This kanji consists of ‘water’ on the left and an ‘eye’ on the right. As you can see, the combination of water and the eye creates the meaning of ‘tear’.
tear(泪)
pour(注)
This kanji shows oil being poured from the left into a fire on the right, making the fire grow bigger. That is why it means to ‘pour’ something in order to boost its power or energy.
deep(沈)
On the left side of this figure, you can see a splash, which represents water. And on the right… what do you think it is? It is a grim depiction of a person with a heavy object, like a stone or iron, fastened around their neck. This visualizes a severe ancient penalty or ritual where someone was weighted down and cast into the water. Therefore, this character carries the meaning of ‘sink’ or ‘submerge’.
origin(源)
At the top of this shape is a field, from which a waterfall comes rushing down with a splash, while the sun rises in the distance. This character means the ‘origin’ of all things.
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honesty(淳)
This kanji flows perfectly from the concept of honesty. Combining ‘PURE WATER’ on the left with a ‘PROTECTED STRUCTURE’ on the right, it visualizes a heart that remains clean and unpolluted. Just as it looks, it directly represents ‘KINDNESS’ and a ‘GENTLE NATURE.