【Kanbun Reading】Mastering the Common Test! Study Notes from Basics to Proficiency
Hello everyone! When you hear the word "Kanbun" (Classical Chinese), you might think, "It’s all kanji, it looks so hard..." or "It looks like Chinese, I have no idea what it means!" But don't worry. Actually, once you learn the rules, Kanbun is one of the most reliable "score boosters" in the Japanese language section, as it’s where you can most easily stabilize your marks!
In these notes, I’ve condensed the essential elements you need to score well on the Common Test into an easy-to-understand format. Let’s learn together and have fun, like putting together pieces of a puzzle!
1. The First Step in Reading Kanbun: Kaeriten and Okurigana
The rules for reading Kanbun in Japanese word order are called "Kundoku" (reading based on Japanese syntax). We use symbols that act like traffic signs, called "Kaeriten" (return marks).
① Basic Kaeriten
・Re-ten (レ点): Read from the character below to the character above; go back to the adjacent character.
・Ichi, Ni, San-ten (一・二・三点): Before moving to the second or third marks, you must read the character marked with "Ichi" first. Use these when you need to jump over characters and return to them later.
・Jo, Chu, Ge-ten (上・中・下点): Use these when you need to make even larger jumps, spanning across the Ichi, Ni, or San-ten marks.
② Rules for "Kakikudashi-bun" (Converting to Japanese)
Here are the two super-important points when translating Kanbun into Japanese sentences!
- Write particles and auxiliary verbs in "Hiragana"! (e.g., "不" becomes "ず", "為" becomes "たり")
- Don't write or read "Okiji" (filler characters)! (e.g., 之, 焉, 矣, etc. These are characters used to create rhythm at the end of or within sentences.)
【Pro-Tip】
Questions about Kakikudashi-bun appear frequently on the Common Test. You can often narrow down the multiple-choice options just by checking: "Is the Okurigana in hiragana instead of katakana?" and "Are the filler characters removed?"
2. Essential Patterns You Must Know! Most Important "Kuho" (Syntax)
Kanbun follows fixed structural patterns (Kuho). Let’s start by mastering the three most common ones.
① Negation ("Not...")
Characters like "不, 非, 無, 勿" are used. Pay special attention to "未 (imada ~ zu)". Don't forget that it carries the meaning of "not yet," implying a continuous state!
② Interrogative and Rhetorical Questions ("Is it...?" / "No, it's not!")
The one most frequently tested on the Common Test is the "Rhetorical Question" (Hango).
【Pattern】 Nani (何), Izukunzo (安), Tare (誰) + "...n (ya)" at the end of the sentence.
【Meaning】 "Why would/should one...?" (No, one would not!)
Example: 何ぞ～せんや (How could one do...? [No, one would not.])
★ Detection Technique!
If you read the context and feel the author is "trying to emphasize their own opinion," it is highly likely a rhetorical question, not a standard question!
③ Causative and Passive Voice
・Causative ("Make/let someone do"): When you see "使, 令, 教, 俾", you read it as "(person) o shite ~ (se) shimu."
・Passive ("To be done by"): Uses characters like "見, 被, 為, 於". Read it as "~ (se) raru."
【Trivia】
The character "見" usually means "to see," but when placed before a verb, it can take on the passive meaning of "to be done to." Use the context to distinguish its function!
3. "Key Vocabulary" and "Okiji" to Aid Your Reading
Knowing the meaning of specific words will dramatically increase your reading speed.
Important High-Frequency Kanji
- "夫れ (Sore)": Now, to begin with... (Signals the start of a topic)
- "若し (Moshi)": If (hypothetical), or "like/resemble" (simile)
- "肯んず (Gahenzu)": To consent, to nod in agreement
- "私かに (Hisoka ni)": Secretly, selfishly
"Okiji" (Filler Characters) — Don't Memorize, Just Recognize
"之, 焉, 矣, 也, 乎" and others act like periods (.) when at the end of a sentence. You can skip reading these, but they act as signs to help you identify the structure of the sentence.
4. Strategies for the Common Test Format: Reading Tips
You can't solve the Common Test's Kanbun section by just translating. Try following these steps:
Step 1: Treat the Lead Text and Annotations as Sacred!
Before reading the main text, be sure to read the "Lead Text (Intro)" and "Annotations" thoroughly. They are your biggest hints. They contain the relationships between characters and the meanings of difficult words. Reading without them is like walking through a desert without a map!
Step 2: Find the "Tsuiku" (Parallelism)
Because Kanbun emphasizes rhythm, it often uses "Tsuiku", where sentences with similar structures are repeated twice. It’s a super handy mechanism where if you understand the meaning of one part, you can guess the meaning of the other!
Step 3: Look for the "Punchline" of the Story
Kanbun texts (especially fables) always contain a "lesson" or "satire." By keeping the perspective of "What did the author ultimately want to say?" in mind, it becomes much easier to grasp the big picture.
【Common Mistake】
Building a story based solely on the images of the kanji. Do not rely on your imagination; prioritize the accurate meaning based on "Kaeriten" and "Kuho" (Syntax)!
Summary: To You, Taking the First Step
At first, you might think, "What is this? I can't read it at all!" But that’s okay. Start by getting used to the movement of the "Re-ten", and start by memorizing those three "Negation/Question/Rhetorical" patterns.
Kanbun is a subject that "won't betray you"—your efforts will show in your results immediately. Let's enjoy the fun of solving the puzzle bit by bit. I’m rooting for you!
【Today's Key Takeaway】
1. Kanbun is a "puzzle"! Master the rules (Kuho) and you'll win.
2. The form of Rhetorical Questions (...sen ya) is super important. The meaning is "No, [subject] would not...!"
3. Treat the Lead Text and Annotations as the "best gift" from the test makers and use them!