1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “呪” (pronounced “ju” or “noroi”) means “curse” or “spell.” It is often associated with the act of invoking supernatural powers to bring about harm or misfortune to someone or something.
2. Formation and Radical
The kanji “呪” is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字), which means it combines both a phonetic and a semantic component. The left part, “口” (kuchi), represents “mouth,” indicating speech or incantation, while the right part, “呪” (ju), relates to the meaning of cursing or casting spells.
The radical of “呪” is “口” (kuchi), which is commonly associated with words related to speaking or vocalization.
3. Examples of Usage
Common words and phrases that include “呪” are:
- 呪文 (じゅもん, jumon) – spell or incantation
- 呪い (のろい, noroi) – curse
Example sentence in daily conversation:
「彼は呪いをかけられたと言っていた。」
(He said he was cursed.)
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar kanji with related meanings include:
- 祈り (いのり, inori) – prayer, which has a positive connotation of invoking divine favor.
- 呪詛 (じゅそ, juso) – a more formal term for curse or malediction.
Antonyms include:
- 祝福 (しゅくふく, shukufuku) – blessing, which conveys a positive and protective meaning.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
The concept of “呪” is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, where it is often linked to folklore, spirituality, and traditional practices. Curses and spells are common themes in Japanese mythology and literature.
Proverbs and idiomatic expressions related to “呪” include:
- 「呪いは自分に返る」 (Noroi wa jibun ni kaeru) – “A curse returns to the one who casts it,” emphasizing the idea of karma.