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For kanji lovers, the word 果実 (kajitsu: fruit, fruit + fruit) is so ripe with possibilities that it’s ready to explode. As we saw last week, 果 and 実 each mean “fruit,” both literally and metaphorically. We investigated the juicy, literal sense last time. Now we’ll see how these terms can refer abstractly to the fruits of one’s labor—the rewards for hard work. Let’s take these kanji one at a time.

The Rewards of 実

The following word captures both the literal and metaphorical aspects of 実:

実入り (miiri: (1) crop, harvest; ripeness; (2) earnings, profits, gains)     fruit + to enter

The breakdown brings to mind James and the Giant Peach. But with 実入り, no one is entering a huge piece of fruit! Rather, fruit seeds enter the ground. And later, the earnings from the crop enter the bank account! (It’s “seed money,” you might say, only it comes after the financial venture, not before.)

As you know from this word and others, 実 can have the yomi of mi. A close cousin is the yomi mino(ru):

実る (minoru: to bear fruit, to ripen)

This term can refer to either dripping-good fruit or the fruits of one’s efforts.

Sample Sentences with 実る …

Here’s a related noun:

実り (minori: ripening (of a crop); crop, harvest)

This literal word gives rise to a phrase involving metaphorical fruitfulness:

実り多い (minori ōi: fruitful, successful)     ripening + many

Minori resembles “minority.” As a mnemonic, you could associate 実り多い with “many successful minorities.”

The Rewards of 果

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