Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 図

図

Level:N4 Low
Strokes:7
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 図 primarily means "drawing," "diagram," "figure," or "plan." It conveys the idea of a visual representation of something, often used to illustrate information, concepts, or designs. It implies a schematic or illustrative presentation, rather than a detailed rendering.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): ト (to) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): 図 (zu)

Usage Examples

⚫︎ 地図 (chizu) Translation: map ⚫︎ 図書室 (toshoshitsu) Translation: library ⚫︎ 設計図 (sekkeizu) Translation: blueprint; plan

Origin and Formation

The kanji 図 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, けいせいもじ). The left side is 囗, meaning "enclosure" or "boundary," which represents the area or space where something is being represented. The right side is 各 (kaku), which conveys sound of the meaning (that is, the sound element) and originally meant "each." Therefore, the character's formation suggests something is drawn "within a boundary", giving it the meaning of a picture or diagram.

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