みなさん、こんにちは！Did you know that kanji compounds can be categorised into several groups based on their origin and structure?
Knowing these categories can help you learn kanji compounds more effectively by making it easier to understand their meanings and remember them.
Understanding the categories can also deepen your appreciation of Japanese culture and history, as many of these characters have fascinating origins and connections.
This article will explore the world of kanji compound categories, and take your Japanese language learning to the next level!
2 characters with similar meanings
In this group, kanji compounds were made up by combining 2 kanji characters with similar meanings.
Here are examples!
低い (ひくい low) + 下 (した below) = 低下 (ていか fall)
移る (うつる to transfer) + 動く (うごく to move) = 移動 (いどう movement)
救う (すくう to save) + 助ける (たすける to help) = 救助 (きゅうじょ to rescue)
2 characters with opposite meanings
In this group, kanji compounds were made up by combining 2 kanji characters with opposing meanings.
Here are some examples!
上 (うえ up) + 下 (した below) = 上下 (じょうげ top and bottom, high and low)
左 (ひだり left) + 右 (みぎ right) = 左右 (さゆう left and right)
強い (つよい strong) + 弱い (よわい weak) = 強弱 (degree of strength)
A prefix that accompanies another kanji
Many kanji compounds were made by combining kanji that acts as a prefix and another kanji character.
Kanji characters that can act as a prefix include 無 (む non-), 不 (ふ un-), 未 (み not yet), 有 (ゆう existing), 過 (か excessive) etc.
Example of kanji compounds in this group are
未 (み not yet) + 来る (くる to come) = 未来 (みらい future)
無 (む none) + 礼 (れい gratitude) = 無礼 (ぶれい rude)
A kanji accompanied by a suffix
Many kanji compounds were made by combining kanji that acts as a suffix and another kanji character.
Kanji characters that can act as a suffix include 化 (か -ization, -ification), 性 (せい ty, -ness), 度 (ど degree) etc.
Examples in this group include
変 (へん strange) + 化 (か -ization, -ification) = 変化 (へんか alteration)
理 (り reason) + 性 (せい -ty, -ness) = 理性 (りせい reason, one’s sense)
Former acts as ‘subject’ and latter as ‘predicate’
In this group, kanji compounds were made up by combining one kanji that acts as ‘subject’, followed by another that acts as ‘predicate’.
They often fall in this pattern: [first kanji] が [second kanji]する。
Examples in this group include
骨 (ほね bone) + 折れる (おれる to fracture) = 骨折 (こっせつ bone fracture)
市 (し city) + 営む (いとなむ to operate) = 市営 (しえい municipally owned)
Former explains the latter
In this group, first kanji explains what the second kanji is.
They often fall in this pattern: [first kanji] の [second kanji]
Examples in this group include
牛 (うし cow) + 肉 (にく meat) = 牛肉 (ぎゅうにく beef)
大きい (おおきい big) + 人 (ひと person) = 大人 (おとな adult)
Latter acts as ‘object’ or complements the former
In this group, the second kanji acts as ‘object’ of the first kanji. The first kanji normally denotes ‘action’ and the second ‘object’.
They often fall in this pattern: [second kanji] を or に [second kanji]。
Examples in this group include
読む (よむ to read) + 書 (しょ document) = 読書 (どくしょ reading)
登る (のぼる to climb) + 山 (やま mountain) = 登山 (とざん mountain climbing)
Same kanji twice
Kanji compounds could be repeating the same kanji characters. When 2 kanji characters are repeated, the second kanji is expressed by 「々」.
Examples in this group include
人 (ひと person) + 人 (ひと person) = 人々 (ひとびと people)
別 (べつ different) + 別 (べつ different) = 別々 (べつべつ seperate)
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