The short story of Kanji pictures
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the ‘axe’ radical, representing the power to push forward and joyfully break through obstacles. On the right is an element showing a person opening their mouth wide, as if yawning or exhaling. Combined, this kanji means ‘joy’ felt in a relaxed, peaceful state.
This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the ‘road’ radical. On the right is an axe, representing the power to push forward and break through obstacles. Combined, this kanji represents pushing forward to get closer to a goal. Because of this, it came to mean ‘close’ or ‘nearby.’
As you can see, this kanji depicts an axe. It was originally used for cutting wood and other materials. By extension, it came to symbolize the power to push forward and joyfully break through obstacles.
木や物を断ち切るために使われた「斧（おの）」そのものの形を描いた漢字です。そこから、目の前にある障害を力強く切り開いて前に進む力も表すようになりました。
This kanji is said to depict filling a watering container to store water in a tank at the bottom. Because of this, the kanji came to mean measuring something. Over time, its meaning expanded to express quantity or amount.
This kanji consists of two parts. On top are two axes, representing cutting or dividing something into equal parts. At the bottom is the ‘money’ radical, depicting a shell used as currency in ancient times. Combined, this kanji represents balancing equal value or ensuring a fair agreement backed by money. By extension, it came to mean quality, substance, or quantity.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘human’ radical. On the right is an element showing two feet walking around in opposite directions, with a mouth radical inside. Combined, this kanji originally represented ‘greatness’—a person who thinks or acts differently from others.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘road’ radical. On the right is an element showing two feet walking around in opposite directions, with a mouth radical inside. Combined, this kanji originally represented ‘difference’—taking a different path or thinking and acting in a unique way.
This kanji is made of two parts. On the left is the ‘thread’ radical. On the right is an element showing two feet walking around in opposite directions, with a mouth radical inside. Combined, this kanji originally represented the ‘weft’—the horizontal thread that moves back and forth during weaving. By extension, it came to mean ‘latitude,’ as well as horizontal structure or coordinates.
This kanji consists of three parts: a spear radical on top, a mouth radical in the middle, and a heart radical at the bottom. Combined, it depicts a heart beating fast and a mouth crying out when facing a large spear. Because of this, the kanji came to mean emotion, or feeling deeply before thinking.
This kanji is said to depict an ancient farming tool that could dig deep into the soil and clear wide areas of land. Although exact historical details are unclear today, we know that this tool brought abundance and happiness to the people. Over time, this kanji came to represent extra space, surplus, or having enough to afford something.
この漢字は、古代に土を深く耕して広い土地を切り開いた農具の形を描いたものとされています。この道具によって作物がたくさん実り、人々に豊かさをもたらしたことから、しだいに場所や物、お金に「余裕がある・余る」という意味を表すようになりました。