Lesson L9N2N2 Kanji in Context⏱ 25 min

Media and Communication Kanji

This lesson introduces kanji that frequently appear in news, broadcasting, and written correspondence. Each kanji is presented with contextual vocabulary and example sentences to reinforce real-world usage, helping learners recognize and apply these characters in media-related readings.

🎯 Goal: Learn N2 kanji related to media and communication in context.

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read and understand 8 N2-level kanji related to media and communication, recognize them in common words and phrases, and use them in context.

Concept

Media and communication kanji appear frequently in news articles, business emails, and everyday conversations about technology, broadcasting, and information exchange. These kanji often combine the "thread" radical (糸) or "mouth" radical (口) with other elements to create meanings related to messages, connections, and transmission.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. 報 (ほう / hō) – Report, Information

Meaning: Report, information, news
Radicals: 土 (earth) + 卩 (seal) + 又 (again)
Reading: ほう (hō)
Common words:
- 報道 (ほうどう / hōdō) – news report, coverage
- 情報 (じょうほう / jōhō) – information, intelligence

2. 伝 (でん / den) – Transmit, Communicate

Meaning: Transmit, communicate, hand down
Radicals: イ (person) + 云 (say)
Reading: でん (den)
Common words:
- 伝達 (でんたつ / dentatsu) – transmission, communication
- 伝言 (でんごん / dengon) – message, verbal message

3. 通 (つう / tsū) – Pass Through, Communicate

Meaning: Pass through, communicate, commute
Radicals: 辶 (walk) + 甬 (path)
Reading: つう (tsū)
Common words:
- 通信 (つうしん / tsūshin) – communication, correspondence
- 通訳 (つうやく / tsūyaku) – interpretation (oral)

4. 信 (しん / shin) – Trust, Believe, Message

Meaning: Trust, believe, message
Radicals: イ (person) + 言 (say)
Reading: しん (shin)
Common words:
- 信用 (しんよう / shin'yō) – trust, credit
- 信号 (しんごう / shingō) – signal, traffic light

5. 放 (ほう / hō) – Release, Broadcast

Meaning: Release, set free, broadcast
Radicals: 方 (direction) + 攵 (strike/action)
Reading: ほう (hō)
Common words:
- 放送 (ほうそう / hōsō) – broadcast, transmission
- 解放 (かいほう / kaihō) – release, liberation

6. 送 (そう / sō) – Send

Meaning: Send, transmit
Radicals: 辶 (walk) + 关 (close/related)
Reading: そう (sō)
Common words:
- 送信 (そうしん / sōshin) – transmission, sending (data)
- 放送 (ほうそう / hōsō) – broadcast (repeated from above)

7. 連 (れん / ren) – Connect, Link

Meaning: Connect, link, take along
Radicals: 辶 (walk) + 車 (vehicle)
Reading: れん (ren)
Common words:
- 連絡 (れんらく / renraku) – contact, communication
- 連載 (れんさい / rensai) – serialization (in media)

8. 絡 (らく / raku) – Entangle, Connect

Meaning: Entangle, connect, involve
Radicals: 糸 (thread) + 各 (each)
Reading: らく (raku)
Common words:
- 連絡 (れんらく / renraku) – contact, communication
- 絡む (からむ / karamu) – to get entangled, to involve

Mini Examples

Japanese	Romaji	English
このニュースは全国に放送された。	Kono nyūsu wa zenkoku ni hōsō sareta.	This news was broadcast nationwide.
彼に伝言を伝えてください。	Kare ni dengon o tsutaete kudasai.	Please deliver a message to him.
連絡はメールで送信します。	Renraku wa mēru de sōshin shimasu.	I will send the contact by email.
信号が青になったら渡ろう。	Shingō ga ao ni nattara watarō.	Let's cross when the signal turns green.

Common Mistake

Mistake: Confusing 送信 (sōshin – send data) with 通信 (tsūshin – communication).

送信 focuses on the act of sending (transmitting data outward).
通信 focuses on the exchange (two-way communication).

Example:

✅ メールを送信する (Mēru o sōshin suru) – Send an email
✅ 通信が切れた (Tsūshin ga kireta) – The communication was cut off

Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct kanji from this lesson:

ニュース____道 (ほうどう) – news report
Answer: 報
彼と____絡を取る (れんらく) – get in touch with him
Answer: 連絡
このデータを____信してください (そうしん) – please send this data
Answer: 送信
____訳が必要です (つうやく) – interpretation is needed
Answer: 通訳

Summary and Next Step

Summary: You learned 8 key N2 kanji for media and communication:

報 (report), 伝 (transmit), 通 (pass through), 信 (trust/message)
放 (broadcast), 送 (send), 連 (connect), 絡 (entangle/connect)

These kanji appear in common words like 放送 (broadcast), 連絡 (contact), and 情報 (information).

Next Step: Practice reading short news headlines or social media posts in Japanese. Look for these kanji in real contexts. Then move on to the next lesson: "Business and Work Kanji (N2)" to expand your professional vocabulary.