カテゴリー: C

This kanji depicts a large building with tall pillars and a wide roof. Thus, it came to mean the place where such grand buildings gather—that is, ‘the capital.’ Both the former capital, Kyoto, and the current capital, Tokyo, have this kanji in their names.

This kanji depicts holding bamboo sticks in both hands to calculate. By extension, it has come to mean ‘calculate’ or ‘mathematics’.

This kanji combines the radical for ‘rain’ at the top with the symbol for a moving cloud at the bottom. Therefore, this kanji carries the meaning of ‘cloud’.

This kanji is composed of the radical for ‘wind’ and the radical for ‘stop,’ which represents a human footprint. Therefore, it carries the meaning ‘calm’—the quiet moment when the wind stops as the airflow shifts direction.

This kanji consists of two parts. The upper part depicts a fishing net, which symbolizes social rules and the law. Below it is something torn like a flag, representing the negative concept of ‘non-‘ or violation. Therefore, this kanji combines these ideas to mean ‘crime’.

On the left side of this figure, you can see a person standing, while on the right, there is a piece of wood being cut for a project they are crafting. Therefore, this character beautifully captures the essence of what it means to ‘create’ or ‘make’ something.

This specific character perfectly combines the symbol for a road on the left with a literal cross in the center. It is a wonderfully straightforward design where ‘road’ meets ‘cross’ to mean exactly what it looks like: a ‘crossroad’.

How do you see this character’s shape? It symbolizes the face of a cow with two sharp horns, with a protective wooden bar securely fastened across them. This reflects an ancient custom designed to protect people from the danger of being gored. Therefore, this character has come to represent ‘caution’.

On the right side of this figure, you can see a baby sleeping peacefully in a basket, while on the left, a person—perhaps the father—stands firmly on their own two feet, watching over the infant with great care. This visual conveys a profound sense of feeling comfortable and being safely defended from the outside world. In this way, these characters often generate a whole new meaning derived from combining two distinct images.

On the left side of this figure, you can find the symbol for land, and on the right, a sword. Therefore, this character represents a place built upon the earth and protected by weapons—meaning a ‘castle’.