# 単 merely

(t.c.f.b.b.y.e.s.i.y.l.) + 田 (rice field) + 十 (ten)
★★★☆☆
9 strokes

## Onyomi

TAN | as in 'I was hit with a flame thrower (long story) but it MERELY gave me a TAN. '

## Mnemonic

| Even though I have ten rice fields, all that is growing is merely three lousy baby firds, I mean birds.

## Kunyomi

たん*に | merely ★★★☆☆

## Jukugo

簡単(かんたん) な | simple ★★★★☆ 簡 (simplicity) + 単 (merely) = 簡単 (simple) simple or easy, but in a good way
単語(たんご) | simple word ★★★★☆ 単 (merely) + 語 (language) = 単語 (simple word) a SIMPLE Japanese word (note the 単 kanji) : 犬 is a tango, as is a hiragana word like いや. But compound words or long-ass words are not tango.
単位(たんい) | unit ★☆☆☆☆ 単 (merely) + 位 (rank) = 単位 (unit) denomination or unit (college credit, but also centimeter or pound)
単純(たんじゅん) な | simple version ★☆☆☆☆ 単 (merely) + 純 (epitome) = 単純 (simple version) the simple kind of X as opposed to the complicated kind (not rude). Also, simple-minded, mouth-breathing person (pretty rude).

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
早 | early | SUN | 陽
巣 | habitat | TREE | 木
単 | merely | BABY BIRDS |

The SUN rises early.

The habitat is in a TREE.

Merely has NO TREE because it is MERELY some baby birds.

## Used In

- 弾
- 戦

## Synonyms

merely 単に ただ
word 単語 言葉