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An Etymological Dictionary of Chinese Characters
Interpretations by Lawrence J. Howell and Hikaru Morimoto |
| Covering 6,500 Chinese characters as used in Japan |
Consonant Clusters
Transliterations
Made-in-Japan Characters
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Consonant Clusters
GLAK Frame + Continuum + Straight
鬲 (10) レキ；カク
A pictograph of a tripod cooking vessel. The vessel was partioned by a board into upper and lower sections. Grain would be placed in the upper section and water in the lower one; the grain was steamed when the vessel was heated over fire. Compare 鼎.
烙 (10) ラク；ロク
As per 各 (Type 1 Phonetic) (strike and be stopped by a hard object) + 火 fire → brand or burn with a hard object such as steel.
GLOK Frame + Continuum + Curvature + Straight
楽 (13) ガク；ラク；たの（しい・しむ） Formerly 樂 BIS 
BIS is a pictograph of cocoons hung in an oak tree, the acorns of which were processed into an edible paste via a lengthy grinding process. Music and enjoyment are onomatopoeic, borrowed meanings, the sound of the character simulating the din of a crowd. → play (an instrument); amuse oneself; pleasant; fun; happy; delightful; comfort; easy.
薬 (16) ヤク；くすり Formerly 藥
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 楽 (grind/continue at length) + 艸 grass/plant → grind the substance of a plant into a paste-like consistency → medicine; drug (← finely ground seeds, roots etc. used for medicinal purposes).
擽 (18) ラク；リャク；レキ；くすぐ（る）
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 楽 (grind/continue at length) + 手 hand/action indicator → beat/whip continuously. Also, tickle, another form of unrelenting torment.
櫟 (19) レキ；ロウ；くぬぎ Alternate Form 檪
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) , the previous form of 楽 (oak tree) + 木 tree/wood → (variety of) oak. 櫟 was devised to replace 樂/楽 after the latter was borrowed to convey its present meanings.
礫 (20) レキ；つぶて
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 楽 (grind/continue at length) + 石 stone → small stone; pebble (← products of a lengthy erosion process). 礫 and 轢 could equally well be assigned to the L consonant network, as both of these characters were created after the initial GL of 樂/楽 had already shifted to L.
轢 (22) レキ
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 楽 (grind/continue at length) + 車 vehicle → vehicle that runs repeatedly over an object, reducing it to fine pieces → run over. 轢 and 礫 could equally well be assigned to the L consonant network, as both of these characters were created after the initial GL of 樂/楽 had already shifted to L.
爍 (19) シャク
As per 樂 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 楽 (grind/continue at length) + 火 fire → shine/sparkle continuously. Also, melt (← effect of fire).
礿 (8) ヤク；まつ（り）
As per 勺 (Type 3 Phonetic) (ladle/pour out contents, making them evident) + 示 altar/the supernatural → (imperially conducted) ritual inviting the manifestation of all gods and ancestors in the heavens.
HLAG (Frame) + Continuum + Straight
虜 (13) リョ Formerly 
力 power/energy + an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 盧 (round cooking pot → round) → seize individuals and link them together in a circle in captivity (compare 奚 and 婁) → captive; prisoner.
慮 (15) リョ
心 heart/emotions + an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 盧 (round cooking pot → round) → think deeply (compare 願 and 悩 about a series of related items → consider; ponder.
炉 (8) ロ Formerly 爐
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot) + 火 fire → cooking stove; furnace → hearth; sunken fireplace.
旅 (10) リョ；たび Formerly  S/B 
S/B shows a pennant/banner + 人 person doubled → people standing in military formation beneath a pennant → trip; travel; journey (← large group of people on the move).
濾 (18) ロ；こ（す）
As per 慮 (Type 1 Phonetic) (fineness) + 水 water → filter/strain (fine particles). Compare 漉.
鑢 (23) リョ；ロ；やすり
As per 慮 (Type 1 Phonetic) (fineness) + 金 metal → (metallic) file/rasp (creating fine particles).
盧 (16) ロ SIS 
SIS shows a container + 皿 dish/plate/bowl + 虍 (Type 3 Phonetic) tiger (here suggesting the idea of a depression, inspired by the image of a tiger crouched to pounce; compare 虚) → round cooking pot → (round) hut/cottage (← similarity of shape; compare 寓).
櫨 (20) ロ Alternate Form 枦
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 木 tree/wood → piece of round wood placed atop a pillar as a support for the roof. Sumac and Japanese wax tree are borrowed meanings.
艫 (22) ロ；とも Alternate Form 舮
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 舟 boat → (rounded) stern of a boat. Bow and prow are via a reinterpretation of the character, understanding the rounded portion to be at the back rather than the rear of the vessel. Compare 舳.
轤 (23) ロ
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 車 vehicle → pulley (← circular device facilitating locomotion).
驢 (26) ロ
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 馬 horse → donkey; ass (← barrel-shaped horse-like animal).
顱 (25) ロ；かしら
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 頁 head → (roundish) head; skull.
蘆 (19) ロ；あし Alternate Form 芦
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 艸 grass/plant → tubular reed → rush.
臚 (20) ロ；リョ
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 肉 flesh → fat belly. Align and transmit (from superior to subordinate) are borrowed meaning.
鑪 (24) ロ；いろり Alternate Form 鈩
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 金 metal → (sunken, round) hearth/fireplace; furnace. Also, bellows.
膂 (14) ロ；リョ
As per 旅 (Type 1 Phonetic) (stand in formation) + 肉 flesh → spine; backbone (← bones lined in formation; compare 呂).
閭 (15) リョ；ロ
As per 呂 (Type 3 Phonetic) (align in a row) + 門 gate → village gate. Also, (historically, in China) a settlement consisting of twenty-five families; village.
櫚 (19) ロ；リョ
閭 (Type 1 Phonetic) village gate + 木 tree/wood → type of wood suitable for constructing a gate → variety of quince.
壚 (19) ロ
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 土 earth → earthenware cooking pot. Also, via shape and color association with a blackend earthenware pot, a black clod of dirt.
鱸 (27) ロ；すずき
As per 盧 (Type 1 Phonetic) (round cooking pot → round) + 魚 fish → a bulbous fish → sea bass; (fish similar to a) goby.
KLAM Frame + (Continuum) + Encompass/Conceal
倹 (10) ケン Formerly 儉
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 人 person → person gathering objects together → economy; thrifty; frugal (← lead a tight, ordered lifestyle).
剣 (10) ケン；つるぎ Formerly 劍 Alternate Forms 剱 釼 劒 劔
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 刀 knife/sword → double-bladed sword.
険 (11) ケン；けわ（しい） Formerly 險
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 阜 piled earth → sharp lines that converge at the top of a hill → steep; inaccessible → danger; dangerous; harsh; tough; severe.
検 (12) ケン Formerly 檢
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 木 tree/wood → gather, arrange and stamp wooden tablets with a seal → investigate → regulate.
験 (18) ケン Formerly 驗
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 馬 horse → gather and arrange horses for inspection → examine; test → effect.
兼 (10) ケン；か（ねて・ねる） Formerly  SIS 
SIS shows two ears of grain + a hand → harvest grain (by hand) then conceal in a storehouse → combine; unite; serve/perform concurrently; simultaneous. Unable to do is a borrowing.
廉 (13) レン Formerly 
As per 兼 (Type 1 Phonetic) (gather [in hand] then conceal) + 广 building → the sharply drawn lines of walls and a floor, which meet in corners → purity; honesty (← sharp distinctions between purity/impurity or honesty/dishonesty) → cheap (← price achieved by sharp restraining methods).
監 (15) カン SIS 
SIS is as per 臥 (person bent over) + 皿 dish/plate/bowl with a line above indicating water → fill a large bowl with water and bend over to see the reflection of one's face → keep watch over; supervise. Compare 督 and 臨.
覧 (17) ラン Formerly 覽
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over) + 見 (affix one's sight on) → look upon objects from a high vantage point → look out over; survey; see.
濫 (18) ラン
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (fill a large bowl with water) + 水 water → water overflowing a frame designed to hold it back → overflow; inundate; excess; (fall into) disorder. In modern Japanese usage, 乱 often replaces 濫 in compounds.
艦 (21) カン
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over) + 舟 boat → boat equipped with an observation post → warship.
鑑 (23) カン Alternate Form 鑒
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over) + 金 metal → metal mirror → discernment; evaluate; consider (← reflection).
臨 (18) リン；のぞ（む）
As per 臣 (slave with downcast eyes fixing a stare on the ground) + variant of 人 person + 品 (Type 3 Phonetic) assorted goods → person standing in a high place and looking down upon assorted people/objects (compare 監 and 督) → survey; command → face (an object/situation).
斂 (17) レン Alternate Form 歛
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 攵 action indicator → gather or collect and arrange/put away → take in; incorporate. Tighten and stiffen are borrowed meanings. The alternate form with 歛 is a result of writing 欠 in place of 攵.
瞼 (18) ケン；まぶた
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 目 eye → eyelid (that gathers over the eyeball).
鎌 (18) レン；かま
金 metal + 兼 here an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 廉 (sharply drawn lines → sharp) → sickle; scythe. The previous form of 鎌 writes the right-hand element as per the previous form of 兼.
簾 (19) レン；すだれ
As per 廉 (Type 1 Phonetic) (sharply drawn lines) + 竹 bamboo → neatly sawn bamboo blind/screen → rattan blind. An alternate form writes the 廉 element as per the previous form of that character.
藍 (18) ラン；あい
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over collected objects → contain) + 艸 grass/plant → plant from which indigo dye is extracted (and then poured into a container).
檻 (19) カン；おり
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over collected objects → contain) + 木 tree/wood → wooden enclosure to contain animals (compare 狎) → cage; pen. Handrail and railing are borrowed meanings.
襤 (20) ラン Alternate Form 繿
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over collected objects → contain) + 衣 clothing → contain the body in collected rags → ragged; tattered.
籃 (21) ラン
As per 監 (Type 1 Phonetic) (keep watch over collected objects → contain) + 竹 bamboo → bamboo basket → basket.
攬 (25) ラン
As per 覽 (Type 1 Phonetic), the previous form of 覧 (look upon objects from a high vantage point) + 手 hand/action indicator → reach down, take hold of and arrange objects → hold; grasp. The original sense of "look upon" has dropped.
纜 (28) ラン；ともづな
As per 覽 (Type 1 Phonetic), the previous form of 覧 (look upon objects from a high vantage point) + 糸 thread → mooring rope; hawser (tossed down from vessel to shore).
鹼 (24) ケン；カン；セン；あく Alternate Form 鹸
As per 僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 鹵 salt/alkali → arrange salt upon the ground for drying → alkaline; alkali.
匳 (15) レン Alternate Form 奩
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 匚 enclosure → box (← sharp lines meeting in the corners of a box); cosmetics/toiletries box.
嶮 (16) ケン；けわ（しい）
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 山 mountain → high and steep mountain, all but inaccessible. Compare 険.
臉 (17) レン；ケン；セン；ほお
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 肉 flesh → shredded meat, collected and arranged on a platter. The area between the eyes and cheekbones and the face are borrowed meanings.
瀲 (20) レン
斂 (Type 1 Phonetic) gather; collect + 水 water → brimming water; rippling waves.
慊 (13) ケン；キョウ；あきた（る）
As per the previous form of 兼 (Type 1 Phonetic) (gather [in hand] then conceal) + 心 heart/emotions. The original signification of 慊 is unclear, and as a result of borrowing from separate terms the character bears contradictory meanings: dissatisfied/unsatisfactory (via 歉) and satisfied/satisfactory (via 愜).
撿 (16) ケン；レン
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 手 hand/action indicator → pick up and arrange items → inspect (← inspect what has been arranged; compare 検 and 験). Also, fold the arms (← bring together and arrange).
歉 (14) ケン；あきた（りない）
As per the previous form of 兼 (Type 1 Phonetic) (gather [in hand] then conceal) + 欠 bent, open-mouthed figure → scrounge to collect food → insufficient; unsatisfactory (← resort to scrounging on account of lack of food).
殮 (17) レン
僉 (Type 3 Phonetic) (gather and arrange) + 歹 severed bone/death → gather and arrange the possessions and body of the deceased and place them together in a coffin.
蘞 (20) レン；ケン；えぐ（い）
斂 (Type 3 Phonetic) gather; collect + 艸 grass/plant → wild, thorny vine plant → vine; thorny.
蒹 (13) ケン；おぎ
As per 兼 (Type 1 Phonetic) (gather [in hand] then conceal) + 艸 grass/plant → reed (← plant that overlays itself on the surface of water [compare 葭] or is collected in thatching [compare 葺]). For おぎ, compare 荻.
KLAP Frame + (Continuum) + Press
協 (8) キョウ Alternate Form 恊
劦 triples 力 power/energy → the combined power of many. 協 is 劦 (Type 1 Phonetic) + 十 (gather) → the united energies of many → unite; cooperation.
猟 (11) リョウ Formerly 獵
巤 is a pictograph of a captured pheasant with bound wings. 獵 is 巤 (Type 1 Phonetic) + 犬 dog/beast → hunt birds and animals with a hunting dog. Fishing and shellfish gathering are borrowed meanings. 猟 substitutes 鼡, an abbreviated form of 鼠 rat/mouse.
臘 (19) ロウ Alternate Form 臈
As per 巤 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 猟 (capture and bind/arrange) + 肉 flesh → year-end rite featuring sacrifices of captive, bound animals → the end of the year; 12th lunar month.
蠟 (21) ロウ Alternate Form 蝋
As per 巤 (Type 1 Phonetic) as described in 猟 (capture and bind/arrange) + 虫 insect → beeswax (product of a neatly arranged hive) → wax.
MLAG Concealment + Continuum + Straight
来 (7) ライ；きた（す・る）；く（る） Formerly 來 Alternate Form 徠
來 is a pictograph of a barley plant, emphasizing the rows of pendent fruits of grain concealed in husks (compare 米). 夂 leg/foot pointed downward was added to yield a new character, 麥, meaning "come" → plant come from Central Asia. However, the meanings of 麥 and 來 were eventually inverted, so that 麥/麦 now means barley and 來/来 come → since; until now; future; next/the coming (week etc.) → cause; bring about (← come about).
埋 (10) マイ；う（まる・める・もれる）
As per 里 (Type 3 Phonetic) (long strip of land) + 土 earth → furrows in a field in which seeds are planted → bury; cover → fill (with).
狸 (10) リ；たぬき Alternate Form 貍
里 here an abbreviated form (Type 8 Phonetic) of 埋 bury + 犬 dog/beast → fox (animal that shelters in dens). In Japan however 狸 has been applied to the raccoon dog → sly (← supposed attribute of a raccoon dog).
莱 (10) ライ；あかざ Formerly 萊
来 (Type 1 Phonetic) (barley) + 艸 grass/plant → weed resembling a barley plant → goosefoot; pigweed → (fallow) field overgrown with weeds.
賚 (15) ライ；たま（う）；たまもの
來 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 来 come; bring about + 貝 commodities → give; bestow; confer → gift bestowed on one (from a superior).
霾 (22) バイ
As per 貍 (Type 1 Phonetic) the alternate form of 狸 (animal that shelters in dens) + 雨 rain/natural phenomena → take cover from a dust storm.
勑 (10) ライ；チョク；ねぎら（う）
來 (Type 1 Phonetic) the previous form of 来 come; bring about + 力 power/energy → exertion that brings about a reward.
MLAK Concealment + Continuum + Straight
麦 (7) バク；むぎ Formerly 麥
來 is a pictograph of a barley plant, emphasizing the rows of pendent fruits of grain concealed in husks (compare 米). 夂 leg/foot pointed downward was added to yield a new character, 麥, meaning "come" → plant come from Central Asia. However, the meanings of 麥 and 來 were eventually inverted, so that 麥/麦 now means barley and 來/来 come; bring about → wheat; oats; rye → grain.
MLOG Concealment + Continuum + Curvature + Straight
翏 (11) リョウ；リュウ；ル
As per the right-hand element of 珍 (fullness) + 羽 (Type 5 Phonetic) feather/wing → bird that takes wing and becomes fully separate from the earth → soar.
謬 (18) ビュウ；あやま（る）
As per 翏 (Type 1 Phonetic) (separate) + 言 words → deceptive words separated from (and concealing) the truth → err.
昴 (9) ボウ；すばる
As per 卯 (Type 3 Phonetic) (exert force and bend) + 日 sun (→ heavenly body) → the Pleiades (← hook-shaped constellation).
鏐 (19) リュウ
翏 (Type 1 Phonetic) (separate) + 金 gold/metal → gold (← ore separated from earth; compare 金).
MLUK Concealment + Continuum + Circle/Mass + Straight
睦 (13) ボク；モク；むつ（まじい・む）
目 eye (→ eyes of many = many people) + 坴 (Type 5 Phonetic) as described in 陸 (stretched-out pile of earth → great amount) → large and cordial gathering → friendly.
Transliterations
僧 (13) ソウ Formerly 
人 person + 曾 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to express the initial syllable in the term 僧伽, the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit sangha (community of disciples) → (Buddhist) priest/monk.
靴 (13) カ；くつ
化 (Type 7 Phonetic) transformation + 革 leather. 靴 was devised to transliterate a word used by one northern Chinese tribe that referred to leather riding boots → footwear; shoe.
伽 (7) カ；ガ；キャ；とぎ
人 + 加 (Type 7 Phonetic) to transliterate the –ga- such as in 伽藍 (temple/monastery). Attend (upon)/keep another company is via reinterpretation (person + join).
袈 (11) ケ；カ
衣 clothing + 加 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the first syllable of the Sanskrit kasaya (clerical robe: 袈裟).
裟 (13) サ
衣 clothing + 沙 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the second syllable of the Sanskrit kasaya (clerical robe: 袈裟).
玻 (9) ハ
玉 jewel + 皮 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the first syllable of the Pali phatika (crystal: 玻璃). Also, glass.
唄 (10) バイ；うた；うた（う）
口 mouth + 貝 (Type 7 Phonetic) commodities, a character devised to transliterate the Sanskrit sound bha. (Traditional) song and folksong are via the compound 梵唄 chant Buddhist texts.
菠 (11) ハ；ホウ
艸 grass/plant + 波 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the first syllable of the Northern Indian term palak (spinach: 菠薐).
薐 (16) ロウ
艸 grass/plant + 稜 (Type 7 Phonetic) to transliterate the second syllable of the Northern Indian term palak (spinach: 菠薐).
葡 (12) ブ；ホ
艸 grass/plant + 匍 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the first syllable of a term thought to have originated in Persia and meaning grape (vine), transliterated into Chinese as 葡萄. Portugal is via the phonetic construction 葡萄牙.
萄 (11) ドウ；トウ
艸 grass/plant + 匋 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the second syllable of a term thought to have originated in Persia and meaning grape (vine), transliterated into Chinese as 葡萄.
梵 (11) ボン
林 forest (→ sacred precincts) + 凡 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the Sanskrit Brahman → Sanskrit; Buddhism; the highest Buddhist principle.
獅 (13) シ
犬 dog/beast + 師 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the first syllable of the Sanskrit simha (lion).
爺 (13) ヤ；じい；じじ；じじい；ちち
Originally, 父 father + 多 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate an Altaic language term meaning father → grandfather; old man. Later, 多 was replaced by 耶 (Type 1 Phonetic).
嘛 (14) マ
口 mouth + the previous form of 麻 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the second syllable of the Tibetan (b)lama (喇嘛).
瑠 (14) ル；リュウ Alternate Form 璢
玉 jewel + 留 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the middle syllable of the Sanskrit vaidurya (lapis lazuli: 吠瑠璃). Compare 琉.
璃 (15) リ
玉 jewel + 离 (Type 7 Phonetic) for the sound alone to transliterate the final syllable of the Sanskrit vaidurya (lapis lazuli: 吠瑠璃). The compound 玻璃 refers to crystal and/or glass.
Made-in-Japan Characters
匁 (4) もんめ
A hybrid of 文 and the katakana メ. A 文 (もん) was a coin of slight value used in the Edo Period. メ suggests a Japanese term meaning "graduation." 匁 was devised to convey the meaning "a measure of weight equivalent to that of a 文 coin" → (approximately 3.75 grams).
込 (5) こ（み・む・める）
入 enter/put in + 辵 movement → place inside → inclusion; mixture; crowdedness. Also, be intricate (← mixture of elements), load (a gun) and put one's heart into something.
枠 (8) わく
Unlike the use of 卆 in 卒 and elsewhere, in 枠 it is intended to represent a spinning machine. 枠 adds 木 tree/wood → frame of a spinning machine → limit; range.
峠 (9) とうげ
山 mountain + 上 above + 下 below → point where ascending and descending mountain paths meet → mountain pass → peak.
畑 (9) はた；はたけ
火 fire + 田 field/paddy → burn off weeds and stalks in fields to render them fertile → field (as opposed to paddy) → farm. Also, one's field of speciality (← field in the figurative sense). Compare 畠.
塀 (12) ヘイ
屏 (Type 1 Phonetic) wall; screen + 土 earth → earthen wall → fence.
働 (13) ドウ；はたら（き・く）
動 (Type 1 Phonetic) movement + 人 person → person in motion at work/labor → do; workings; commit (an act); function; activity; action → effect (← result of an action).
搾 (13) サク；しぼ（る）
窄 narrow + 手 hand/action indicator → tighten narrowly in squeezing or compressing → squeeze; wring; press; close tightly → grill/drill (a person); limit (← narrow the possibilities).
匂 (4) にお（う）
勹 here suggesting a bent arm + a cursive rendering of 二 (parallel lines indicating "line up") → line objects in a neat circle. Fragrance, perfume, scent and brilliantly colored are extended meanings (← harmonious ← well-balanced ← neat circle) → shine brilliantly (← brilliantly colored).
叺 (5) かます
口 mouth (→ opening) + 入straw bag.
凧 (5) いかのぼり；たこ
Abbreviated form of 風 wind + 巾 cloth → kite.
辷 (5) すべ（る）
辵 movement + a mark suggesting a level surface → proceed smoothly → slide; glide → slip → fail (an exam).
辻 (5) つじ
十 here a shape indicator suggesting crossroads + 辵 movement → crossing; crossroads; street corner → wayside; roadside.
凩 (6) こがらし
几 an abbreviated form of 風 wind + 木 tree → wintry wind (that denudes trees of their autumn leaves).
凪 (6) なぎ；な（ぐ）
Abbreviated form of 風 wind + 止 stop → a lull (← no wind); a calm.
杣 (7) そま
木 tree/wood + 山 mountain → timber forest; timber → woodcutter.
杢 (7) もく
木 tree/wood + 工 work/make → woodworker; carpenter.
迚 (8) とて；とて（も）
中 center/middle + 辵 movement → reach halfway, but not to the end. Great degree (← go a great part of the way) is an extension of the original sense, as is nonetheless (← be largely, though not entirely applicable).
枡 (8) ます
木 tree/wood + 升 a measure → wooden box for measuring out rice or liquor → measuring box.
毟 (8) むし（る）
少 few + 毛 hair → reduce hair by plucking → pluck; pull → tear. Compare 挘.
俤 (9) おもかげ
人 person + 弟 younger brother → a similar visage or face, as of that exhibited by one's younger brother → trace; shadow; memory (← similar image kept in the mind).
俣 (9) また
A variant of 俟 (KUN reading まつ), created to convey the sound また with the meanings crotch, groin or thigh.
挘 (9) むしりと（る）；むし（る）；ちぎ（る）
手 hand + 劣 weaken → pluck/pull an object, thereby weakening the bearer or spoiling the shape → tear. Compare 毟.
粁 (9) キロメートル
千 one thousand + 米 for the sound of メー as an abbreviated transliteration of the French "metre" (English "meter") → one thousand meters; one kilometer.
粂 (9) くめ
久 for the sound ク + 米 for the sound メ to create a character pronounced くめ, used in proper names. Compare the formation method of 麿.
籾 (9) もみ
米 rice/crops + 刃 blade (→ sharp-pointed shape) → chaff → rice husks; unhulled rice.
畠 (10) はた；はたけ
白 white (here suggesting "parched") + 田 field → dry field (as opposed to a paddy) → farm. Compare 畑.
粍 (10) ミリメートル
毛 (fine strands of) hair (→ fine/tiny) + 米 for the sound of メー as an abbreviated transliteration of the French "metre" (English "meter") → millimeter (tiny fraction of a meter).
椛 (11) もみじ
木 tree/wood + 花 flower → maple tree (the leaves of which turn as colorful as flowers); (the color of) autumnal foliage.
裄 (11) ゆき
衣 clothing + 行 for the sound ゆき (go; run the distance) → the distance from the back of the neck to the end of each sleeve → sleeve length.
笹 (11) ささ
竹 bamboo + 世 successive; for generations → bamboo grass (that grows in rapid succession).
閊 (11) つか（える）
門 gate + 山 mountain (→ towering obstacle) → (gate/entrance that is) blocked/stopped.
喰 (12) く（う）；くら（う）
食 food/eating + 口 mouth → eat; bite → receive a blow (compare 食).
椙 (12) すぎ
木 tree/wood + 昌 bright; prosper (→ thrive) → Japanese cedar; cryptomeria (← rapidly growing tree). Compare 杉.
硲 (12) はざま
石 stone + 谷 (depression in the earth; valley) → (rock-strewn) valley/ravine → gorge.
蛯 (12) えび
虫 insect/creature + 老 old man → creature that resembles an old man, with a bent back → shrimp; prawn. Compare 蝦.
颪 (12) おろし
風 wind + 下 down → (cold) wind that blows down from the mountains.
蓙 (13) ござ；ござむしろ；ざ
座 sit + 艸 grass/plant → woven rush mat.
腺 (13) セン
泉 spring; fountain + 肉 flesh → fluid-secreting organs of an animal or human → glands.
榊 (13) さかき
神 god (→ offering made to a god) + 木 tree/wood → Cleyera ochnacea, a tree bearing white flowers in May and June and considered sacred in Shinto. An alternate form writes the 神 element as 神.
褄 (13) つま
衣 clothing + 妻 for the sound つま, here not "wife" but a homonym referring to the skirt/fringe of a kimono.
糀 (13) こうじ
花 flower + 米 rice/crops → malted rice; malt (upon which aspergilla grow in a manner resembling a flower).
膵 (15) スイ
As per 萃 (unify) + 肉 flesh → pancreas (← pan- [all; unity] + -creas [flesh]).
糎 (15) センチメートル
米 for the sound of メー as an abbreviated transliteration of the French "metre" (English "meter") + 厘. In the 尺貫法 （シャッカンホウ） measuring system Japan inherited from China 厘 represented 1/100 of a unit, so the combination of elements here creates the meaning centimeter (← small fraction of a meter).
鋲 (15) びょう
金 metal + 兵 for the sound to suggest bubble/foam (compare 泡) → large-headed nail → rivet; (thumb)tack.
噸 (16) とん
口 mouth + 頓 for the sound to transliterate the English ton.
噺 (16) はなし
新 new + 口 mouth → (new/unusual) story; talk.
樫 (16) かし
木 tree/wood + 堅 hard → oak (← hard-wooded tree).
鴫 (16) しぎ
田 field + 鳥 bird → snipe (← migratory bird often sighted in paddies). Compare 鷸.
躾 (16) しつけ；しつ（ける）
美 beauty + 身 body → (figurative) decoration of the body → discipline; breeding.
燵 (17) タツ
火 fire + the previous form of 達 for the sound to supply the reading たつ in 火 (or 炬) 燵 (こたつ) → (warmed) lounge or bed under which a brazier is placed → warming device for the feet/lower body.
麿 (18) まろ
The previous form of 麻 for the sound マ + 呂 for the sound ロ to create a character pronounced まろ, used in proper names → I; me. Compare the formation method of 粂.
鎹 (18) かすがい
金 metal + the previous form of 送 send (→ relay) → metallic clamp; latch.
饂 (18) ウン
As per the previous form of the right-hand element of 温 (keep warm) + 食 food/eating → hot noodles.
鯱 (19) しゃち；しゃちほこ
虎 tiger + 魚 fish → imaginary sea creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a fish. The character was later employed to designate a killer whale as well.
鯰 (19) なまず
魚 fish + 念 for the sound to replace 占 as found in 鮎 → (freshwater) catfish. 鯰 was devised to replace 鮎 when the latter came to refer (in Japan) to ayu.
癪 (21) シャク
積 pile up + 疒 illness → spasms (← symptom that appears as a succession of painful sensations) → irritability; anger.
鑓 (21) やり
金 metal + 遣 for its KUN reading of やり → (metallic) spear; lance. Compare 槍 (やり) and 鎗.
鰯 (21) いわし
魚 fish + 弱 weak → sardine (← small/weak fish).
鰰 (21) はたはた
As per 神, the previous form of 神 (supernatural force that corresponds to unknowable phenomena such as lightning) + 魚 fish → sandfish (← [Arctoscopus japonicus], believed to gather in shallows during thunder and lightning storms). Compare 鱩.
鱇 (22) こう
魚 fish + 康 for the sound to convey the こう portion of the term あんこう (鮟鱇) anglerfish.
鱈 (22) たら
雪 snow (→ snowy region) + 魚 fish → cod (← fish found in Japan's deep north).
襷 (23) たすき
The previous form of 挙 raise + 衣 clothing → sash/cord to tie up the sleeves of one's kimono.
鱚 (23) きす
魚 fish + 喜 for the sound to convey the き portion of the term きす, Japanese whiting.
鱩 (24) はたはた
雷 lightning + 魚 fish → sandfish (← [Arctoscopus japonicus], believed to gather in shallows during thunder and lightning storms). Compare 鰰.
簗 (17) やな
梁 fish trap + 竹 bamboo → (bamboo) fish trap.
鞐 (15) こはぜ
革 leather + 上 above + 下 below → clamp or clasp that binds two strips of leather (← clamp from both above and below).
鶫 (20) つぐみ
柬 + 鳥 bird → thrush. 鶫 was patterned after 鶇.
呎 (7) フィート
尺 measure + 口 mouth → one foot (i.e. the unit of length).
嬶 (17) かか；かかあ
女 woman + 鼻 nose, here likely an abbreviated form of 嚊 breathing heavily through the nose → a casual/slighting reference to one's wife, imagined as a person with wild, erratic breath.
弖 (4) て
A character likely derived from 氐 (テイ), and used as a particle with no independent meaning.
怺 (8) こら（える）
永 long time + 心 heart/emotions → endure.
栂 (9) つが；とが
母 mother + 木 tree/wood → Tsuga sieboldii, a conifer commonly known as hemlock but distinct from the herb Conium maculatum (poison) hemlock. The 母 element may originally have been something different, such as 毋, and the question of whether 栂 is properly considered a Made-in-Japan character remains open.
梺 (11) ふむと；ふもと
林 forest + 下 down → the base of a mountain.
椚 (12) くにぎ；くぬぎ
門 gate + 木 tree/wood → (a variety of) oak tree, used in Japan for making charcoal. The combination of elements in 椚 may be connected with an old form of the term くぬぎ, namely くのき. If くのき can be regarded as a type of tree/wood that divides (that is, 区の木), the original idea may have been that of a tree used in creating a gate (← object dividing a residence from the world outside).
瓧 (7) デカグラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 十 ten → one decagram (= 10 grams).
瓩 (8) キログラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 千 one thousand → one kilogram (= 1,000 grams).
瓲 (9) トン
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 屯 for the pronunciation トン to simulate "ton" → one ton (= 1,000 kilograms).
瓰 (9) デシグラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 分. In the 尺貫法 （シャッカンホウ） measuring system Japan inherited from China 分 represented 1/10 of a unit, so the combination of elements here creates the meaning one decigram.
瓱 (9) ミリグラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 毛. In the 尺貫法 （シャッカンホウ） measuring system Japan inherited from China 毫 (often shortened to 毛) represented 1/1000 of a unit, so the combination of elements here creates the meaning one milligram (= 0.001 gram).
瓸 (11) ヘクトグラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 百 one hundred → one hectogram (= 100 grams).
甅 (14) センチグラム
瓦 here an abbreviation for the phonetic construction 瓦蘭姆 (gram) + 厘. In the 尺貫 | |
