1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “秒” (byou) means “second,” which is a unit of time. It is commonly used to measure short durations, such as in clocks and timers.
2. Formation and Radicals
The kanji “秒” is a phono-semantic compound, which means it combines both meaning and sound elements. The left part, “⺈” (a variant of the radical for “small”), suggests a small unit, while the right part “㐅” (pronounced “byou”) provides the phonetic component.
The radical for “秒” is “小” (small), indicating its association with small measurements of time.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “秒” are:
- 秒針 (byoushin) – second hand (of a clock)
- 一秒 (ichibyou) – one second
Example sentences in daily conversation:
- 「待って、あと一秒だけ！」 (Wait, just one more second!)
- 「このレースは3秒で終わった。」 (This race finished in 3 seconds.)
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 分 (fun) – minute, which is a larger unit of time compared to seconds.
Antonyms include:
- 年 (nen) – year, which represents a much longer duration of time.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The concept of measuring time in seconds is significant in Japanese culture, especially in contexts like sports and technology. The precision of timekeeping is often emphasized in various aspects of life.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions related to time include:
- 「時は金なり」 (Time is money), highlighting the value of time.
- 「一刻千金」 (A moment is worth a thousand gold), emphasizing the importance of every second.