Kanji of the Week
Kanji Rule (6): Verticals and Horizontals
Pictures turned into kanji. Diagonal lines are used to draw pictures as well as vertical and horizontal lines. Most kanji are made with vertical and horizontal strokes. Let's fit the pictures into a square grid to make kanji.
- Meaning
elephant
- Reading
On-reading: zou, shou
Kun-reading: -----
- Mnemonics
The round head of an elephant became square in kanji. The top part of kanji signifies an elephant 's trunk. The bottom part is the legs and the tail. In kanji they are drawn with vertical lines.
Click here to learn more about this kanji character. Click here for sound files for "Animals".
Start a discussion on the Japanese Language forums
