left hand45
四
four
シ SHI よ yo よ • つ yo(tsu) よつ • つ yot(tsu) よん yon
The character 四 originally depicted breath coming out of a mouth. Some believe that the meaning four came from breath spreading out in four directions.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. 日本の四季は美しい。
Nihon no shiki wa utsukushii.
The seasons in Japan are beautiful.
2. 四方八方手を尽くして、人を探した。
Shihō happō te o tsukushite, hito o sagashita.
No stone was left unturned as they searched for the person.
3. 四人で旅行したらどうですか。
Yonin de ryokō shitara dō desu ka.
Why don't you travel in a group of four?
4. 昨夜、あの四つ角で事故を起こした。
Sakuya, ano yotsukado de jiko o okoshita.
I had an accident at those crossroads last night.
5. この四つの中から選ぶのは大変だ。
Kono yottsu no naka kara erabu no wa taihen da.
It's hard to choose from among these four.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 四季 | shiki | the four seasons |
| 四方八方 | shihō happō | from every direction |
| 四月 | shigatsu | April |
| 四捨五入 | shisha gonyū | rounding to the nearest whole number |
| 四人 | yonin | four people |
| 四つ角 | yotsukado | crossroads |
| 四回 | yonkai | four times |
46
出
to go out; to take out; to send
シュツ SHUTSU *スイ SUI で • る de(ru) だ • す da(su)
The character 出 depicts a foot stepping over a line, to suggest the idea of go out, emerge.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. あの 自動車は輸出用ですか。
Ano jidōsha wa yushutsu-yō desu ka.
Are those cars for export?
2. 月曜日会議に出席する。
Getsuyōbi kaigi ni shusseki suru.
I will attend a conference on Monday.
3. 去年、新しい辞書を出版しました。
Kyonen, atarashii jisho o shuppan shimashita.
They published a new dictionary last year.
4. 七時に家を出た。
Shichiji ni ie o deta.
I left the house at 7:00.
5. いつ手紙を出すつもりですか。
Itsu tegami o dasu tsumori desu ka.
When do you plan to mail the letter?
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 輸出 | yushutsu | export |
| 提出 | teishutsu | submission; presentation |
| 出席 | shusseki | attendance; presence |
| 出版 | shuppan | publication |
| 出前 | shutchō | a business trip |
| 出前 | demae | home delivery (from a restaurant) |
| 日の出 | hinode | sunrise |
47
生
birth; life; to grow; raw
セイ SEI ショウ SHŌ う • む、u(mu) い • きる i(kiru) お • ラ o(u) は • える ha(eru) なま nama き ki
The character 生 derived from a pictograph of a growing plant.
GR1 N5 AP
Example Sentences
1. うちの子供は中学生です。
Uchi no kodomo wa chūgakusei desu.
My child is a junior high school student.
2. お誕生日おめでとう！
Otaniōbi omedetō!
Happy birthday!
3. きのう女の子が生まれました。
Kinō onna no ko ga umaremashita.
A baby girl was born yesterday.
4. 祖母は九十歳まで生きた。
Sobo wa kvujūssai made ikita.
My grandmother lived until she was 90.
5. ジャズの生演奏を聴きにいった。
Jazu no nama-ensō o kiki ni itta.
I went to listen to a live jazz performance.
| Common Compounds and Phrases | ||
| 中学生 | chūgakusei | a junior high school student |
| 生徒 | seito | a student; a pupil |
| 生年月日 | seinen gappi | date of birth |
| 誕生日 | tanjōbi | one's birthday |
| 生け花 | ikebana | flower arrangement
|
