The kanji 憲 primarily conveys the meaning of "constitution," "law," or "rule." It signifies a set of principles, regulations, or standards that govern a society, organization, or system. The core concept revolves around established norms and frameworks that provide order and structure. It suggests the establishment of proper frameworks for anything, such as a country, school, or organization.

・On-yomi (音読み): ・ケン (ken) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): ・None (This kanji doesn't have a specific native Japanese reading).

⚫︎憲法 Translation: Constitution ⚫︎憲章 Translation: Charter; statutes ⚫︎違憲 Translation: Unconstitutional; against the constitution

The kanji 憲 is a 形声文字 (keishō moji - phono-semantic compound), meaning it combines a semantic (meaning) component with a phonetic (sound) component. The top part of the character is 宀 (うかんむり - ukanmuri), which represents a "roof" or "house," symbolizing a place of shelter or protection. The bottom part is 示 (しめす - shimesu), the "god" or "altar" radical, which signifies "to show," "to reveal," or "to indicate." This radical often relates to rituals, laws, or divine guidance. The character as a whole suggests the idea of "showing" or "revealing" rules and regulations within the "house" or "governing structure," thus creating the concept of "constitution" or "law". The sound of the character is derived from the phonetic component, which has now been lost.