This kanji consists of a person on the left and the ‘dog’ radical on the right. It depicts a dog lying faithfully at its master’s side. Therefore, this kanji came to mean ‘to lie down’ or ‘to bow.’
lie down(伏)
position(位)
This kanji depicts a person standing firmly on the ground among other people. Therefore, it represents one’s ‘position’ or status within society or an organization.
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rest(休)
heaven(天)
In this figure, you can see a human standing with their arms and legs spread wide. Above their head, a single line is drawn to represent ‘the space far above mankind.’ Therefore, this character means ‘heaven’ in a single word.
comfortable(保)
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.
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hermit(仙)
On the left side of this figure, you can see a person, and on the right, a mountain. This character describes someone who lives deep within the mountains, dedicating their life to discovering new inner talents and spiritual strength.
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kill(伐)
This kanji advances perfectly from the raw terror of the last one! On the left side of this figure, you can find a MAN standing straight. On the right, a large combat weapon—a giant AX or halberd—is positioned right against his neck. Because it visualizes the direct action of striking a neck or trunk, this character means ‘CHOP DOWN,’ ‘CUT WOOD,’ or ‘KILL’ in Japanese.
friendship(仁)
On the left side of this figure, you can find a MAN standing, and on the right, there are TWO BARS. This kanji beautifully represents the warm passion and connection born between two people—which means ‘FRIENDSHIP’ or ‘MUTUAL COMPASSION’ in Japanese.
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budda(仏)
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.
human(人)
In the world of kanji, the character for ‘HUMAN’ (Hito) is one of the most essential words due to its incredible versatility. It acts as the ultimate storyteller, combining with other characters to express the full spectrum of human passion, action, and feelings.