See Stroke Order (4)

Readings:

• ON (1): GETSU　（ゲツ）
• ON (2): GATSU　（ガツ）
• kun (1): tsuki

Radical:

• This kanji is itself a radical 月 and can also take the connotation of flesh (i.e.) posses (有る),　fat [food content] (脂),　side/armpit (脇),　lungs (肺). You can see how it is compressed on when placed on the left hand side, and flattened when on the bottom.
• Residual part(s): N/A

Compounds:

• 月曜日(げつようび) – Monday = getsuyoubi
• ３月（さんがつ） – March = sangatsu
• ５ヶ月 (ごかげつ) – 5 months = gokagetsu
• 正月 （しょうがつ） – New Year = shyougatsu
• 毎月 (まいがつ） – every month = maigatsu
• 先月 (せんげつ) – last month = sengetsu
• 来月 (らいげつ) – next month = raigetsu
• LOTS MORE

Example Sentence:

• 先月，ぼくはとても忙しかた。=
• Last month, I was very busy.

See Stroke Order (4)

How to Say Heart / Mind in Japanese

Readings:

• ON (1): SHIN（シン）
• kun (1): kokoro 心 (heart)

Radical:

• This kanji is itself a radical (i.e.) 忘 forget,　忠 loyalty, 恩 grace
  • When this kanji takes the radical on the left side, its form is changed: (i.e.) 怖 scary, 忙 busy, 悦 joy
• Residual part(s): N/A

How to Use Heart / Mind in Japanese

Compounds:

• 中心 (ちゅしん) -　center / core / heart / pivot = chyushin
• 心配 （しんぱい） – worry / concern / anxiety = shinpai
• 関心 (かんしん） – concern / interest = kanshin
• 心理 （しんり） – psychology / mental state = shinri
• 心から (しんから） – from the bottom of one’s heart = shinkara
• LOTS MORE

Example Sentence:

• 僕の心はとても強いです。 = Boku no kokoro wa totemo tsuyoi desu.
• My heart is very strong.

See Stroke Order (4)

How to Say Day / Sun in Japanese

Readings:

• ON (1): NICHI　（ニチ）
• ON (2): JITSU　（ジツ）
• kun (1): hi 日
• kun (2): ~ka 三日

Radical:

• This kanji is itself a radical (i.e.) 白 white,　早 early,　明 bright
• Residual part(s): N/A

How to Use Day / Sun in Japanese

Compounds:

• 日本(にほん） – Japan = nihon
• 日赤 （にっせき） – Japan Red Cross = nisseki
• 中日(ちゅうにち) -　the middle of the day = chyunichi
• 平日 （へいじつ）- weekday/everyday = heijitsu
• 朝日 (あさひ） – morning/rising sun = asahi
• 四日（よっか） – the fourth day (in the month) = yokka
• LOTS MORE

Example Sentence:

• 日本はきれいな国ですよ。 Nihon wa kireina kuni desuyo.
• Japan is a beautiful country.

*A very important word to learn is Nihon, which of course means Japan. The kanji compound for Japan is 日本 which is comprised of the kanji for sun(日) and the kanji for origin/source (本); so this is why we call Japan the land of the rising sun, because the country name literally means, “origin of the sun.”

See Stroke Order (5)

How to Say Life in Japanese

Readings:

• ON (1): SEI　（セイ）
• ON (2): SHō 　（ショウ）
• kun (1): i(kiru) 　生きる
• kun (2): i(keru)　生ける
• kun (3): nama 　生

Radical:

• N/A
• Residual part(s): N/A

How to Use Life in Japanese

Compounds:

• 生活 (セイカツ) -　life = seikatsu
• 先生 （センセイ） – teacher = sensei
• 学生 (がくせい） – student = gakusei
• 生ビール （ナマビール） – draft beer = nama bīru
• 生まれ変わる (ウマレカワル） – to be born again = umarekawaru
• LOTS MORE

Example Sentence:

• 生活は面白。 = Seikai wa omoshiroi.
• Life is interesting.

I thought this was an appropriate way to start the Kanji off. This is the Kanji for life and is seen in many compounds.