禁 Prohibit

Radical Combination

• 木

  Tree
• 示

  Jackhammer

Meaning

Primary

Prohibit

Alternative

Prohibition

Mnemonic

Killing two trees with a jackhammer is expressly prohibited. Don't get me wrong, you can rip up one tree with your jackhammer, but not two.

Hints

Imagine standing in front of a forest with your jackhammer, staring at a sign with just this kanji on it. Tree plus tree with jackhammer equals prohibited. Hmm.

Readings

On’yomi

きん

Kun’yomi

None

Nanori

None

Mnemonic

The person who decided to prohibit jackhammering two trees is the King (きん) of England. He's the only person who's able to prohibit certain things, so it had to be him.

Hints

Picture the King angrily covering his ears as his subjects jackhammer trees. He screams and shouts, his crown bouncing on his head, and points at his new sign that prohibits the jackhammering of trees.