war(戦)

On the left side of this character, you can find a RICE FIELD, and on the right, there are ARMS (weapons). Therefore, this kanji means ‘WAR’—symbolizing the intense conflict of taking up arms to go on the offense, while desperately defending one’s rice field.

house(家)

This kanji is one of the oldest types of characters. You can see a ‘PIG’ nestled safely under a ‘BIG ROOF.’ In ancient times, humans and animals lived together under the same roof every single day. That is why this symbol of shelter and togetherness means ‘HOUSE’ in Japanese!

star(星)

This kanji means ‘STAR’ or ‘PLANET.’ It perfectly describes a scene of a brilliant celestial body shining high above a person’s head. The character is beautifully split into two parts: the sparkling planet on top, and the human looking up below.

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absolute(必)

This character stems from the image of something being bound tightly to ensure it never breaks apart. Just as it looks, this total certainty and strong determination represents the concept of ‘ABSOLUTE’ or ‘MUST.’

Words & Phrases

  • 必死(hisshi):Doing one’s utmost and giving everything one has, even at the risk of one’s own life.
  • 必要(hitsuyou):The state of being an absolute necessity that one cannot do without.

human(人)

In the world of kanji, the character for ‘HUMAN’ (Hito) is one of the most essential words due to its incredible versatility. It acts as the ultimate storyteller, combining with other characters to express the full spectrum of human passion, action, and feelings.