[Hard-to-Read Quiz] Single-character difficult kanji — including surprisingly simple ones!

orca

Although rare, “shachi” can be seen at some aquariums. They resemble dolphins, but among sea creatures they are very powerful marine mammals. The word can also be read as “shachihoko,” famous for the golden ornaments on Nagoya Castle.

otter

It turned out to be the otter, a mammal in the weasel family. Unlike weasels, otters are active not only on land but also in the water, and they have webbed feet. I learned during my research that the name also inspired the Japanese sake brand Dassai.

kilometer

It’s a unit of length that represents 1,000 meters. Since 米 can also be read as “meter,” combining it with 千 (thousand) gives this term. It feels different when written in kanji, doesn’t it?

countenance; face; looks; a (lingering) trace; a shadow (of someone/something as a memory)

It was the “omokage” that refers to a resemblance to someone—like having a trace of my father’s features—or the way someone comes to mind. In standard-use kanji it’s written as 面影, and it’s surprising that it’s expressed with the characters for “face” and “shadow.” The kanji are simple, but if you don’t know them, it can be quite tricky.

deeply; keenly; thoroughly; repeatedly (e.g., feeling something strongly over time)

Because we usually hear the word in contexts like “ripen” or “mature,” it tends to make us think of fruit coming to fruition or something related to heat. We often see it paired with negative emotions, but it apparently means the act of thinking deeply itself. It’s surprisingly difficult when reduced to a single character!

pickled shallots

It was rakkyo, a classic accompaniment to dishes like curry. This kanji refers to a perennial plant in the amaryllis family, and can also be read as “oonira.” Since it has the grass radical on top, it naturally gives off a plant-like impression!

sharp end; point of a spear; brunt (of an attack)

It can also be read as “hoko” or “kissaki,” and it carries sharp connotations such as the direction of an attack or the tip of a blade. The metal radical on the left side of the character represents metal, which makes it easier to remember once you know that.