readings are like the Less common kun-yomi for “three” and “four” (Entries 5 and 10, respectively), and are found in only one word each: 八日 [yō·ka (よう·か)] “the eighth day of the month,” and 八つ [yat·tsu (やっ·つ)] the general counter for “eight.”
| COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS | ||
| 八 | eight | HACHI ハチ |
| 八月 | eight + moon (month) = August | HACHI·GATSU ハチ.ガツ |
| 八人 | eight + person = eight people | HACHI·NIN ハチ.ニン |
| 八円 | eight + circle (yen) = eight yen | HACHI·EN ハチ.エン |
| 八時 | eight + time = eight o’clock | HACHI·JI ハチ.ジ |
| SAMPLE SENTENCE: | ||||
| 八月 | に | 秋田 | へ | 行きましよう。 |
| HACHI·GATSU | ni | Aki·ta | e | i·kimashō. |
| August | Akita | let’s go | ||
| = Let’s go to Akita in August. |
COMPONENT #20
Note how the barbed hook on the bottom of this component distinguishes it from the pole (Component 18).
KANJI #20
| 小 | SMALL |
Meaning
Small/Little.
Remembering this kanji
The dwarf spoke, his words SMALL comfort: “If you be going after the miniature lava whale,” he said, “you’d best toss your harpoon in that volcano over yonder. Your chances of landing him are SMALL, though, given that he’s so… SMALL.”
Common Pronunciations
Common ON reading: SHŌ (ショウ)
Common kun reading: chii (ちい); ko (こ)
SHŌ and ko are the readings most often found in compounds, chii only being used in the first example below.
kun-yomi suggestions: “cheeee se!”; “co at”
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 reading: o (お)
| COMMON WORDS AND COMPOUNDS | ||
| 小さい | small | chii·sai ちい.さい |
| 小春 | small + spring = Indian summer | ko·haru こ.はる |
| 小国 | small + country = small country | SHŌ·KOKU ショウ.コク |
| 小高い | small + tall = slightly elevated | ko daka.i こだか.い |
| 最小 | most + small = smallest | SAI·SHŌ サイ.ショウ |
| SAMPLE SENTENCE: | ||||||
| あの | 車 | は | とても | 小さい | です | ね。 |
| ano | kuruma | wa | totemo | chii·sai | desu | ne. |
| that | car | really | small | isn’t | it | |
| = That car is really small, isn’t it? |
CHAPTER 1 REVIEW EXERCISES
A. Please match the following kanji to their meanings.
| 1. 人 | a. Rotate |
| 2. 女 | b. Large |
| 3. 月 | c. Woman |
| 4. 木 | d. Mouth |
| 5. 大 | e. Person |
| 6. ニ | f. Two |
| 7. 回 | g. Moon |
| 8. 小 | h. Three |
| 9. 三 | i. Tree |
| 10. ロ | j. Small |
B. Please match the following meanings to their kanji, and these to their on or kun-yomi
| 1. Bright | a. 白 | 1. yama (やま) |
| 2. Five | b. 目 | 2. ICHI (イチ） |
| 3. White | c. 山 | 3. me (め） |
| 4. Four | d. 八 | 4. hi (ひ) |
| 5. Eye | e. 日 | 5. GO (ゴ） |
