1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “香” (kou) means “fragrance” or “aroma.” It is often associated with pleasant smells, such as those from flowers, spices, or incense.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “香” is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字), which means it combines both a phonetic and a semantic component. The left part, “香,” suggests the meaning related to fragrance, while the right part indicates the pronunciation.
The radical for “香” is “香” itself, which is also the complete character. This radical is often associated with scents and smells in other kanji.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “香” are:
- 香水 (こうすい, kousui) – perfume
- 香り (かおり, kaori) – scent
- 香辛料 (こうしんりょう, koushinryou) – spices
Example sentence in daily conversation:
「この花はとても香りがいいですね。」 (Kono hana wa totemo kaori ga ii desu ne.) – “This flower has a very nice fragrance, doesn’t it?”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 匂 (におい, nioi) – which also means “smell” but can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors.
Antonyms include:
- 臭 (くさい, kusai) – which means “smelly” or “bad odor.”
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The kanji “香” has significant ties to Japanese culture, particularly in the context of traditional practices such as incense burning (香道, koudou) and tea ceremonies, where fragrance plays an important role.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions include:
- 「香は心にあり」 (Kou wa kokoro ni ari) – “Fragrance resides in the heart,” suggesting that true beauty and essence come from within.