The kanji 蓮 primarily represents the lotus flower. This encompasses its beauty, its association with purity and enlightenment in Buddhism, and its habitat in water. It signifies the plant itself, including its leaves, flowers, and even the seeds. The character evokes a sense of serenity and natural beauty.

・On-yomi (音読み): レン (ren) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): はす (hasu)

⚫︎蓮の花 Translation: Lotus flower ⚫︎蓮根 Translation: Lotus root ⚫︎蓮華 Translation: Lotus flower (often used in Buddhist contexts)

The kanji 蓮 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left side is the radical 艹 (くさかんむり - kusakanmuri), which signifies grass or plants. The right side is 連 (ren), which is a phonetic component, indicating the sound and suggesting the idea of "connecting" or "continuing." Combined, the character suggests a plant (艹) that is associated with the sound of 連. It originated from the depiction of a lotus flower, its leaves, and its roots. The character has evolved from its ancient forms over time, eventually settling into its present shape.