Japanese Kanji Power. John Millen

      22

      円

      yen; circle; round

      エン EN まる maru まる • い maru(i)

      Originally 圓, this character consisted of ロ an enclosure and representing a round vessel. From this came the meaning of a round enclosure.

      GR1 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. コンパスで円を描いた。

      Kompasu de en o kaita.

      I drew a circle with a compass.

      2. 百九十円の地下鉄の切符を買いなさい。

      Hyaku kyūjū-en no chikatetsu no kippu o kainasai.

      Buy a ¥190 subway ticket.

      3. 円高が長く続いた。

      Endaka ga nagaku tsuzuita.

      The value of the yen was high for a long time.

      4. 関東一円に大雨が降るでしょう。

      Kantō ichien ni ōame ga furu deshō.

      Heavy rains are expected throughout the Kanto area.

      5. 夫婦円満の秘訣はなんですか。

      Fūiu enman no hiketsu wa nan desu ka.

      What is the secret of harmony for married couples?

Common Compounds and Phrases
九十円	kyūjū-en	ninety yen
円高	endaka	a strong yen (rate)
円盤	enban	a disc
円満	enman	perfection; harmony
円心	enshin	the center of a circle
楕円	daen	an ellipse; an oval
円周率	enshūritsu	pi; a circle ratio

      23

      王

      king

      オウŌ

      The three horizontal lines symbolize heaven, earth and man, and the vertical line represents the person who connects them; namely a king.

      GR 1 N2

      Example Sentences

      1. 国王は王子のときイギリスに留学した。

      Kokuō wa ōji no toki Igirisu ni ryūgaku shita.

      The king went to Britain to study when he was a prince.

      2. エジソンは発明王といわれている。

      Ejison wa hatsumeiō to iwarete iru.

      Edison is said to be the 'King of Inventors.'

      3. 王手！

      Ōte!

      Check! (in Japanese chess)

      4. イギリス王室は最も古い王族のひとつです。

      Igirisu ōshitsu wa mottomo furui ōzoku no hitotsu desu.

      The British royal family is one of the oldest royal families.

      5. 新しい国王が即位しました。

      Atarashii kokuō ga sokui shimashita.

      A new king ascended the throne.

Common Compounds and Phrases
国王	kokuō	a king; a monarch
王核	ōsama	a king; His Majesty
王子	ōji	a prince
王女	ōjo	a princess
女王	joō	a queen
王族	ōzoku	a royal family; royalty
王/坐	ōza	a throne

      24

      火

      fire

      力 KA ひ hi *ほ ho

      The character 火 represents a blazing flame.

      GR1 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. 火事を発見して通報した。

      Kaji o hakken shite tsūhō shita.

      He discovered a fire and reported it.

      2. 来週の月火は連休だ。

      Raishu no getsu-ka wa renkyū da.

      Next Monday and Tuesday are consecutive holidays.

      3. 火を貸してもらえますか。

      Hi o kashite moraemasu ka.

      May I have a light, please?

      4. 最終ランナーが、聖火台に点火した。

      Saishū rannā ga, seikadai ni tenka shita.

      The last runner ignited the Olympic cauldron.

      5. 花火を見に行きましょう。

      Hanabi o mi ni ikimashō.

      Let's go to see the fireworks.

Common Compounds and Phrases
火事	kaji	a fire
火災	kasai	a fire; a blaze
火力	karyoku	heat; firepower
点火	tenka	ignition; lighting
防火	boka	fire prevention; fireproof
火花	hibana	a spark
花火	hanabi	fireworks

      EXERCISE 2 (13 – 24)

      A. Give the readings for the following kanji using hiragana or rōmaji.

       1. 女

       2. 川

       3. 千

       4. 上

       5. 万

       6. 火

       7. 円

       8. 土

       9. 小さな

      10. 大きい

      B. Write in kanji and kana.

       1. adult

       2. 8,000

       3. to raise

       4. ¥3,073

       5. twenty million

       6. a girl

       7. to go up

       8. Ms. Yamaguchi

       9. nine thousand people

      10. 7,020

      C. Fill in the kanji according to the meanings provided.

       1. じょし (a woman; a female)____

       2. おおきくない (isn’t big) ____きくない

       3. おがわ