1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “怒” (pronounced “do” or “ikari”) means “anger” or “rage.” It represents a strong emotional response to a situation or event that is perceived as unjust or frustrating.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “怒” is a compound character (会意文字) that combines elements to convey its meaning. It consists of the radical “心” (meaning “heart” or “mind”) at the bottom, which indicates that the emotion is felt internally, and the character “奴” (which can imply a sense of being controlled or dominated) at the top, suggesting that anger arises from a feeling of oppression.
The radical “心” is commonly associated with emotions and feelings in many kanji characters.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “怒” are:
- 怒り (いかり, ikari) – anger
- 怒鳴る (どなる, donaru) – to shout or yell in anger
Example sentence in daily conversation:
「彼は遅刻して怒っている。」 (かれはちこくしておこっている。) – “He is angry because he is late.”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 憤怒 (ふんど, fundo) – rage, which implies a more intense and often uncontrollable form of anger.
- 激怒 (げきど, gekido) – fury, which suggests a very strong and explosive form of anger.
Antonyms include:
- 喜び (よろこび, yorokobi) – joy, which represents a positive emotional state.
- 平和 (へいわ, heiwa) – peace, indicating the absence of conflict or anger.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The concept of “怒” is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, where emotions are often expressed in various forms of art, literature, and social interactions. Anger can be seen as a natural human emotion, but it is also important to manage it appropriately in social contexts.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions related to anger include:
- 「怒りは一時、後悔は一生。」 (いかりはいっとき、こうかいはいっしょう。) – “Anger lasts for a moment, regret lasts a lifetime.” This emphasizes the importance of controlling one’s anger to avoid long-term consequences.