Although more skillfully written than "otogizōshi", "kanazōshi" are considered less advanced in terms of structure and wordplay than the subsequent "ukiyozōshi" composed by Saikaku. Reflecting the tastes of their comparatively less sophisticated audience, "kanazōshi" often relied upon simple puns to generate humor. For instance, the term “hanatare”, which can mean both a runny nose or a drooping flower, is used to describe a young child with the family name of Fujiwara (wisteria field). This type of pun typifies the level of humor found in "kanazōshi".