[For Elementary School Students] Brain Training with Kanji Decomposition Quiz! Guess the Complete Kanji from Its Parts

strong

The kanji 強 (tsuyoi, meaning “strong”) is made up of the components for bow (弓), mu (ム), and insect (虫). Have you ever wondered why the character for “strong” contains an insect? There are several theories about its origin, but one explanation is that combining 弓 and ム forms the character 弘, which is said to depict a bow without a string. The 虫 component represents tegusu thread made from the secretions of silkworms or certain moth larvae. Because tegusu thread is strong, the character came to be used with the modern meaning of “strong.”

man

Combine the kanji 田 (ta) and 力 (chikara), and you get the kanji 男 (otoko, “man”). Both 田 and 力 are taught in the first grade of elementary school, and 男 is also learned in first grade. 田 represents a rice field, and 力 is said to depict the farming tool, the plow. There’s also another theory: since 力 is read as “chikara” (strength), it can be interpreted as “from blood” (chi kara), evoking tensed muscles—an image of doing hard labor in the rice fields. Thus, hard physical work equals “man,” giving the character its meaning.

sound

With the combination of “立” (stand) and “日” (sun), the kanji 音 (sound) is completed. 音 is a kanji learned in the first grade of elementary school. The origin of the kanji comes from 言 and 一. It seems that the 立 and 日 inside the kanji 音 are not actually the source. In fact, 言 carries the meaning of words of prayer to the gods and the act of making a vow to them. The mouth component in 言 is said to represent a lidded container for holding the prayer text or norito recited to the gods. Sensing the gods’ reply to the prayer kept in that container as “sound” is said to be the origin of 音.

Solution

The kanji formed by combining “horn” (角), “sword” (刀), and “cow” (牛) is 解. In addition to the fun of solving puzzles by breaking kanji into radicals and parts and assembling them, it’s also key that you can make associations from the meanings of each component. Focusing on the meanings and connections of the characters provides clues that lead you to the answer. It’s a brain-training puzzle for elementary school students that lets you enjoy using your head.

thought

The character 想 is made up of the kanji for “tree,” “eye,” and “heart.” Since it contains the “heart” radical, it perfectly matches the image of what 想 expresses. 想 describes the act of calling to mind someone else. You can sense the image of picturing a person’s form or appearance in your heart. Compared to 思う, which is read the same way (“omou”), 想 is used when stronger feelings or emotions are involved.