Learn kanji with my Kanji Kanban(漢字看板) Japanese street and shop sign series, an ever expanding database of kanji, hiragana and katakana characters in natural contexts. The word ‘kanban’ refers to shop signs in Japanese. This series focuses on the joyo kanji (常用漢字), the most frequently used characters. It includes various reference tools that make this … Read more
Rikaichan is a pop-up Japanese dictionary add-on that can really turbo charge your online Japanese reading practice. If I had to give up all but one of my printed and online Japanese language learning resources, rikaichan would be the keeper. And it happens to be free! You can download it and get more info here. … Read more
おまつり How do you say ‘festival’ in Japanese? If you’re learning hiragana, try reading this poster advertising an upcoming event. I noticed it on a community message board in my neighborhood in Kyoto. The お at the beginning is an honorific and is often omitted. Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool … Read more
お肉を食べて元気になろう！！ ハッピーにくやさん おいしいお肉でたのしい食卓 いただきます！！ おかわり！ Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading this Tokyo butcher’s signs. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji … Read more
水道水。 おいしさと安心の 決まり手ですね。 いつでも、すぐに、 飲めるしあわせ。 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading this poster promoting municipal drinking water. It features a popular former sumo wrestler touting the taste and quality of tap-water. Can you pronounce the three character compound in the … Read more
老人と子供を 交通事故から守りましょう Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading this sign. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and Kanji in Context. … Read more
うちの子、 国語が得意になったら 他の教科の成績まで 上がったんです。 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading the testimonial from this poster advertising a cram school’s summer courses. It features very natural, conversational language by moms about their kids, relating the positive effects that the course … Read more
夏休み、 家でも毎日同じ時間に 勉強するクセ。 身についたみたいです。 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading the testimonial from this poster advertising a cram school’s summer courses. It features very natural, conversational language by moms about their kids, relating the positive effects that the course had … Read more
夏休みが終わったら、うちの子の苦手が消えてました！ Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading the testimonial from this poster advertising a cram school’s summer courses. It features very natural, conversational language by moms about their kids, relating the positive effects that the course had on them. This … Read more