A quiz on how to read obscure kanji: words that become difficult when written in kanji.

corn

“玉蜀黍” is the kanji spelling for “とうもろこし” (corn/maize). The kanji “蜀黍” was used for “morokoshi,” a plant that had been introduced from China, and since corn resembles that morokoshi, the character “玉,” which evokes a jewel-like golden color, was added, resulting in the spelling “玉蜀黍.”

mango

From the feel of the kanji used, it’s a hard-to-read character that makes you think “Maybe it’s a fruit.” The answer is mango, one of the iconic tropical fruits. In Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture is famous as a production area. I imagine there are older adults who enjoy sweet, juicy mangoes, aren’t there?

cutting board

A chopping board is a board made of wood, plastic, glass, and the like, used when cutting ingredients. It’s a tool used almost daily in the kitchen, and while it’s commonly written as “まな板” (manaita), many people may not know that there is also the single-character form “俎” (so). “俎” is an old term closely connected to cooking and culinary culture. It was also used in ancient Chinese rituals, making it a venerable character and a source of an unexpected discovery.

watering can

If you enjoy gardening or farming, you may already know this: the word 如雨露 is read “jōro.” It refers to a watering can with a handle, used to water plants and vegetables in gardens and fields. The kanji literally combine 如 (like), 雨 (rain), and 露 (dew), conveying the idea of sprinkling water evenly as if it were rain or dew—hence the characters. It’s usually written in katakana or hiragana, but knowing the kanji form as a “difficult-to-read” word can make for an interesting talking point.

squirrel

Squirrels eat tree nuts like acorns, walnuts, and chestnuts. They’re adorable when they stuff lots of food into their small mouths, puffing out their cheeks. Perhaps that’s why the animal was written with the characters for “chestnut” and “mouse” (栗鼠) in kanji. When you visit a park in autumn with an older adult, you might even come across a squirrel. Bringing up these hard-to-read kanji during conversation with seniors could make the discussion even more engaging.

cricket

Since the kanji has the “insect” radical, many of you may have guessed it’s an insect’s name. “蟋蟀” refers to the familiar insect whose chirping we often hear in autumn: the cricket. Crickets are one of the iconic signs of autumn, appearing in Japanese children’s songs and haiku. Because the kanji are difficult, this spelling isn’t often seen in everyday life, but crickets have long been beloved in Japan. At first glance, reading “蟋蟀” as “koorogi” (cricket) may seem difficult, but this quiz can be a fun way to remember it and turn your attention to the nature around you.

Button

“釦” is read as “botan” (button) and refers to a small fastener used to close clothing, typically round in shape. In everyday use, the katakana form is common, and the kanji form is rarely seen, which is why it’s considered a difficult or obscure character. This kanji remains from the Meiji era, when metal buttons were imported and the character “釦” was assigned as an ateji; its radical, the metal radical (金偏), indicates a metal product. It’s a familiar item even for older people, but seeing it written in kanji may bring a fresh surprise—it looks like you could read it, yet you might not be able to.