The short story of Kanji pictures
This kanji depicts a woman and a man lying in bed together. It originally represented the very root of human life and family lineage. Because of this, the kanji came to mean ‘marriage.’
This kanji depicts a person lying down on a mat or bed. Over time, this idea of depending or resting on something evolved to mean ‘cause,‘’root’ ‘origin,’ or ‘the reason behind something.’
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘word’ radical, which originally represented a sacred oath made before God—one so absolute that breaking it meant punishment by the sword. On the right is an element representing a crossroads with branching paths, making it unclear which way to go. Combined, this kanji came to represent asking with words what something is or where to go, giving it the meaning of ‘riddle’ or ‘mystery.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘body’ radical. On the right is an element depicting a synapse-like crossroads inside a human’s head, topped with a few strands of hair. Combined, this kanji means ‘brain.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘road’ radical. On the right is an element depicting a crossroads with branching paths, making it unclear which way to go. Combined, this kanji means ‘maze’ or ‘to get lost.’ By extension, it came to represent a situation where we cannot decide where to go or what to choose.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘heart’ radical. On the right is an element depicting a synapse-like crossroads inside a human’s head, topped with a few strands of hair. Combined, this kanji means ‘to worry’ or ‘to distress’—to think so deeply that your mind becomes exhausted.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘eye’ radical. On the right is an element showing firewood stacked high to build a large bonfire. Combined, this kanji originally represented seeing clearly by the light of a fire. Over time, it came to mean ‘obvious,’ ‘clear,’ or ‘undoubted.’
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘eye’ radical. On the right is an element showing firewood stacked high to build a large bonfire. Combined, this kanji originally represented seeing clearly by the light of a fire. Over time, it came to mean ‘obvious,’ ‘clear,’ or ‘undoubted.’
This kanji is made of two parts. At the top is the ‘roof’ radical, representing a house or building. Below is an element showing firewood stacked high to build a large bonfire. Combined, this kanji originally represented a place where people lived, studied, or worked together, sharing the same fire under one roof.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘road’ radical. On the right is an element showing firewood stacked high to build a large bonfire. Combined, this kanji originally represented a bonfire that could be seen from far away. Over time, it came to mean ‘distant’ or ‘far.’