Meaning
As with the kanji for “sun”, this character carries two meanings that are clearly related, in this case “moon” and “month.” You will become very familiar with this kanji through its use in the names of the months. This is another visually simple character for which no story is required.
Common Pronunciations
Common ON reading: GETSU (ゲツ); GATSU (ガツ)
Common kun reading: tsuki (つき)
Like ITSU (with the kanji “一”) and other readings ending in “-TSU”, the two on-yomi double up any unvoiced consonant sounds that follow. You will encounter GATSU primarily in the names of the months.
kun-yomi suggestion: “bought Sioux kee psakes”
Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.
Less Common Pronunciations
Less common ON reading: none
Less Common kun readings: none
| COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS | ||
| 月 | moon; month | tsuki つき |
| 一月 | one + month = January | ICHI.GATSU イチ.ガツ |
| 二月 | two + month = February | NI.GATSU ニ.ガツ |
| 三月 | three + month = March | SAN.GATSU サン.ガツ |
| 四月 | four + month = April | SHI.GATSU シ.ガツ |
| 先月 | precede + month = last month | SEN.GETSU セン.ゲツ |
| 月見 | moon + see = moon viewing | tsuki.mi つき.み |
| SAMPLE SENTENCE: | ||||
| 九月 | に | 月見 | に | 行きました。 |
| KU·GATSU | ni | tsuki·mi | ni | i·kimashita. |
| September | moon viewing | went | ||
| = I went moon viewing in September. |
KANJI #12
| 明 | BRIGHT |
Meaning
Bright/Clear/Light.
Remembering this kanji
“I’m far more BRIGHT than you are,” said the moon.
“Really?” answered the sun, smiling. “I find that hard to believe. I’m so BRIGHT people have to wear shades; how many people do you notice wearing moonglasses.”
Common Pronunciations
Common ON reading: MEI (メイ)
Common kun reading: a (あ); aka (あか)
kun-yomi suggestions: “apt”; “stack a…”.
Create your on-yomi keyword and enter it in the table at the back of the book. After that, write your sentence to remember the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings in the box below.
Less Common Pronunciations
Less common ON reading: MYŌ (ミョウ); MIN (ミン)
Less Common kun reading: aki (あき)
| COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS | ||
| 明るい | bright | aka·rui あか.るい |
| 明かり | clearness | a·kari あ.かり |
| 明白 | bright + white = obvious | MEI·HAKU メイ.ハク |
| 不明 | not + bright = unclear | FU·MEI フ.メイ |
| SAMPLE SENTENCE: | |||
| 月 | は | 明るい | です。 |
| tsuki | wa | aka·rui | desu. |
| moon | bright | is | |
| = The moon is bright. |
KANJI #13
| 木 | TREE |
Meaning
Tree/Wood. No story required.
Common Pronunciations
Common ON reading: MOKU (モク); BOKU (ボク)
Common kun reading: ki (き)
This is another kanji that will require patience to learn. Look for MOKU to show up in the first position, however, and BOKU in the second. ki occurs less often, but appears with equal frequency in the first or second position.
kun-yomi suggestion: “keel” (do not use “key”,
