The kanji 新 primarily conveys the idea of "new," "fresh," or "recent." It signifies something that has recently come into existence, is not old, or possesses qualities associated with novelty and innovation. The core meaning focuses on change and the beginning of something.

・On-yomi (音読み): シン (shin) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): あたら（しい） (atarashii)

⚫︎ 新しい Translation: New ⚫︎ 新年 (しんねん) Translation: New Year ⚫︎ 新幹線 (しんかんせん) Translation: Shinkansen (bullet train)

The kanji 新 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字 - keisei moji). It combines two components: the left side is the radical 斤 (kin), which originally depicted a hatchet or axe, symbolizing cutting or making; the right side is 辛 (shin), which represents "spicy," and by extension, "fresh" or "new." Thus, the combination suggests something newly cut or made, hence "new." Over time, the form evolved. The 斤 radical at the left side of 新 has changed from a hatchet shape to its current simplified form.