It was nice to MEET AGAIN at the (sai)nce meeting(kai).

ド レ ミ ファ ソ ラ シ are all 階名

A shiroi shiro is a white castle

Remember that the intonation goes up at the end because you're building the castle up

She rowed しろ across the CASTLE moat to escape her captor.

My (dasshutsu) hound ESCAPED.

Take off 脱 and leave 出 your clothes (or problems ...) behind

If you want to get rid of garbage and have it escape your house, you push it down da chutes

わかい means ‘young’ and is usually used for teenagers or adults, but not for children.
(Source:Nakama1)

like kawaii in the i-less form, with the first 2 kana reversed.

Why cry? This is why I hate young children

Tsamina mina, eh, eh
Waka waka (わかわか), eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa (Shakira)

the young are (は) KInd (かい）

Young people today have some Wack-y ideas

Young (わかい) people think they know (わかる) everything.

Wakai children are kawaii

Wow! Kai! You're so young!

If you've played Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Ichiban often refers to Masato Arakawa as Young Master (Waka)

Immature 若い (わかい) people are often the most childish 可愛い (かわいい) people.

If you’re young enough, a walrus will carry you. But only if you’re young.

That cute(かわい) kid is young(わかい).

young(わかい) is cute(かわいい)

Young people wakai understand things well wakarimasu

--> 帰る { かえる } means to return (home/go back) = intransitive ( no direct object )
--> 返す { かえす } means to return (something) = transitive ( direct object required )
--> While there is another 返る { かえる }, which is not common in daily talks and is intransitive ( no direct object ).

帰る means to return to one's original place
「家に帰る」 to go home
「故郷に帰る」 to return to one's hometown

返る means to return to its original state
「我に返る」to come to one's senses
「貸した物が返る」a borrowed item is returned

還る also means to return to its original state, however its use is more limited.
「土に還る」to return to dust
「三塁走者が本塁に還る」the runner on third base comes home”.

Source: [JPN] [kanjitisiki.com]

Turn the lights off, kaeru me home (nah nah nah nah…)

Today I'm returning and coming home from Cairo (kaeru).

かえり (kaeri) sounds like “carry” → Imagine carrying yourself back home after a long day

With a kiss the FROG かえる transformed かえる (変える) back into a prince and then returned かえる (帰る) to live in his castle.

I will "return home = かえる" *𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲* "clothes = きもの".
き(もの) + かえる→がえる =「KIGAERU きがえる」
NOTE: I used 帰る here only for the sake of the mnemonic. The correct verb for this compound is actually 替える。

I need to return home, can you carry (かえる) me.

I returned to Kai’s Room (ka-i-ru).

My son never gets out of this toy car. So when his toy KAr か Enters え our one RUom (る) apartment I know he has come home.

The kanji kinda looks like a guy walking through a door

It reminds me of the name Kairi. At the end of Kingdom Hearts, Sora promises he'll come back, or return, to Kairi.

at the end of a sentence:

さ adds force to the sentence
ぞ adds force or indicates command

きっと describes certainty as a belief with high probability.
きっと試験に合格します。= Surely I will pass the test. (I believe that ...)

必ず describes certainty as something that has to happened no matter what.
必ず試験に合格します。= Certainly/Without any doubt I will pass the test. (I know that ...)

絶対 is very similar to 必ず but even stronger. It can express a strong will or high ambition.

ぜひ also carries a meaning similar to 必ず albeit being not as strong. It is rather used for someone else than oneself like in
明日もぜひ来てね！ = By all means, come by tomorrow as well!

Adding に turns the adjective into an adverb.

Absolutely doing it is the opposite 対 of discontinuing 絶

The deadline is zetai (set tight). You can absolutely not go over it

"Zettai" sounds like "set tie."

Imagine meticulously setting your tie for an important event to make sure it's absolutely perfect.

If you discontinue 絶 the fight (versus) or opposition 対, there’ll ABSOLUTELY/DEFINITELY be peace.

One second (秒 / びょう) is absolutely (絶対 / ぜったい) exquisite (絶妙 / ぜつみょう)

The meaning of くる isn’t really “come” but rather “come here” (as opposed to 行く “go there”). It’s always either a literal or metaphorical approach TO the speaker’s current location/timeframe/situation/state of mind etc. By contrast, in English we can also use “come” alone when we as a speaker really mean “leave my current location and go elsewhere”, such as: “I will come to you”.

He CAME here by car-くる(ま)

Doesn't く look like a boomerang? Boomerangs always COME BACK.

I have come to the con KURU sion (Conclusion) of the story.

Coo-roo! Pigeons always come home.

The hens CAME home to roost with sunglasses on. cool く roost る !

To conjugate くる, I like to think that it’s a godan and an ichidan verb at the same time. So to conjugate the stem the ichidan would do くる -> く and the godan would do く -> き. Then I know that the stem of くる is き.

He came to the cool room (ku-ru) because it was hot outside.

or Everbody comes to the cool room because it’s cool.

"Kuruma, come to me!" as Naruto summoned his nine-tailed beast in order to support him.

Could Rue come back already? It’s getting late

The way you say "come" sounds like "cu", so its "cu"+verb aka kuru.

In くれる The direction of the giving is always from the other party towards the speaker/the speaker’s group. It is never “I give”.

Exactly the opposite of 上げる, which is giving to the other party away from the speaker's group and is never "give to me".

The imperative form of the auxiliary verb ~くれる is ~くれ, rather than the expected くれろ*.

* くれろ can be used but is old fashioned and くれ is more common.

When used with the te form as ~てくれる, it adds the nuance of doing/receiving a favor. The receiver goes with particles に and the do-er of the action with the favor goes with が

Ex. 彼が(私に)本を貸してくれた。 (He lent me the book (as a favor))

They gave me something cool (く) and rare (れる).

Remember the idiom: "give credit (kureru) where credit is due."

She *𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲* me a tip, and *𝗹𝗲𝘁 (me) 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲* her secret ingredient for the recipe… "curry roux"「KURERU くれる」!

The courier (kureru) "gives" something to the receiver.

She ran back to give him the cure (くれる).

Here, let me GIVE you some Koolaid (くれる).

I received a kure-ted (curated) ru-by, made/selected just for me (as it's about the speaker receiving something)

You need to let him have it or "COOl" RAY will RUin it for you.

Could (KU) you give me/let me have the REins?

Cool let you (have it)

Also used to quote a whole clause of a sentence, similar in a way to how the particle の and the noun こと converts a clause into the equivalent of a noun.

When using と it means you are listing the items that are the only possibilities, whereas や means there are others.

(あか)と(くろ) が すき です。
(あか)や(くろ) が すき です。
Both sentence meaning the same :
I like red and black colors.

The first sentence specifically states you like red and black colors.

The second sentence states that you like red and black colors, and maybe other colors too.

It's like a partial list when using や apart from と (when using it) which you can take as a full list

TOES together with eachother

思う, when used as "to think", is used for stating an opinion or feeling that you already have. It is not the actual act/process of thinking about something.

"I think this is cool" < use 思う

考える, however, the act of thinking.

"I will think about my future" < use 考える

想う is a more emotional, affectionate, or poetic spelling of 思う, common in songs, poetry, and novels. In everyday use, 思う is the standard unless a literary tone is intended.

毎日、彼女のことを想う = "I think about her every day" with emotional weight — longing, love, missing someone, cherishing them, etc.

Omm.... I'll (おも) have to *think* about it.

Reminds me of おもしろい　-- I always think of that as "I [think/feel] this is interesting".

I need a mo(おもう)ment to think about this…

First you meditate, then you have a breakthrough: ommm, ouh!

Atlas, who cares something omoi, has a lot of time to omou

He’s the CHIEF おも, I think おもう. He looks IMPORTANT.

to me, 思 looks kind of like a guy with a window to see in his brain, what he's *thinking* about.

When something is interesting, it makes you think. おもしろい and おもう are those words.

Since I want to lose weight I often think おもう about how heavy おもい I am.

I think おもう (Omurice) -オムライス- is probably my favorite food.

"OH MOE, OOf... he always reckons/supposes (opinionates) the weirdest things. he should think before he speaks

Also written as: 褱う

If I'm not mistaken, わ is softer than よ

In addition to the regular emphasis usage, It can be used in poetry and songs as "Oh" as in "Oh God" "Farewell, Oh friend". Ex.
時よ, 何を用意しているの? "Oh Time, what do you have in store"
神よ
友よ

Common usage:
手間をかける — to put in time/effort
手間取る — to take extra time / get delayed
手間が省ける — to save effort

※ Typically used in expressions rather than on its own.

Labour is a period (間) of time where you work your hands (手).

Don't (te)ke (ma) TIME up over something like this.

You telling me to wait (待て・まて) but I don't feel any respect to my time and labour

TEM (てま) from Undertale uses her TIME and LABOUR to save money for college.

Various verbs for putting things on one's body (unrelated senses not mentioned):
- 着る: To wear upper body or full body clothing, usually through arm sleeves. It is used more generally when used with clothing in general e.g. 服を着る, when used in compounds such as 着こなす, 着込む, etc., in certain collocations, and other cases.
- 履く: To wear on the feet, such as shoes and socks.
- 穿く: To wear lower body clothing, such as pants and skirts. Usually kana.
- 掛ける: To hook/hang something on one's body, such as glasses, bags, pendants. Usually kana.
- 被る: To wear on/cover the head/face, such as hats and masks.
- 嵌める: To put on something that envelops, such as rings and gloves. Usually kana.
- 羽織る: To wear items not through sleeves, but e.g. by putting on one's shoulders and fastening buttons, such as coats and gowns. See 羽織.
- 着ける: To wear something, encompasses 着る, はく, etc. and includes accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.). Often in kana or as 付ける.
- 身に着ける: Essentially the same as 着ける. Often with つける in kana or with 付ける.
- 着する: Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- 着用(する): Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- する: To wear accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.), to be showing an expression, to have a certain quality, etc.
- 纏う: To wrap or wear something around the whole of or part of one's body. Usually kana.

Other verbs:
- 佩く: To affix to one's hip, such as a sword. Usually kana.
- 帯びる: To wear, to carry, usually of a sword on one's hip or an insignia.
- 提げる: To hang from the shoulder or waist or hold hanging from the hand. Also as 下げる.
- 突っかける: To slip on, to quickly wear shoes, slippers, etc.
- 召す: Honorific (尊敬語) form for 着る, e.g. 和服をお召しになる.

Sources:
- 使い方の分かる 類語例解辞典
- 大辞林
- 明鏡国語辞典
- Tofugu

Famously the word with a million definitions in J->E dictionaries (which is actually fairly common but this one is the go-to example).

Just about all of them involve putting something above/over something else (and usually leaving it there).

The best way to explain why there are so many definitions is that it uses the core concept of “hanging/attaching/effecting/put aside/” in literal and non-literal ways.

Some examples:

Spreading: Spreading generally includes attaching a thin object on a hard surface

Wearing glasses: They hang on the nose.

Making a call: When first invented a call had to be attached literally by an operator.

To spend/use: Usually the same as putting aside a share of time/money etc.

Pouring a liquid/sprinkle (anything) onto: Liquids and spices attach/stick to most things (generally)

Turning on a device: When starting a device you effect its condition.

Depending on someone/thing: Think of hanging on to someone (figurative speech)

Multiplying: Multiplication on abacuses involved “hanging” certain pieces

Securing: Secured objects are assuredly attached to something else.

Seating: Attaching oneself to a seat. Can also mean supporting something w something else like hanging.

Binding: Bound objects are attached.

Wagers: wagering binds/attaches someone to a position (figurative)

Effecting (like a spell): spells are usually placed on people which is attachment.

Holding a event/emotion: The event is your responsibility (attached to you / Clinging to emotion is hanging/attachment.

Argument/presenting/deliberation: Involves putting forward ideas.

Puns: puns are attaching clever meanings to similar sounding words for humor.

Incomplete task: Left hanging (same as english.

Directing/Addressing/Guiding: Involves a person of lower knowledge depending to one of higher knowledge



Like the english “set” in “setting up a call” “set a plate” “set a course”

All of these mean "wear / put on," but in different ways:
被る / かぶる: hats / headwear
掛ける / かける: glasses
着る / きる: upper body clothing
履く / はく: lower body clothing / shoes
する: watch (時計をしている)

you hang up (かける) your coat after you go out (でかける) to gamble (かける)

Car keys are hung up

After *𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴* my car, I *𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽* the "car key" in the "room"「KAKERU かける」, *𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻* the radio, and *𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻* a blanket to take a nap on the sofa.

You hung the picture all cockeyed! (Kakeru)

So I bought a picture of a pretty hen to hang on my kitchen wall, but every time I do, my rooster says:
かける...
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo！！

掛 looks like a wall hanger you can hang clothes on.

Baba Yaga(ru) had the nerve to put a curse on me

Various verbs for putting things on one's body (unrelated senses not mentioned):
- 着る: To wear upper body or full body clothing, usually through arm sleeves. It is used more generally when used with clothing in general e.g. 服を着る, when used in compounds such as 着こなす, 着込む, etc., in certain collocations, and other cases.
- 履く: To wear on the feet, such as shoes and socks.
- 穿く: To wear lower body clothing, such as pants and skirts. Usually kana.
- 掛ける: To hook/hang something on one's body, such as glasses, bags, pendants. Usually kana.
- 被る: To wear on/cover the head/face, such as hats and masks.
- 嵌める: To put on something that envelops, such as rings and gloves. Usually kana.
- 羽織る: To wear items not through sleeves, but e.g. by putting on one's shoulders and fastening buttons, such as coats and gowns. See 羽織.
- 着ける: To wear something, encompasses 着る, はく, etc. and includes accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.). Often in kana or as 付ける.
- 身に着ける: Essentially the same as 着ける. Often with つける in kana or with 付ける.
- 着する: Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- 着用(する): Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- する: To wear accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.), to be showing an expression, to have a certain quality, etc.
- 纏う: To wrap or wear something around the whole of or part of one's body. Usually kana.

Other verbs:
- 佩く: To affix to one's hip, such as a sword. Usually kana.
- 帯びる: To wear, to carry, usually of a sword on one's hip or an insignia.
- 提げる: To hang from the shoulder or waist or hold hanging from the hand. Also as 下げる.
- 突っかける: To slip on, to quickly wear shoes, slippers, etc.
- 召す: Honorific (尊敬語) form for 着る, e.g. 和服をお召しになる.

Sources:
- 使い方の分かる 類語例解辞典
- 大辞林
- 明鏡国語辞典
- Tofugu

"to cause to become", transitive counterpart to なる

行う is basically similar to する but 行う sounds more formal and stiff.
The more formal the situation is, the more likely 行う is chosen.
It can also be used in sentences where it usually sounds grandiose.
It can also appear in casual conversations.
There is also a verb 執り行う which sounds even stiffer and is only used with big ceremonies such as wedding ceremonies.

To wear small items (necktie, watch etc.)

する is one of the two irregular verb conjugations. To conjugate into this present form you would use します.

I have things suru(to do).

Mr. Sulu has a lot To Do on board the Enterprise.

Monkey (さる) see, monkey do (する)

Suru sounds like sudo, a Linux codeword that means "Super User DO."

To conjugate する, I like to think that it’s a godan and an ichidan verb at the same time. So to conjugate the stem the ichidan would do する -> す and the godan would do す -> し. Then I know that the stem of する is し.

ほんのり tends to carry a pleasant connotation, whereas ちょっと or 少し is more neutral.

Less formal than 少し

ちょっと！ as an interjection is very context-dependent. It can mean "Hey / Excuse me" (to get attention) or "Hold on—what?" (mild protest or surprise). The meaning comes mostly from tone, delivery, and context.

Can also mean: not good

I CHOse TTO (chose to) move the chair SLIGHTLY so no one would bump into it