Kanji Lesson 18

 引 (イン、ひ.く)

To pull

Consists of the bow radical (弓) and a vertical line that represents the bow string. The bow string is the part that will be repeatedly pulled while the bow is being used.

• 引き出し (ひきだし)  Drawer, Withdrawal / Drawing out
• 引き上げる (ひきあげる)  To pull up, To lift up

体 (タイ、テイ、からだ)

Body, Substance

Consist of the human radical and the kanji for counting long, cylindrical object (本). Together, they represent the general shape of human body, which is long and cylindrical.

• 大体 (だいたい) General, Approximately
• 体力 (たいりょく) Physical strength

丸 (ガン、まる)

Round, Circle, Full, Perfection

Consists of the kanji "nine" (九), and the kanji "one" (一) which is shortened and slightly skewed. Together, they represent the notion of the beginning (1, the first non-zero number) combining with the ending (9, the last single digit number in decimal system). A circle has a beginning point that coincides (combines) with the ending point.

• 日の丸 (ひのまる) Outline of the sun, The Japanese flag

心 (シン、こころ)

Heart, Mind

This kanji is a simplified picture of human heart, which consists of four main vessels that transport blood from, and to a muscular sac.

• 中心 (ちゅうしん) Center, Centre

古 (コ、ふる.い)

Old, Ancient, Antiquated

This kanji is a picture of a pioneer plant growing on a rock (barren land). Pioneer plants (e.g mosses, lichens) are the first plants to inhabit barren lands and set up a favorable condition for other plants to grow. Therefore, they are the "oldest" plant.

• 中古 (ちゅうこ) Used, Second-hand, Old
• 古本 (ふるほん) Secondhand book