Kanji– category –
This category explores kanji from a meaning- and usage-based perspective.
Articles explain how kanji convey nuance, how meanings developed, and why certain characters are chosen in specific words.
The focus is on understanding kanji as part of a system, not just memorizing shapes.
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2026 Is the Horse Year! But Why Is the Horse Year Written as 午年, Not 馬年?
2026 is the Year of the Horse—but why is it written as 午年, not 馬年? This article explains the Japanese zodiac (干支, eto), the meaning of 午, and how the zodiac system survived as culture rather than fortune-telling. -
14 One-Character Kanji Words Every Beginner Should Know – Explained by a Native Japanese Teacher
Learning Japanese with Just One Character Did you know that in Japanese, just one single character—both in writing and pronunciation—can carry a full and clear meaning? Unlike English, where even simple words like "eye" or "sun" require ...
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