Based on early forms such as , Qiu sees the graph as a foot stepping out of a pit dwelling, noting the ancients lived in pits. Katō takes a broadly similar view, interpreting such forms as depicting a foot wearing a sandal setting out. See also 止 143 ‘stop’. QX2000:192; KJ1970:301-2. Suggest using 山 26 ‘mountain’ as a mnemonic.
Mnemonic: MOUNTAIN EMERGES ON TOP OF ANOTHER
37
L5
女
JO, NYO, NYŌ, onna, me
woman
3 strokes
女性 JOSEI woman
女房 NYŌBŌ wife
女の子 onna-no-ko girl
OBI forms show a kneeling woman , later stylized. MR2007:463; SS1984:432; QX2000:178; KJ1970:253.
Mnemonic: KNEELING WOMAN
38
L5
小
SHŌ, chiisai, ko, o-
small
3 strokes
小説 SHŌSETSU a novel
小犬 koinu small dog, puppy
小川 ogawa brook, stream
OBI forms show a few small objects together (typically three) – shells or suchlike MR2007:226; SS1984:435; QX2000:175.
Mnemonic: A STROKE DIVIDED INTO TWO SMALL ONES
39
L5
上
JŌ, ue, uwa-, kami, ageru/garu, noboru
up, top, over, rise
3 strokes
以上 IJŌ over, above
川上 kawakami upstream
値上げ neage price rise
OBI forms show two horizontal strokes, upper one being shorter but more commonly written as a short horizontal line above a longer line gently curving upwards – perhaps the palm of the hand A vertical stroke was added later. ‘Go up’ etc. are extended meanings. MR2007:210; SS1984:456; KJ1970:541; KJ1985:3.
Mnemonic: BAR WITH HANDLE RISES UP OVER THE BASE LINE
40
L4
森
SHIN, mori
woods
12 strokes
森林 SHINRIN forest, woods
森閑 SHINKAN silence
青森 Aomori Aomori City/Pref.
OBI is based on pictograph of three trees , indicating many trees. Three was often used to indicate plurality, including in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Distinguish from 林 79 ‘forest’. Can have Shintoist connotations in Japanese. MR2007:341; KJ1970:41-2.
Mnemonic: THE WOODS CONTAIN MANY TREES, ALL GROWING IN THREES!
41
L5
人
JIN, NIN, hito
person, people
2 strokes
日本人 NIHONJIN (a) Japanese
人間 NINGEN human being
人出 hitode crowd, turnout
OBI is based on the pictograph of a person standing, viewed side-on. As a determinative element, commonly 亻; other elements of similar meaning include 人 ‘person’, 儿 ‘person (variant)’ (determinative no. 10), and卩(determinative no. 26) ‘kneeling person’. There are in fact more forms relating to ‘person’, which can be confusing. We will indicate these as they occur. MR2007:379; SS1984:479; KJ1970:563-4.
Mnemonic: A PERSON WALKING WITH NO ARMS OR HEAD?!
42
L5
水
SUI, mizu
water
4 strokes
水曜日 SUIYŌbi Wednesday
水素 SUISO hydrogen
大水 ōmizu flood
OBI is a pictorial representation of water flowing; later stylized in shape to 水. Often found in compound graphs in the form of 氵. See also 川 50 ‘river’. MR2007:435; SS1984:515; QX2000:175. We suggest taking right and left elements as narrowing banks.
