What does 問 mean in Japanese? 問 means to ask or to question, and by extension a ‘problem’ or ‘question’ to be solved. It is one half of two words every learner needs early: 問題 (mondai, problem/question) and 質問 (shitsumon, a question you ask). The on’yomi モン appears in almost all compounds (問題, 質問, 疑問, … Read more
What does 勉 mean in Japanese? 勉 means to make an effort, especially the effort of studying. For N4 learners it lives almost entirely inside one word you already know: 勉強 (benkyou, study). Learning 勉 is really about locking in that everyday word and a few of its relatives. The on’yomi ベン drives every common … Read more
What does 集 mean in Japanese? 集 means to gather, collect, or assemble. Its two core kun’yomi verbs form one of the most important transitivity pairs at N4: 集まる (atsumaru, intransitive — things or people gather on their own) and 集める (atsumeru, transitive — someone gathers or collects things). 人が集まる (people gather) versus 人を集める (to … Read more
What does 持 mean in Japanese? 持 means to hold, to carry, or to have. The kun’yomi 持つ (motsu) covers both physically holding something in your hand — かばんを持つ (to hold a bag) — and possessing or owning something — お金を持つ (to have money). It is one of the most useful everyday verbs at N4 … Read more
What does 洗 mean in Japanese? 洗 means to wash. The kun’yomi 洗う (arau) is the everyday verb for washing with water — your hands, your face, the dishes, a car. It is one of the core daily-life verbs at N4 and appears constantly in routines and instructions: 手を洗う (to wash your hands), 顔を洗う (to … Read more
What does 声 mean in Japanese? 声 means voice. The kun’yomi こえ (koe) is the everyday word, and 声 is used mainly for voices, especially human voices, rather than general sounds or noise. For animal sounds, 鳴き声 is often the more natural expression. The distinction between 声 (voice), 音 (sound in general), and 音声 (audio/speech … Read more
What does 頭 mean in Japanese? 頭 means head — both the physical head on your body and, informally, the mind or intelligence behind it. The primary kun’yomi is あたま (atama), which covers both senses in everyday speech. 頭がいい (atama ga ii, literally ‘the head is good’) is one of the most common ways to … Read more
What does 借 mean in Japanese? 借 means to borrow or to rent. The kun’yomi 借りる (kariru) covers both borrowing without payment (borrowing a book, an umbrella, a pen) and renting with payment (renting an apartment, a car, a bicycle). This dual use — borrow and rent — makes 借りる one of the most practically … Read more
What does 貸 mean in Japanese? 貸 means to lend or loan. The kun’yomi 貸す (kasu) is the everyday verb for lending — money, objects, a room, or a hand. 貸 is always learned alongside its counterpart 借 (borrow/rent), because the two verbs define each other: what one person 貸す, the other 借りる. 貸 also … Read more
What does 送 mean in Japanese? 送 means to send or to see someone off. The single kun’yomi 送る (okuru) carries both meanings: sending a parcel, email, or file, and escorting or accompanying someone as they depart. Context — especially whether the object is a thing, message, or person — makes the meaning clear. 送 … Read more
