六

Six

Meaning: Six

Just imagine a beast with a lid for a head and fins for feet, running around looking as insane as possible (really imagine it!). When it runs up to you, it shows you the top of its lid-head. On it is written the numbers 666. Why? Because it’s a spawn of the devil, and the number 6 is the devil’s number.

Imagine this beast doing various crazy things, the crazier the better (to help you remember). Make sure all these things are associated with the devil and the devil’s number (six), so you can remember the meaning of this kanji.

Reading: ろく

Whenever we need to remember the reading ろく we just use the word rock. So, think about the devil and the devil’s number. What is often associated with those things? Why, rock and roll is. Imagine the lid-head fin-legged beast suddenly blasting out rock music in the middle of his destructive mayhem.

Sing along with the monster, if it helps you to remember the reading of this kanji.

Vocabulary

Be sure to learn the vocab meanings before

a 六つ（むっつ）＝　six (things)

• Meaning: The meaning follows the pattern of the other “things” number counters, including the つ at the end (you know by now that number+つ = counting “things.” In this case, it’s six things.
• Reading: For the number six, what things are you counting? There’s been coconuts (九つ), there’s been He-Toes (一つ)… for six, you’re counting six cows, that say “moo” (むっつ).

a 十六（じゅうろく）＝　16

• Combo: 十 (ten) + 六 (six)
• Meaning: Ten and Six is sixteen (not to be confused with ten sixes, which would be 六十)
• Reading: If you know the on’yomi readings for these two kanji, you’ll be able to read this too.

a 六（ろく）＝　6

• Meaning: It’s the same as the kanji itself.
• Reading: The reading is the on’yomi reading, as is the pattern with number-vocab that’s all on its own with nothing attached.

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