JLPT Level: Unlisted, but the kanji is N1I know that this is unlisted, but I definitely remember thi
JLPT Level: Unlisted, but the kanji is N1I know that this is unlisted, but I definitely remember this being a vocab word in my 3rd year Japanese courses. The definition of this word is pretty straightforward, really. Originally, it referred to the front area of kimono, where people could keep various things. It can also be applied to Western clothes too, just like the breast pocket or inner pockets of a suit jacket or something. The first meaning, “bosom,” gives this word a very warm feeling. Breaking down the kanji into its parts, you’ll see why.On the left we have the ⺖radial that means “heart, mind, spirit.” On the right, we have what originally was a pictograph of a person sobbing and their tears dripping. …I guess? Lol that’s what my sources are telling me. (Ignore the orange lines, by the way. This is a screenshot from one of the etymology sites I use and I can’t get rid of them.)But I guess you can see how the roof at the top became ⼧, the “head” with two lines through it became the sideways version of ⽬ (eyes), the four horizontal lines that represent tears stayed about the same, and the arms, body, and legs at the bottom became 衣 (clothing). End result? 懐 . This kanji, with “heart” and “a person weeping” came to mean “tears dripping onto a collar” and “thinking longingly of someone who passed away.” This longing is still seen in the word 懐かしい natsukashii, which means “nostalgic.” However, “futokoro” does not have any of that sadness attached to it (that I know of). Kanji, man. Way deeper than you think. -- source link
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