What does 聞 mean in Japanese? 聞 means to hear, to listen, or to ask in Japanese. It is the kanji in 聞く (kiku), a single verb that covers both listening to music and asking a question, and in 新聞 (shinbun, newspaper). 聞 has two main readings. Read it as きく (kiku) in the verb … Read more
What does 言 mean in Japanese? 言 means to say or word in Japanese. It is the kanji in 言う (iu, to say) and 言葉 (kotoba, word or language), two of the most fundamental words for talking about talking. 言 has several readings. Read it as いう (iu) in the verb 言う, meaning ‘to say,’ … Read more
What does 思 mean in Japanese? 思 means to think or to feel in Japanese. It is the kanji in 思う (omou, to think), the verb behind と思います (I think that…), a pattern learners use in almost every conversation to share and soften opinions. 思 has two main readings. Read it as おもう (omou) in … Read more
What does 少 mean in Japanese? 少 means few or little in Japanese. It gives you 少し (sukoshi, a little), one of the most useful words in the entire language, and 少ない (sukunai, few), the natural opposite of 多い (many). 少 has two main readings. Read it as すこし (sukoshi) for ‘a little’ and すくない … Read more
What does 多 mean in Japanese? 多 means many or much in Japanese. It is the kanji in 多い (ooi, many), one of the first adjectives learners study, and in 多分 (tabun, probably), one of the most frequently spoken words in everyday Japanese. 多 has two main readings. Read it as おおい (ooi) in the … Read more
What does 使 mean in Japanese? 使 means to use in Japanese. It is the kanji in 使う (tsukau, to use), one of the most practical verbs in the language, and in 使い方 (tsukaikata, how to use something), the word you will reach for whenever you need instructions. 使 has two main readings. Read it … Read more
What does 売 mean in Japanese? 売 means to sell in Japanese. It appears in 売る (uru, to sell) and in practical words you see while shopping, such as 売り場 (uriba, sales floor) and 売り切れ (urikire, sold out). 売 has two main readings. Read it as うる (uru) in the verb 売る, meaning ‘to sell,’ … Read more
What does 買 mean in Japanese? 買 means to buy in Japanese. It is the kanji behind 買う (kau, to buy) and 買い物 (kaimono, shopping), two words you will use from your very first trip to a Japanese store. 買 has two main readings. Read it as かう (kau) in the verb 買う, meaning ‘to … Read more
What does 読 mean in Japanese? 読 means to read in Japanese. It is the kanji behind 読む (yomu, to read), one of the most essential verbs for learners, and it appears in words about reading books, reading aloud, and how words are read. 読 has two main readings. Read it as よむ (yomu) in … Read more
What does 古 mean in Japanese? 古 means old in Japanese. It describes things that have aged, such as an old book, an old watch, or an old building, and it is the natural opposite of 新 (new). Note that 古 is used for things, not for people’s age. 古 has two main readings. Read … Read more
