5-SECOND RADICAL BREAKDOWN

上 (Up) vs 下 (Down) vs 止 (Stop) vs 正 (Correct) vs 歩 (Walk)

止 (Stop) is a footprint on the ground. Add a ceiling line on top for 正 (Correct), or add 少 (Few/Little) below for 歩 (Walk)!

上

Up stem above ground line = Up

下

Below stem hanging below ceiling line = Down

止

Stop footprint on road = Stop

正

Correct one 一 line above stop 止 = Correct

歩

Walk stop 止 + little steps 少 = Walk

ON じょう

KUN うえ, あ

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 上 (Up, Above) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Ever since the plant grew above (あ) ground, it’s been way (うえ) too many jokes (じょう)...

ON か, げ

KUN した, くだ, お

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 下 (Below) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Just a cool dark (くだ) cat (か) in awesome (お) shittake (した) hat drinking from a geyser (げ) deep below the ground...

ON し

KUN と, や

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 止 (Stop) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

A big yankee (や) sheep (し) policeman, stops you because of a tornado (と).

ON せい, しょう

KUN ただ, まさ

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 正 (Correct) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

When a talented dark (ただ) shogun (しょう) with a light saber (せい) and a book of his ma’s savvy (まさ) advice tells you to go right, you know this must be correct...

ON ほ

KUN ある

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 歩 (Walk) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Ever since the man was told to stop (止) walking, he didn’t argue (ある), just started skiing home (ほ)...