Composition and Application of this Book
◆ Characters included in this book

The book Kanji Tamago Elementary Level includes 162 characters. Together with Kanji Tamago

Elementary and Intermediate Level, it covers the characters required for passing levels N5 and N4 of
the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
The characters included in each section are divided into the following three categories.
“ 提出漢字 Featured characters”: Learners will study the reading and writing of each character.て い しゅつ か ん じ“ 読める Characters for reading”: Learners will only study the meaning and reading of eachよcharacter. The characters included in this category will reappear in later sections as “ 提出漢て い しゅつ か ん

字 Featured characters.”
じ“ 見て、わかる Characters for recognition”: Learners will gain knowledge of the meaning of
みeach character as a sign, but will not have to study its reading and writing. With some exceptions, the characters included in this category will reappear in later sections as “ 提出漢字て い しゅつ か ん じ

Featured characters.”◆ Composition of the book(1) “ 漢字のはじまり The origin of characters”: a segment that introduces the origins of characかん じters(2) “ 漢字のきほん The basics of characters”: a segment that introduces the fundamental rules
かん じregarding characters(3) Sections 1 through 15, “ 漢字のパーツ The components of characters”
かん じ(4) “ 楽 しく覚 えよう１／２／３ Enjoy studying 1/2/3”: a segment that introduces the comたのおぼ

ponents (structural elements) of characters, phono-semantic compound characters, andmnemonic methods.
(5) “ もう少しやってみよう Let’s study some more”: a collection of questions that help learnすこers review the contents of sections 1 through 15 and the components of characters.

◆ Composition of each section(1) Title page(2) “ 提 出 漢 字 Featured characters,” “ 読 める Characters for reading,” and “ 見 て、わかるて い しゅつ か ん じよみCharacters for recognition.”(3) “ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”
れんしゅう

か

(4) “ 練習２：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”
れんしゅう[(5) Column]

本書の構成と使い方ix◆ Ruby (glosses placed alongside characters to indicate their reading, etc.)“ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”: in questions regarding the reading or writing ofれんしゅう

かcharacters, ruby are not provided for characters learners have already studied.
“ 練習２：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”: in materials that require learners to independently
れんしゅう

obtain information (e.g. figures and charts, posters, maps, etc.), ruby are not provided.

◆ How to proceed through each section(1) Title pageThe illustrations on the title page feature the characters presented in that section. The title pagehelps learners develop awareness of the situations in which each character is used, and what kind ofabilities learners will acquire through studying each character. If the title page features characters learners already know, they are prompted to remember where and in what kind of situation they encounteredthose characters, and think of their meaning and reading.
(2) Featured characters
The reading learners are expected to memorize at thatstage is displayed in bold typeface.

Serial number of featured characters.
32

年

読み方ネンとし

ことば

１年年

例文

１年は365日です。／今年は何年ですか。

よかた

れいぶん

ねんとしねんSpecial readings are enclosed in < >.
＜今年＞
ことしにち

去年
きょねん
ことし

来年
らいねん
なんねん

書き順

年
かじゅん

Vocabulary that matches the topic of each section
with focus on words featured in levels N4 and N5 of
the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Important words that include characters used in levels
N4 and N5 as well as words that learners are recommended to memorize are displayed in bold typeface.

memoSpace where learners can freely write
down the meaning of the character intheir native tongue, original mnemonic
methods, illustrations, etc.

In this segment, learners practice each of the characters presented on the title page one by one. It
is recommended to refer to the segments “ 漢字のはじまり The origin of characters,” “ 漢字のきほ
かん じ

かん じん The basics of characters,” “ 漢字のパーツ The components of characters,” and “ 楽
しく覚えようかん じ
たのEnjoy studying,” and practice each character while considering methods to memorize it. The book presents various ideas for mnemonic devices and helps learners discover the method that matches best theirabilities and preferences.
In “ ポイント Points,” learners can check and verify various commonly mistaken points, such as
the form of the character and its reading, the okurigana (kana added after a character to show its Japanese inflection), its components, etc.

本書の構成と使い方

“Kanji Tamago: Hints and Points” can be downloaded from the website below.
Acras Japanese Language Education Institute (ACRAS)（http://www.acras.jp/）(3) “ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”
れんしゅう

かAfter completing the exercises in (2), in this section, learners will practice the featured characters with the objective of acquiring reading and writing skills. Exercises in breaking characters down
to their components and, vice versa, in assembling characters from various components will develop
learners’ awareness of the complex structure of characters.
At the same time, the exercises will establish associations with characters learners have alreadystudied, and will help them organize their knowledge of featured characters. Furthermore, learners willpractice sorting characters in groups by their meaning, and will conduct exercises that focus on theChinese and Japanese reading of each character and phono-semantic compound characters (phoneticcomponents). By repeating similar drills over and over, these exercises will help learners firmly commit the featured characters to memory.
(4) “ 練習 2：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”
れんしゅう

In this section, learners will get hands-on practice in conditions close to actual communication
situations that will help them develop abilities to obtain necessary information through reading and towrite characters. In each task, learners are expected to come up with correct answers, but what is evenmore important is to learn the process necessary to arrive at the correct answer and to master techniques
to accomplish tasks. Learners will study through practical drills what to focus on in order to obtain correct information, and how to guess the meaning of new character vocabulary.
There are two types of exercises for obtaining of information: through reading of written text, andthrough listening to audio materials and tying them up to written text. In both types, learners should
first try to complete the tasks on their own, without using dictionaries.
In the listening comprehension exercises, learners should make sure to take the time and readthrough the information section before listening to the audio material. The written text will probably
contain a large volume of information, and characters and vocabulary that the learners have not studied
yet, but there is no need to read through these sections and try to grasp their meaning. The important
thing is to take full advantage of the already acquired knowledge and obtain necessary information
within the limits of one’s own understanding.

◆ Legend
02【Displays CD and track numbers.

】   Indicates that, before listening to a CD, learners need to first look at the figure in the task inorder to fully understand the situation.

【】 Indicates the beginning of a listening and reading comprehension task.

本書の構成と使い方

xi