The kanji 鑑 generally conveys the meaning of "to examine," "to inspect," "to appreciate," or "to reflect." It implies a careful and considered judgment or assessment of something, whether it be a person, a situation, or a work of art. The character often suggests a deep understanding and a discerning eye. It can also refer to something that serves as a model or a standard.

・On-yomi (音読み): カン (kan) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): かんが(みる) (kangamiru) (to reflect; to consider)

⚫︎鑑賞 (kanshou) Translation: Appreciation; viewing (of art) ⚫︎鑑別 (kanbetsu) Translation: Discrimination; identification ⚫︎古今東西の鑑 (kokin touzai no kagami) Translation: A model for all time and all places; (literally: a mirror of the past and present, East and West)

The kanji 鑑 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound character. The left side is 金 (kane), meaning "metal," and the right side is 監 (kan), which originally meant "to look at." The meaning of 鑑 evolved by combining "metal" with a meaning related to looking and observing. In ancient times, shiny metal objects such as bronze mirrors were used to reflect images. Therefore, the character came to imply the act of seeing and reflecting, later developing its meanings of "to examine," "to inspect," and "to appreciate."