1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “瞳” (pronounced “hitomi”) means “pupil” or “eye.” It specifically refers to the part of the eye that is responsible for vision, often associated with beauty and emotion.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “瞳” is a compound character formed by two parts: the radical “目” (meaning “eye”) and the phonetic component “童” (which contributes to the pronunciation). This character is classified as a 形声文字 (phonetic-ideographic character), where the meaning is derived from the radical and the sound from the phonetic component.
The radical “目” is commonly associated with anything related to the eyes or vision.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “瞳” are:
- 瞳孔 (どうこう, doukou) – pupil
- 瞳の色 (ひとみのいろ, hitomi no iro) – eye color
Example sentence in daily conversation:
「彼女の瞳はとても美しいです。」 (かのじょのひとみはとてもびじんです。) – “Her eyes are very beautiful.”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 目 (め, me) – eye (more general term)
- 視 (し, shi) – vision (referring to the act of seeing)
Antonyms include:
- 盲目 (もうもく, moumoku) – blindness (lack of vision)
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The kanji “瞳” holds significance in Japanese culture, often symbolizing beauty and depth of emotion. It is frequently used in literature and poetry to describe a person’s inner feelings or beauty.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions that include “瞳” may refer to the idea of seeing into someone’s soul or the beauty of one’s gaze, emphasizing the importance of the eyes in communication and perception.