A quiz of interesting obscure kanji: characters that look easy but are hard to read
We’d like to introduce a quiz on difficult-to-read kanji that, despite looking like simple combinations of characters, have tricky readings.
Sometimes the meanings each character carries can lead you to the answer, so the key is how far you can expand your imagination from the kanji.
It also helps you understand the words themselves—such as what kind of history the answer has followed and which aspects were emphasized when the kanji were assigned.
This is a challenge that tests not only broad knowledge of kanji, but also the imaginative skill to arrive at the word from the meanings of the characters.
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Quiz of interesting obscure kanji: seemingly easy but hard-to-read characters (1–10)
stormy seas
- stormy weather
- everlasting
- direct
See the answer
stormy weather
The kanji “時化” is often used to describe stormy weather or rough seas, and is read as “shike.” This term is frequently used by sailors and fishermen to express weather and sea conditions, and is also one of the less commonly heard, hard-to-read kanji in everyday life.
hydrangea
- hues
- hydrangea
- Shoko
See the answer
hydrangea
The correct reading of 紫陽花 is “ajisai.” Each character is simple, but it’s a word that’s hard to read unless you know the combination, so it’s recommended to think about the colors and shapes the characters evoke. This flower is often seen during Japan’s rainy season and is known for its vividly colored blossoms.
abacus
- third
- abacus
- sampan
See the answer
abacus
The correct reading of the kanji 算盤 is “soroban.” It is a tool for calculating numbers, specifically a traditional device once used for commercial calculations. It is also sometimes used in math education, and if you think of it as a board-shaped tool used for arithmetic, the answer might come to you more easily.
Hani-i
- wimp
- tsuchikoguchi
- honey only
See the answer
wimp
The correct answer is “henachoko.” In this quiz, you are asked to read a word formed from the kanji ‘埴’ and ‘猪口.’ In this context, ‘埴’ is a rarely used character meaning clay-like soil, and ‘猪口’ refers to a small sake cup. Combined as ‘埴猪口,’ the term has come to be read in a distinctive way as ‘henachoko,’ meaning someone lacking strength or skill. It describes a person who is feeble, unreliable, or lacking perseverance.
burdock (root)
- ushikusa
- burdock (root)
- carrot
See the answer
burdock (root)
The correct reading of the difficult kanji 牛蒡 is “gobō.” Although the characters may look unfamiliar, they refer to a commonly used vegetable in everyday life. In the Edo period, it was also valued for medicinal use, but today it is often used in a variety of dishes. It is rich in dietary fiber and is considered good for health.