Japanese Kanji Power. John Millen

      88

      後

      after; behind; later; the back; to be late

      ゴ GO コウ KŌ のち nochi あと ato うし • ろ ushi(ro) おく • れる oku(reru)

      The character 後 combines advance 彳, little and foot 夂, in reference to someone who is walking slowly, and thus falling behind.

      GR2 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. 午後なら時間があります。

      Gogo nara jikan ga arimasu.

      I'll have time in the afternoon.

      2. 私達は試合の後半で逆転した。

      Watashitachi wa shiai no kōhan de gyakuten shita.

      The tables turned in our favor in the second half of the match.

      3. 後ほどお電話いたします。

      Nochihodo odenwa itashimasu.

      I will call you later.

      4. 後でまた掛け直します。

      Ato de mata kakenaoshimasu.

      I'll call you back later.

      5. 列の後ろに並んで下さい。

      Retsu no ushiro ni narande kudasai.

      Please go to the end of the line.

Common Compounds and Phrases
最後	saigo	the last; the end
今後	kongo	in the future; from now on
後半	kōhan	the latter half
後輩	kōhai	one's junior
後世	kōsei	later ages; posterity
後味	atoaji	an aftertaste
後ろ足	ushiroashi	a hind leg, paw

      89

      食

      food; eating; to eat

      シヨク SHOKU *ジキ JIKI た • べる ta(beru) く • う ku(u)

      The character 食 derived from a pictograph of a tall vessel filled with food and covered by a

      GR2 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. 食後に薬を飲んでいる。

      Shokugo ni kusuri o nonde iru.

      I take my medication after meals.

      2. 今夜は月食が見られる。

      Konya wa gesshoku ga mirareru.

      We can see a lunar eclipse tonight.

      3. 今晩は、何を食べようか。

      Konban wa, nani o tabeyō ka.

      What shall we have to eat this evening?

      4. 蚊に食われてかゆい。

      Ka ni kuwarete kayui.

      I've been bitten by a mosquito and it's itchy.

      5. 彼は厳格な菜食主義者だ。

      Kare wa genkaku na saishoku shugisha da.

      He is a strict vegetarian.

Common Compounds and Phrases
食後	shokugo	after meals; after eating
食事	shokuji	a meal; dining
食欲	shokuyoku	an appetite
定食	teishoku	a set-course meal
朝食	chōshoku	breakfast
食べ放題	tabehōdai	eating as much as one likes
菜食主義者	saishoku shugisha	a vegetarian

      90

      前

      before; the front

      ゼン ZEN まえ mae

      The character 前 combines boat 月, foot and sword リ. From the idea of cutting off the rope and pushing off from shore comes the meaning advance, which evolved to before.

      GR2 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. 前回はいつお越しになりましたか。

      Zenkai wa itsu okoshi ni narimashita ka.

      When was the last time you came?

      2. その人とは前に会ったことがある。

      Sono hito to wa mae ni atta koto ga aru.

      I've met that person before.

      3. 駅前にタクシー乗り場がある。

      Ekimae ni takushii noriba ga aru.

      There is a taxi stand in front of the station.

      4. ラーメンを二人前出前して下さい。

      Rāmen o nininmae demae shite kudasai.

      Could I have two bowls of ramen delivered, please?

      5. そのTシャツ後ろ前じやない。

      Sono T-shatsu ushiromae ja nai.

      You have that T-shirt on back to front, don't you?

Common Compounds and Phrases
前回	zenkai	the last occasion
五日前	itsuka-mae	five days ago
直前	chokuzen	immediately before
駅前	ekimae	in front of (outside) a station
二人前	nininmae	two portions
出前	demae	a restaurant delivery service
後ろ前	ushiromae	back to front

      91

      南

      south

      ナン NAN *ナ NA みなみ minami

      The character 南 can be thought of as ten 十 houses with plants growing inside a reference to villages in southern areas.

      GR1 N5 AP

      Example Sentences

      1. ペンギンはもともと南極の鳥です。

      Pengin wa motomoto nankyoku no tori desu.

      Penguins are from Antarctica.

      2. 沖繩は日本の南西地方です。

      Okinawa wa Nippon no nansei chihō desu.

      Okinawa occupies the southwestern region of Japan.

      3. 東南アジアの島でのんびり休暇を楽しんだ。