日 日本語の国 Nihongo no Kuni: A little every day

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A Kanji to tame

THE KANJI · N4 · 4 strokes

元

Beginning ; Former Time ; Origin

Readings on: ゲン・ガン
Kun readings: もと

元もと — origin

Readings depend on the word. In kun readings, the dot separates the kanji from its kana ending (okurigana).

Two-word kanji

Reading belongs to the complete word: it is not always deduced from isolated readings.

  • 元気げんき — energy; good health; health Word card → Source
  • 衿元えりもと — neck Source
  • 襟元えりもと — neck Source
  • 窯元かまもと — pottery Source
  • 元号げんごう — era name Source
  • 元首げんしゅ — Sovereign Source
Text export

Set up direct addition to Anki
  1. In Anki on your computer, install AnkiConnect (2055492159), then restart Anki and keep it open.
  2. Click “Test connection”, then allow Nihongo no Kuni in Anki’s dialog. If your browser requests local network access, allow it for this site.

The .apkg package works without AnkiConnect: download it, then open it in Anki. No column mapping is needed. Cards use the language displayed on the site.

Direct addition works on desktop. On mobile, use the .apkg package.

A little exercise

10 questions about this kanji and its compound words. You need 8 correct answers out of 10 to master it.

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