カテゴリー: B

This character carries the meaning of ‘balance’ or ‘both,’ as you can clearly see the distinct shape of a balance scale within its form.

This character features a stand used for food or ritual offerings. The symbol for ‘beans’ originated from this very shape. In ancient times, beans were likely placed on this stand as an offering to the gods.

This character shows a piece of wood being bent and held in place with a tight rope. Therefore, it means ‘to bend’.

This kanji instantly makes it easy to imagine exactly what it means! On the left, you have the raw material of a massive, solid TREE. On the right, the intricate lines perfectly depict the wooden frames of a building being locked together. Combining the strong wood with precise architecture, this character serves as the ultimate visual definition of ‘BUILD’ or ‘STRUCTURE’

Just look closely at the character—you can easily find a cute BABY or CHILD exactly as it is in this shape! The top portion forms the round head, the long horizontal stroke represents the little arms spread wide for a hug, and the bottom center shows the wrapped body. It is a perfect, heartwarming pictogram of a child!

Why is a dragon hiding in a bamboo bowl? Because a dragon’s body is long, flexible, and covered in intricate scales. Just like a dragon, a traditional ‘KAGO’ is made by twisting bamboo into a tightly woven, scaled pattern. This striking character beautifully captures the artistic texture of a dragon’s skin!

On the left side of this character, you can see a MAN standing. On the right, there is another MAN kneeling and praying to him. The one standing represents the ‘BUDDHA,’ whose sole purpose is to save and comfort the people who pray to him.

In this character, you can see a rope coiled up underneath a table. This figure directly depicts that hidden situation. Therefore, this kanji carries the meaning of ‘HIDDEN,’ ‘CAN’T SEE CLEARLY,’ or ‘BLACK’ in Japanese.

You probably do this action too—like when you win a game or achieve a big success! This figure of a person standing with their arms and legs spread wide means ‘BIG.’ It was likely a natural gesture for humans to confidently express their presence.

Long ago, before paper was invented, people in China and Japan wrote and read documents using wooden tablets tied together with ropes. This is why, even today, this kanji means ‘BOOK’ or ‘NOTE’ in Japanese.