Page 55 - Japanese Character Writing for Dummies
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younger brother
Do you have siblings? When you combine this kanji with the kanji for “older brother,” you
create the combination kyōdai, which means “siblings.” When you refer to your
DAI, DE, TEI/ own little brother when speaking to a non-family member, it’s otōto, but when you refer to
otōto someone else’s younger brother, you should say otōto-san, using the respectful
term san. You might have heard about the tradition of apprenticeship in art and craftsman-
ship in Japan. An apprentice is called deshi.
Radical: ⼸ Number of strokes: seven
child
Does this kanji look like a little child? Perhaps like this ? The general word for “child/
children” is kodomo. If you see this kanji at the end of a first name such as Hiroko,
SHI, SU/ko Kimiko, Yōko, and such, the person is very likely a woman. Nowadays, however, there are
many beautiful, creative names that do not have 子. You may see the kanji combinations,
joshi (girls and women) and danshi (boys and men) in public restrooms or locker
rooms in onsen, hot springs.
Radical: 子 Number of strokes: three
CHAPTER 3 105 Characters 49
