RANK 1 · 一級
Two families. Four one-offs. That’s Rank 1.
Learn the head of each family first. The rest of the family is easy once you know it.
木5 kanji
人2 kanji
日口
山川
山川
Family tree
木tree · き
人person · ひと
GUESS FROM THE PARTS
You haven’t learned it yet. Can you guess it?
Look at the parts, pick a meaning. Wrong is fine — that’s how it sticks.
1 / 3
森= 木 木 木
Three trees: a forest. 森 もり.
2 / 3
休= 亻 木
A person by a tree: to rest. 休 やすむ.
3 / 3
林= 木 木
Two trees: a small wood. 林 はやし.
One-offs
No family to lean on — but these four are shapes you can see. They’ll also become parts of bigger kanji later.
sun, dayひ・か · ニチ・ジツlater in 明 時 春
mouthくち · コウ・クlater in 名 味 呼
mountainやま · サンlater in 岩 島
riverかわ · センa shape on its own