Read Japanese Kanji Today

160

支

4 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: sasa(eru)

branch; to hold up, to support

支店 shiten branch

支配 shihai control, domination

支払う shiharau to pay

支える sasaeru to hold, to support

A pictograph of a hand holding up a branch symbolized both a branch and holding up. The pictograph was first drawn then simplified to The final form was written 支. It means a branch of an organization like a business, trade union, association, or government. It also means hold up or support. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced SASA-ERU, and usually means support. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 支持 SHIJI, support-hold, means support.

161

枝

8 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: eda

branch of a tree

楊枝 tsumayōji toothpick

枝垂れ桜 shidare-zakura overhanging cherry blossom

枝豆 edamame green soybean

小枝 koeda twig, stick

To denote a branch of a tree, the Chinese added the element for tree 木 to the element for branch 支 to form the new kanji 枝 meaning branch of a tree. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced EDA. In compound words it is pronounced SHI.

162

書

10 strokes

ON READING: SHO

KUN READING: ka(ku)

to write, to compose; writing, book

書籍 shoseki book

読書 dokusho reading

書く kaku to write, to compose

書道 shodō calligraphy

A pictograph of a hand holding a brush writing on a piece of paper formed the character for write. The Chinese first drew the pictograph then simplified it to and drew the final kanji 書. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced KA-KU. In compound words 書 is pronounced SHO. A 書記, SHOKI, write-chronicle, is a secretary. 文書 BUNSHO, text-write, is a document.

163

筆

12 strokes

ON READING: HITSU

KUN READING: fude

writing brush

筆記 hikki note; to write down

毛筆 mōhitsu writing brush

絵筆 enpitsu painting brush

筆先 fudesaki brush tip

Early writing brushes were made from bamboo, so the Chinese added the element for bamboo atop the element for the hand holding a brush to form the kanji for a writing brush 筆. It is pronounced FUDE when used as a word by itself, and HITSU in compound words.

164

事

8 strokes

ON READING: JI

KUN READING: koto

thing, affair, happening, matter, event

無事 buji no damage

事件 jiken affair, case, matter

仕事 shigoto work, job, business

出来事 dekigoto event, happening

In the pictograph for write 書, the brush is pointed downward, writing on the paper. The Chinese used a pictograph of the brush held in hand, pointed upward, poised and ready to record things as they happen to symbolize the unfolding of events. They simplified the form to then and wrote the final kanji 事. It means thing, affair, happening, matter, or event. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced KOTO. Used in compound words it is pronounced JI. 事 is frequently used both in writing and in speech. Some examples are:

165

史

5 strokes

ON READING: SHI

history

歴史 rekishi history

日本史 nihonshi Japanese history

世界史 sekaishi the history of the world

史跡 shiseki historic sites, lamdmark

To symbolize the passage of history, the Chinese drew a pictograph of a hand holding a counting stick to mark the passing of events and added a mouth 口 to call out each event. They drew the new kanji 史, meaning history. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 史書 SHISHO, history-write, means history book. 史学 SHIGAKU, history-learning, means the study of history.

166

吏

6 strokes

ON READING: RI

government official

官吏 kanri a government official

To the element for history 史, the Chinese added a Mandarin’s hat to illustrate that all history revolves around the officials of the government that has the Mandate of Heaven. They drew the final character 吏, meaning a government official. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words 吏 is pronounced RI.

167

使

8 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: tsuka(u)

servant, messenger, use; to use

使命 shimei mission

使用人 shiyōnin servant, employee

大使 taishi ambassador

使い古し tsukaifurushi worn-out

The Chinese combined the element for a government official 吏 and the element for person 人 and formed a new kanji, 使, symbolizing a person you use to carry out your work and get things done. The modern meaning of 使 is servant, messenger, or use. Used by itself, as the verb to use, it is pronounced TSUKA-U. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. A 使者 SHISHA, messenger-person, is a messenger. A 大使 TAISHI, big-messenger, is a government ambassador. A 小使 KOZUKAI, small-servant, is a person employed to do odd-jobs. A 天使 TENSHI, heaven-messenger, is an angel.

168

士

3 strokes

ON READING: SHI

warrior, scholar

武士 bushi samurai, warrior

紳士 shinshi gentleman

博士 hakushi, hakase doctorate, Ph. D

会計士 kaikeishi accountant

A pictograph of a man standing erect on the ground with arms outstretched and at the ready symbolized a man prepared to carry out his duty. The Chinese squared off this pictograph to the final kanji form 士. It means a warrior, a scholar, or a man whose job bears responsibilities, like a Senator or a sumo wrestler. It is not used as a word by itself, and needs another kanji to show what the man’s responsibility is. In compound words 士 is pronounced SHI. A 学士 GAKUSHI, learned-man, is a bachelor degree. A 力士 RIKISHI, strength-man, is a sumo wrestler.

169

仕

5 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READING: tsuka(eru)

servant; to work, to serve

仕返し shikaeshi revenge

仕草 shigusa motion, sign

給仕 kyūji waiter, waitress, server

仕える tsukaeru to serve

The Chinese put together the element for a man who carries out responsibilities 士 and the element for person 人 to symbolize one who carries out tasks for another person, a servant. The final form of the kanji is 仕, and it means servant or carrying out work for others. When it is used as a word by itself it is pronounced TSUKA-ERU. In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 仕事 SHIGOTO, work-affairs, is the common word meaning to work at a job or task.

170

化

4 strokes

ON READINGS: KA, KE

KUN READING: ba(keru)

to change, to transform; ~-ization

化石 kaseki fossil

化粧 keshō makeup

お化け obake ghost

文字化け mojibake to garble

A person standing up 人 beside a person fallen down, seated on the ground symbolized a change in state. The Chinese wrote the final form 化, meaning change or transform. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced BA-KERU. In compound words it is pronounced KA or KE. 文化 BUNKA, writing-change, means culture. 化学 KAGAKU, change-learning, means chemistry.

171

花

7 strokes

ON READING: KA

KUN READING: hana

flower

花びん kabin vase

花粉症 kafunshō hay fever

花びら hanabira petal

花束 hanataba bouquet

The element for change 化 was added to the pictograph for plants to symbolize plants changing into flowers. The Chinese wrote the new composite kanji 花, meaning flower. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced HANA. In compound words it is pronounced KA. 花火 HANABI, flower-fire, means fireworks. 生花 IKEBANA, living-flowers, is the art of flower arrangement.

172

粧

12 strokes

ON READING: SHŌ

makeup

化粧水 keshō toner, lotion

化粧室 keshōshitsu powder room

雪化粧 yukigeshō layer of snow

厚化粧 atsugeshō heavy makeup

The Chinese combined the element for rice 米 with the element for earth or clay 土 under a shed 广, to signify the place where it was processed into ladies makeup or face powder. They wrote the composite kanji 粧, meaning makeup. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced SHŌ. The formal word for makeup or face powder is 化粧 KESHŌ, change-makeup. 化粧品 KESHŌHIN, makeup-goods, are cosmetics.

173

比

4 strokes

ON READING: HI

KUN READING: kura(beru)

comparison; to compare

比較 hikaku comparison

比例 hirei proportion

比べる kuraberu to compare

A pictograph of two people seated in the same posture facing in the same direction symbolized comparing one to the other. The Chinese squared off the figures and wrote the final form 比, meaning to compare. Used as a word by itself, generally as a verb, it is pronounced KURA-BERU. In compound words it is pronounced HI.

174

皆

9 strokes

ON READING: KAI

KUN READINGS: mina, minna

all, everyone

皆勤賞 kaikinshō reward for perfect attendance

皆さん minasan everyone

皆目 kaimoku not even

The Chinese drew a pictograph of these same two people, this man and that man 比, and me 自, to symbolize the concept “everyone.” They first wrote the kanji but it looked too tall so they removed one line from the pictograph of “me” (which was drawn of me pointing to my nose) and the final form became 皆, meaning all, everyone. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MINA, sometimes MINNA with a long N. In compound words it is pronounced KAI. 皆無 KAIMU, all-none, means none at all.

175

階

12 strokes

ON READING: KAI

step, floor, rank

階段 kaidan stairs, staircase

階級 kaikyū class, rank

地階 chikai basement floor

音階 onkai musical scale

They took a pictograph of a terraced and graded hillside simplified to then to and finally to and added it to the element for everyone 皆 to symbolize the moving up of everyone in steps or grades. The Chinese wrote the final form of the composite kanji 階, meaning steps or floors or rank. Used either as a word by itself or in compound words it is pronounced KAI. 三階 SANGAI (SANKAI pronounced euphonically), three-floor, means third-floor. 二階 NIKAI, two-floor, means second floor or upstairs. 階上 KAIJŌ, floor-above, means rooftop.

176

官

8 strokes

ON READING: KAN

government bureaucrat

官庁 kanchō government office

教官 kyōkan instructor

警察官 keisatsukan police officer

司令官 shireikan commander

A man with a full stomach sitting down resting against a wall under a roof signified to the Chinese a bureaucrat or government employee. They wrote the kanji first as then simplified it to 官, meaning government bureaucrat. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced KAN. 官費 KANPI (KANHI pronounced euphonically), government-expenses, means expenses paid by the government. 士官 SHIKAN, man-with-responsibilities-government-bureaucrat, means a military officer. 仕官 SHIKAN, working-for-others-government-bureaucracy, means government service.

177

館

16 strokes

ON READING: KAN

KUN READING: yakata

official building

館長 kan-chō director, curator

旅館 ryokan Japanese inn

図書館 toshokan library

水族館 suizokukan aquarium

Adding the element for eat 食 to the element for government bureaucrat 官 symbolizes the quarters set up for bureaucrats to eat when they were on the road on government business. The Chinese wrote the new kanji 館, meaning an official building. The meaning was later extended to mean any large building, but predominantly government buildings. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced YAKATA. In compound words it is pronounced KAN. A 大使館 TAISHIKAN, big-messenger-building, is an Embassy. 本館 HONKAN, origin-building, is the main building.

178

反

4 strokes

ON READING: HAN, TAN

KUN READINGS: so(ru), so(rasu)

to oppose; reverse, anti-; to be against

反対 hantai opposite, reverse

違反 ihan infraction, outrage

反り返るsoru to roll back

反らす sorasu to arch

反物 tanmono (dry) goods, fabric

To form the character for anti- or oppose, the Chinese combined the element for hand with the element for a hill to symbolize a hand piling up a man-made hill to oppose the progress of an enemy They drew the final kanji 反. It means oppose, reverse, anti-, or be against. It is pronounced SO-RU or SORASU when used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced HAN or TAN. 反語 HANGO, reverse-talk, means irony. 反映 HAN-EI, reverse-reflect, is a reflection of an image, as from a mirror.

179

坂

7 strokes

ON READING: HAN

KUN READING: saka

slope, hill

急坂 kyūhan, kyūzaka steep slope

坂道 sakamichi slope

赤坂 Akasaka Akasaka district (in Tokyo)

上り坂 boborizaka uphill

To draw the kanji for an actual hill, the Chinese added the element for earth 土 to the element for the man-made hill built to thwart the progress of an enemy 反. They wrote the new kanji 坂. It means slope or hill. It is pronounced SAKA when used as a word by itself or in geographical names. In compound words it is pronounced HAN. 下り坂 KUDARIZAKA (KUDARISAKA pronounced euphonically), means downhill.

180

止

4 strokes

ON READING: SHI

KUN READINGS: to(maru), to(meru)

to stop

静止 seishi calm, stillness

行き止まり ikidomari dead end

歯止め hadome brake

波止場 hatoba wharf

The Chinese drew a pictograph of a stationary footprint to symbolize the act of stopping They simplified the pictograph to then to and drew the final form 止. It means stop. When it is used as a word by itself, it is pronounced TOMARU (intransitive verb) or TO-MERU (transitive verb). In compound words it is pronounced SHI. 中止 CHŪSHI, middle-stop, means cancel or suspend. 休止 KYŪSHI, resting-stop, means discontinue or halt.

181

先

6 strokes

ON READING: SEN

KUN READING: saki

already been there; precedent, leading edge; previous

先方 senpō the other end

先頭 sentō head, front

先取り sakidori look-ahead, prefetch (computer)

爪先 tsumasaki tiptoe, toe

They combined the element for footprint 止 with the element for person 人 to symbolize a person who has already been there and walked the walk. Both elements were modified to fit the square and meet artistic balance: the person was placed in the bottom half of the square and changed its shape to The footprint was placed in the top half of the square and changed its shape, first to and then to The final character was written 先. It means already been there, precedent, leading edge, or previous. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced SAKI. In compound words it is pronounced SEN. 舌先 SHITASAKI, tongue-tip, means tip of the tongue. 先生 SENSEI, prior-living, is a teacher. 先月 SENGETSU, previous-month, is last month. 先日 SENJITSU, previous-day, is yesterday.

182

洗

9 strokes

ON READING: SEN

KUN READING: ara(u)

washing; to wash

洗面所 senmenjo restroom

洗剤 senzai detergent, cleanser

洗礼 senrei baptism

洗う arau to clean, to wash

To symbolize the act of washing, the Chinese added the element for water 水, modified to シ to fit into the square, to the element 先 which means already walked there (but which itself is composed of the elements for person 人 and foot 止). The new kanji is written 洗 and means pouring water over one’s foot or washing. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced ARA-U. Used in compound words it is pronounced SEN. 手洗い TE-ARAI, hand-washing, is a polite name for restroom. 手洗い, with the addition of one or two kana for grammar, is the sign directing you to the restroom.

183

足

7 strokes

ON READING: SOKU

KUN READINGS: ashi, ta(riru), ta(su)

leg, foot; to be satisfied, to add to; enough

足跡 ashiato footprint

遠足 ensoku field trip, picnic

足音 ashioto footsteps

素足 suashi barefoot

足りる tariru enough

To the pictograph for footprint which became the kanji 止 meaning stop, the Chinese added a picture of a knee and drew the kanji meaning leg The final form of the kanji was 足, and it means either leg or foot. Used as word by itself it is pronounced ASHI, TA-RIRU or TA-SU. Used in compound words it is pronounced SOKU. One of the Wards in Tokyo is named 足立区 ADACHIKU (ASHI-DASHI-KU pronounced euphonically).

184

禁

13 strokes

ON READING: KIN

to forbid; ban, prohibition

禁煙 kin’en No smoking

禁酒 kinshu abstinence

解禁 kaikin lifting of the ban

禁句 kinku forbidden word

The Chinese put two sticks of wood 木木 atop an altar 示 to warn that transgressions against the will of the gods bring crucifixion. The final form of the kanji is 禁, meaning forbid or ban. (The pictograph for altar is not used as a kanji by itself, but often forms part of pictographs for words related to religion.) Used either as a word by itself or in compound words 禁 is pronounced KIN. 禁止 KINSHI, forbid-stop, means prohibited. 立入禁止 TACHI’IRIKINSHI, stand-enter-forbid-stop, means keep out, entry prohibited. 禁足 KINSOKU, forbid-foot, means grounded, confined to the house, can’t go out.

185

祭

11 strokes

ON READING: SAI

KUN READINGS: matsu(ri), matsu(ru)

to deify, to worship; festival

祭礼 sairei festival

文化祭 bunkasai cultural festival

祭る matsuru to enshrine

秋祭り akimatsuri autumn festival

A pictograph of a hand placing a piece of sacrificial meat (modified to 月) on an altar 示 was simplified and drawn in the final form 祭, symbolizing a sacrificial ceremony. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MATSU-RU as a verb, meaning to deify or to worship, or MATSU-RI (or MATSURI) as a noun, meaning festival. In compound words it is pronounced SAI. A 祭日 SAIJITSU, festival-day, is a holiday.

186

際

14 strokes

ON READING: SAI

KUN READING: kiwa

to interact, to come into contact

交際 kōsai contact, association

この際 konosai in this case

窓際 madogiwa window (side)

際どい kiwadoi suggestive, risky

The Chinese added the element for a terraced hillside to the element for festival 祭 to signify the place where the festival was held and all the people came to meet and interact. The final form of the kanji was written 際, meaning to interact or come into contact. In compound words it is pronounced SAI. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced as KIWA. 国際 KOKUSAI, country-interact, means international.

187

各

6 strokes

ON READING: KAKU

KUN READING: ono-ono

each and every

各自 kakuji each one

各種 kakushu various

各位 kakui participant, related persons

各（各々）ono-ono each

The Chinese drew a pictograph of a person sitting cross-legged in front of a box 口 taking inventory, checking each and every box. They drew it first then simplified it to and wrote it in its final form 各. It means each and every. It is not used as a word by itself. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced ONOONO. In compound words it is pronounced KAKU. 各人 KAKUJIN, each-person, means each and every person.

188

路

13 strokes

ON READING: RO

KUN READING: ji

road

路上 rojō on a street

道路 dōro road, lane

家路 eiji homeward

旅路 tabiji journey, on a trip

They combined the element for foot 足 with the element for each and every 各, symbolizing the foot trudging each and every step in forward movement, to form the new kanji 路, meaning road. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced JI. In compound words 路 is pronounced RO.

189

客

9 strokes

ON READINGS: KYAKU, KAKU

guest, customer

客間 kyakuma guest room

乗客 jōkyaku passenger

お客様 okyaku-sama guest, customer

旅客 ryokaku traveler

The Chinese put the element for each and every 各 under the pictograph for roof 宀, symbolizing that each and every person under my roof is my guest, and formed the new kanji 客 meaning guest or customer. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced KYAKU or KAKU. With kana before and after to denote respect, 客 is commonly seen written in and around commercial establishments, referring to their customers.

190

正

5 strokes

ON READINGS: SEI, SHŌ

KUN READINGS: masa, tada(su), tada(shi’i)

to correct; proper, right, righteous, reasonable, legitimate

正義 seigi justice

正直 shōjiki honesty

正しい tadashi’i right

正す tadasu to correct

正夢 masayume prophetic dream

正当な seitō na legitimate

A straight line 一 was added above the element for footprint 止 (which had become the kanji meaning stop) to symbolize keeping the footprint on the straight and narrow. The new kanji was written 正 and means correct, proper, right, or righteous. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MASA or TADASU. A common adjectival form is TADA-SHI’I (written with two kana for the syllables SHI and I) meaning righteous or reasonable or legitimate. Used in compound words it is pronounced SEI or SHŌ. It is used in first and last names, usually pronounced MASA or TADA, but sometimes SHŌ. 正力 SHŌRIKI, Righteous-Power, is the name of the founder of an important Japanese business empire. 正月 SHŌGATSU, proper-month, is New Year’s.

191

証

12 strokes

ON READING: SHŌ

proof

証拠 shōko evidence

証明 shōmei proof

免許証 menkyoshō certificate

保険証 hokenshō insurance card

The Chinese put together the element for say 言 with the element for correct 正 and formed the new kanji 証, meaning proof. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced SHŌ. A 証人 SHŌNIN, proof-person, is a witness. A 学生証, GAKUSEISHŌ, student-proof, is a student ID card. 証明 SHŌMEI, proof-bright, means proof. A 証明書 SHŌMEISHO, proof-write, is a certificate of graduation or other accomplishment.

192

政

9 strokes

ON READINGS: SEI, SHŌ

KUN READING: matsurigoto

government

政治 seiji politics

行政 gyōsei government, public administration

摂政 sesshō regent

政治家 seijika politician

To symbolize the concept of “coerce” or “force,” the Chinese drew a pictograph of a hand holding a stick ready to strike They first simplified it to and then its final form it became 攵. This pictograph is no longer used as a kanji alone, but it appears in many kanji as an element that brings the meaning of to cause or pressure to happen.

The Chinese combined this element for coerce or force with the element for correct or proper 正 (modified slightly to to better fit the square) and formed a new kanji 政 meaning government. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MATSURIGOTO. It is not used as a word by itself. In compound words it is pronounced SEI or SHŌ. 政府 SEIFU, government-government, means government. The 中央政府 CHŪ-ŌSEIFU, central-government is the central government.

193

行

6 strokes

ON READINGS: KŌ, GYŌ

KUN READINGS: i(ku), yu(ku), okona(u)

line, row; to go, to do, to act, to hold

旅行 ryokō journey, trip

行列 gyōretsu line

行く iku, yuku to go (to)

行う okonau to do, to act, to hold

行儀 gyōgi manner

The pictograph for crossroads was drawn It was simplified to and then the final form was written 行, meaning go. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced I-KU, YU-KU or OKONA-U. In compound words 行 is pronounced KŌ or GYŌ. 行事 GYŌJI, go-thing, means event or function or program.

Another of the very few instances where two or more different Chinese pictographs were simplified and stylized to a point where they became identical is the character for walk. (An earlier example was the modified version of meat and the kanji for moon, both written 月).

194

歩

8 strokes

ON READINGS: HO, BU

KUN READINGS: aru(ku), ayu(mu)

to walk

歩道 hodō sidewalk

進歩 shinpo advance, progress

歩合 buai commission

歩く aruku to walk, to step

歩む ayumu to follow, to walk

The Chinese pictograph for walk was drawn as a left foot being put in front of a right foot The left foot was simplified first to and finally to which, as described earlier, became the kanji 止 meaning stop.

The right foot was the flip side of the left, and was simplified first to and then to and finally squared off into an aesthetic form 少 so the bottom half of the kanji would not be just the mirror image of the top. This right-foot element is written exactly as is the kanji for a few 少.

The kanji for walk was drawn 歩 in final form. Used as a word by itself, it is pronounced ARU-KU or AYU-MU. In compound words it is pronounced HO or BU. 歩行 HOKŌ, walk-go, is walking. A 歩行者 HOKŌSHA is a pedestrian, and pedestrian walkways are so marked.

195

渉

11 strokes

ON READING: SHŌ

to cross over carefully, to cross, to liaison with

干渉 kanshō interference

渉外 shōgai external affairs

The Chinese drew a pictograph for walk on water by combining the element for walk 歩 with the element for water シ. They drew the final kanji 渉, meaning cross over carefully from one side to the other or be in liaison with. It is not used by itself as a word. In compound words it is pronounced SHŌ. 交渉 KŌSHŌ, exchange-liaison, means negotiate. 渉外 SHŌGAI, liaison-outside, means public relations.

196

渋

11 strokes

ON READING: JŪ

KUN READINGS: shibu, shibu(i), shibu(ru)

to hesitate, to be reluctant; quiet, sober, tasteful

渋滞 jūtai traffic jam

苦渋 kujū anguished

渋柿 shigaki sour persimmon

渋い shibui cool, bitter

渋る shiburu to hold back; to be reluctant

They combined three footprint elements with the element for flowing water シ to symbolize the disruption of the free flow of water when roiled by footprints. They first drew the kanji as which indicates disruption. The Chinese further abbreviated the kanji to 渋, and the old way of writing is rarely seen now.

渋 means to hesitate, to be reluctant, or to be a fly in the ointment. It also means quiet, sober, or tasteful, and in this definition has become a favorite description in Western culture of Japanese refined and laid-back taste. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced SHIBU, SHIBU-I or SHIBU-RU. In compound words it is pronounced JŪ.

197

街

12 strokes

ON READINGS: GAI, KAI

KUN READING: machi

street, avenue

街頭 gaitō in the street

商店街 shōtengai shopping district

街道 kaidō way

街角 machikado street corner

The Chinese took the pictograph for crossroads, meaning go 行, then widened the roads and dropped in a double-fill of earth to make a new kanji 街, meaning street or avenue. Used by itself it is pronounced MACHI. In compound words it is pronounced GAI or KAI.

198

待

9 strokes

ON READING: TAI

KUN READING: ma(tsu)

to wait

待機 taiki waiting

期待 kitai expectation, hope

待つ matsu to wait

待ち遠しい machidōshi’i can hardly wait

When the crossroads 行 meaning go is used as an element in other kanji, just one side of the street is used. For example, the Chinese put the abbreviated element for go 彳 on the left-hand side of a new composite kanji, and put the kanji for temple 寺 on the right-hand side. The new kanji 待 symbolizes going to the temple, and was used to mean “go and wait for me at the temple.” It now means simply wait. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced MA-TSU. In compound words it is pronounced TAI.

199

心

4 strokes

ON READING: SHIN

KUN READING: kokoro

heart

心身 shinshin mind and body

感心 kanshin admiration

心待ちにする kokoromachi ni suru to wait in anticipation

親心 oyagokoro parental feeling

A picture of a heart meant heart. The Chinese first drew it then simplified it to They wrote the final kanji as 心. Used as a word by itself it is pronounced KOKORO. In compound words it is pronounced SHIN. In Japanese, 心 means about the same as heart in English. It is not only a vital organ but the center of the spirit and emotions as well. 心理学 SHINRIGAKU, heart-manage-study, means psychology. 中心 CHŪSHIN, center-heart, means center in the broad sense, where things revolve around the center, as for example the center of a town, a central principle, or the sun as center of the solar system. 心中 SHINJŪ (SHINCHŪ pronounced euphonically) means a double suicide. 小心 SHŌSHIN, small-heart, means cowardly, and a 小心者 SHŌSHINMONO, small-heart-person, is a coward.