1) jou, 2) ue - top, above, on 3) a(geru) - to raise a(garu) - to rise 4) nobo(ru) - to go up

Don't be shocked at the number of pronunciations (actually there are more!), the best one to remember is ue. That is the most commonly used.

1) ka, 2) ge, 3) shita - bottom, under, down

This one also has several more readings, but shita is the most useful for now

1) sa, 2) hidari - left

Both left (左) and right (右) are very similar. Left has a capital I and right has a mouth

1) yuu, 2) u, 3) migi - right

Both left and right are very similar. Left has a capital I and right has a mouth

1) tou, 2) higashi - east

In order to look at the sun from behind a tree, you must be facing east: A sun [日] character behind a tree [木]

1) sei, 2) sai, 3) nishi - west

"Go west!", said the mouth with legs dangling inside

1) nan, 2) minami - south

Remember: there is money (￥ yen) in the south

1) hoku, 2) kita - north

It looks like 2 people sitting with their backs against the north pole

1) gai, 2) ge - outside, foreign 3) hoka - other, 4) soto - outside

This is a useful kanji if you are a foreigner

1) mei - name, fame, famous, 2) myou, 3) na - name

By word of mouth (口) fame and name spread

1) kou, 2) taka(i) - high, costly, tall

Think of this as a picture of a tall and costly Japanese building

1) shou, 2) ko, 3) o, 4) chii(sai) - small, little

Only 3 small strokes make this kanji

1) chuu, 2) naka - middle, center, within, inside

It's a line inside a box!

1) dai, 2) tai, 3) ou(kii) - big, large, great

This is a big person (人) with his great arms spread wide

1) chou - head of an organization, leader, 2) naga(i) - long

There are several long strokes to make nagai

1) han - half

The two top half lines were cut in half

1) fun, 2) bun - a part, share, 3) wa(keru) - to divide, separate 4) waka(ru) - to understand

The bottom part is a sword (刀) and think of the sword dividing the top part into two parts

1) gaku - learning, science, 2) mana(bu) - to learn

The bottom is a child (子) and think of the top as his brain waves learning

1) kou - school

Remember: many schools buildings are made of trees (木)

1) sei, 2) shou - birth, life, 3) u(mu) - to give birth, 4) i(kiru) - to live