SIDE-BY-SIDE KANJI MNEMONICS

木 (Tree) vs 本 (Book/Origin) vs 休 (Rest) vs 体 (Body)

Adding a person (亻) or a root bar (一) to a tree (木) creates four of the most common kanji in Japanese.

5-Second Radical Distinction Rule: 木 (Tree) • 本 (bar at the roots of the tree = Origin/Book) • 休 (person 亻 leaning against a tree 木 = Rest) • 体 (person 亻 + root/foundation 本 = Body).

ON もく

KUN き

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 木 (Tree) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

The tree is mocking (もく) us, it knows we got no keys (き)...

ON ほん

KUN もと

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 本 (Book) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

The boy in Hong Kong, is reading a book about Honda (ほん) Motors (もと).

ON きゅう

KUN やす

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 休 (Rest) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Resting by the cucumber (きゅう) tree is the best. Ohh Ya-ss (やす)!!

ON たい

KUN からだ

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 体 (Physical Body) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Tyrant (たい) Karate dad (からだ) wants his son to train his body, not read books.