Page 70 - Japanese Character Writing for Dummies

Pronounced aru, this kanji means “to have” or “there is.”
to exist This verb is specifically used for inanimate objects, as in

YŪ/a(ru) ki ga aru (there are trees). For an animate (living) being, we use
the verb iru, which has the same meaning in English; for exam-
ple, Inu ga iru (There is a dog). Combining aru with the
previous kanji, 名 (name), you can make the word for “famous,”

yūmei.

Radical: 月 Number of strokes: six

light We need 光 hikari (light) physically and metaphorically. One of the high-

speed trains, or shinkansen, was given this luminous name. Many plants
KŌ/hikari, use 日光 nikkō (sunlight) to grow.

hika(ru)

Radical: ⼉ Number of strokes: six

64 Japanese Character Writing For Dummies