LEARN JAPANESE

気

Grade Level: 1
JLPT Level: 4

Frequency: 113

Bushu (Radical) Info:
气 (きがまえ)
spirit

Henshall Mnemonic:
spirit-like vapors from source x
Stroke Order Diagram (SOD): 6 Strokes



Click the image above to re-display this Kanji On-Yomi Reading(s):
キ
ケ
Kun-Yomi Reading(s):
いき
English Meaning(s):
spirit
mind

Popular words and/or phrases using this kanji:
Click any individual kanji to view it in a new window. Click the [K] after each definition to look up that character at WWWJDIC; Click the [D] to look up that word in WWWJDIC (the definition is the same but other features exist, like sample usage, variations of the word, etc.)
お気に入り   [おきにいり]
(n) favorite; pet [K] [D] 悪気   [わるぎ]
(n) ill will; malice; evil intent; ill feeling; distrust [K] [D] 意気   [いき]
(n) spirit; heart; disposition [K] [D] 意気込み   [いきごみ]
(n) ardor; enthusiasm [K] [D] 意気込む   [いきごむ]
(v5m) to be enthusiastic about [K] [D] 意気盛んだ   [いきさかんだ]
be in high spirits [K] [D] 意気地   [いくじ]
(n) self-respect; self-confidence; guts; backbone [K] [D] 一気   [いっき]
(n) (abbr) drink! (said repeatedly as a party cheer) [K] [D] 一気に   [いっきに]
(adv) at once; at a breath (stroke, sitting) [K] [D] 陰気   [いんき]
(adj-na,n) gloom; melancholy [K] [D] 英気   [えいき]
(n) excellent talent [K] [D] 何気ない   [なにげない]
(adj) casual; unconcerned [K] [D] 何気無く   [なにげなく]
unintentionally; calmly; inadvertently; innocently [K] [D] 外気   [がいき]
(n) open air [K] [D] 活気   [かっき]
(n) energy; liveliness [K] [D] 寒気   [かんき]
(n) (1) cold; frost; (2) a cold; a chill; shivering fit [K] [D] 換気   [かんき]
(n) ventilation [K] [D] 換気扇   [かんきせん]
(n) ventilation fan [K] [D] 管区気象台   [かんくきしょうだい]
district meteorological observatory [K] [D] 気   [き]
(n) spirit; mood [K] [D] 気に入り   [きにいり]
(n) favorite; pet [K] [D] 気に入る   [きにいる]
(v5r) to be pleased with; to suit [K] [D] 気の毒   [きのどく]
(adj-na,n) pitiful; a pity [K] [D] 気まぐれ   [きまぐれ]
(adj-na,n) whim; caprice; whimsy; fickle; moody; uneven temper [K] [D] 気まま   [きまま]
(adj-na,n) willfulness; selfishness; one\'s own way [K] [D] 気を付ける   [きをつける]
(exp) to be careful; to pay attention; to take care [K] [D] 気圧   [きあつ]
(n) atmospheric pressure [K] [D] 気違い   [きちがい]
(n) madness; mad [K] [D] 気鋭   [きえい]
(adj-na,adj-no,n) spirited; energetic [K] [D] 気温   [きおん]
(n) temperature [K] [D] 気概   [きがい]
(n) strong spirit [K] [D] 気楽   [きらく]
(adj-na,n) at ease; comfortable [K] [D] 気掛かり   [きがかり]
(adj-na,n) anxiety; concern; worry [K] [D] 気管   [きかん]
(n) trachea [K] [D] 気管支   [きかんし]
(n) bronchial tube [K] [D] 気球   [ききゅう]
(n) balloon [K] [D] 気軽   [きがる]
(adj-na,n) cheerful; buoyant; lighthearted [K] [D] 気兼ね   [きがね]
(adj-na,n,vs) hesitance; diffidence; feeling constraint; fear of troubling someone; having scruples about doing something [K] [D] 気遣い   [きづかい]
(n) consideration; concern; fear; worry; solicitude [K] [D] 気候   [きこう]
(n) climate [K] [D] 気合   [きあい]
(n) scream; yell; fighting spirit [K] [D] 気持ち   [きもち]
(n) feeling; sensation; mood [K] [D] 気質   [きしつ]
(n) spirit; character; trait; temperament; disposition [K] [D] 気取る   [きどる]
(v5r) to affect; to put on airs [K] [D] 気象   [きしょう]
(n) weather; climate [K] [D] 気象学   [きしょうがく]
(n) meteorology [K] [D] 気象台   [きしょうだい]
(n) meteorological observatory [K] [D] 気象庁   [きしょうちょう]
Meteorological Agency [K] [D] 気障   [きざ]
(adj-na) affectation; conceit; snobbery [K] [D] 気丈   [きじょう]
(adj-na,n) stout-hearted; firm [K] [D] 気心   [きごころ]
(n) temper; disposition [K] [D] 気勢   [きせい]
(n) fervour; vigour; ardour; spirit [K] [D] 気性   [きしょう]
(n) disposition; temperament [K] [D] 気晴らし   [きばらし]
(n) recreation [K] [D] 気絶   [きぜつ]
(n,vs) faint; swoon [K] [D] 気前   [きまえ]
(n) generosity [K] [D] 気体   [きたい]
(n) vapour; gas [K] [D] 気筒   [きとう]
(n) a cylinder [K] [D] 気難しい   [きむずかしい]
(adj) hard to please; moody; crusty; fastidious [K] [D] 気配   [けはい]
(n) indication; market trend; worry [K] [D] 気配り   [きくばり]
(n,vs) care; attentiveness; attention; consideration [K] [D] 気迫   [きはく]
(n) spirit; soul; vigor [K] [D] 気付く   [きづく]
(v5k) to notice; to recognize; to become aware of; to perceive; to realize [K] [D] 気負い   [きおい]
(n) fighting spirit; fighting mood [K] [D] 気分   [きぶん]
(n) feeling; mood [K] [D] 気泡   [きほう]
(n) (air) bubble (esp. in a liquid) [K] [D] 気味   [きみ]
(n) sensation; feeling [K] [D] 気力   [きりょく]
(n) willpower; energy; vitality [K] [D] 強気   [つよき]
(adj-na,n) firm; strong [K] [D] 狂気   [きょうき]
(n) madness [K] [D] 空気   [くうき]
(n) air; atmosphere [K] [D] 景気   [けいき]
(n) condition; state; business (condition) [K] [D] 健気   [けなげ]
(adj-na,n) brave; gallant; courage; manly; heroic; praiseworthy; industrious; pure; lovable [K] [D] 嫌気   [いやき]
(n) dislike; disgust; disinclination; tired of [K] [D] 元気   [げんき]
(adj-na,n) health(y); robust; vigor; energy; vitality; vim; stamina; spirit; courage; pep [K] [D] 語気   [ごき]
(n) tone; manner of speaking [K] [D] 好景気   [こうけいき]
(n) good times; boom; (wave of) prosperity [K] [D] 香気   [こうき]
(n) fragrance [K] [D] 高気圧   [こうきあつ]
(n) high atmospheric pressure [K] [D] 根気   [こんき]
(n) (1) patience; (2) perseverance; energy [K] [D] 殺気   [さっき]
(n) thirst for blood [K] [D] 士気   [しき]
(n) morale (of troops, team, etc.) [K] [D] 磁気   [じき]
(n) magnetism [K] [D] 湿気   [しっけ]
(n) moisture; humidity; dampness [K] [D] 弱気   [よわき]
(adj-na,n) timid; faint-hearted; bearish sentiment [K] [D] 臭気   [しゅうき]
(n) bad smell; stink [K] [D] 乗り気   [のりき]
(adj-na,n) interest; eagerness [K] [D] 乗気   [のりき]
(adj-na,n) interest; eagerness [K] [D] 蒸気   [じょうき]
(n) steam; vapour [K] [D] 飾り気   [かざりけ]
(n) affectation; showing off [K] [D] 色気   [いろけ]
(n) interest in the opposite sex; sex appeal; glamor; a shade of colour; colouring; sexual passion; romance; poetry; desire; seductiveness; charm; sensuality [K] [D] 心意気   [こころいき]
(n) spirit; disposition [K] [D] 人気   [にんき]
(n,adj-na) popular; business conditions; popular feeling [K] [D] 人気者   [にんきもの]
(n) popular person; favorite [K] [D] 水気   [すいき]
(n) (1) moisture; dampness; vapor; (2) dropsy; edema [K] [D] 水蒸気   [すいじょうき]
(n) water vapour; steam [K] [D] 生意気   [なまいき]
(adj-na,n) impertinent; saucy; cheeky; conceit; audacious; brazen [K] [D] 大気   [たいき]
(n) atmosphere [K] [D] 短気   [たんき]
(adj-na,n) quick temper [K] [D] 暢気   [のんき]
(adj-na,n) (uk) carefree; optimistic; careless; reckless; heedless; happy-go-lucky; easygoing [K] [D] 低気圧   [ていきあつ]
(adj-na,n) low (atmospheric) pressure; cyclone; bad temper; tense situation [K] [D] 天気   [てんき]
(n) weather; the elements; fine weather [K] [D] 天気予報   [てんきよほう]
weather forecast; weather report [K] [D] 電気   [でんき]
(n) electricity; (electric) light [K] [D] 電気製品   [でんきせいひん]
electronic goods [K] [D] 吐き気   [はきけ]
(n) nausea; sickness in the stomach [K] [D] 怒気   [どき]
(n) anger; wrath [K] [D] 湯気   [ゆげ]
(n) steam; vapour [K] [D] 内気   [うちき]
(adj-na,n) bashfulness; shyness; reserve; timidity [K] [D] 熱気   [ねっき]
(n) heat; hot air; enthusiasm [K] [D] 覇気   [はき]
(n) ambition; aspiration [K] [D] 排気   [はいき]
(n) exhaust; ventilation [K] [D] 排気ガス   [はいきガス]
(n) exhaust fumes [K] [D] 病気   [びょうき]
(n) illness; disease; sickness [K] [D] 不気味   [ぶきみ]
(adj-na,n) weird; ominous; eerie; uncanny; ghastly [K] [D] 不景気   [ふけいき]
(adj-na,n) business recession; hard times; depression; gloom; sullenness; cheerlessness [K] [D] 不人気   [ふにんき]
(n) unpopularity [K] [D] 浮気   [うわき]
(adj-na,n) flighty; fickle; wanton; unfaithful [K] [D] 負けん気   [まけんき]
(n) competitive spirit; spirit of rivalry [K] [D] 雰囲気   [ふんいき]
(n) atmosphere (e.g. musical); mood; ambience [K] [D] 平気   [へいき]
(adj-na,n) coolness; calmness; composure; unconcern [K] [D] 呆気   [あっけ]
(n) taken aback; dumbfounded [K] [D] 本気   [ほんき]
(adj-na,n) seriousness; truth; sanctity [K] [D] 眠気   [ねむけ]
(n) sleepiness; drowsiness [K] [D] 無気力   [むきりょく]
(adj-na,n) lethargic; lassitude [K] [D] 無邪気   [むじゃき]
(adj-na,n) innocence; simple-mindedness [K] [D] 勇気   [ゆうき]
(n) courage; bravery; valour; nerve; boldness [K] [D] 陽気   [ようき]
(adj-na,n) season; weather; cheerfulness [K] [D] 気欝   [きうつ]
(adj-na,n) gloom; mental depres [K] [D] 気欝症   [きうつしょう]
(n) hypochon [K] [D] The sofware code used to make this page uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group at Monash University, and are used in conformance with the Group\'s licence.

The SOD image used on this page is from the New Japanese-English Character Dictionary and the Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (see http://www.kanji.org), and is used with the kind permission of Mr. Jack Halpern. This image must not be copied or used elsewhere without Mr Halpern\'s permission. Use of this image without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

The Henshall Mnemonics are the copyright of Tuttle Publishing and are the result of the hard work by Professor Henshall. See the list I used here.

If you are curious about the lexicography shown in the word definitions, visit http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edict_doc.html#IREF05

塩

Grade Level: 4
JLPT Level: 2

Frequency: 1148

Bushu (Radical) Info:
土 (つち)
earth

Henshall Mnemonic:
person throws salty dish from mouth to ground
Stroke Order Diagram (SOD): 13 Strokes



Click the image above to re-display this Kanji On-Yomi Reading(s):
エン
Kun-Yomi Reading(s):
しお
English Meaning(s):
salt

Popular words and/or phrases using this kanji:
Click any individual kanji to view it in a new window. Click the [K] after each definition to look up that character at WWWJDIC; Click the [D] to look up that word in WWWJDIC (the definition is the same but other features exist, like sample usage, variations of the word, etc.)
塩   [しお]
(n) salt [K] [D] 塩化   [えんか]
(n) chloride [K] [D] 塩基   [えんき]
(n) base (chem.) [K] [D] 塩酸   [えんさん]
(n) hydrochloric acid [K] [D] 塩辛い   [しおからい]
(adj) salty (taste) [K] [D] 塩水   [しおみず]
(n) salt water; brine [K] [D] 塩素   [えんそ]
(n) chlorine (Cl) [K] [D] 塩田   [えんでん]
(n) saltpan; field for drying salt [K] [D] 塩梅   [あんばい]
(n) seasoning; condition; manner; flavour; state [K] [D] 塩分   [えんぶん]
(n) salt; salt content [K] [D] 岩塩   [がんえん]
(n) rock salt [K] [D] 食塩   [しょくえん]
(n) table salt [K] [D] The sofware code used to make this page uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group at Monash University, and are used in conformance with the Group\'s licence.

The SOD image used on this page is from the New Japanese-English Character Dictionary and the Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (see http://www.kanji.org), and is used with the kind permission of Mr. Jack Halpern. This image must not be copied or used elsewhere without Mr Halpern\'s permission. Use of this image without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

The Henshall Mnemonics are the copyright of Tuttle Publishing and are the result of the hard work by Professor Henshall. See the list I used here.

If you are curious about the lexicography shown in the word definitions, visit http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edict_doc.html#IREF05

The concept of long and short vowel sounds is an important concept to understand when learning Japanese pronunciation. Vowels can be lengthened, and there is a very distinct difference between long and short vowels. Note that in this lesson, a macron (small horizontal line over a vowel) denotes a long vowel [...]

「すみません」 このことばは、場面によって様々な意味に解釈できるので注意を要します。 では、具体例を挙げてみましょう。 あなたは満員電車に立って乗っています。揺れた拍子に、隣の人の足を踏んでしまいました。「すみません」 このときは謝罪の意味で使っています。別の表現に言い換えると「ごめんなさい」ですね。 次の駅に着く直前、前に座っていた人に席を譲ってもらいました。「すみません」 これは感謝の意。「ありがとう」と伝えています。 席に座ってしばらくすると、隣の席で眠ってしまった人が、あなたの肩にもたれかかってきました。「すみません」 これは「起きてください」と注意を促す意味で用いられています。 目覚めた隣の人が「すみません」と謝罪すると、あなたも「いいえ、すみません」。 「たいしたことないですよ」という意味で再び「すみません」を繰り返します。 目的の駅に着いたあなたは、改札口がどちらか分かりません。そこで、駅員に「すみません」 これは、「尋ねてもいいですか？」という意味で使っています。 約束の時間五分前に待ち合わせ場所に着いたあなたは、相手が既に到着していることに気づきます。 あなた「お待たせしてすみません」（謝罪） 相手「いえいえ、こちらこそわざわざ来てもらってすみません」（感謝） あなた「いいえ、いつも連絡をいただくばかりですみません」 相手「なになに、急かしているようですみません」…。 このように、日本語では「すみません」という語を大変便利に使っているのです。 ＝＝＝＝＝ Sumimasen You need to be careful with this word because depending on the situation, it can be interpreted in different ways. Here are some examples. You are standing on a train that is packed. When the train swayed, you stepped on the person next to you. Sumimasen. In this case, you’re using it as an apology. Another way of [...]

Happy Oyster Day! This is the third year I’ve celebrated Oyster Day, and the first year I’ve made T-shirts for the event (thanks to a suggestion from a gung-ho bivalvaholic in the area). You can see year one posts here and here, and last year I began my series of Murakami translation posts on Oyster [...]

Here’s a gentle ‘living in Japan’ post for you all with a splash of language learning and colourful photography. Grape picking in Japan (ぶどう狩り – budou gari) is one of the many fruit-related activities one can do over the summer. And quite a delicious one, too! I got a phone call from a Yonesaka-san at [...]

You try your hand at Japanese at the ramen shop, and ask for “plain” ramen…but your bowl comes back covered in clams! Turns our you asked for asari (”clams”); when you meant assari (”plain”). in Japanese, sometimes you will see double consonants in the middle of a word, like (kk, ss, tt, [...]

For Golden Week, I took a trip to Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, & Kyoto w/ a friend visiting from the United States. While we were in Takayama, Laura & I stopped in a nice restaurant recommended by one of the locals. At one point, my friend wanted a taste of my apple cider drink. It was kind of frothy, so I stirred it a bit, and then took the long spoon out of the drink so it wouldn't poke her in the eye.

Apparently, I didn't stir it enough because she proceeded to use the opposite end of her used chopstick to stir the drink, rather than ask me for the long spoon. My first reaction was to shout something like ***GAAAAAH***, then I sputtered something like "what are you doing?!? the spoon is right here! don't use your chopsticks for something like that...they're practically sacred!!" She didn't seem particularly fazed by it, and made it seem like I overreacted.

Well, maybe I did overreact, but it was a good exuse for me to do a little research into the terms used to describe the ways one can violate chopstick etiquette in Japan. If you ever commit a violation, it's good to know a few of these to have a conversation about chopstick-etiquette; my Japanese co-workers seemed to like trying to remember as many as they could.

Here are the ones I could find. I put a star next to the ones that seem to be the most common or at least widely recognized terms. (It seems that no one had even contemplated my friend's particular violation, so maybe I should invent a new one: 混ぜ箸 maze-bashi ("stirring chopsticks"). Otherwise, it's probably a combination of (3), (5) and (13).)

*(1) 迷い箸（惑い端） mayoi-bashi ("wavering chopsticks")
口に運ぶ料理に迷い、箸先を料理に向けて迷い動かすこと。
being indecisive about bringing food to one's mouth, that is, moving the tips of one's chopsticks over different plates before deciding which to choose

(2) 移り箸 utsuri-bashi ("transfering-chopsticks")
ある料理に箸を付けたり、付けようとしたにもかかわらず、気が変わり他の料理へ箸を移すこと。
in spite of having touched food with one's chopsticks, changing one's mind and moving the chopsticks toward another dish.
also defined as: helping oneself to two side dishes successively (instead of eating rice in between)

(3) 涙箸 namida-bashi ("teardrop-chopsticks")
汁物料理の汁を箸先から落としながら食べること。
dripping liquid (soup, sauce, etc.) from the tips of one's chopsticks

*(4) 突き箸 tsuki-bashi or 刺し箸 sashi-bashi ("penetration/stabbing-chopsticks")
料理に箸を突き刺して食べること。
stabbing food with one's chopsticks

*(5) 探り箸 saguri-bashi ("searching-chopsticks")
汁物料理の御椀の中で箸を使い、かき回して具を探すこと。
using one's chopsticks to find a food one likes by rummaging in one's dish, pot, etc.

(6) 寄せ箸 yose-bashi ("drawing near-chopsticks")
遠くの食器を取る際に箸を使い手元に引き寄せること。
using one's chopsticks to draw a bowl closer

(7) 空箸 sora-bashi ("empty-chopsticks")
一度、箸を付けた料理を食べずに戻すこと。
touching food with one's chopsticks, then removing the chopsticks without having taken the food

(8) 重ね箸 kasane-bashi ("pile-chopsticks")
同じ料理ばかりを食べ続けること。
continuing to eat the same dish, i.e., not alternating between types of dishes

(9) 椀ぎ箸 mogi-bashi ("tearing off-chopsticks")
箸先についた料理を口でもぎ取ること。
using chopsticks to tear food away from one's mouth

(10) 持ち箸 mochi-bashi ("holding-chopsticks")
片手で箸を持ちながら器を持つこと。
taking hold of something (e.g., a bowl) while simultaneously holding one's chopsticks

*(11) 指し箸 sashi-bashi ("pointing-chopsticks")
箸で人や物を指すこと。
pointing at something with one's chopsticks

*(12) 渡し箸 watashi-bashi ("traversing-chopsticks")
箸休めの際、箸置きを使わずに食器の上に箸を置くこと。
resting one's chopsticks across the top of one's bowl, like a bridge

(13) 洗い箸 arai-bashi ("washing-chopsticks")
汁物料理に箸を入れ、洗うこと。
sticking one's chopsticks into broth, etc., to clean them off

*(14) 舐り箸 neburi-bashi ("licking-chopsticks")
箸をなめること。
licking one's chopsticks

(15) 噛み箸 kami-bashi ("biting-chopsticks")
箸を噛むこと
biting one's chopsticks

(16) 掻き箸 kaki-bashi ("scooping-chopsticks")
料理を口に掻き込むこと。
shoveling food into one's mouth
(17) 握り箸 nigiri-bashi ("grasping-chopsticks")holding two sticks together as one would grasp a knife to attack *(18) 仏箸Hotoke-bashi ("Buddha-chopsticks")
standing chopsticks up in a ricebowl (resembling joss sticks) *(19) 箸渡しhashi-watashi ("chopstick-transfer")transfering food to another person's chopsticks (apparently, the action is frowned upon because it resembles the rite of transfering a deceased family member's bones. Fair enough!)>>NB: Not to be confused with 橋渡し 【はしわたし】 (n,vs) bridge building; mediation; intermediary; through the good offices of, etc. Phew! That's a lot to remember! Did I miss any?

I was at a kaiten-sushi the other day and a friend visiting from NY asked what the "kappa" was in "kappa-maki" so I told her that the river imp in Japanese folklore, the kappa, likes to eat cucumber, which is the main ingredient in a kappa-maki.

However, I couldn't answer her question about the tekka-maki. I looked up tekka and the dictionary only had "red hot iron" so the etymology wasn't clear to me. I looked it up on wikipedia and here is the entry:

"Tekkamaki (鉄火巻き) is a kind of Hosomaki filled with raw tuna. Although some believe that the name "Tekka", meaning 'red hot iron', alludes to the color of the tuna flesh, it actually originated as a quick snack to eat in gambling dens called "Tekkaba (鉄火場)", much like the sandwich."

Interesting!

O - GENKI - DE!O-GENKI-DE is an expression used when parting from someone. It means "Goodbye and take care!"