Shibashi
Check Out the App
5-SECOND RADICAL BREAKDOWN

王 (King) vs 玉 (Jewel/Ball) vs 主 (Master) vs 国 (Country) vs 全 (Whole) vs 現 (Appear)

Where is the dot on the King (王)? At his hip = Jewel (玉); on his head = Master (主); under a roof = Whole (全); next to See (見) = Appear (現)!

SHARE:
Post Reddit Share WhatsApp
王
King 3 bars + center pillar = King
玉
Ball dot at bottom-right = Jewel/Ball
主
Master dot on top = Master/Main
国
Country jewel 玉 inside walls 囗 = Country
全
All person/roof 人 over king 王 = Whole
現
Present Time king 王 + see 見 = Present/Appear
3 bars + center pillar = King
王 KING
ON おう
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 王 (King) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

King’s crown is all about fancy O-shaped jewels, so you go “Ohhh!! (おう)” when you see it...

dot at bottom-right = Jewel/Ball
玉 BALL
ON ぎょく
KUN たま
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 玉 (Ball, Jewel) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

The king, with his scepter ball/jewel is eating gyoza cooked (ぎょく) at the local taco market (たま)...

dot on top = Master/Main
主 MASTER
ON しゅ
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 主 (Master) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Every smart king was always sure (しゅ) to follow the true master above him...

jewel 玉 inside walls 囗 = Country
国 COUNTRY
ON こく
KUN くに
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 国 (Country) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

For some reason, the coke (こく) country king, has really cool knees (くに)...

person/roof 人 over king 王 = Whole
全 ALL
ON ぜん
KUN すべ
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 全 (All) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

The zen (ぜん) king lives in the mountains and all he eats are super berries (すべ).

king 王 + see 見 = Present/Appear
現 PRESENT TIME
ON げん
KUN あらわ
Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 現 (Present Time) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Present time Genghis (げん) Khan subsists on apples, rabbits and water (あらわ), which well... gets many strange looks.

✨ FREE ACCESS Ready to try a 2-minute interactive Kanji session?
Check Out the App