabulary

  Study the readings and meanings of these words to help you understand the Introductory Quiz.

  1. かくえきていしゃ kakueki teisha local train

  2. 各停 かくてい kakutei local train (abbreviation for 各駅停車)

  3. ふつう futsū local train, slow train

  4. 特急 どっきゅう tokkyū special express

  5. かいそう kaisō out-of-service

  6. きゅうこう kyūkō express train

  7. 準急 じゅんきゅう junkyū semi-express train

  8. 快速 かい そく kaisoku semi-express train

  9. じこくひよう jikoku hyō timetable

  10. しはつ shihatsu the first train

  11. 終発 しゅうはつ shūhatsu the last train

  12. 〜ごう ~gō train number ~

  13. 〜発 〜はつ ~hatsu departure from/at ~

  14. 〜着 〜ちゃく ~chaku arrival at ~

  15. はっしゃばんせん hassha bansen train departure track

  16. どうちゃくばんせん tōchaku bansen train arrival track

  17. のぼり nobori inbound train

  18. くだり kudari outbound train

  19. しん かん せん Shinkan sen Shinkansen (bullet train)

  3 New Characters

  Twelve characters are introduced in this lesson. Use the explanations to help you understand and remember the characters. Study the compound words to increase your vocabulary.

  各 停 普 準 急 速 快 特 表 終 着 発

  120 各

  kaku, (ka’)

  カク、(カッ)

  each, every

  各 combines 夂 trailing leg (cf. 22 後) and 口 here representing a square stone. When limping down a rocky road, one must stop and rest at every stone.

  各地 かくち kakuchi each/every place, various places/districts

  各自 かくじ kakuji each person; respective

  ______

  かくい kakui Sirs (in a letter)

  各国 かっこく kakkoku each/every country, various countries

  121 停

  tei

  テイ

  stop, stay

  停 combines イ man, immovable building, and 丁, which here represents an inserted nail and suggests remaining still. 停 thus implies people who stop or stay in one place.

  各駅停車 かくえきていしや kakueki teisha local train

  バス停 バスてい oasu tei bus stop

  停留所 ていりゆうじよ teiryū jo bus/streetcar stop

  ________

  停電 ていでん teiden power failure

  一時停止 いちじていし ichiji teishi temporary/momentary stop, stop

  122 普

  fu

  フ

  general, ordinary

  普 combines 並 and 日. 並 consists of two 立 stand (cf. 167), meaning side by side. Combined with 日, 普 implies that the sun’s rays radiate out over a wide area. From this came the meaning of becoming widespread and eventually ordinary. By itself 並 also means ordinary.

  普通 ふつう futsū ordinary, regular

  普通電車 ふつうでんしゃ futsū densha local train

  ________

  普通車 ふつうしや futsū sha ordinary-class car (train); ordinary-size car

  123 準

  jun

  ジュン

  level; semi-, sub-

  準, which combines water, 隹 fat bird (cf. 26 曜), and 十 many, suggests calm water where many birds gather. The surface of calm water is level.

  ______

  -備する じゅんびする jumbi suru to prepare

  ひようじゆん hyōjun standard

  水準 すいじゅん suijun level

  124 急

  iso-gu, kyū

  いそ・ぐ、キュウ

  hurry; urgent; sudden

  急 combines a hand reaching out to grab the man ahead, and 心, which derives from a pictograph of a heart and means mind. Joining these together, 急 means hurry or urgent.

  急ぐ いそぐ isogu to hurry up

  急行 きゅうこう kyūkō express train/bus

  急用 きゅうよう kyūyō urgent business

  準急 じゅんきゅう junkyū semi-express train

  ________

  急停車する きゆうていしや する kvūteisha suru to stop (car/train) suddenly

  きゅうきゅうしゃ kyūkyūsha ambulance

  急行券 きゆうこうけん kyūkō ken express ticket

  125 速

  haya-i, soku

  はや・い、ソク

  fast, quick, prompt

  速 combines 束 bundle tied in the middle and go (cf. 79 通). Carrying things in a bundle is faster than carrying them one by one.

  速い はやい hayai fast, rapid

  時速 じそく jisoku speed per hour

  ______

  そくたつ sokutatsu express mail

  そくど sokudo speed, velocity

  126 快

  kai

  カイ

  pleasant, comfortable

  快 combines a variation of 心 mind, and 夬, which means open because the left side is open compared with 央 (cf. 96). Opening the mind makes one feel pleasant.

  快速 かいそく kaisoku high speed, semi-express train

  ______

  かいせい kaisei clear and beautiful weather

  全快する ぜんかいする zenkai suru to recover completely from an illness

  127 特

  toku, (to’)

  トク、（トッ）

  special

  特 combines which is a variation of 牛 cow (cf. 227), a typical slow-moving animal, and 寺 move hands and feet (cf. 23 時). 特 thus indicates a cow moving quickly, which makes it special.

  特に どく（こ toku ni in particular, especially

  特急 とっきゅう tokkyū special express train/bus

  ______

  どくべつな tokubetsu na special

  どくちよう tokuchō strong point, merit

  どくちよう tokuchō characteristic, peculiarity

  特急券 どっきゆうけん tokkyū ken special express ticket

  128 表

  omote, hyō, (pyō)

  おもて、ヒョウ、(ピョウ)

  surface, front; list, table; expression

  表 combines 毛 hair or f
ur and 衣 clothes. A fur coat is an outer garment; thus 表 means surface. The surface of a thing can also express something about its content. An example of this is a list.

  表 ひょう hyō the surface/front

  表-4 ひょうよん hyō-yon Table 4

  時間表 じかんひょう jikan hyō schedule (of classes, work), timetable

  ______

  表面 ひようめん hyōmen surface

  ひようし hyōshi front cover of a book

  じこくひよう jikoku hyō schedule (of trains), timetable

  代表する だいひようする daihyō suru to represent

  129 終

  owa-ru, shū

  お・わる、シュウ

  end, come to an end

  糸 thread (cf. 81 線) suggests closing a bag by tying it. 冬 depicts foods being hung over ice to store for the winter, the season that ends the year. The two characters together make 終, meaning end.

  終 （わ）る おわる owaru to end, to be finished

  終電 しゆうでん shūden last train

  ________

  終日 しゅうじつ shūjitsu all day long

  しゆうてん shūten last stop, rail terminal

  しゆうりようする shūryō suru to be closed, to be completed

  130 着

  tsu-ku, ki-ru, (gi), chaku

  つ・く、き・る、(ぎ) 、チャク

  arrive; wear, dress

  着 combines which derives from 羊 sheep, and 目 eye. Sheep are easily seen when they arrive. Thus 着 means arrive. Associated meanings are attach and wear.

  着く つく tsuku to arrive

  着る きる kiru to put on clothes

  上着 うわぎ uwagi coat, jacket