Here we will explore the wonderful world of kanji. A 熟語 jyukugo is a kanji compound where each kanji has a meaning that somehow relates (usually) to the combined kanji's overall meaning. Some kanji combinations can be reversed to give a similiar meaning or sometimes opposite meaning. It is this kanji phenomena that we shall explore here. Why? I don't know. It's fun! I have tried to mark the 'useful' kanji. The others may be, well... not so useful?!?

#1 Reversed Kanji with the same pronunciation 慣習 kan shuu - usual (historical) custom 習慣 shuu kan - custom, habit, manners (USEFUL) 名著 mei cho - famous book, masterpiece 著名 cho mei - well-known (USEFUL) 魚雷 gyo rai (ぎょらい) Torpedo 雷魚 rai gyo(らいぎょ) A type of fish - snakehead mullet (whatever that is...) 進行 shin kou(しんこう) progress, advance (USEFUL) 行進 kou shin(こうしん) march, parade (USEFUL) 和平 wa hei (わへい) peace 平和 hei wa (へいわ) peace (USEFUL) 画面 ga men（がめん）terminal screen, scene, picture, the field (in TV), photo (USEFUL) 面画 men ga（めんが）surface-drawing (NOT USEFUL) 社会   sha kai    （しゃかい） Society (USEFUL) 会社  kai sha    （かいしゃ）a business (USEFUL) 決議 (ketsu gi) a resolution (with suru - to resolve) 議決 (gi ketsu) 議会 (gi kai) an assembly 会議 (kai gi) a meeting (USEFUL) 議論 gi ron - an argument; a discussion 論議 ron gi - discussion; to discuss or talk about 楽器 gakki - a musical instrument (USEFUL) 器楽 kigaku - instrumental music 光栄 kou ei - honor, glory, privilege (USEFUL) 栄光 ei kou - glory (USEFUL) 海外 (kai gai) foreign countries (USEFUL) 外海 (gai kai) 数人 suu nin - Several People (USEFUL) 人数 nin zuu Number of people

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材木 zai moku - wood, lumber, timber
木材 moku zai - lumber

実現 jitsu gen - realization (of a dream)
現実 gen jitsu - a reality, actual, real

#2 Reversed Kanji with a different pronunciation

日本 nihon (にほん) Japan (USEFUL)
本日 hon jitsu (ほんじつ) Today (USEFUL)

家出 ie de（いえで）   running away from home, leaving home
出家 shukke（しゅっけ）entering the priesthood, priest, monk

力学 rikigaku（りきがく） mechanics, dynamics
学力 gaku ryoku（がくりょく）scholarship, knowledge, literary ability

男優 dan yuu（だんゆう） actor (USEFUL)
優男 yasa otoko（やさおとこ）man of gentle manners (USEFUL)

根性 kon jyou（こんじょう） will-power (vs), guts, temper, nature, spirit (USEFUL)
性根 shou ne（しょうね）character, nature

様子 you su（ようす）aspect, state, appearance (USEFUL)
お子様 o ko sama（おこさま）child (polite) (USEFUL)

凸凹 dekoboko - rough; uneven
凹凸 ou totsu - unevenness; uneven

敬愛 kei ai - respect & affection
愛敬 ai kyou - love & respect (USEFUL)

口出し kuchi dashi - meddling, interference
出口 de guchi - exit (USEFUL)

切腹 seppuku - commiting suicide by cutting the stomach
腹切り harakiri - same as above

Kanji is omoshiroi desu ne! More to come! Stay tuned! Send your own combos!