Mnemonic
A patch of grass shoots up on the right side of the garden — it's young, bright green, and impossibly soft. The old grass on the left is brown and brittle, whispering bitterly: "It's not right that young sprouts get all the rain!"
Additional thoughts
Visualize the right half of a garden bursting with tender new sprouts while the left side is yellowed and dying. The old grass's jealousy cements the contrast between aged and young.Quick recall
Grass on the right is young, green, and envied by the old blades.Details
The keyword for 若 is young. This kanji conveys the idea of youth, freshness, and vitality, referring to someone or something that is early in its life or development. It can describe people who are youthful in age, as well as things that are new, immature, or not yet fully grown. By extension, it sometimes carries the nuance of inexperience or being in the early stages of a process.
- On'yomi
- じゃく、にゃく、にゃ
- Kun'yomi
- わか.い、わか-、も.しくわ、も.し、も.しくは、ごと.し