投稿者: Yaho

投稿日:

distort(歪)

This kanji is composed of two parts. At the top is the negative prefix (“un-” or “non-“), which originally depicted a flower calyx without any petals or fruit, coming to mean “not” or “without.” Below it is the character for “correct” or “right”, which originally represented a footprint halting before a boundary line—symbolizing stopping someone before they head in the wrong direction. Combined, they literally signify “not right” or “non-truth.” By extension, the character came to mean distorting or twisting what is right, perverting the truth, or altering facts so that they become crooked or misleading.

Words & Phrases

  • 歪曲（waikyoku）:to distort the truth

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投稿日:

drama(劇)

This kanji depicts a symbolic scene of a fierce clash: a tiger attacking a boar, alongside a sword representing battle. Because of this intense and dynamic imagery, the character evolved to describe dramatic events and, by extension, theatrical plays performed on stage.

Words & Phrases

  • 劇場（gekijou）:Theater
  • 劇的（gekiteki）:Dramatic

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投稿日:

sacrifice(犠)

This kanji is made up of two parts. On the left is the “cow” or “bull” radical, which originally depicted a horned bovine face. On the right is the element for “righteousness” , itself composed of a sheep and a bladed saw once used to slaughter and carve sacrificial meat for sacred rites. Combined, the kanji originally signified livestock ritually offered to the gods, which later came to mean “to sacrifice” or “an offering made to the divine.”

Words & Phrases

  • 犠牲（gisei）: sacrifice

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投稿日:

no(否)

This kanji is composed of two parts. At the top is the “un-” or “non-” component, which originally depicted a flower calyx without any petals or fruit. Because of this, it came to serve as a negative prefix meaning “not” or “without.” Below it is the “mouth” radical. Combined, they signify closing one’s mouth against what has been said, or refusing to acknowledge someone’s words. By extension, the kanji means to say no, deny, or refuse.

Words & Phrases

  • 否応なく（iyaou-naku）:whether one likes it or not
  • 否認（hinin）:denial,deny

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投稿日:

reason together(議)

This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the ‘word’ radical, which originally represented a sacred oath sworn before the gods—one so absolute that breaking it brought punishment by the sword. On the right is the element for ‘righteousness,’ itself composed of a sheep and a curved saw used to carve sacrificial mutton for divine offerings. Combined, this kanji came to mean ‘to reason together’ or ‘to discuss in accordance with moral principles.’

Words & Phrases

  • 議会（gikai）:The Diet
  • 議題（gidai）:agenda

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投稿日:

I(我)

This kanji originally depicted a weapon with a large, curved saw or serrated blade. Meanwhile, ancient Chinese had a word meaning ‘I’ or ‘me’ that shared the exact same pronunciation. Because of this phonetic match, people began borrowing this character to write ‘I.’ Over time, its original meaning of a bladed weapon faded, and the kanji came to mean exclusively ‘I’ or ‘myself’ when used as a standalone word.

Words & Phrases

  • 我執（gashuu）:attachment to the self / ego-attachment
  • 我慢（gaman):patience,endurance,tolerance
  • 我田引水（gaden insui）:draw water to one’s own mill

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投稿日:

un-(不)

This kanji depicts a calyx without any flowers or fruit on it. Because of this, it originally represented a state where nothing substantial exists. By extension, it came to be used as a negative prefix—equivalent to ‘un-‘ or ‘non-‘—placed before words to mean ‘not’ or ‘without.

Words ＆Phrases

  • 不安（fuan）:Something you are worried about, which leaves you feeling restless and uneasy.
  • 不機嫌（fukigen）:Being in a bad mood
  • 不言実行（fugen jikko)：Diligently doing what needs to be done without complaining or making excuses.

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投稿日:

righteousnes(義)

This kanji consists of two parts. At the top is the ‘sheep’ radical. Below it is a symbol representing a large curved saw or blade. Combined, this kanji is said to depict carefully carving mutton with a large blade as a sacrificial offering to the gods. By extension, this solemn and orderly sacred ritual came to symbolize doing what is moral and right, giving the kanji the meaning of ‘righteousness.’

Words & Phrases

  • 義理（giri）:A social obligation you feel you must fulfill out of courtesy or to repay a debt of gratitude, even if you are reluctant to do it.
  • 義務（gimu）:Something you are naturally expected to do as a duty.
  • 義を見てせざるは勇無きなり（giwomitesezaruwa yuunakinari）:To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.

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投稿日:

fabrication(偽)

This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘person’ radical. On the right is a symbol said to depict a human hand guiding or taming an elephant. Combined, it originally represented doing something artificially or claiming to act on someone else’s behalf. However, because such actions were often driven by self-interest rather than genuine goodwill, the kanji eventually came to mean ‘fabrication’ or ‘falsehood.’

Words & Phrases

  • 偽善（gizen）:Pretending to be a virtuous person, or performing superficial good deeds merely for show; hypocrisy.
  • 偽物（nise-mono）:The state of not being genuine, real, or authentic; a fake, imitation, or counterfeit.

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投稿日:

for(為)

This kanji is said to depict a human hand guiding or domesticating an elephant. By extension, it came to mean ‘to act,’ ‘to do,’ or ‘to do something for a specific purpose.’

Words & Phrases

  • 為政（isei）:The act of governing a nation or society and managing public affairs; conducting politics or governance.

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