カテゴリー: C

This kanji is composed of two parts. On the left is the ‘tree’ radical. On the right is an element representing a flower calyx with a softly rounded curve. Because of this combination, the character came to mean a rounded drinking cup made of wood.

Words & Phrases

• 乾杯（kanpai）: Cheers!

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.’

Words and phrases

• 因果（inga):The idea that everything is determined by your actions in a past life.
• 因果応報(inga-ouhou):Good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring bad results.

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 ‘sickness’ radical, depicting a person lying on a bed. On the right is an element showing firewood stacked high to build a large bonfire. Combined, this kanji originally represented curing a sick person using fire in ancient times. Over time, it came to mean ‘cure’ or ‘medical treatment.

This kanji is made of two parts. At the top is the ‘do not’ radical, depicting cloths or streamers fluttering in the wind so quickly that they become blurred and hard to distinguish. At the bottom is the ‘heart’ radical. Together, this kanji represents a state of mind that lacks focus or presence, ultimately meaning ‘careless’ or ‘neglectful.

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.’

Some kanji are made by repeating the same character three times to emphasize its meaning. This kanji combines three ‘bull’ radicals to represent a dense crowd, evoking a stampede of many bulls moving all at once.

Some kanji are made by repeating the same character three times to emphasize its meaning. This kanji combines three ‘sun’ radicals to represent intense brightness, shining like a crystal.

This kanji consists of two parts. On the left is the radical for the number ten, and on the right are three “power” radicals. Together, this kanji represents uniting many powers for a common purpose, meaning “to cooperate” or “to collaborate.”