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.

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.

hot water bottle

On cold winter nights, an indispensable item called “湯湯婆” is read as yutanpo. A yutanpo is a tool used to keep warm in bed by filling a metal or plastic container with hot water. Many people today may use electric blankets, but in times without electricity, it was valued as a tool that could provide warmth simply by boiling water. The character 婆 being read as “po” is an ateji (phonetic substitution) used to give it a friendly feel. It’s one of those difficult-to-read kanji terms that’s fascinating for learning about life and culture in the past.

kotatsu

“炬燵” is read as “kotatsu.” A kotatsu is a heating appliance that’s a hallmark of Japanese winters: there’s a heater under a low table, with a quilt draped over it so you can warm up from your feet. You can picture a cozy winter scene in Japan—mandarins placed on the kotatsu, and a cat curled up, keeping warm together. The kanji “炬” means “torch (something that produces flame),” and “燵” means “to warm,” both relating to warmth. Even if the kanji are difficult, the kotatsu itself is something very familiar.

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.

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.