The short story of Kanji pictures
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “harvest” (grain) radical, and on the right is a component representing shedding or taking away. Together, this kanji means “tax”—originating from the idea of crops being ruthlessly taken away as tax from the farmers who grew them.
On the left side of this kanji is the “word” radical, which originally depicted a mouth and a sword, symbolizing a sacred promise made to God. On the right side is a component depicting a person removing or shedding their clothes. Together, this kanji means “to explain”—originating from the idea of untangling, melting away, or solving a problem through words.
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “body” radical, and on the right is a component depicting a person sloughing off or removing their clothing. Together, this kanji means “to shed,” “to molt,” or “to exit” from within.
Yaho Park No. 4 is locally known as “Gorilla Park” because of its popular gorilla-shaped play monument. It is always bustling with children enjoying the various playground equipment. Thanks to its beautiful scenery, the park, along with the nearby Kunitachi City Hall, is frequently used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas.
The kanji 旬 (shun) has no direct English equivalent. Depicting the sun enclosed within a frame, it captures a seasonal moment at its absolute peak—symbolizing Japan’s deep appreciation for nature’s seasonal gifts, from fresh food to changing landscapes.
Similarly, the kanji for Haiku (句) encloses a “mouth” instead of the “sun,” representing capturing the essence of the seasons into spoken verse (5-7-5 syllables).
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “thread” radical, and on the right is a component representing a sign or nameplate hung on a door. Together, this kanji originally depicted binding scattered wooden tablets or papers together with thread. By extension, it came to mean “to edit” or “to compile” books and documents.
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the “thread” radical, and on the right is a component representing weapons safely stored in a sacred box—symbolizing peace and a solemn promise after war. Together, this kanji depicts binding thread tightly to seal a sacred vow, which is why it came to mean “to tie,” “to bind,” or “to unite.”
On the left is the “horse” radical, and on the right is a component meaning something thin or flat, like a nameplate hung on a door. Together, this kanji originally depicted someone hopping lightly onto a horse and quickly riding away. By extension, it came to mean “to cheat” or “to trick” someone!
この漢字は、左側は「馬」、右側は表札のように薄くひらりとしたものを表しています。馬の背にひらりと飛び乗って身軽に駆け去り、人をかつぎ去る様子から、「だます・あざむく」という意味になりました。
This kanji consists of two parts. On top is the “door” radical, and below it is a radical representing bound wooden strips, which were used like a notebook before paper existed. Together, this kanji means a nameplate or sign hung on a door.
By extension, this kanji came to mean anything thin and flat, like a plate or a sheet.
