OBI forms include , bronze . OBI shows ‘roof, dwelling’ 宀 30, ‘roof, dwelling’ 止 143 ‘stop, stay’, ‘person kneeling’, with 口 22 ‘mouth’ as phonetic (Mizukami). Bronze has ‘roof’, ‘person’ and 各 462 (modern meaning ‘each’) as phonetic with associated sense ‘come, stay, stop’; seal form onwards is as for bronze, minus ‘person’. MS1995:v1:368-70; OT1968:276; YK1976:120-21. Suggest taking 各 as ‘cross-legged’ 夂 (see Appendix) and ‘mouth’ 口 22.
Mnemonic: EACH VISITOR UNDER ROOF IS CROSS-LEGGED WITH OPEN MOUTH
271
L4
究
KYŪ, kiwameru
investigate, extreme
7 strokes
研究 KENKYŪ research
究明 KYŪMEI investigation
探究 TANKYŪ inquiry
Late graph (Shuowen) . Has 穴 860 ‘cave (dwelling), hole’, and 九 13 (‘nine’ q.v.) as phonetic with associated sense ‘bend’, to give ‘cramped cave dwelling’, and by extension ‘be in difficulties’, ‘go/take to extremes’. The extended meaning of ‘investigate’ may relate to narrowing the focus. YK1976:124; KJ1970:264; OT1968:739.
Mnemonic: EXTREME INVESTIGATION OF NINE HOLES
272
L4
急
KYŪ, isogu
hurry, sudden
9 strokes
急死 KYŪSHI sudden death
急速 KYŪSOKU rapidity
大急ぎ ō isogi great haste
A late graph. Seal form (Shuowen) , depicting 心 164 ‘heart/feelings’ under upper part with hand behind (chasing) a person, probably signifying urgency. Upper part is early form of 及 1202 (‘reach, extend’), acting here as phonetic with associated sense such as ‘become tense, brace’. ‘Sudden’ is an extended meaning. SS1984:174; YK1976:125; OT1968:363.
Mnemonic: HURRYING PERSON SUDDENLY STOPS, HAND OVER HEART
273
L3
級
KYŪ
rank, grade
9 strokes
進級 SHINKYŪ promotion
同級生 DŌKYŪSEI classmate
上級 JŌKYŪ upper grade
Generally listed as a late graph, though Yamada gives a bronze form. Made of 糸 29 ‘thread’, with 及 1202 (‘reach, extend’) as phonetic with associated sense ‘next’. ‘Order’ is an extended meaning. KJ1970:260; YK1976:125-6; OT1968:767.
Mnemonic: REACH OUT AND GRADE THREADS
274
L5
宮
KYŪ, GŪ, KU, miya
palace, shrine prince
10 strokes
神宮 JINGŪ shrine
宮中 KYŪCHŪ Court
宮様 miyasama prince
OBI shows rooms beneath a roof; taken to represent a large house or building. Became associated with grand buildings such as palaces and shrines, and their principal residents. MS1995:v1:374; YK1976:126; OT1968:278.
Mnemonic: MANY ROOMS UNDER A ROOF INDICATE A PALACE OR SHRINE
275
L3
球
KYŪ, tama
sphere, ball
11 strokes
球技 KYŪGI ball game
地球 CHIKYŪ Earth
球拾い tamahiroi caddie
Late graph (Shuowen) . 玉/王 15 ‘jade’ and 求 478 (‘seek’) as phonetic, associated sense ‘pretty’ (Katō, Yamada), or ‘round’(Ogawa) > pretty jade disc/ball. KJ1970:263; OT1968:657.
Mnemonic: SEEK JADE BALLS AS SPHERICAL JEWELS
276
L4
去
KYO, KO, saru
go, leave, past
5 strokes
去年 KYONEN last year
過去 KAKO the past
立ち去る tachisaru depart
OBI is based on pictograph of container with double lids, probably for rice, and made of bamboo or similar pliant plant-based material. According to Yamada, ‘depart’ is an extended usage based on the container being for taking out rice from a cooking pot but more likely loan usage. MS1995:v1:190-91; KJ197:266-7; YK1976:128. We suggest taking the graph as 土 64 ‘ground’ and ム as ‘nose’.
Mnemonic: NOSE UNDER THE GROUND MEANS YOU HAVE DEPARTED – GONE!
KAKU
