A quiz on how to read obscure kanji: words that become difficult when written in kanji.
In our daily lives, we encounter a wide range of kanji—from ones anyone can read to very difficult ones.
This time, we’re focusing on so-called “difficult-to-read kanji,” introducing them through a quiz.
You can use it as a quiz as-is, or as a way to spark interest in kanji—both are recommended.
It’s also interesting how something whose sound you know well can become tricky once it’s written in kanji.
- [Interesting] Summary of Kanji Reading Quiz Questions
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- What animal is this kanji? A quiz on difficult animal kanji.
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- [Challenging] General Knowledge Quiz Compilation: Difficult and Interesting Multiple-Choice Questions (3 Options)
- A collection of challenging quizzes for adults [Difficult]
Quiz on readings of difficult kanji. Words that are hard when written in kanji (21–30)
scissors
See the answer
scissors
“鋏” is read as “hasami,” meaning scissors. It’s a tool with two metal blades joined together for cutting, typically used for things like paper or fabric. Scissors are also widely used in everyday life, hairdressing, gardening, and many other settings. In Japanese, it’s often written in hiragana or katakana as 「はさみ」 or 「ハサミ」, so many people may find the kanji form unfamiliar. The left component of the character, the ‘metal’ radical (金へん), indicates “metal,” showing that it’s a tool. Take this as a chance to discover something new about kanji by paying attention to the characters around you.
In conclusion
We introduced a quiz on difficult kanji that are hard to read when written in Chinese characters.
The answers are all things you’re likely familiar with, and many of you may have learned their kanji spellings for the first time.
Many of these characters are used because of the history of how they came to Japan or due to their biological traits, and thinking about the meanings of each kanji can be a starting point for learning more.
By understanding the meaning of each character, let’s explore—through kanji—how these things have become familiar in Japan.