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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Kanji Videos with Hiroko . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
17 Responses to “Kanji Video Lesson #2: Get into the “Grove” of Kanji”
Thursday at 6:30 pm
みなさんこんにちは!
Were you able to write the kanji well following the stroke order? Let us know what you think of the video!
Wednesday at 11:45 am
i love kanji corner it is very helpful to get to learn how to begin reading japanese thanks a lot. i have a question though is the On reading how they read it in china?
Wednesday at 12:23 pm
jesseさん>
Yes, you’re right! Kunyomi are the Japanese readings and Onyomi are the original Chinese readings.
Thursday at 6:26 am
it’s puzzling how there are so many interpretations of a single kanji.i mean it’s ok to know both readings but what do we refer the kanjis to?what i mean is,it’s like the kanjis themselves have no name.Or did i miss something obvious?at any rate,this was helpful,so thanks a lot
Wednesday at 9:03 pm
Konichiwa,
So Kanji hasn’t got an alphabet like hiragana and katakana or is there? And why is mr. hayashi not in katakana in stead of kanji?
Thursday at 10:24 am
Riku-san
I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand your question.
>>And why is mr. hayashi not in katakana in stead of kanji?
…
Can you elaborate your question more?
Which exactly part of the lesson or lesson notes you’re talking about?
As you may probably have learned, Katakana is usually used for foreign words, sounds or furigana(pronunciation key) for “on” reading. As Hiroko mentioned, “hayashi” is a “kun” reading, so it’s usually spelled in Hiragana or Kanji.
Thursday at 10:30 am
Kaven-san

Remembering all kun-reading and on-reading for the first time is too much, isn’t it?
I think knowing the basic meaning of Kanji helps you a lot.
As your Japanese vocabulary increases, it’ll get easier to memorize them, I’m sure.
Thursday at 8:32 pm
Naomi-san,
Most of the times I see that names are writen in katakana and here I see that “Hayashi” is in Kanji.
Friday at 4:10 am
it’ll come with time yes.Kanji really stands apart from kana,it’s another level of effort to learn what they mean and read as.thank you for your reply
the first time is always the hardest
Friday at 10:12 am
Riku-san
>>Most of the times I see that names are writen in katakana
→ Do you mean Japanese name or non-Japanese name?
Generally speaking. Japanese names are written in Hiragana or Kanji and non-Japanese names are written Katakana.
“Hayashi” is a common Japanese name, so it’s written in Kanji in a formal letter or document, if that person is Japanese.
In a casual situation though, it’s OK to write in Katakana or Hiragana.
Since foreigner’s names (except some Asian names ) are written in Katakana, a name of a person who immigrated to other countries or got married with a foreigner is sometimes written in Katakana.
I hope this makes sense.
Friday at 6:18 pm
Naomi-san
thanks a lot!
But uhm… When do you really write words in Kanji? ‘Cause like Katakana is used for foreign words or non-Japanese names.
Monday at 10:25 am
>>But uhm… When do you really write words in Kanji? ‘Cause like Katakana is used for foreign words or non-Japanese names.
→ ??? We use kanji for Japanese words. Kanji is essential if you seriously learn Japanese. For example, Mr. & Ms. Hayashi is usually written in Kanji. Kanji is used not only for people’s name, but also nouns, verbs, adjective and etc.If you started listening to Newbie series, you’ll know how much Kanji we use.
I hope this makes sense.;)
Tuesday at 7:28 pm
なおみ-さん
So.. Kanji is only used for really Japanese word? And if you write Hayashi you can write 林 or はやし?
Tuesday at 7:42 pm
なおみ-さん
I have a question about on- and kun-reading. Like in lesson #1:
The kanji means tree( i don’t know how to write it on computer) and you have on and kun reading. How do you know if its kun of on? Is it just what you normaly learn like: bokuto is on?
Wednesday at 10:56 am
Riku-san
>>And if you write Hayashi you can write 林 or はやし?
That’s right.
>>How do you know if its kun of on?
Basically, you have to decide from the context. It means you have to memorize one by one.
It’s said that when the kanji is used with other Kanji, it tends to take “on” reading. When it’s used by itself, it tends to take “kun” reading.
But there are so many exceptions and and Kanji often has multiple “kun” and “on” readings, so probably the easiest way is memorize one by one.
Friday at 8:30 pm
Naomi-san
Thanks for the help!!!
… When I’m done with kanji I learned already hirganan,katakana en kanji.
But I don’t know what I have to learn first after that. What’s good to follow after you learned the alphabets?
Monday at 11:12 am
りく-san
If you haven’t studied Japanese before, I would recommend that you start with Absolute beginner course.
If you have already learned basic Japanese greetings or how to introduced your name and so on, then, start with Newbie Lesson season 2 #1.
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