The kanji 宇 generally conveys the idea of "universe," "roof," or "eaves." It suggests a vast, encompassing space, a shelter, or a place of protection. It often implies something that encloses or contains.

・On-yomi (音読み): ウ (u) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, or used as a component of other words.

⚫︎宇宙 Translation: Universe, cosmos ⚫︎宇都宮 Translation: Utsunomiya (a Japanese city name) ⚫︎宇宙飛行士 Translation: Astronaut

The kanji 宇 is a pictograph. It depicts a house, specifically the roof of a house. The top part represents the roof itself, covering the space below. Over time, it came to represent the entirety of the heavens, hence its connection to the idea of the "universe." It developed from the pictographic representation of a shelter, symbolizing a contained space.