Kanji Mastery—Radical 93 (Cow/Ox)

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[a] Pointed RF

Japan's major islands aren't particularly spacious by continental standards, and one will not find major pasturage anywhere but on Hokkaidō. Why, then, would one of the 214 lexical markers (the "radicals") found in Japanese characters have "cow," or "ox" among them? Well, because the Japanese writing system...comes from China. Please don't forget that. The Japanese borrowed the language wholesale (this is only a slight exaggeration) from China in the sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries, and then worked the materials into a truly distinctive (indeed, symphonic) blending of native culture and foreign borrowing. 

"Cow" came out in the wash, and has been a part of the language ever since. Even though Japan has never had major herds, it has become known for everything from Kobe beef to sukiyaki. Take a look at the etymology of the character.

Etymology for 牛

Character Information for 牛

牛

[b] Cowpy RF

Radical 93

Chinese (Mandarin): niu2
Chinese (Cantonese): ngau4

Japanese (On reading): go, gyū
Japanese (Kun readings): ushi
Korean:

Selections from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary.

牛 Radical 93

Ushi cow. At left: ushi hen. Nickname: Cow.

牛皮　ぎゅうひ          gyūhi              cowhide                   (cow + skin)
牛羊　ぎゅうよう      gyūyō             cows and sheep       (cow + sheep)
牛馬　ぎゅうば         gyūba             cows and horses      (cow + horse)
牛肉　ぎゅうにく      gyūniku          beef                          (cow + meat)
牛車　ぎゅうしゃ      gyūsha           oxcart                       (cow + cart)
牛舎　ぎゅうしゃ      gyūsha           cow barn/pen           (cow + shelter)
牛追　うしお(い)       ushio(i)           cattle herder             (cow + drive)
牛使　うしつか(い)   ushitsuka(i)     cattle herder             (cow + lead)
牛鍋　ぎゅうなべ      gyūnabe         sukiyaki                     (cow + pot)
牛糞　ぎゅうふん      gyūfun            cow manure              (cow + excrement)

The standard combinations above (and they certainly have their own kind of intellectual adhesion, as they bind together like Velcro) give way to compounds that require at least a little bit of contemplation.

牛蒡　ごうぼう         gobō                burdock                  (cow + burdock)
牛痘　ぎゅうとう      gyūtō               cowpox, vaccine    (cow + pox/smallpox)

牛疫　ぎゅうえき      gyūeki             rinderpest               (cow + epidemic)
牛飲　ぎゅういん      gyūin               drink like a cow       (cow + drink)

and, finally...gluttony:

牛飲馬食　ぎゅういんばしょく   gyūinbashoku    gluttony    (cow + drink + horse + eat)

[c] Focus RF

We'll conclude with a number of characters that have the element 牛 in them. Be sure to note the difference between the radical marker on the left side of many "ox/cow radical" characters and the normal form you have seen up until now. The left side element is called ushi hen, and should be clearly distinguished from the "hand" radical (number 64). 

Compare these two characters: 捕 and 特. The first character has the "hand" radical, while the second has the "cow" radical. Learn to distinguish these.


牢　ロウ                        RŌ                                     prison, jail, hardness
牧　ボク                       BOKU                                 shepherd, care for, raise
物　ブツ, モツ, もの     BUTSU, MOTSU, mono     thing, object, matter
牲　セイ, いけにえ       SEI, ikenie                          sacrifice, offering, gift 
特　とく                       toku                                     special, especially
牽　ケン, ひく　　　　KEN, hi(ku)                        draw, pull, haul, tug 

[d] Radical RF

 

Kanji Mastery—Radical 41 (Inch)

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[a] Inching RF

This little character packs a serious punch in the Sino-Japanese lexical arena. Meaning "inch," at least according to traditional Japanese measurements, this "radical" has found its way into at least a dozen centrally important words in Japanese. It is not every character that has its own folk story, either, but this one does. As you will see in the combinations below, it is often used in rather imprecise, everyday, or "cultural measurements," such as a "brief letter" or "a little bit." A careful study of the character combinations using "inch" will give you a good sense of how various kanji "fit" together.

Etymology for 寸

Character Information for 寸

[b] Minute RF

寸

Radical 41

Chinese (Mandarin): cun1
Chinese (Cantonese):xxx

Japanese (On reading): スン sun
Japanese (Kun readings): n/a
Korean:

Selections from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary.

寸 Radical 41

Sun (the Japanese inch). At right: sunzukuri. Nickname: Inch.

寸土　すんど          sundo          an inch of land                 (inch + land)
寸分　すんぶん      sunbun        a bit, a little                       (inch + part)
寸言　すんげん      sungen        brief but signicant words  (inch + speech)
寸前　すんぜん      sunzen        just before                        (inch + before)
寸進　すんしん      sunshin       inching along (progress)  (inch + enter)
寸時　すんじ          sunji           a moment, a minute          (inch + time)
寸書　すんしょ      sunsho       note, short letter                (inch + writing)
寸劇　すんげき      sungeki      dramatic sketch                 (inch + drama)
寸簡　すんかん      sunkan       brief note, short letter        (inch + simple)

The character combinations above are fairly straightforward. Those below are just a little bit more "daring" when it comes to interpretation.

寸忠　　すんちゅう  sunchuu      my loyalty (humble)            (inch + loyalty)
寸志　　すんし         sunshi         small token of appreciation (inch + aim)
寸鉄　　すんてつ     suntetsu      small weapon; pithy saying (inch + iron/metal)
寸陰　　すんいん     sun'in          a moment, a minute             (inch + "yin")
寸切り　すんぎり     sungi(ri)      a straight cut                         (inch + cut)

[c] Measurement RF

Finally, I have added a brief (寸) list of the combinations in which this characters "is radical." A full dictionary (such as The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary, from which these examples are drawn, will show the enormous range of combinations possible with any one radical, either on its own or as a part of larger characters. If you are not aware that Japanese characters have gone through a number of "simplifications" from the forms originally borrowed from China, note the versions in the brackets.

寺　          ジ, てら                       JI, tera                       temple
寿　[壽]  ス, ジュ, ことぶく       SU, JU; kotobu(ku)    longevity, age, congratulations 
対　[對]  タイ                             TAI                             the opposite, antonym, facing
封             フウ, ホウ                    FUU, HOO                seal; sealing, closing; block
専    [專]  セン, もっぱら            SEN, moppa(ra)        mainly, solely; specialty
将    [將]  ショウ, はた, まさに   SHOO, hata, masa ni  commander, general; again
射             シャ, いる, さす           SHA, iru, sasu           archery shooting; shine upon
尋             ジン, たずねる, ひる    JIN, tazu(neru), hiro   fathom, look for, inquire
尊             ソン, たっとぶ             SON, tatto(bu)            value, honor, reverence
導             ドウ, みちびく             DOU, michibi(ku)        leading; guide, lead, conduct 

[d] Scale (Geertz) RF

Kanji Mastery—Radical 148 (Horn)

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[a] 角突合 RF

This versatile little character is hardly in the top dozen of the major "radicals" in Sino-Japanese. It might not even make it into the top one-hundred, so why would I bother to include it this early in the "kanji mastery" process? Well, the "horn radical" packs a great number of useful interpretive matters into the several dozen character combinations it shows in the dictionary over a space of just three pages. I would argue that, if you can begin to master the interpretive assumptions behind this character (look it up—Radical 148), you will be well on your way to understanding how Kanji "work."

Let's take a look at the etymology of the character, followed by a few combinations. By all means, check out the following sites for useful information on the character:

Etymology for 角

Character Information for 角

角

Radical 148

[b] Horns? RF

Chinese (Mandarin): jiao3 (jue2)
Chinese (Cantonese):gok3 (luk6)

Japanese (On reading): ショク shoku
Japanese (Kun readings): ふ(れる), さわ(る), ふ(れ), わわ(り)
Korean:

Selections from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary.

角 Radical 148

Tsuno horn. At left: tsuno hen. Nickname: Horn.

KAKU angle; corner; square; squared timber; target

kado corner; angle; edge; angularity; harshness

kaku(na) square, four-cornered

tsuno horn, antlers; feeler, tentacle

tsuno(gumu) sprout 

sumi corner, nook

角石　かくいし         kakuishi               square stone               (square + stone)　　   　    
店　かどみせ            kadomise             corner store                 (corner + store)
角字　かくじ             kakuji                  square characters       (square + character)
角柱　かくちゅう      kakuchuu            square pillar (prism)    (square + post)
角形　かくがた         kakugata             square shape               (square + image)
角叉　つのまた         tsunomata           points on antlers          (horn + tip/prong)
角笛　つのぶえ         tsunobue             bugle, trumpet              (horn + bamboo flute)
角帽　かくぼう         kakubou              square college cap       (square + hat/cap)
角力　すもう            sumou                 sumo; wrestler              (corner + strength)   

角革　かどがわ        kadogawa            corner leather (book)    (corner + leather)

The combinations above contain more-or-less "straightforward" kanji combinations. I have saved a few for the space below that take at least a step or two beyond the obvious. Character combinations are filled with possibilities, and surprises (mild and otherwise) are just around...the corner (角).

[c] Hornblower RF

角突き　つのつ(き)   tsunotsu(ki)     

bullfight; wrangling    (horn + contention)

角通　　かくつう      kakutsuu         

an expert on sumo    (corner + penetrate)

角袖　　かくそで     kakusode         

plain clothes officer   (square + sleeve)

角突合　つのつきあい  tsunotsu(ki)a(i)  

 bickering, wrangling (horn + contend + link)

Kanji Mastery—Radical 112 (Stone)

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[a] Rockface RF

Hard, obdurate, unyielding. These are some of the qualities of the "stone" or "rock" radical—number 112 in a classic series of 214 lexical markers in written Chinese or, for our purposes, Sino-Japanese. The word combinations below will give you a sense of the kinds of connections that this character has inspired in all aspects of life and practice.

Let's take a look at the etymology of the character, followed by a few combinations. By all means, check out the following sites for useful information on the character:

Etymology for 石 

Character Information for 石

石

Radical 112

Chinese (Mandarin): shi2  (Cantonese): sek6

[b] Bridgestone RF

Japanese (on): セキ, シャク seki, shaku  (kun):いし, こく
Korean:

Selections from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary.

石 Radical112

Ishi stone. At left: ishi hen. Nickname: Stone.

SEKI, SHAKU
ishi stone, pebble, rock; jewel; the go playing stones.
koku 4.96 bushels; ten cubic feet (of lumber)


石工　いしく　   　         ishiku               workman, craftsman      (stone + work)
石火    せっか                  sekka                flint fire; flash                 (stone + fire)
石弓　いしゆみ               ishiyumi             crossbow, catapult        (stone + bow)
石川    いしかわ               ishikawa            river with stony bottom (stone + river)
石匠    しきしょう           sekishyou          stone mason                 (stone + craftsman)
石道    いしみち               ishimichi            stone road                     (stone + path)
石門    いしもん               ishimon              stone gate                    (stone + gate)
石橋    いしばし*              ishibashi            stone bridge                 (stone + bridge)
石切    いしき(り)             ishiki(ri)              quarrying                     (stone + cut)
石臼    いし うす              ishi usu               stone mill                     (stone + mortar)
* Also (せっこう)
**Also (せっきょう)

And then we have a cluster of other combinations that remind us that not all language is neutral or suited to the tastes of "modern" readers. The nature of all life is that it is historical and cultural. The dictionary (all dictionaries) is chock full of terms that hearken back to darker times. If you have been reading the news, you will quickly see that every one of these terms remains relevant in some parts of the world. "Stone" carries with it more than merely lexical or phonetic baggage, and I replicate some of the more harrowing terms here without further comment.

石女       うまずめ             umazume           barren woman             (stone + woman)
石婦       せきふ                 sekifu                 barren woman             (stone + wife)
石打　　いしう(ち)          ishiu(chi)             stoning                        (stone + beating)
石合戦　いしがっせん     ishigassen          fighting with stones      (stone + unite + war)

[c] Rockwall RF

Kanji Mastery—Radical 48 (Work)

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[a] Re: Constructed RF

"Work" is one of the most straightforward and, indeed, workmanlike characters among the 214 radicals of the Chinese language. Consisting of three straight strokes (horizontal top, vertical middle, and horizontal bottom), even the most imaginative brush-wielding calligrapher would struggle to make it highly distinctive. As you can see from the combinations, though, it is a versatile and, well, hardworking character.

Let's take a look at the etymology of the character, followed by a few combinations. By all means, check out the following sites for useful information on the character:

[b] Fishwork RF

Chineseeytymology.org

 

Chinese-Characters.org

工

Radical 48

Chinese (Mandarin): gong1  (Cantonese):gung1

Japanese (on): く,こう ku, kou  (kun): たくみ, たくむ takumi, taku(mu)
Korean:

Selections from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary.

工 Radical 48

E (the katakana). At left: takumi hen. (left-side "carpenter's square").
Nickname: Kana E.

KU, KOU artisan, mechanic; manufacture, work.
takumi artisan, mechanic, carpenter
taku(mu) plan; scheme


工人　　こうじん　　koujin  　             workman, craftsman    (work + person)
工兵　　こうへい　　kouhei       　       army engineers           (work + army)
工具　　こうぐ　　　kougu                  tool, implement            (work + implement)

工事　　こうじ　　　kouji                    construction                 (work + affair)

工房　　こうぼう　　koubou　            (artisan's) studio          (work + building)

工学  　  こうがく　   kougaku          　engineering                  (work + study)

工員　　こういん　　kouin　                factory worker; artisan (work + employee)

工業　　こうぎょう　kougyou　           industry                        (work + industry)
工費　　こうひ　       kouhi                   construction costs        (work + fees)
工銀　　こうぎん       kougin                 wages, pay                   (work + money)

[c] Natureculture RF