以

Meanings: more, with,, through, on account of

On Readings: イ i

Kun Readings:

Most Used Pronunciation: i
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 4

Kanji Part: 人

Stroke Number: 5

Level 3 Completion 120 / 284

Common jukugo
以外 - い　がい i gai - except, outside of
以降 - い　こう i kou - on and after; hereafter; thereafter

Useful Examples
Japanese: 月曜日以外、毎日勉強します。
Romaji: getsuyoubi igai, mainichi benkyou shimasu.
English: Except for Monday, I study everyday.

Japanese: 住民の半数以上はその計画に反対だ。
Romaji: juumin no hansuuijou wa sono keikaku ni hantai da.
English: More than half the residents are opposed to the plan.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
This one doesn't seem to have a concrete meaning, but is used with other kanjis

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

兄

Meanings: older brother

On Readings: ケイ kei, キョウ kyou

Kun Readings: あに ani

Most Used Pronunciation: ani
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 儿

Stroke Number: 5

Level 3 Completion 114 / 284

Common jukugo
兄弟 - きょう　だい kyou dai - brothers

Useful Examples
Japanese: あの人はトムの兄弟にちがいない。
Romaji: ano hito wa tomu no kyoudai ni chigainai.
English: He must be Tom's brother.

Japanese: ボブは兄より太りぎみだった。
Romaji: bobu wa ani yori futori gimi datta.
English: Bob was somewhat chubbier than his brother.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
Think of a loud older brother with only a big mouth and 2 legs

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

医

Meanings: to heal,, to cure

On Readings: イ i

Kun Readings:

Most Used Pronunciation: i
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 匚

Stroke Number: 7

Level 3 Completion 118 / 284

Common jukugo
医者 - い　しゃ i sha - doctor, physician
歯科医 - し　か　い shi ka i - dentist
医師 - い　し i shi - doctor, physician, surgeon

Useful Examples
Japanese: きょうの午後医者へ行く予定にしている。
Romaji: kyou no gogo isha e iku yotei ni shite iru.
English: I'm going to go to the doctor this afternoon.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
If you are hit with an arrow (矢) you need healing

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

味

Meanings: taste, experience

On Readings: ミ mi

Kun Readings: あじ aji, あじ（わう） aji(wau)

Most Used Pronunciation: aji
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 囗

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 112 / 284

Common jukugo
趣味 - しゅ　み shu mi - hobby
意味 - い　み i mi - meaning
味見 - あじ　み aji mi - taste testing
隠し味 - かくし　あじ kakushi aji - hidden taste

Useful Examples
Japanese: にんにくは食べ物の味をよくすることに使われる。
Romaji: ninniku wa tabemono no aji o yoku suru koto ni tsukawareru.
English: Garlic is used to improve the taste of food.

Japanese: これはとても美味しい。
Romaji: kore wa totemo oishii.
English: This is very good.

Japanese: もうちょっと塩味をきかせてみたら？
Romaji: mou chotto shioaji o kikasete mitara ?
English: How about adding a little bit more salt?

Japanese: 国民は自由を味わった。
Romaji: kokumin wa jiyuu o ajiwatta.
English: The people enjoyed a taste of freedom.

Look alike kanji
咲

Notes/Mnemonic
Of course the kanji that deals with tastes has a kuchi (mouth) in it [口]

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

妹

Meanings: younger sister

On Readings: マイ mai

Kun Readings: いもうと imouto

Most Used Pronunciation: imouto
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 女

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 124 / 284

Common jukugo
姉妹 - し　まい shi mai - sisters
姉妹都市 - し　まい　と　し shi mai to shi - sister cities

Useful Examples
Japanese: 姉妹がいますか。
Romaji: shimai ga imasu ka.
English: Do you have any sisters?

Japanese: マイクと妹はフランス語を話せるが、日本語は話せません。
Romaji: maiku to imouto wa furansugo o hanaseru ga, nihongo wa hanasemasen.
English: Mike and his sister can speak French, but they can't speak Japanese.

Japanese: 父と妹は大工さんです。
Romaji: chichi to imouto wa daikusan desu.
English: Father and sister are carpenters.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
Japanese makes a distinction between younger and older [姉 ane] sisters and brothers. So the younger sister is NOT YET (未) a woman (女)

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

姉

Meanings: older sister

On Readings: シ shi

Kun Readings: あね ane

Most Used Pronunciation: ane
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 女

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 115 / 284

Common jukugo
姉妹 - し　まい shi mai - sisters
姉妹都市 - し　まい　と　し shi mai to shi - sister cities

Useful Examples

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
This kanji is made of 2 parts: onna (woman) [女] and city or market [市] - The OLDER sister moved out of the house into the city.

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

字

Meanings: letter (from the alphabet...), character, mark

On Readings: ジ ji

Kun Readings: あざ aza

Most Used Pronunciation: ji
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 1

Kanji Part: 子

Stroke Number: 6

Level 3 Completion 111 / 284

Common jukugo
赤字 - あか　じ aka ji - deficit, go in the red
文字 - も　じ mo ji - letter, character
誤字 - ご　じ go ji - misprint; wrong character
漢字 - かん　じ kan ji - Kanji, Chinese characters in Japanese
黒字 - くろじ kuro ji - in the black (financially)

Useful Examples
Japanese: 今月は赤字です。
Romaji: kon getsu wa akaji desu.
English: This month we are in red. (losing money)

Japanese: この文字がかけますか。
Romaji: kono moji ga kakemasu ka.
English: Can he write this character?

Japanese: アメリカはひどい赤字だ。
Romaji: amerika wa hidoi akaji da.
English: The U.S. is deep in the red.

Japanese: この文字がかけますか。
Romaji: kono moji ga kakemasu ka.
English: Can he write this character?

Japanese: 漢字を少し教えてください。
Romaji: kanji o sukoshi oshiete kudasai.
English: Teach me some kanji, please.

Japanese: 横着しないで、教わった漢字を使いなさい。
Romaji: ouchaku shinai de, oshiwatta kanji o tsukainasai.
English: Don't be lazy, use the kanji you've been taught.

Look alike kanji
宇

Notes/Mnemonic
Think of a young child learning his alphabet under a roof

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

家

Meanings: house

On Readings: カ ka, ケ ke

Kun Readings: いえ ie

Most Used Pronunciation: ie
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 宀

Stroke Number: 10

Level 3 Completion 121 / 284

Common jukugo
家族 - か　ぞく ka zoku - family
借家 - しゃく　や shaku ya - rental, rented house
恐妻家 - きょう　さい　か kyou sai ka - a henpecked husband
家財 - か　ざい ka zai - household effects (goods)

Useful Examples
Japanese: 古い家に住んでいます。
Romaji: furui ie ni sunde imasu.
Literal: old-house-in-live-ing.
English: I live in an old house.

Japanese: 彼にはこの単調な家庭生活がおもしろくなかった。
Romaji: kare ni wa kono tanchouna kateiseikatsu ga omoshirokunakatta.
Literal: Him as for this dull home life was not interesting.
English: He found his monotonous home life uninteresting.

Japanese: 借家を捜しています。
Romaji: shakuya o sagashite imasu.
Literal: rent-house-(direct object)-looking
English: I am looking for a place to rent.

Japanese: ほとんどの作家は批評に敏感である。
Romaji: hotondo no sakka wa hihyou ni binkan de aru.
Literal: Most writers criticism sensitivity have.
English: Most writers are sensitive to criticism.

Japanese: 彼は高価な材料をふんだんに使って家を建てた。
Romaji: kare wa kouka na zairyou wo fundan ni tsukatte uchi wo tateta.
Literal: him as-for high-price materials lavishly-using house built.
English: He was lavish in the use of expensive materials in building his house.

Japanese: 我が家の家計は収入の割に支出が多すぎる。
Romaji: waga ga ya no kakei wa shuunyuu no wari ni shishutsu ga oosugiru.
Literal: our family's household economy as-for outgo part is excessive
English: Our family spends too much for the income we have.

Japanese: 彼は私たちの家族の問題に干渉する権利はない。
Romaji: kare wa watashitachi no kazoku no mondai ni kanshousuru kenri wa nai.
Literal: He our family problem interfere right isn't.
English: He has no right to interfere in our family affairs.

Japanese: カゼを引いたので、家にいました。
Romaji: kaze o hiita no de, ie ni imashita.
English: Because I had a cold, I stayed at home.

Japanese: 正午まで家にいなさい。
Romaji: shougo made ie ni inasai.
English: Stay at home till noon.

Japanese: この家はとても広い。
Romaji: kono ie wa totemo hiroi.
English: This house is very spacious.

Japanese: この家の所有者は山田さんだ。
Romaji: kono ie no shoyuusha wa yamadasan da.
English: This house belong to Mr Yamada.

Japanese: 友人の家は大家族です。
Romaji: yuujin no uchi wa daikazoku desu.
English: My friend has a large family.

Japanese: ここがその作家が自殺した部屋です。
Romaji: koko ga sono sakka ga jisatsu shita heya desu.
English: This is the room where the author killed himself.

Japanese: あなたはテストの勉強をするために家にいたのですか。
Romaji: anata wa tesuto no benkyou o suru tame ni ie ni ita no desu ka.
English: Did you stay home to do her homework?

Japanese: 国家主義と愛国心とを混同してはならない。
Romaji: kokkashugi to aikokushin to o kondou shite wa naranai.
English: Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
Think of the top part as a roof

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

急

Meanings: to hurry

On Readings: キュウ kyuu

Kun Readings: いそ（ぐ） iso(gu)

Most Used Pronunciation: iso.gu
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 心

Stroke Number: 9

Level 3 Completion 122 / 284

Common jukugo

Useful Examples
Japanese: ニックはバスに間に合うように急いだ。
Romaji: nikku wa basu ni ma ni au you ni isoi da.
English: Nick hurried to catch the bus.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
When you hurry your heart beats faster

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

悪

Meanings: bad, evil

On Readings: アク aku

Kun Readings: わる（い） waru(i)

Most Used Pronunciation: warui
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 心

Stroke Number: 11

Level 3 Completion 109 / 284

Common jukugo
最悪 - さい　あく sai aku - worst case; the worst
悪魔 - あく　ま aku ma - devil, demon
罪悪 - ざい　あく zai aku - crime, sin, vice

Useful Examples
Japanese: 最近天気が悪い。
Romaji: saikin tenki ga warui.
English: Recently, the weather has been terrible.

Japanese: 手短に言うと、君が悪いんだよ。
Romaji: temijika ni iu to, kimi ga warui n da yo.
English: To put it briefly it's your fault.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
It looks like an anvil or some heavy object on top of a heart [心] When you do something bad, your conscience (should) weigh heavy on your heart

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

意

Meanings: mind, heart, attention

On Readings: イ i

Kun Readings:

Most Used Pronunciation: i
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 心

Stroke Number: 13

Level 3 Completion 119 / 284

Common jukugo
意見 - い　けん i ken - opinion, view
意味 - い　み i mi - meaning
意識 - い　しき i shiki - consciousness, awareness
用意 - よう　い you i - prepare, preparations
厚意 - こう　い kou i - kindness, favor
殺意 - さつ　い satsu i - murderous intent, intent to kill
注意 - ちゅう　い chuu i - warning

Useful Examples
Japanese: 危ないから、注意してください。
Romaji: abunai kara, chuui shite kudasai.
English: Since it is dangerous, please be careful.

Japanese: 私の意見では、勝つことより参加することに意義がある。
Romaji: watashi no iken dewa, katsu koto yori sanka suru koto ni igi ga aru.
Literal: my opinion in as-for, win-doing thing than participation thing in significance is
English: In my opinion, participation is more significant than winning.

Japanese: 山田さんの意見に全く賛成だ。
Romaji: Yamada-san no iken ni mattaku sansei da.
Literal: Mr./Ms. Yamada's opinion to completely agreement is
English: I am in complete agreement with Mr./Ms. Yamada.

Japanese: 君はもう少し注意するべきだったのに。
Romaji: kimi wa mou sukoshi chuui suru beki datta no ni.
English: You should have been more careful.

Japanese: ぼくは大体用意ができた。
Romaji: boku wa daitai youi ga dekita.
English: I am about ready. [M]

Japanese: これらの皿は注意して使用されなければならない。
Romaji: korera no sara wa chuui shite shiyou sarenakereba naranai.
English: These plates must be used carefully.

Japanese: どの教科が不得意ですか。
Romaji: dono kyouka ga futokui desu ka.
English: What subject are you poor at?

Japanese: ご好意に対し厚くお礼を申し上げます。
Romaji: gokoui ni taishi atsuku orei o moushi agemasu.
English: I'm deeply grateful for your kindness.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
When you stand [立] you are at attention; When it is day [日] you are awake and attentive; and your heart [心] is mindful

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

明

Meanings: light, bright, to dawn

On Readings: めい mei, みょう myou

Kun Readings: あかる（い） akaru(i)

Most Used Pronunciation: akarui
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 日

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 106 / 284

Common jukugo
説明 - せつ　めい setsu mei - explanation
明治時代 - めい　じ　じ　だい mei ji ji dai - Meji era
文明 - ぶん　めい bun mei - civilization
明細 - めい　さい mei sai - particulars, details, specifics

Useful Examples
Japanese: 母の名前は明子です。
Romaji: haha no namae wa akiko desu.
English: My mother's name is Akiko.

Japanese: 今日は明るいです。
Romaji: kyou wa akarui desu.
English: Today is very bright.

Japanese: 船は明日マニラに向けて出発する。
Romaji: fune wa ashita manira ni mukete shuppatsu suru.
English: The ship is about to sail for Manila tomorrow.

Japanese: 殺害の動機は明らかではない。
Romaji: satsugai no douki wa akiraka de wa nai.
English: The motive for the murder is not yet known.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
In the sky the 2 brightest objects are the sun (left) and the moon (right)

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

有

Meanings: to have, to exist, is

On Readings: ユウ yuu

Kun Readings: あ（る） a(ru)

Most Used Pronunciation: a(ru)
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 月

Stroke Number: 6

Level 3 Completion 117 / 284

Common jukugo
固有 - こ　ゆう ko yuu - characteristic, inborn
有効 - ゆう　こう yuu kou - effective, valid
有罪 - ゆう　ざい yuu zai - guilt, guiltiness

Useful Examples
Japanese: 彼女は有罪の評決を下された。
Romaji: kanojo wa yuuzai no hyouketsu wo kudasareta.
Literal: her as-for guilt's verdict was given
English: She was given a verdict of guilty.

Japanese: 手荷物はいくつ有りますか。
Romaji: tenimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka.
English: How many pieces of baggage do you have?

Japanese: 神戸は港で有名である。
Romaji: koube wa minato de yuumei de aru.
English: Kobe is famous for its port.

Japanese: この家の所有者は山田さんだ。
Romaji: kono ie no shoyuusha wa yamadasan da.
English: This house belong to Mr Yamada.

Japanese: その科学者は国の内外で有名である。
Romaji: sono kagakusha wa kuni no naigai de yuumei de aru.
English: The scientist is famous both at home and abroad.

Japanese: 手荷物はいくつ有りますか。
Romaji: tenimotsu wa ikutsu arimasu ka.
English: How many pieces of baggage do you have?

Japanese: その歌手はマドンナと同じ位有名だ。
Romaji: sono kashu wa madonna to onaji kurai yuumei da.
English: That singer is as famous as Madonna.

Japanese: 言語は人間特有のものである。
Romaji: gengo wa ningentokuyuu no mono de aru.
English: Language is unique to man.

Japanese: 鉱山を所有している人から銀を買いました。
Romaji: kouzan o shoyuu shite iru hito kara gin o kaimashita.
English: I buy my silver from a man who has a mine on his property.

Japanese: 言語は人間固有の性質である。
Romaji: gengo wa ningen koyuu no seishitsu de aru.
English: Language is a specifically human characteristic.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
A moon EXISTS.

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

朝

Meanings: morning, dawn

On Readings: チョウ chou

Kun Readings: あさ asa

Most Used Pronunciation: asa
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 月

Stroke Number: 12

Level 3 Completion 110 / 284

Common jukugo
朝日新聞 - あさ　ひ　しん　ぶん asa hi shin bun - Asahi Newspaper
朝刊 - ちょう　かん - Morning edition (of a newspaper)

Useful Examples
Japanese: 姉のスーザンは毎朝早く起きます。
Romaji: ane no su-zan wa maiasa hayaku okimasu.
English: My sister Susan gets up early every morning.

Japanese: そんなの朝飯前よ。
Romaji: sonna no asameshimae yo.
English: It's a piece of cake! [F]

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
Ok the left part isn't 車 (kuruma) but you can think of driving a car in the moonlight until dawn...

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

歩

Meanings: walk, to step

On Readings: ホ ho, フ fu

Kun Readings: ある（く） aru(ku), あゆ（む） ayu(mu)

Most Used Pronunciation: aru(ku)
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 止

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 116 / 284

Common jukugo
一歩一歩 - いっぽ　いっぽ ippo ippo - step by step, little by little
散歩 - さん　ぽ san po - a walk, a stroll, walking
進歩 - しんぽ shin po - progress, advance

Useful Examples
Japanese: 一歩一歩日本語を勉強してください。
Romaji: ippo ippo nihongo o benkyou shite kudasai.
English: Study Japanese a little by little.

Japanese: いったん譲歩すると、あとは際限がない。
Romaji: ittan jouho suru to, at wa saigen ga nai.
Literal: once conceding if, after as-for limits aren't
English: Once you give in, there'll be no end to it.

Japanese: 田園を歩くのは楽しいと思った。
Romaji: den'en o aruku no wa tanoshii to omotta.
English: I found it pleasant walking in the country.

Japanese: 公園を横切って歩いた。
Romaji: kouen o yokogitte aruita.
English: I walked across the park.

Japanese: 天気がよかったので、散歩に出かけました。
Romaji: tenki ga yokatta no de, sanpo ni dekakemashita.
English: It being a fine day, I went out for a walk.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
The top part is to stop [止] and the bottom means a little [少] So when you walk a long distance you have to stop a little too

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

犬

Meanings: dog

On Readings: ケン ken

Kun Readings: いぬ inu

Most Used Pronunciation: inu
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 1

Kanji Part: 犬

Stroke Number: 4

Level 3 Completion 123 / 284

Common jukugo

Useful Examples
Japanese: 子犬を飼った。
Romaji: koinu o katta.
English: I got a dog. (this katta doesn't mean 'to buy' but to 'raise an animal')

Japanese: あなたの犬はどうしましたか。
Romaji: anata no inu wa dou shimashita ka.
English: What has become of your dog?

Japanese: あの犬はいくつですか。
Romaji: ano inu wa ikutsu desu ka.
English: How old is that dog?

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
A dog is man's [人] big, [大] best friend

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

秋

Meanings: fall (the season), autumn

On Readings: しゅう shuu

Kun Readings: あき aki

Most Used Pronunciation: aki
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 2

Kanji Part: 禾

Stroke Number: 9

Level 3 Completion 107 / 284

Common jukugo
秋分の日 - しゅう　ぶん　の　ひ shuu bun no hi - autumn equinox holiday (in September)
秋場所 - あき　ば　しょ aki ba sho - autumn sumo tournament

Useful Examples

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
In the fall, many people burn leaves and things with fire (right part)

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

赤

Meanings: red

On Readings: せき seki, しゃく shaku

Kun Readings: あか aka

Most Used Pronunciation: aka
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 1

Kanji Part: 赤

Stroke Number: 7

Level 3 Completion 105 / 284

Common jukugo
赤道 - せき　どう seki dou - equator
赤字 - あか　じ aka ji - deficit, go in the red
赤ちゃん - あか　ちゃん aka chan - baby, infant

Useful Examples
Japanese: 今月は赤字です。
Romaji: kon getsu wa akaji desu.
English: This month we are in red. (losing money)

Japanese: アメリカはひどい赤字だ。
Romaji: amerika wa hidoi akaji da.
English: The U.S. is deep in the red.

Japanese: 顔が赤いよ。
Romaji: kao ga akai yo.
English: Your face is red.

Japanese: その洋服は赤と白のコントラストが美しい。
Romaji: sono youfuku wa aka to shiro no kontorasuto ga utsukushii.
English: The dress has a beautiful contrast between red and white.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
This kanji has done something embarrassing and is running away with it's face turned red (see the arms and legs running?)

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

開

Meanings: to open

On Readings: かい kai

Kun Readings: あ（ける） a(keru), ひら（く） hira(ku)

Most Used Pronunciation: akeru
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 門

Stroke Number: 12

Level 3 Completion 108 / 284

Common jukugo
全開 - ぜん　かい zen kai - full throttle; all the way
開港 - かい　こう kai kou - open port, treaty port
再開 - さい　かい sai kai - re-opening, resumption

Useful Examples
Japanese: ドアを開けてください。
Romaji: doa o akete kudasai.
English: Please open the door.

Japanese: その病院は先月開業した。
Romaji: sono byouin wa sengetsu kaigyou shita.
English: The hospital opened last month.

Look alike kanji
関

Notes/Mnemonic
Maybe you will recognize mon (gate) [門] I think of a man (in the middle) opening a large gate door by pushing with both arms Be careful to not confuse open with close [閉] I think of close as a man kicking the door closed

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

集

Meanings: to collect, gather

On Readings: シュウ shuu

Kun Readings: あつ（まる） atsu(maru)

Most Used Pronunciation: shuu
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 3

Kanji Part: 隹

Stroke Number: 12

Level 3 Completion 113 / 284

Common jukugo
編集 - へん　しゅう hen shuu - editing (newspaper, book)
採集 - さい　しゅう sai shuu - collecting, gathering

Useful Examples
Japanese: 日曜日に集合しよう。
Romaji: nichiyoubi ni shuugou shiyou.
English: Let's get together on Sunday.

Japanese: 学生の３分の２がその集会に出ました。
Romaji: gakusei no sanbun no ni ga sono shuukai ni demashita.
English: Two-thirds of the students came to the meeting.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
This is a collection of lines

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

青

Meanings: blue (sometimes green)

On Readings: せい sei, しょう shou

Kun Readings: あお（い） ao(i)

Most Used Pronunciation: aoi
JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji)

Grade: 1

Kanji Part: 青

Stroke Number: 8

Level 3 Completion 104 / 284

Common jukugo
青空 - あお　ぞら ao zora - blue skies
青森県 - あお　もり　けん ao mori ken - Aomori Prefecture (northern Japan)
青色 - あお　いろ ao iro - blue color

Useful Examples
Japanese: 空は青いです。
Romaji: sora wa aoi desu.
English: The sky is blue.

Japanese: 彼は青い顔になった。
Romaji: kare wa aoi kao ni natta.
English: His face turned blue. (in surprise or fear)

Japanese: 彼の目は青いです。
Romaji: kare no me wa aoi desu.
English: His eyes are blue.

Japanese: この花は黄色だが、ほかの花はみな青い。
Romaji: kono hana wa kiiro da ga, hoka no hana wa mina aoi.
English: This flower is yellow, but all the others are blue.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
Blue moon! You saw me standing alone. I saw you standing at the bottom part of this kanji. It becomes aoi (add the i) when placed with a noun --> aoi ahiru - a blue duck. (strange example but you get the drift, right?)

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.

JLPT 3 Kanji

Set 1

以

兄

医

味

妹

姉

字

家

急

悪

意

明

有

朝

歩

犬

秋

赤

開

集

青

Set 2

映

写