The human mind holds more than just emotions — it contains thoughts, beliefs, and willpower. From the initial 想 (imagine), through deep 考 (thinking), to firm 決 (decision), to unshakable 志 (aspiration) — this is a complete psychological journey, perfectly captured in Japanese kanji.
Join us on a kanji journey from "thinking" to "enlightenment."
Core Kanji Table
Thinking & Cognition
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 想 | ソウ (sō) | おも (omo) | imagine | 想像 (そうぞう, imagination), 感想 (かんそう, impressions) | 想像以上だった — exceeded imagination |
| 意 | イ (i) | — | meaning, intent | 意味 (いみ, meaning), 注意 (ちゅうい, caution) | 意味が分からない — I don't understand |
| 情 | ジョウ (jō)・セイ (sei) | なさ (nasa) | emotion, situation | 感情 (かんじょう, emotion), 事情 (じじょう, circumstances) | 事情を説明する — explain the situation |
| 覚 | カク (kaku) | おぼ (obo)・さ (sa) | remember, sense | 覚える (おぼえる, to memorize), 感覚 (かんかく, sensation) | 単語を覚える — memorize vocabulary |
| 忘 | ボウ (bō) | わす (wasu) | forget | 忘れる (わすれる, to forget), 忘年会 (ぼうねんかい, year-end party) | 名前を忘れた — forgot the name |
| 疑 | ギ (gi) | うたが (utaga) | doubt | 疑う (うたがう, to doubt), 疑問 (ぎもん, question) | 疑問に思う — to have doubts |
Wishes & Expectations
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 願 | ガン (gan) | ねが (nega) | wish | 願う (ねがう, to wish), 志願 (しがん, volunteering) | 合格を願う — wish to pass the exam |
| 希 | キ (ki) | — | hope | 希望 (きぼう, hope), 希望者 (きぼうしゃ, applicant) | 希望を持つ — to have hope |
| 欲 | ヨク (yoku) | ほ (ho) | desire | 欲しい (ほしい, want), 食欲 (しょくよく, appetite) | 新しい本が欲しい — I want a new book |
| 祈 | キ (ki) | いの (ino) | pray | 祈る (いのる, to pray), 祈願 (きがん, prayer) | 平和を祈る — to pray for peace |
Beliefs & Will
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 志 | シ (shi) | こころざ (kokoroza) | aspiration | 志す (こころざす, to aspire), 志望 (しぼう, aspiration) | 医者を志す — aspire to be a doctor |
| 忍 | ニン (nin) | しの (shino) | endure | 忍ぶ (しのぶ, to endure), 忍耐 (にんたい, patience) | じっと忍ぶ — endure silently |
| 信 | シン (shin) | — | trust | 信じる (しんじる, to believe), 信頼 (しんらい, trust) | 友達を信じる — trust a friend |
| 誠 | セイ (sei) | まこと (makoto) | sincerity | 誠実 (せいじつ, sincere), 誠意 (せいい, good faith) | 誠意を見せる — show sincerity |
Growth & Mastery
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 慣 | カン (kan) | な (na) | accustom | 慣れる (なれる, to get used to), 習慣 (しゅうかん, habit) | 日本の生活に慣れた — got used to life in Japan |
| 怪 | カイ (kai) | あや (aya) | strange | 怪しい (あやしい, suspicious), 妖怪 (ようかい, yōkai) | 怪しい音がする — a strange sound |
| 励 | レイ (rei) | はげ (hage) | encourage | 励ます (はげます, to encourage), 奨励 (しょうれい, encouragement) | 友達を励ます — encourage a friend |
| 悟 | ゴ (go) | さと (sato) | enlighten | 悟る (さとる, to realize), 悟り (さとり, enlightenment) | 真理を悟る — attain enlightenment |
| 慰 | イ (i) | なぐさ (nagusa) | comfort | 慰める (なぐさめる, to console), 慰安 (いあん, comfort) | 泣いている子を慰める — comfort a crying child |
| 懇 | コン (kon) | ねんご (nengo) | earnest | 懇親会 (こんしんかい, social gathering), 懇願 (こんがん, plea) | 懇願する — to plead earnestly |
The Psychological Progression: From Thinking to Enlightenment
These kanji form a path of psychological progression:
想 (imagine) → 考 (think) → 疑 (doubt) → 信 (believe)
→ 願 (wish) → 決 (decide) → 志 (aspire) → 忍 (endure)
→ 励 (strive) → 悟 (enlighten)
This isn't just kanji learning — it's a miniature life journey: First imagine, then think, experience doubt, build belief, make a wish, reach a decision, hold to your aspiration, endure hardship, strive forward, and finally achieve enlightenment.
Chinese vs. Japanese Usage
The Dual Meaning of 覚える
Japanese 覚える has two meanings:
- Memorize: 単語を覚える (memorize vocabulary)
- Sense/feel: 違和感を覚える (sense something is off)
The Chinese character 覚 similarly has both "feel" and "awaken" meanings — a parallel evolution.
The Cultural Weight of 志
In Japanese, 志 carries immense cultural significance:
- 志望 (しぼう): Aspiration, target school/career
- 志す (こころざす): To set one's heart on a goal
- The character 志 frequently appears on Japanese business cards
忍: The Ninja's Character
Yes, 忍者 (にんじゃ, ninja) uses this exact character! 忍 = 刃 (blade) + 心 (heart) — literally "a blade over the heart." Endurance means persisting even with a blade pressing on your heart.
Cultural Note: The Spirit of Bushidō
The Japanese warrior code (Bushidō) can be summarized in a few kanji:
- 忠 (ちゅう): Loyalty
- 義 (ぎ): Righteousness
- 誠 (まこと): Sincerity
- 忍 (にん): Endurance
- 志 (こころざし): Aspiration
Many of these appear in this article's kanji table. Master them, and you've grasped the spiritual core of Japanese culture.
Practice
Q1. What are the components of 忍, and what do they represent?
Show answer
刃 (blade) + 心 (heart). Literally "a blade over the heart," representing endurance. The word 忍者 (ninja) uses this character.
Q2. What are the two main meanings of 覚える?
Show answer
① Memorize: 単語を覚える (memorize vocabulary) ② Sense/feel: 違和感を覚える (sense something is off).
Q3. What does the sequence 想→考→疑→信→願→決→志→忍→励→悟 represent?
Show answer
A path of psychological progression: Start with imagination, move through thinking, doubt, belief, wishing, deciding, aspiring, enduring, striving, and finally reaching enlightenment.
Q4. What does 志望 mean in Japanese?
Show answer
Aspiration, target goal. Commonly used for education or career: 志望校 (target school), 志望動機 (motivation/reason for applying).
Q5. Which kanji is related to "prayer"?
A. 悟 B. 祈 C. 忍 D. 慣
Show answer
B. 祈. 祈る (いのる) = to pray. 悟 = enlightenment, 忍 = endurance, 慣 = habit.
Summary
- Psychology and willpower kanji form a progression: 想→考→疑→信→願→決→志→忍→励→悟
- 忍 = 刃 + 心, "a blade over the heart" — the ninja's character
- 覚える means both "memorize" and "sense" — dual meaning in one character
- 志 holds an elevated position in Japanese culture as a core Bushidō concept
- The emotions series (3 articles) is now complete! You've learned 60 emotion and psychology kanji