Kanji Kickstart: High-Utility Kanji Set — Nature and Places

How to Use This Set (Nature & Places)

This chapter focuses on 10 high-utility kanji that appear constantly in maps, weather, addresses, travel, and everyday labels. You will learn them in small radical-based groups (water, wood, earth/land, sky/weather, stone). For each kanji, focus on: (1) radical (what it visually signals), (2) meaning range (what it can cover in real words), (3) typical readings (the ones you’ll actually meet often), and (4) high-frequency words you can recognize quickly.

Step-by-step study routine (repeat for each kanji)

• Step 1: Identify the radical and say the category aloud (water/wood/earth/sky/stone).
• Step 2: Say the core meaning in one word (e.g., “mountain”).
• Step 3: Attach 2–3 anchor words you can imagine seeing on signs.
• Step 4: Do a micro-check: can you classify it and guess meaning in a short phrase?

Group 1: Earth & Land (terrain, fields, places)

山

Radical: 山 (mountain radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: mountain; mountainous area; “-yama/-san” in place names. Typical readings: やま (kun), サン (on). High-frequency words:

• 火山（かざん） volcano
• 登山（とざん） mountain climbing
• 山道（やまみち） mountain path
• 山川（やまかわ） mountains and rivers (set phrase)

田

Radical: 田 (field radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: rice paddy/field; farmland; common in surnames and place names. Typical readings: た (kun), デン (on). High-frequency words:

• 田んぼ（たんぼ） rice field (common everyday word; written with 田)
• 水田（すいでん） paddy field (watered rice field)
• 田舎（いなか） countryside (note: meaning is “rural area,” not literally “field”)

川

Radical: 川 (river radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: river/stream; appears in place names and geography. Typical readings: かわ (kun), セン (on). High-frequency words:

• 川口（かわぐち） river mouth / riverside entrance area (also a place name)
• 河川（かせん） rivers (formal; note the related kanji 河 is also used)
• 山川（やまかわ） mountains and rivers

Group 2: Wood & Forest (plants, materials, places)

木

Radical: 木 (wood/tree radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: tree; wood as material; appears in many nature and material words. Typical readings: き (kun), モク/ボク (on). High-frequency words:

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• 木曜日（もくようび） Thursday
• 木材（もくざい） lumber/wood material
• 大木（たいぼく） big tree

森

Radical: 木 (wood/tree). Meaning range: forest/woods; dense trees; often used in place names and surnames. Typical readings: もり (kun), シン (on). High-frequency words:

• 森林（しんりん） forest (more formal/compound style)
• 森（もり） forest (standalone; common on maps)
• 森の中（もりのなか） in the forest

Group 3: Water (liquids, flow, days of week)

水

Radical: 水 (water radical; also appears as the side form 氵 in many kanji). Meaning range: water; liquid; things related to water (drinking, washing, rivers). Typical readings: みず (kun), スイ (on). High-frequency words:

• 水曜日（すいようび） Wednesday
• 水道（すいどう） water supply; tap water system
• 飲み水（のみみず） drinking water
• 水田（すいでん） paddy field

川 vs. 水 (quick distinction)

川 is a specific geographic feature (a river). 水 is the substance (water) and broader water-related concepts. On signs, 川 often appears with place names; 水 appears with utilities and daily life.

Group 4: Fire (heat, volcanoes, days of week)

火

Radical: 火 (fire radical; also appears as 灬 at the bottom in many kanji). Meaning range: fire/flame; heat; burning; also used in weekday words. Typical readings: ひ (kun), カ (on). High-frequency words:

• 火山（かざん） volcano
• 火曜日（かようび） Tuesday
• 花火（はなび） fireworks
• 火事（かじ） fire (disaster)

Group 5: Sky & Weather (above you, conditions)

天

Radical: 大 (often analyzed with 大 as the base component; the kanji is commonly treated as its own unit in learning). Meaning range: sky/heaven; “natural” conditions; used in weather and set phrases. Typical readings: テン (on), あま (kun, appears in some words/names). High-frequency words:

• 天気（てんき） weather
• 天国（てんごく） heaven
• 天才（てんさい） genius (note: meaning extends beyond nature)

雨

Radical: 雨 (rain radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: rain; rainy conditions; appears in weather reports and warnings. Typical readings: あめ (kun), ウ (on). High-frequency words:

• 大雨（おおあめ） heavy rain
• 雨天（うてん） rainy weather (formal; often on event notices)
• 雨水（あまみず） rainwater

Group 6: Stone (materials, landmarks)

石

Radical: 石 (stone radical; the kanji is also the radical). Meaning range: stone/rock; materials; sometimes appears in place names and geology-related words. Typical readings: いし (kun), セキ/シャク (on; セキ is more common). High-frequency words:

• 石（いし） stone
• 石油（せきゆ） petroleum (note: meaning is not “stone oil” literally; it’s the standard word)
• 岩石（がんせき） rock (more technical)

Quick Reference Table

Practice 1: Classify by Nature Category

Write each kanji under the best-fitting category. Use the table only to check after you try.

• Landforms / terrain: ________ ________
• Water / liquids: ________
• Plants / forests: ________ ________
• Weather / sky: ________ ________
• Materials (natural substances): ________
• Land use (fields/farmland): ________

Extra challenge: Some kanji can reasonably fit two categories depending on context. Mark any that could be “dual-category” and write one example word for each use (e.g., 川 as a place feature vs. water-related context).

Practice 2: Signage-Style Reading Tasks (Extract Meaning Fast)

Goal: don’t translate perfectly—extract the key meaning you would need if you saw it on a sign, map, or notice.

Task A: Identify the “thing” (mountain/river/field/etc.)

• 登山口 → What kind of place is this? Which kanji gives the clue?
• 川沿い → What location is indicated?
• 森林公園 → What environment should you expect?
• 石の道 → What is the path made of?

Task B: Weather and conditions

• 天気予報 → What information is this?
• 雨天中止 → Under what condition does something stop/cancel?
• 大雨注意 → What should you be cautious about?

Task C: Mixed phrases (use radicals to guess the domain)

• 山川の景色 → What kind of scenery is being described?
• 水道工事 → What system is being worked on?
• 火山灰 → What is this substance related to?
• 田園風景 → What kind of landscape is this?

Answer check (minimal hints)

Use these hints only after you attempt: 登山口 = entrance to a mountain-climbing route; 川沿い = along a river; 森林公園 = forest park; 雨天中止 = canceled in rainy weather; 水道工事 = waterworks construction; 火山灰 = volcanic ash; 田園風景 = rural/field countryside scenery.