Kanji - Level 6 - Vocab

Question 1

後で

Answer 1

After
Kanji: 後 behind + で
This shares one of the meanings you learned for the kanji: after. You can differentiate this one from 後ろ (which you may or may not have seen yet) thanks to the で on the end. Some people believe that after something’s dead (で), it goes to an afterlife.
Reading: あとで
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
After. Everything happens after. It’s a cause and effect chain. One thing happens, and then another thing happens after. This is life. This is the universe. Everything is after. It’s an automatic (あと) cycle that just keeps going and going and going.

Question 2

全て

Answer 2

All
Kanji: 全 all + て
This has a little hiragana attached to it but nothing that suggests it’s a verb or an adjective. That means you can assume this word has the same meaning as its parent kanji.
Reading: すべて
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You wanted to remember everything about your trip, so you bought every souvenir (すべ) available in the entire shop to ensure you had all the mementos possible.

Question 3

全日本

Answer 3

All Japan
Kanji: 全 all + 日 sun + 本 book
You know 日本 means “Japan.” So, now you have the kanji for all added to it, making this word All Japan (as in “All Japan Railways” or something like that).
Readings: ぜんにほん, ぜんにっぽん
You know the reading of 日本. Now just add the on’yomi reading of 全 and you should be able to read this word.

Question 4

午前

Answer 4

AM
Kanji: 午 front + 前 noon
You have something that’s before (or in front of) noon. What is before noon? That is AM.
Reading: ごぜん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 5

足首

Answer 5

Ankle
Kanji: 足 neck + 首 leg
What is the neck of your leg? Think about it. It’s your ankle.
Reading: あしくび
This word uses the kun’yomi readings from both kanji, probably because it includes body parts. You know the kun’yomi reading of 足 from previous vocab and you know the kun’yomi reading of 首 from learning that kanji. So, you should be able to read this kanji so long as you remember that it’s all kun’yomi.

Question 6

カバン

Answer 6

Bag
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
If there’s a car ban (カバン), you’ll need a nice bag to carry all your stuff in. You can’t just throw it all in the car, so get yourself a nice bag instead.
カバン is used for bags that you can close and that have a fairly rigid structure, like handbags and backpacks, but not more flimsy bags that don’t close, like plastic bags and paper bags.
This word can also be written in hiragana and kanji. All versions are pretty common, but you’ll probably see it in katakana the most.
Reading: カバン, かばん

Question 7

後ろ

Answer 7

Behind
Kanji: 後 behind + ろ
The hiragana attached to this word doesn’t suggest it’s a verb or an adjective, so we can assume it’s a noun. While 後で (you may or may not have seen this word yet) means “after,” this one means all the other meanings you learned with the kanji: behind, back, and rear. Think of the ろ as a hint. It’s like saying you’re on the “road” (ろ) and you’re driving so fast you’re leaving everything “behind.”
Reading: うしろ
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
Continue to think you’re driving on this road. You hit something, then look behind you, seeing you hit a cow. Know the word for cow in Japanese? It’s うし, which is also the reading for this word.

Question 8

出血

Answer 8

Bleeding
Kanji: 出 exit + 血 blood
When the thing that is exiting is blood, you are probably bleeding.
Reading: しゅっけつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
Note that the しゅつ from 出 gets shortened to しゅっ. That’s a small つ there, not a big one.

Question 9

血

Answer 9

Blood
Kanji: 血 blood
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ち
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
You cut yourself and there’s blood everywhere. You need to stop the bleeding with something, but the only thing nearby is a block of cheese. You grab the cheese and stuff it into your gash, but the blood comes out the holes (it is Swiss cheese, blargh!). Imagine this in great detail to be able to remember it well.

Question 10

両方

Answer 10

Both
Kanji: 両 both + 方 direction
Here you have both directions / ways. Every time you have to choose between something it’s like having to choose between two ways. That’s why this word is simply both.
Close to the kanji is the meaning both sides, as well. Learn either for 両方, they’re pretty similar.
Reading: りょうほう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 11

両日

Answer 11

Both days
Kanji: 両 both + 日 sun
Kanji doesn’t go together much better than this. Both plus day equals both days.
This is a bit of a formal word though, you’ll hear important people say it more than your friends.
Reading: りょうじつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 日 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
On both days of your vacation, you get two boats to row! Gee, two (りょうじつ) boats at once? Try not to fall in!

Question 12

両手

Answer 12

Both hands
Kanji: 両 both + 手 hand
Don’t use one hand when you can use both hands. This is simply both plus hand put together. It can also mean both arms.
Reading: りょうて
This word uses the readings you learned with both kanji. No problemo for a kanji master such as yourself.

Question 13

明るい

Answer 13

Bright
Kanji: 明 bright + る + い
This is a single kanji plus the hiragana るい. Words that end in い are usually adjectives, and this is no exception. What’s the adjective form of bright? It’s also bright.
Reading: あかるい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You have to remember the あか portion. What is あか in Japanese? It is “red.” So, think of something that’s really bright. Now, imagine it being totally red (aka あか). In Japan, the color red is associated with the sun, and the sun is pretty bright. If you can remember this you can also remember the reading of this word.

Question 14

茶色

Answer 14

Brown
Kanji: 茶 tea + 色 color
What is the color of tea? You’d think it would be green, assuming it’s Japanese… but this word came from China. What color is Chinese tea? It tends to be more brown. Think Oolong tea, for example.
Reading: ちゃいろ
The readings for both kanji are the readings you learned with the kanji, meaning you should be able to read this already.

Question 15

仕方がない

Answer 15

Can’t be helped
Kanji: 仕 doing + 方 direction + が + な + い
The kanji part of this word is like saying “the doing way” … aka the way you do something. So, when you don’t have a way to do something, there’s nothing you can do. Thus is born the popular Japanese phrase: 仕方がない, which means can’t be helped, it’s no use, or there’s no other way. This is a very good expression to know if you’re in Japan.
Reading: しかたがない
You already know how to read this from having learned 仕方, so you should be good to go!

Question 16

安い

Answer 16

Cheap
Kanji: 安 relax + い
This is a single kanji with an い at the end, meaning you know it’s probably an adjective. One of the meanings of 安 is cheap, so this is just that as an adjective, cheap. Time to go to a 100円 shop and get some 安い goods, ammiright?
Reading: やすい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
“Would you like this item for cheap?”
“Uh, yes (やす) please!”

Question 17

中国

Answer 17

China
Kanji: 中 middle + 国 country
The middle country… who could that be? Let’s think about it. Who invented kanji and therefore probably thinks they’re the middle of the world? Who also is just a huge country that ruled much of Asia? That would be none other than China.
Reading: ちゅうごく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well. Just make sure you watch out for the rendaku.

Question 18

社長

Answer 18

Company president
Kanji: 社 company + 長 leader
The company leader is the company president, manager, or director. Be sure to greet your 社長 with a hearty good morning when s/he stumbles in!
Reading: しゃちょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 19

活用

Answer 19

Conjugation
Kanji: 活 lively + 用 task
What do you use to show that a word is lively? Conjugation! Lively things are happening, so you have to conjugate your words to match.
It also has another meaning. When you want to actually use something lively you are making practical use of it. I mean, you’re using it, after all. So as long as you aren’t pretending to use it, it’s probably practical.
Reading: かつよう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 20

国

Answer 20

Country
Kanji: 国 country
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: くに
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Tell me about your country. Now imagine that everyone in your country has cool knees (くに). That’s because the national dress code is shorts, so everyone’s knees get chilly. That why they have cool knees. You could also imagine cool knees in the sense of trendy knees. What makes for cool knees, in your opinion?

Question 21

文化

Answer 21

Culture
Kanji: 文 writing + 化 change
Writing has changed our entire culture. In fact, when someone reads a good piece of writing it changes them, and changes their culture too. What writing has changed you so much it has changed your culture and the way you act?
Reading: ぶんか
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 文 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
In your culture, everyone drives bun cars (ぶんか). Indeed, bun cars are the height of culture. And because they’re made out of buns, they’re much less dangerous.

Question 22

死体

Answer 22

Dead body
Kanji: 死 death + 体 body
The kanji for death and body put together make for a dead body. Hopefully you don’t have to use or see this vocab too much.
Reading: したい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 23

死

Answer 23

Death
Kanji: 死 death
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: し
This has the same reading as the kanji you learned, meaning you know the reading!

Question 24

方言

Answer 24

Dialect
Kanji: 方 direction + 言 say
The way you say things could be translated as your accent… but this is much bigger. This is an entire “way” of speaking. This is a dialect.
You can even think of the 方 as being “direction” where you go in different directions in a country and discover different dialects, if that way of thinking helps.
Reading: ほうげん
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 25

方向

Answer 25

Direction
Kanji: 方 direction + 向 yonder
The direction yonder over there is still just the direction of something, though a complicated way to say it, I think. This direction is the “what direction did he go in?” sort of direction.
Reading: ほうこう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 26

ドル

Answer 26

Dollar
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
ドル is the Japanese version of the English word dollar.
The dollar symbol $ is also common in Japanese, and the pronunciation is still ドル.
Reading:ドル

Question 27

早く

Answer 27

Early
Kanji: 早 early + く
This is the adverb version of the kanji early. It’s a little thing you can begin sentences with to say you’re doing something early or quickly.
Reading: はやく
Since you already know the reading of the vocab word 早い, you should be able to read this word as well.

Question 28

東

Answer 28

East
Kanji: 東 east
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ひがし
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
You see a man walking east, toward the sun rising behind that tree, but it’s too bright. He trips and he gashes (ひがし) his foot on a root that was sticking out of the ground. His foot is torn up really bad, but he tries to take another step and, oh no, he gashes his foot again! This guy is not having an easy time going east.

Question 29

東方

Answer 29

Eastward
Kanji: 東 east + 方 direction
The East direction is Eastward or the East.
This word has an old-fashioned feel to it.
Reading: とうほう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 30

活気

Answer 30

Energy
Kanji: 活 lively + 気 energy
If you have lively energy you have more than enough energy for everyone to start noticing. They come up to you and compliment you on your amazing liveliness.
Reading: かっき
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Just be careful because かつ is being shortened here to かっ. It’s a pretty common change for on’yomi ending in つ, so keep your eyes open for more that do this!

Question 31

十分

Answer 31

Enough
Kanji: 十 ten + 分 part
You have ten parts out of ten. Which means you have quite enough. The amount you have is sufficient and plenty.
Reading: じゅうぶん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 32

有名

Answer 32

Famous
Kanji: 有 have + 名 name
When you have a name (that is known to people) or you have famousness, you are probably someone who is famous.
Reading: ゆうめい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 33

名曲

Answer 33

Famous music
Kanji: 名 famous + 曲 music
Famous music is famous music.
Reading: めいきょく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 34

早口

Answer 34

Fast talker
Kanji: 早 early + 口 mouth
When you have a fast mouth, you’re probably a fast talker, right motormouth?
Reading: はやくち
Remember how body parts often change even jukugo words to kun’yomi readings? That’s what happened here too. Both readings are kun’yomi, making this one はやくち.

Question 35

外国

Answer 35

Foreign country
Kanji: 外 outside + 国 country
An outside country is one outside of your own country. That is a foreign country, other countries, or overseas.
Reading: がいこく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 36

外国人

Answer 36

Foreign person
Kanji: 外 outside + 国 country + 人 person
You know 外人 the word that means “foreigner,” but that word is a bit informal and can come off as rude. The nicer, more politically correct version of the word is the one above. An outside country person. To differentiate this from “foreigner” we’re going to use the more polite English version of this word as well (just like in Japanese): Foreign Person.
Reading: がいこくじん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 人 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
Remember how to spot a foreigner? That’s right, they’ll be in jeans (じん)!

Question 37

四十二

Answer 37

Forty-two
Kanji: 四 four + 十 ten + 二 two
Four tens plus two. That equals forty two.
P.S. Please don’t panic. “The Answer” is NOT a correct answer for this. It is just a reference to the greatest book of all time. Sorry for the confusion and so long and thanks for all the fish.
Reading: よんじゅうに
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. But! Don’t forget, 四 uses the kun’yomi reading, since the on’yomi reading sounds too much like the word for “death.”

Question 38

前

Answer 38

Front
Kanji: 前 front
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: まえ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
What’s in front of you? Think about it. Make it something ridiculous. Now look at a tag that’s on it. Who does this thing belong to? Oh, wait, it’s my (まえ) thing there in front of me. Say that out loud for better memory.

Question 39

全力

Answer 39

Full effort
Kanji: 全 all + 力 power
When you put all your power into something, you’re putting your full effort into it. Hopefully that’s what you put into your kanji learning as well!
Reading: ぜんりょく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. Since 力 has two on’yomi readings, here’s a mnemonic to help you remember which one to use:
With your full effort, you were able to produce a Zen lock (ぜんりょく). It’s a lock imbued with the power of Zen, meaning no one and nothing could possibly break it. It’s the one lock to rule them all.

Question 40

出社

Answer 40

Going to the office
Kanji: 出 exit + 社 company
If you exit somewhere in order to go to your company, that’s going to the office, arriving at the office, and coming to work.
Reading: しゅっしゃ
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own. Just watch out for the しゅつ, which gets changed to しゅっ, as many つs do in this situation.

Question 41

正直

Answer 41

Honest
Kanji: 正 correct + 直 fix
You have correct and fix. When you’re always fixing things to make them correct (for example, someone’s lies!) you are a very honest person.
Reading: しょうじき
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 42

本州

Answer 42

Honshuu
Kanji: 本 book + 州 state
You have your origin state. For Japan (since this is a Japanese word), that would be the main island, the big one in the middle: Honshu. You’ll have to know some minor Japanese geography for this. Go look at a map of Japan and study it over real quick to see where I’m talking about if you don’t know already.
Reading: ほんしゅう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 43

私

Answer 43

I
Kanji: 私 I
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: わたし, わたくし
If you’re lucky, you already know this (very) common word’s reading. It’s the word for “I,” probably one of the first things you’d learn in Japanese. The reading for this is わたし. If you don’t know that already, just think: “What, a し?” referring to the reading of the kanji, which is し.

Question 44

国王

Answer 44

King
Kanji: 国 country + 王 king
A country king is still a king, just of a bigger area.
Reading: こくおう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 45

天国

Answer 45

Kingdom of Heaven
Kanji: 天 heaven + 国 country
This is heaven country. Where is that? Probably just in heaven (or if you want to be fancy, the kingdom of heaven).
Reading: てんごく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well. The 国 is changed to the reading ごく though because of rendaku. Even heaven changes a little bit.

Question 46

九州

Answer 46

Kyuushuu
Kanji: 九 nine + 州 state
The nine states. This refers to a section of Japan from a long time ago that was presumably made up of nine states. Now it’s just one big island, though, and that island is Kyuushuu. Go take a look at a map and find this giant island, it’s a cool part of Japan!
Reading: きゅうしゅう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 47

土地

Answer 47

Land
Kanji: 土 dirt + 地 earth
The soil of the earth is the portion of the earth that is made up of land.
Reading:とち
The reading is the on’yomi reading, but 土 gets modified to と for some reason. Just remember that the land you’re standing on is made of toes… millions of them. Yuck.

Question 48

生活

Answer 48

Life
Kani: 生 life + 活 lively
When you have life and are lively that right there is true life. What is your 生活 like? Do you live?
Reading: せいかつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 49

長い

Answer 49

Long
Kanji: 長 long + い
This is a single kanji with an い on the end, meaning you know it’s probably an adjective. What’s the adjective form of long? It’s also long.
Reading: ながい
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You have something that’s really long. It’s this crazy hair growing out of the tip of your nose. You don’t really care either way if it stays or goes, but you’re too lazy to cut it off. Your parents, though, keep trying to nag (なが) you to trim it. Imagine this process happening and be irritated about it. What naggers.

Question 50

宝くじ

Answer 50

Lottery
Kanji: 宝 treasure + く + じ
宝 is a treasure. くじ is a lottery. So if you have a treasure lottery (you win treasure if you win the lottery) then you have yourself a lottery.
Reading: たからくじ
The reading uses the 宝 vocab reading, たから.

Question 51

小文字

Answer 51

Lowercase letters
Kanji: 小 small + 文 writing + 字 letter
You know that 文字 means “letters”. So, what are “small letters”? That would be lowercase letters.
Reading: こもじ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. However, 小 uses the kun’yomi reading and 文 is an exception here, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this:
You learned your lowercase letters from 子 Moe (こも). That’s right, after Moe taught you all the letters, his son 子 Moe taught you the lowercase ones. Such teamwork.

Question 52

地図

Answer 52

Map
Kanji: 地 earth + 図 diagram
The diagram of the earth. What could that be other than a map?
Reading: ちず
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 53

草地

Answer 53

Meadow
Kanji: 草 grass + 地 earth
Grass covering the earth is a meadow. Or, if you’re less creative, it’s grassland.
Reading:くさち
The reading is a combination of kun’yomi and on’yomi readings. That being said, both readings for both kanji are the readings you learned with the kanji so you should be able to read this.

Question 54

水星

Answer 54

Mercury
Kanji: 水 water + 星 star
The water star is the planet Mercury. That’s where we hid all of our secret moon water. Mercury looks enough like our moon, so we put it there so no one could find it.
Reading: すいせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 55

中東

Answer 55

Middle east
Kanji: 中 middle + 東 east
The middle of the east is more simply known as the middle east.
Reading: ちゅうとう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 56

死亡

Answer 56

Mortality
Kanji: 死 death + 亡 deceased
Death and deceased. That’s a lot of death. This is mortality.
Reading: しぼう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 57

国宝

Answer 57

National treasure
Kanji: 国 country + 宝 treasure
A country’s treasure is their national treasure.
Reading: こくほう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 58

全国

Answer 58

Nationwide
Kanji: 全 all + 国 country
When something involves all the country you know it’s nationwide or national.
Reading: ぜんこく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 59

首

Answer 59

Neck
Kanji: 首 neck
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: くび
You learned the reading for this word via the kanji, so you should be able to read this word just fine.

Question 60

次

Answer 60

Next
Kanji: 次 next
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: つぎ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Someone yells out “NEXT!” because the first thing didn’t work on you. That was a single guillotine. Now they are going to try two guillotines (つぎ) and see how that works on your thick neck. NEXXXXT!

Question 61

次回

Answer 61

Next time
Kanji: 次 next + 回 times
The next time you look at this kanji, you should know that it means next time.
Reading: じかい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 62

夜

Answer 62

Night
Kanji: 夜 night
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: よる
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
It is the night, but it is your (よる) night.

Question 63

直行

Answer 63

Nonstop
Kanji: 直 fix + 行 go
If you think about direct going (aka transportation) how would you make it better? You’d make it so everything was nonstop and direct. Just imagine how much nicer it would be if every airplane you took was direct and you never had to stop. So nice!
Note 直行 is commonly used in business settings to describe traveling directly to a destination without making any stops, like visiting a client’s office straight from your home.
Reading: ちょっこう
This is a jukugo word and uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. The ちょく of 直 is shortened with a small っ, though, so make sure to take note of that.

Question 64

足りない

Answer 64

To not be enough
Kanji: 足 foot + り + な + い
You know the word 足りる from Level 4. What is this one? it’s the opposite (negative form on a verb is ない). So, what is the opposite of 足りる (To be sufficient)? The opposite is to not be sufficient or not enough.
Reading: たりない
The reading is the same as 足りる (たりる) which you should have seen in Level 4.

Question 65

ない

Answer 65

Not there
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
The knife (ない) is not there. It’s not here and it’s not there. It’s missing. It’s nowhere to be found, so don’t bother looking for it!
Reading: ない

Question 66

年上

Answer 66

Older
Kanji: 年 year + 上 above
When you’re years above someone else, you are older than that person.
Reading: としうえ
The reading for this one is an exception, because it uses kun’yomi readings even though it is a jukugo kanji. You already know the separate kun’yomi readings from the vocabulary of the last level, but you will have to remember to actually use this knowledge when this word comes up.

Question 67

姉

Answer 67

Older sister
Kanji: 姉 older sister
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. This is your older sister, by the way. Not somebody else’s.
Reading: あね
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. You haven’t learned this reading yet, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember:
Picture your older sister (even if you don’t have one), her birthday is coming up and there’s only one thing she wants from you. A necklace (あね). She’s wanted a necklace for years and you’re finally going to give her one. She’ll be so happy.

Question 68

お姉さん

Answer 68

Older sister
Kanji: お + 姉 older sister + さ + ん
The お makes the word more polite. You’re elevating the “older sister” title because you’re a good younger sibling. Otherwise, the meaning of this word is the same as the kanji - just the feeling is different. You can also use this word to refer to a youthful-looking woman that you don’t know, as in “Excuse me miss!”
Reading: おねえさん
The reading is different too. It has some hiragana attached to it, which is a clue that this uses a kun’yomi reading. Let’s use a mnemonic to learn that reading.
Imagine your older sister (even if you don’t have one). She is, for some reason, a horse. Imagine petting her, giving her carrots, and doing other horse-related things with her. What do horses say? They say nehhhh (ねえ).

Question 69

一歩

Answer 69

One step
Kanji: 一 one + 歩 walk
If 歩 is “walk” and you take one walk, then really you are just taking one step. When there’s a number before 歩, it refers to the number of steps you’re taking. The most common is this one, and you’ll see it on urinals when they kindly ask you to please take one step forward because peeing isn’t a game and somebody has to clean up after you.
Reading: いっぽ
The reading is pretty standard in its trickiness. The いち shortens to an いっ and the ほ rendakus to ぽ. One step at a time, right?

Question 70

海外

Answer 70

Overseas
Kanji: 海 sea + 外 outside
The outside of the sea is someplace overseas. It can also be foreign or abroad if those words are easier to remember for you.
Reading: かいがい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 71

平安

Answer 71

Peace
Kanji: 平 flat + 安 relax
Something is flat and relaxed. That is you. What words does that describe? To me, that would be peace. Just imagine something that is flat and relaxed, like a field of grass with happy people in it. It’s so peaceful!
This is the way you write the Heian period of Japanese history, which is probably where you’ll see this word the most.
Reading: へいあん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 72

私生活

Answer 72

Personal life
Kanji: 私 I + 生 life + 活 lively
You’ve seen 生活 before, right? So what about the “life” of I? Whose life is that? Why, that’s my own personal life.
Reading: しせいかつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 73

午後

Answer 73

PM
Kanji: 午 noon + 後 after
What is noon after? That is PM or the afternoon.
Reading: ごご
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 74

点

Answer 74

Point
Kanji: 点 point
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well. As luck would have it, this word actually covers most of the meanings of the English word point, too! So it can mean things like score, viewpoint, and decimal point.
Reading: てん
The reading for this word is the same as the reading for the kanji that makes it.

Question 75

私立

Answer 75

Private
Kanji: 私 I + 立 stand
The place where I stand is my own private area. Think of the “circle of personal space.” This is where you stand plus an arm’s length. This area is very private to you. Who knows what you do in your own private area.
Reading: しりつ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.
Both 市立 (municipal) and 私立 (private) are pronounced as しりつ and it’s hard to tell them apart when speaking. Although they’re not official readings, people sometimes distinguish 市立 and 私立 by pronouncing them as いちりつ and わたくしりつ respectively.

Question 76

車両

Answer 76

Railroad car
Kanji: 車 car + 両 both
A car with more cars on both sides is a car that hooks into other cars… specifically other railroad cars. They have hooks on both sides, they hook into other cars, and they fit all the requirements of this vocab word’s kanji.
Reading: しゃりょう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 77

安心

Answer 77

Relief
Kanji: 安 relax + 心 heart
When your heart is relaxed, how do you feel? What if this is after something startling happens? You would feel relief or peace of mind.
Reading: あんしん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 78

〜室

Answer 78

Room
Kanji: 室 room
You’ll see this attached to other words… like “waiting” or “guest.” When you see this, you’ll know it is a ___ room, making this word mean room (same as the kanji).
Reading: しつ
The reading is the on’yomi reading. Don’t type the 〜 out when writing the answer. It’s just there to let you know that there’s usually something attached to this word.

Question 79

安全

Answer 79

Safety
Kanji: 安 relax + 全 all
When you are all relaxed you are finally safe and in safety.
Reading: あんぜん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 80

土星

Answer 80

Saturn
Kanji: 土 dirt + 星 star
The ground star is Saturn. That’s why it’s called “sat”urn. Because the first people to find it sat on the ground there. It’s a star made completely of sit-on-able ground.
Reading: どせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 81

科学

Answer 81

Science
Kanji: 科 science + 学 study
The study of science is plainly known as science.
Reading: かがく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 82

羊

Answer 82

Sheep
Kanji: 羊 sheep
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: ひつじ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Imagine a sheep fighting with Jesus. The first thing it does is hits Jesus (ひつじ) in the stomach with its fists, then hits Jesus again with its horns. Try to imagine this playing out, with an announcer calling the shots as well.

Question 83

四国

Answer 83

Shikoku
Kanji: 四 four + 国 country
The four country is another section of Japan. It’s quite nice, too. Look on a map and try to find it. So, the meaning of this word is also the reading, which you should be able to figure out because it’s all on’yomi: Shikoku.
Reading: しこく
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You’ve learned them already, so you should be able to read this on your own!

Question 84

店

Answer 84

Shop
Kanji: 店 shop
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: みせ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Think of your favorite shop. Okay, now imagine yourself going to it. When you arrive, the entire shop is totally missing (みせ). Feel the shock and awe of this. It’s as if it picked up and left overnight. No building, no anything. Just missing.

Question 85

姉妹

Answer 85

Sisters
Kanji: 姉 older sister + 妹 younger sister
Your older sister and your younger sister. These are your sisters.
Reading: しまい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 86

石ころ

Answer 86

Small stone
Kanji: 石 stone + こ + ろ
You’ve already learned 石, which means stone. Add a ころ to that, and it becomes a small stone, or pebble.
Reading: いしころ
This uses the kun’yomi of 石, which you’ve already learned, and adds a bit of hiragana, so you should be able to read this!

Question 87

他の人

Answer 87

Someone else
Kanji: 他 other + の + 人 person
Here you have other and person joined together by the particle の, which shows that “other” is describing “person”. So this means someone else or other people.
This is more general than 他人, which you already learned. 他の人 can be anyone that’s not the speaker, or not the person being talked about. 他人, on the other hand, has an added implication that the person is someone unknown or unrelated.
Reading: ほかのひと
This uses the kanji’s kun’yomi readings, which you’ve already learned. As long as you remember those, you should be good to go!

Question 88

南

Answer 88

South
Kanji: 南 south
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: みなみ
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Think about the south. What’s down there? Mean Amy (みなみ) lives down there. Think of the last mean thing she did to you and imagine it while yelling out “MEAN AMYYYYY” at the sky.

Question 89

南東

Answer 89

Southeast
Kanji: 南 south + 東 east
The South East is the Southeast.
Reading: なんとう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 90

州

Answer 90

State
Kanji: 州 state
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: しゅう
The reading is the on’yomi reading that you learned with the kanji, probably because it normally gets added on to other things, like the names of the state. Examples: カリフォルニア州, ニューヨーク州, etc.

Question 91

代用

Answer 91

Substitution
Kanji: 代 substitute + 用 task
A substitute task is a substitution.
Note that this word has a slightly formal feel to it.
Reading: だいよう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 92

目次

Answer 92

Table of Contents
Kanji: 目 eye + 次 next
Your eye is on what’s next. How is this possible to see what’s coming up? That’s because you’re looking at a table of contents.
Reading: もくじ
The readings are the on’yomi readings, but you learned the kun’yomi reading for 目 before. So, you have to remember that this word uses もく instead of め. To do that, imagine yourself looking at a table of contents. Instead of being a normal table of contents there, it’s just line after line of text trying to mock (もく) you. Come up with what those lines are and think about how you’re being mocked.

Question 93

タクシー

Answer 93

Taxi
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
タクシー is the katakana version of the English word taxi. The “xi” sound becomes クシー to fit better with Japanese pronunciation.
Reading: タクシー

Question 94

お茶

Answer 94

Tea
Kanji: お + 茶 tea
The お just makes the word more polite. Since tea is so important in Japan, it gets the お. Otherwise, you should be able to figure out the meaning as it’s the same as the kanji.
Reading: おちゃ
The reading is the on’yomi reading, just like you learned with the kanji.

Question 95

あれ

Answer 95

That over there
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
You need a lens (あれ)? How about that one over there? You’re in a camera shop picking out a new lens, and that one over there looks good.
Use あれ to refer to something that’s far from both you and the person you’re talking to.
Reading: あれ

Question 96

この

Answer 96

This
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
Remember how これ means “this one”? Well, この simply means this. The difference is that これ is used on its own, whereas この goes before a noun. For example, この人 means “this person”.
Notice how words like this starting with こ are close to you? We’ll be learning a few more of these, and they all follow the same pattern!
Reading: この

Question 97

今年

Answer 97

This year
Kanji: 今 now + 年 year
The now year is which year? It is this year.
Readings: ことし, こんねん
With the first reading (the more common one), the こん of 今 is actually just こ. This gets shortened sometimes, so look out for it. Also, the 年 is the kun’yomi reading for some reason. It’s a total mystery why this is. Perhaps the ancient aliens know, but I do not. You’re going to have to remember this exception with that brain of yours and rely on the SRS to bestow this knowledge upon you.
The second reading, which is less common but still common enough, makes more sense. It is こんねん and just follows the jukugo patterns.

Question 98

三百

Answer 98

Three hundred
Kanji: 三 three + 百 hundred
You have three hundreds. What does that come out to? Three hundred.
Reading: さんびゃく
The reading is a little bit weird, so be careful. You should already know the on’yomi readings, but the ひゃく rendakus to びゃく. This pattern will repeat itself with 三 + many counter kanjis that can rendaku, so pay attention for it as you read Japanese.

Question 99

足す

Answer 99

To add something
Kanji: 足 foot + す
Remember 足りる? That is “to be enough.” How can you make something be enough? You keep adding things to the pile until you reach that point where there are enough! That’s why this verb is to add something, because you keep adding things until you 足りる.
This verb is transitive, like most verbs ending in す, which is why you are adding something. It’s not getting itself added all by itself. Maybe you add so much that someone tries to sue (す) you for that nasty pile of squirrels you keep outside.
Reading: たす
The reading is the same as 足りる, so if you know that you can add things up to this.

Question 100

出来る

Answer 100

To be able to do
Kanji: 出 exit + 来 come + る
When you exit and come, apparently it means to be able to do. I think of it like you’re leaving a location (出) to do a task and then you come (来る) back after you did it. Perhaps you were waiting in a room training like someone from Dragonball. When you leave the room, you are ready to fight the enemy and win. You train in that room to be able to do whatever you need to do, and only leave and come back alive because you were able to do it.
This verb is really common and it has a wide range of meanings. It can also mean things like to be ready, for example a meal, and to be made, for example when saying what something is made from. It’s commonly written in hiragana, but you’ll see the kanji version too!
Reading: できる
The readings are a bit strange. They’re both kun’yomi readings, where 出 is で and 来る is きる. This is different from the reading you originally learned with 来る (くる), though, so be careful. If you can remember that and remember the kun’yomi readings from the previous vocab, you should be able to learn this one’s reading as well.

Question 101

切れる

Answer 101

To be cut
Kanji: 切 cut + れ + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
This is an intransitive verb. That means it does not take a direct object. The kanji means cut so this generally means that something is cut. Something breaks or snaps. No direct object here. That’s why this verb means to be cut or to snap. Another meaning of this verb is to expire or to run out. This could be various things like your passport, or a deadline for an assignment.
Reading: きれる
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. Here’s a refresher to help you remember the き portion of this word:
Something is snapping. Turns out that something is your arm. Your arm is a 木 (き) that grew out of you one day. “What’s this ki doing here?” you ask. Then it suddenly breaks in half! “OW OW OW! My ki! It’s been cut!!”

Question 102

写る

Answer 102

To be photographed
Kanji: 写 copy + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means copy, but what is a copy? It is basically a photograph, which is why this word means to be photographed, or to be in a photograph. You know this one is “to be photographed” because it ends with a る. Someone thinks you’re “rude” so they’re photographing you.
Reading: うつる
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You have to remember the うつ part. You’re being rude, right? That’s why you got photographed. Why are you rude? You’re doing beatboxing, constantly saying うつうつうつ over and over again. Say it out loud, too.

Question 103

行う

Answer 103

To carry something out
Kanji: 行 go + う
The meaning of this word is pretty strange, having very little to do with the kanji meaning you learned. This word means to carry something out. Maybe you can think of it like someone is saying “You (う) go do that task!” to get yourself to carry out the task. Whatever you do, just know this is a weird exception word, so you may have to do some extra work to remember it.
Reading: おこなう
The reading is also a strange exception. You have to remember the おこな portion. Maybe this mnemonic will help: You have to carry out a task but you’re not too excited about it. Then you find out the task will bring you to Kona, Hawaii. “Oh, Kona!?” (おこな), you shout. In that case, you’ll get right on it.

Question 104

死ぬ

Answer 104

To die
Kanji: 死 death + ぬ
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means death, so the verb version is to die.
Reading: しぬ
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji.

Question 105

食べる

Answer 105

To eat
Kanji: 食 eat + べ + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means eat so the verb version is to eat.
Reading: たべる
You have to remember the た portion if you want to be able to read this word, which uses the kun’yomi reading. Think about yourself eating some tacos (た). Imagine yourself eating it, that raw beef taste in your mouth (either like it or hate it).

Question 106

直す

Answer 106

To fix
Kanji: 直 fix + す
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means fix so this vocab word means to fix. This is when you’re fixing something, as in doing the actual physical action of fixing.
Reading: なおす
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You have to learn the なお part. Think of it this way. You need to fix something! It’s urgent! You have to fix it now! (なお). This will also work with the similar word, 直る, which you’ll learn soon if you haven’t already.

Question 107

首になる

Answer 107

To get fired
Kanji: 首 neck + に + な + る
The になる part means “to become,” so literally this means “to become neck.” If you think about it, when something becomes neck, it has to do with you getting your head cut off (at the neck). But, in today’s modern society we don’t do that too often. Instead, this means you lose your job, aka to get fired.
Reading: くびになる
This word contains the reading you learned with the kanji. Everything else is hiragana.

Question 108

生える

Answer 108

To grow
Kanji: 生 life + え + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. Remember how 生きる means “to live?” Well this is what happens right after it starts to live. It begins to grow!
Reading: はえる
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
When something starts to grow it also learns to laugh. Imagine a little plant growing out of the ground laughing. “Ha (は) ha ha ha!” it says, as it sprouts out of the ground.

Question 109

有る

Answer 109

To have
Kanji: 有 have + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means have and so the verb version means to have. An alternative meaning is to exist though this refers only to non-living inanimate things, not moving and living things. So really, this is similar to “to have” as well.
The kanji isn’t used too often for this word, so when you’re writing just use the kana. But you’ll see the kanji used sometimes so it’s important to be able to recognize it!
Reading:ある
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
To have something is very nice. But now, the only thing you possess are screams. Imagine this. You are in a totally empty room with no possessions. You open a little box and look inside. It contains screams that yell: “AAAAHHHH” (あ).

Question 110

東北

Answer 110

Tohoku
Kanji: 東 east + 北 north
The East North area of Japan is called Tohoku or the Tohoku region. It was the region hit by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. This can also mean northeast region when talking about China or Japan, but for other countries (and for the direction) we’d use 北東.
Reading: とうほく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 111

知る

Answer 111

To know
Kanji: 知 know + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means know so the verb version means to know. It can additionally refer to how one comes to know something, so it also means to learn or to find out.
Reading: しる
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You want to know everything there is to know about sheep (し). Why? Because you are a busybody who wants to know everything. But for now, you’ll settle for sheep. Right now all you know is that sheep are soft, come in many colors, and that they have 360 degree vision with their weird, rectangle eyes. There’s even more to know, so you better get on it!

Question 112

東京

Answer 112

Tokyo
Kanji: 東 east + 京 capital
The East Capital in Japan is Tokyo. If you look on a map and compare it to 京都 (Kyoto, the other capital in history), you’ll see it’s East of Kyoto, making it the East Capital, Tokyo.
Reading: とうきょう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 113

今夜

Answer 113

Tonight
Kanji: 今 now + 夜 night
The now night is the current night, aka tonight.
Reading: こんや
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 114

亡くなる

Answer 114

To pass away
Kanji: 亡 death + く + な + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. This word is actually two words put together, though. 亡く means “be deceased.” なる means “to become.” So put that all together and you have to pass away or to become deceased. It’s basically a polite way to say something died (死ぬ).
Reading: なくなる
To learn to read this kanji you have to remember the な part of 亡く, though our mnemonic will use the whole thing.
If you’re about to become deceased, you are probably knocking (なく) on death’s door.

Question 115

広がる

Answer 115

To spread out
Kanji: 広 wide + が + る
Remember 広い? Well this is like that, except a verb. When something does the action of getting wide, it means to spread out, to extend, or to stretch.
You already learned 広げる, which is used when YOU spread something. 広がる, on the other hand, means that something spreads out all on its own. It’s worth mentioning that lots of intransitive verbs end in がる, and this is no exception. Just think how about a girl (がる) you know can do everything all by herself. She never needs help from anyone else.
Reading: ひろがる
The reading is the same as 広い, too, so as long as you knew that you knew this reading as well.

Question 116

取る

Answer 116

To take
Kanji: 取 take + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means take, so the verb version is to take something.
Reading: とる
Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it’s probably going to be the kun’yomi reading. You already know this kun’yomi reading, so you should be able to read this word.

Question 117

思う

Answer 117

To think
Kanji: 思 think + う
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means think so the verb version is to think.
Reading: おもう
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You learned that reading with this kanji, but here’s a reminder of the mnemonic just in case:
You have to remember the おも part to read this word. To do this, though, you’ll have to think about that guy… hmm… what was his name? He’s on The Simpsons… he’s the bartender? I think? Oh! Moe (おも) is his name! Thank you. Now I remember.
If you don’t know Moe from the Simpsons use a different Moe, perhaps the one from the Three Stooges? You should be able to come up with one.

Question 118

点ける

Answer 118

To turn something on
Kanji: 点 point + け + る
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb.
The kanji itself means point so the verb version is something you need to point your finger to do. Picture pointing your finger and pushing a lightswitch to turn something on, in this case the light. You won’t be able to switch something on if you can’t point your finger.
Reading: つける
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You aren’t able to turn the light on with just one finger though, you need to use two (つ). Either you have really weak fingers, or that’s a really strong lightswitch. Either way, you need two fingers to switch on the light.

Question 119

向く

Answer 119

To turn toward
Kanji: 向 yonder + く
You know that the kanji means yonder, which is like “over there.” This is the verb version of “yonder.” That being said, “to yonder” isn’t really a thing, so you have to think of what happens when you “look yonder.” This word means to turn toward or to face. You’re looking yonder, but you have to turn towards said yonder to look that way.
This word can also mean to be suitable, as in a good fit for a job, role, or situation. After all, you turn toward the things you’re most suitable for, right?
Reading: むく
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You turn to face a new direction and look out into the distance. There is a single cow out there. It turns to face you too, and says moo (む).

Question 120

歩く

Answer 120

To walk
Kanji: 歩 walk + く
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means walk so the verb version means to walk.
Reading: あるく
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun’yomi reading. You didn’t learn that reading with this kanji, so here’s a mnemonic to help you:
You have to remember the ある portion. Imagine yourself going to walk outside. But, as you walk, you walk like a pirate. You have a peg leg, a parrot, and a hook. Lastly, you say “arrrrr” (ある). Go ahead, say it out loud while walking around your room like a pirate. It will help.

Question 121

曲

Answer 121

Tune
Kanji: 曲 music
This almost shares the meaning with the kanji. It’s essentially the same thing, though when it’s alone it refers to a specific piece of music (aka a tune).
Reading: きょく
The reading is the same as the one you learned with the kanji as well, so you should be able to read it.

Question 122

地下

Answer 122

Underground
Kanji: 地 earth + 下 below
Below the ground is underground.
Reading: ちか
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 123

地中

Answer 123

Underground
Kanji: 地 earth + 中 middle
If you’re in the middle of the ground, then you’re most likely underground. Are you a moleperson? That’s pretty cool.
Reading: ちちゅう
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 124

不安

Answer 124

Uneasiness
Kanji: 不 not + 安 relax
When you’re not relaxed, what do you feel? Uneasiness is what you’d feel.
Reading: ふあん
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 125

米国

Answer 125

United States of America
Kanji: 米 rice + 国 country
America is the country of rice. I guess this is from all those rolling plains and such we have. Another way to say America in Japanese is アメリカ, but this is another more formal (and older) way. “Rice Country” aka United States Of America, United States, America, or USA.
Reading: べいこく
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 126

不明

Answer 126

Unknown
Kanji: 不 not + 明 bright
Something that is not bright is cloudy and fuzzy. What do you think when you look into the fuzzy clouds? It is the unknown, the unclear, the uncertain.
Reading: ふめい
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 127

大文字

Answer 127

Uppercase letters
Kanji: 大 big + 文 writing + 字 letter
You have big writing letters. What do you think these are? THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE UPPERCASE LETTERS, RIGHT? Whoops, sorry, caps lock was on for a moment, there.
Reading: おおもじ
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. However, 大 uses the kun’yomi reading and 文 is an exception here, so here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this:
Whenever you see an uppercase letter, you shout “おお, Moe!” (おおも). Your buddy Moe taught you the letters in the first place, so when you get stuck, you yell for him to come help you. And he always does. What a good guy.

Question 128

金星

Answer 128

Venus
Kanji: 金 gold + 星 star
The gold star is Venus. It’s the only planet in our solar system that’s the same color as gold.
Reading: きんせい
This is a jukugo word that uses the on’yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Question 129

どの

Answer 129

Which
Kanji: No kanji (you better get this right!)
Remember how どれ means “which one”? どの has a very similar meaning: which. Whereas どれ is used on its own, どの is used before a noun to ask “which” out of three or more options. So for example, どの本 is “which book (out of that pile)?”.
Notice how question words often start with a ど? We’ll be seeing more of these!
Reading: どの

Question 130

耳打ち

Answer 130

Whisper in ear
Kanji: 耳 ear + 打 hit + ち
You feel your ear getting… hit? This is the feeling of a whisper in your ear; perhaps a secret, or some other confidential tidbit of information. Whatever it is it has impact, which is why it feels like a hit!
Note that this word is more often used in writing than in casual speech.
Reading: みみうち
This word uses the kun’yomi readings for both kanji, but you know them both now, so you should be able to read this too!

Question 131

冬休み

Answer 131

Winter holiday
Kanji: 冬 winter + 休 rest + み
The winter rest! Wait, nobody calls it that. This is a winter holiday or winter break.
Reading: ふゆやすみ
The readings for these are both the kun’yomi readings. Hopefully you learned them when you were doing vocab in the previous levels so that all you have to do now is combine the two separate words into one bigger word. Please don’t take a winter break until you figure this word out.

Question 132

羊毛

Answer 132

Wool
Kanji: 羊 sheep + 毛 fur
A sheep’s fur is wool.
Reading: ようもう
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on’yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you’ll know how to read this as well.

Question 133

手首

Answer 133

Wrist
Kanji: 手 hand + 首 neck
Your hand’s neck is your wrist!
Reading: てくび
This word uses the kun’yomi readings from both kanji, probably because it includes body parts. You know them both already, so now you know this too!

Question 134

年下

Answer 134

Younger
Kanji: 年 year + 下 below
When you have someone who has years below your own, this person is younger than you.
Reading: としした
The reading for this one is kind of strange. It is the kun’yomi reading for both of the kanji. You know the kun’yomi readings from earlier, back when you learned the vocab 年 and 下.

Question 135

妹

Answer 135

Younger sister
Kanji: 妹 younger sister
The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.
Reading: いもうと
Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun’yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn’t learn that reading, so here’s a mnemonic to help you with this word:
Your younger sister is really into emotes (いもうと). Look up this word if you’re not a teenage girl. Just imagine her sending you these on your phone over and over. You tell your younger sister: “HEY, STOP SENDING ME EMOTES.”