Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 侃

Level:N1 Low
Strokes:8
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji primarily conveys the meanings of "upright," "candid," "honest," and "fair." It often describes a person who is forthright in their speech and behavior. The character suggests a sense of integrity and a willingness to speak one's mind in a respectful and principled manner. It implies someone who is not afraid to express their opinions truthfully.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): カン ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, as the character's meaning is typically conveyed through the On-yomi.

Usage Examples

⚫︎侃侃訚訚 (かんかんぎんぎん) Translation: Honest and outspoken, speaking frankly and directly. This phrase is used to describe someone who speaks their mind with sincerity and integrity. ⚫︎侃直 (かんちょく) Translation: Candid; honest and straightforward. This term highlights the quality of being open and honest in one's actions and speech. ⚫︎君子侃侃如 (くんしかんかんにょ) Translation: A noble person is upright and candid. This is a philosophical statement often associated with Confucian ideals, describing the demeanor of a morally upright individual.

Origin and Formation

The kanji is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), or a phono-semantic compound character. The left side of the character is a 人 (jin), representing "person," and the right side is 旱 (kan), which originally meant "drought." The combination suggests that the character evolved from the idea of a person speaking without reservation, like the earth without any water during a drought.

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