The kanji 算 primarily means "calculation," "to count," "to calculate," or "to reckon." It refers to the act of using numbers to find a total, or a result. It also implies planning and consideration.

・On-yomi (音読み): サン ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): そろ(える) - そろえる means "to calculate," or "to arrange"

⚫︎計算 (けいさん) Translation: Calculation, computation. ⚫︎予算 (よさん) Translation: Budget. ⚫︎算数 (さんすう) Translation: Arithmetic.

The kanji 算 is a 形声文字 (けいせいもじ - phonetic-pictographic character). It combines the radical 竹 (たけ - bamboo) on the top and 祘 (サン - phonetic component) on the bottom. The 竹 (bamboo) radical relates to the use of bamboo counting rods, which were used for calculations in ancient China. The 祘 is a phonetic component that gives an indication of the sound. Therefore, 算 originally depicted calculating with bamboo counting rods.