SIDE-BY-SIDE KANJI MNEMONICS

言 (Say) vs 話 (Talk) vs 読 (Read) vs 買 (Buy)

Words (言) + tongue (舌) = Talk (話), while Words (言) + sell (売) = Read (読)!

5-Second Radical Distinction Rule: 言 (sound waves rising from a mouth = Say) • 話 (words 言 + singing cat's tongue 舌 = Talk) • 読 (words 言 + sell 売 = Read) • 買 (net 罒 + shell money 貝 = Buy).

ON げん, ごん

KUN い

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 言 (Say) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Genghis (げん) Khan, came back from the dead, just to say: “Gondola (ごん) prices are evil (い)!!”

ON わ

KUN はなし

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 話 (Talk) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Hannah, she (はなし) can't believe she got a waffle (わ) cake and her dream talking cat for birthday!!

ON とう

KUN よ

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 読 (Read) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

Stop texting yo (よ)! I’m reading my toe (とう) book.

ON ばい

KUN か

Japanese Kanji Mnemonic for 買 (Buy) — Shibashi Visual Kanji Mnemonics Flashcard

The boy really wants to buy (ばい) the kangaroo (か) robo-roo.