Chinese-Japanese false friends

Many kanji words have different meanings between Chinese and Japanese. For example, 手紙 is tegami, "letter", in Japanese, but means "toilet paper" in Chinese.

Table

something skylight

Kanji word Japanese pronunciation Japanese meaning Chinese pronunciation Chinese meaning
怪我 kega injury guai4 wo3 blame me
勉強 benkyō study mian3 qiang2 adj. inadequate, unconvincing, strained, far fetched v. manage
不勉強 fubenkyō idleness, lack of application, lazy study habits, inactivity bu4 mian3 qiang2 It's alright. I don't force my way.
先生 sensei teacher xian1 sheng5 Mr. (Mister) - in taiwan often contracted as 先
切手 kitte stamp qie1 shou3 to cut the hands
急行 kyūkō express train ji2 xing2 urgently walking
上手 jōzu adroit, proficient, expert, dextrous, dexterous, adept, practiced, deft, practised, skilled shang1 shou3 start to get familiar with, or get to know how to do,
下手 heta awkward, inept; inexpert, untrained; inapt xia4 shou3 proceed, start to do something, commence
天井 tenjō eiling, ceiling price, top price, maximum acceptable or required price tian1 jing3 a roof frame, atrium, small yard; courtyard or
娘 musume daughter, offspring niang2 mother
湯 yu hot water, hot spring tang1 soup
有難う arigatō thank you you3 nan4 catastrophic, disastrous, calamitous
吃る domoru to stutter, to stammer chi1 to eat
邪魔 jama to disturb, to come's in one way, an obtacle xie2 mo2 the devil
文句 monku complaint wen2 ju4 sentence flow
丈夫 jōbu strong, robust zhang4 fu5 husband
大丈夫 daijōbu OK, alright da4 zhang4 fu5 a gentleman, an upright person, a man of honour
演出 ensyutsu to direct, to produce (a play) yan3 chu1 to perform, to act (in a movie/drama/show)

Kanji word	Japanese pronunciation	Japanese meaning	Chinese pronunciation	Chinese meaning
怪我	kega	injury	guai4 wo3	blame me
勉強	benkyō	study	mian3 qiang2	adj. inadequate, unconvincing, strained, far fetched v. manage
不勉強	fubenkyō	idleness, lack of application, lazy study habits, inactivity	bu4 mian3 qiang2	It's alright. I don't force my way.
先生	sensei	teacher	xian1 sheng5	Mr. (Mister) - in taiwan often contracted as 先
切手	kitte	stamp	qie1 shou3	to cut the hands
急行	kyūkō	express train	ji2 xing2	urgently walking
上手	jōzu	adroit, proficient, expert, dextrous, dexterous, adept, practiced, deft, practised, skilled	shang1 shou3	start to get familiar with, or get to know how to do,
下手	heta	awkward, inept; inexpert, untrained; inapt	xia4 shou3	proceed, start to do something, commence
天井	tenjō	eiling, ceiling price, top price, maximum acceptable or required price	tian1 jing3	a roof frame, atrium, small yard; courtyard or
娘	musume	daughter, offspring	niang2	mother
湯	yu	hot water, hot spring	tang1	soup
有難う	arigatō	thank you	you3 nan4	catastrophic, disastrous, calamitous
吃る	domoru	to stutter, to stammer	chi1	to eat
邪魔	jama	to disturb, to come's in one way, an obtacle	xie2 mo2	the devil
文句	monku	complaint	wen2 ju4	sentence flow
丈夫	jōbu	strong, robust	zhang4 fu5	husband
大丈夫	daijōbu	OK, alright	da4 zhang4 fu5	a gentleman, an upright person, a man of honour
演出	ensyutsu	to direct, to produce (a play)	yan3 chu1	to perform, to act (in a movie/drama/show)