【1st Grade Junior High School Japanese】 Kanji and Vocabulary: Expanding Your Treasure Chest of Words
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the world of 1st-grade junior high Japanese. The "Kanji" and "Vocabulary" (the number of words you know) we are about to study will become "lifelong tools" that help you express your feelings and understand the contents of your textbooks. It might feel overwhelming with so much to memorize at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes as fun as a puzzle. Let's move forward one step at a time!
1. Understanding Kanji Structure (Radicals and Composition)
Although Kanji characters might look like a jumble of lines, they are actually made of several parts combined together. The central part is called a radical (bushu). Knowing radicals helps you predict the meaning of a character you see for the first time—like thinking, "Oh, maybe this word has something to do with water?"
Common Radical Positions and Shapes
- Hen (Left side): "イ" (nin-ben: person), "氵" (san-zui: water)
- Tsukuri (Right side): "欠" (akubi: yawn), "刂" (rittō: sword)
- Kanmuri (Top): "艹" (kusa-kanmuri: grass), "宀" (u-kanmuri: roof)
- Ashi (Bottom): "灬" (rekka: fire), "心" (kokoro: heart)
- Kamae (Enclosing): "囗" (kuni-gamae: enclosure), "門" (mon-gamae: gate)
【Pro-tip】 Radicals represent the "meaning group" of a character. For example, the "san-zui" common to "泳" (swim), "海" (ocean), and "池" (pond) all relate to "water." Remembering them by group makes them much easier to store in your memory!
2. Choosing Between On-yomi and Kun-yomi
Japanese Kanji generally has two types of readings. The way we distinguish between them is part of what makes the Japanese language so interesting.
On-yomi (Sound reading)
Based on the original Chinese pronunciation. Often, it is difficult to grasp the meaning just from this reading alone. Example: "山" → SAN, "水" → SUI
Kun-yomi (Native reading)
The original Japanese reading assigned to the meaning of the Kanji. It carries the meaning on its own. Example: "山" → yama, "水" → mizu
【A trick for telling them apart】 Ask yourself, "Does a picture instantly pop into my head just by hearing this reading?" If someone says "Yama!", an image of a mountain appears (Kun-yomi). But if someone says "San!", you might be confused about whether they mean the number 3 or the Sun (On-yomi). Whenever you are in doubt, try this "Does a picture appear?" test!
【Did you know?】 There are special combinations like "Jubako-yomi" (On + Kun) and "Yuge-yomi" (Kun + On). It’s just like a puzzle!
3. Mastering the Kan-wa Dictionary
When you encounter a Kanji you don't know, a Kan-wa dictionary is your best ally. There are three routes to look up a word:
- On-Kun Index: Use this when you know how to read the character. (Organized in Japanese alphabetical order).
- Radical Index: Use this when you know the shape of the radical. (Organized by stroke count of the radical).
- Total Stroke Index: Use this when you don't know the reading or the radical; just count all the strokes in the character.
【Advice】 While you can easily look things up on your smartphone these days, using a physical dictionary allows you to see "the character's family" (other Kanji with the same radical) all at once, which will boost your vocabulary significantly. Definitely try flipping through a paper dictionary sometimes!
4. Enriching Your Vocabulary
Knowing many words allows you to express your feelings more accurately. In the 1st year of junior high, you will learn to classify words based on their "origins."
The Three Word Families
- Wago (Native Japanese words): Words used in Japan since ancient times. Known for their soft sound. Example: "aruku" (walk), "shiawase" (happiness), "okaasan" (mother)
- Kango (Sino-Japanese words): Words that came from China or were created by combining Kanji. They have a slightly more formal sound. Example: "hokō" (walking), "kōfuku" (happiness), "hahaoya" (mother)
- Gairaigo (Loanwords): Words that came mainly from the West. Usually written in Katakana. Example: "wōkingu" (walking), "happī" (happy), "mama" (mom)
【Common Mistake】 "I was 'anshin' (relieved) because I got 100 on the test" versus "I felt 'hotto' (relieved/relaxed)." Both are correct, but 'anshin' is a Kango, while 'hotto' is a mimetic word (part of the Wago family). Being able to choose the right one for the situation will make your writing much better!
Word Relationships
- Synonyms: Words with similar meanings. Example: "iu" (to say) and "kataru" (to tell/narrate)
- Antonyms: Words with opposite meanings. Example: "nagai" (long) and "mijikai" (short)
- Polysemes: A single word with multiple meanings. Example: "toru" (many Kanji variants depending on context: taking, photographing, catching, harvesting)
【Summary of Key Points】 1. Radicals are hints to the Kanji's meaning! 2. On-yomi is Chinese-style, Kun-yomi is Japanese-style! 3. Use Wago, Kango, and Gairaigo correctly to level up your expression!
It might feel difficult at first, but don't worry. The Japanese you use every day is filled with the things you learned today. Start by looking at television captions or street signs and try to spot them: "Oh, that's a 'san-zui'!" or "That's a loanword!" Enjoy the world of words!