本


DSC_4898.JPG
Originally uploaded by autan
Base, book

本(もと) - the base of something
moto

本(ホン) - a book
hon

基(キ)本(ホン) - basis, foundation
kihon

本(ホン)当(トウ) - truth
hontou

本(ホン)質(しつ) - essence
honshitsu

本
The little horizontal line (-) in 本 indicates the base of 木 (tree).
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Radical: 木
Stroke Count: 5
音:ホン
訓:もと
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入


tent view
Originally uploaded by ronk53.



Sharpener
Originally uploaded by Big-E-Mr-G
Enter, insert

入(はい)る - to enter
hairu

入(い)れる - to insert
ireru

入(い)り口(ぐち) - entrance
iriguchi

入(い)れ物(もの) - container
iremono

入(ニュウ)学(ガク) - enter (a) school
nyuugaku

enter

Note: 入 is different from 人!!
Imagine 入 as the head of an arrow-shaped object (↑) to insert.
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Radical: 入
Stroke Count: 2
音:ニュウ・ジュ
訓:い・はい
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曇


Cloudy sky...
Originally uploaded by hoshizora
Cloudy, gloomy

曇(くも)る - to become cloudy
kumoru

曇(くも)り - being cloudy
kumori

kumori

日 + 雲 = 曇
It gets cloudy when the clouds hide the sun.

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Radical: 雨
Stroke Count: 16
音:ドン
訓:くも
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雷


Thunderstorm I
Originally uploaded by MontyPython
Thunder

雷(かみなり) - thunder
kaminari

雷(ライ)雨(ウ) - thunderstorm
raiu

kaminari
The kanji 雷 originally looked like kaminari2 .
The (+) marks indicate rolling thunders under 雨 (rain).
cf. 雨 、電

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Radical: 雨
Stroke Count: 13
音:ライ
訓:かみなり
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電


Lightning
Originally uploaded by feel_the_green
Electricity

電(デン)気(キ) - electricity
denki

電(デン)子(シ) - an electron
denshi

電(デン)車(シャ) - a train
densha

電(デン)話(ワ) - a telephone
denwa

den

The part looking like 甲 under 雨 (rain) represents lightning.
rain + lightning = electricity
cf. 雷

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Radical: 雨
Stroke Count: 13
音:デン
訓:-
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名


Attractive Women Amuse Me
Originally uploaded by "CAVE CANEM".
Name

名(な) - name
na

名(な)前(まえ) - name
namae

名(ミョウ)字(じ) - family name, surname
myouji

名(メイ)人(ジン) - a master, an expert, a person whose name is well-known for his/her skill.
meijin

名

夕 + 口 = 名
Do you think the girl in the picture would reveal her name? :)
名 indicates that you speak up in darkness to let others know where/who you are.

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Radical: 口
Stroke Count: 6
音:ミョウ・メイ
訓:な
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外


Total Lunar Eclipse
Originally uploaded by Minouchette.
Outside

外(そと) - outside
soto

外(ガイ)国(コク) - overseas, foreign country
gaikoku

外(ガイ)食(ショク) - eating out. dining out
gaishoku

soto

夕 + ト = 外
In ancient times, people tried to tell fortunes by looking at the moon phases. When the moon wanes, you see "the outside" of the darkened part.

See 占 for more information on ト.

→ usage examples

Antonym: 内
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Radical: 夕
Stroke Count: 3
音: ガイ・ゲ
訓: そと・はず・ほか
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夕


Crescent Moon
Originally uploaded by markkilner
Evening

夕(ゆう)方(がた) - evening, nightfall
yuugata

夕(ゆう)食(ショク) - supper, dinner [eaten in the evening]
yuushoku

夕(ゆう)日(ひ) - the evening/setting sun
yuuhi

夕

夕 represents the crescent moon. See 月.
cf. 外、名

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Radical: 夕
Stroke Count: 3
音: セキ
訓: ゆう
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