Page 77 - Japanese Character Writing for Dummies
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order, a number
Have you heard the word ichiban? It means “number one” or “best,” and is an adverb
used to express a superlative, just as you would use –est in English. Ban is used to rank
BAN something by adding a number to it. For example, ichiban is first, niban
second, san’ban third, and so on.
Radical: 田 Number of strokes: twelve
white
Does this kanji remind you of another kanji? You may remember that it looks like the
sun 日 you saw earlier. The only difference is in the little nail-like line on its top. When
HAKU/shiro you create this kanji, you start by drawing the small line at the top. shiroi means
“white.” This kanji also suggests clean and clear. For example, hakushi means
“white paper,” but it also indicates a clean slate, as in hakushi ni modosu
(to start anew).
radical: 白 number of strokes: five
CHAPTER 3 105 Characters 71
