1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “経” (pronounced “ke” or “kyou”) primarily means “to pass through,” “to manage,” or “to go through.” It is often associated with concepts of time, experience, and the flow of events.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “経” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字). It combines the meaning of “to pass through” with phonetic elements that suggest its pronunciation.
Radical: The radical for “経” is “糸” (meaning “thread”), which relates to the idea of weaving or connecting, symbolizing the interconnectedness of experiences and events.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases: Some frequently used words that include “経” are:
- 経済 (けいざい, keizai) – economy
- 経歴 (けいれき, keireki) – career history
- 経典 (きょうてん, kyouten) – scripture
Example Sentences in Daily Conversation:
- 彼は経済学を勉強しています。 (かれはけいざいがくをべんきょうしています。) – He is studying economics.
- 私の経歴について話しましょう。 (わたしのけいれきについてはなしましょう。) – Let’s talk about my career history.
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji: A similar kanji is “過” (か, ka), which means “to pass” or “to exceed.” While both kanji involve the concept of passing, “経” emphasizes the management or experience of the passage, whereas “過” focuses more on the act of passing itself.
Antonyms: An antonym for “経” could be “未” (み, mi), which means “not yet” or “un-,” indicating something that has not been experienced or passed through.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: The kanji “経” is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, particularly in the context of Buddhism, where it refers to sacred texts and teachings that guide one’s life experiences.
Proverbs and Idioms: One common idiom is “経を読む” (きょうをよむ, kyou wo yomu), which means “to read the sutras,” symbolizing the importance of learning from past experiences and teachings.