A relatively late graph (Shuowen). Traditional form has 巳 (NJK ‘serpent’) on the right, reflecting the seal form. Has 走 179 ‘run’ (shows movement), and right-hand 巳 with associated sense ‘begin’ (Ogawa), or – by another analysis – 己 866 (‘twisting thread’; ‘self’) with associated sense ‘(person) bent over (when getting up)’ (Shirakawa) or ‘stop’ (stop running > stand) (Yamada). ‘Bring about’ is extended usage. First analysis above is probably the one to follow. KJ1970:232; YK1976:114; SS1984:145; OT1968:966.
Mnemonic: RUNNING IN A TWISTED WAY BRINGS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
269
L3
期
KI, GO
period, expect
12 strokes
学期 GAKKI school term
期待 KITAI expectation
最期 SAIGO end, death
Bronze forms such as , typically consist of 其 as phonetic with associated sense ‘go round’, with determinative 日 66 ‘sun’, or occasionally 月 18 ‘moon’; seal script (Shuowen) onwards has ‘moon’. One cycle of the sun (one year) or the moon (month); by extended usage for ‘period’ in general. 其 is an NJK used to express ‘that’, but this is loan usage, originally pictograph of a winnowing basket, which may also relate to cyclic seasons. ‘Expect’ is an extended meaning perhaps related to regularity. MS1995:v1:640-41; KJ1970:238; OT1968:739.
Mnemonic: EXPECT PERIOD OF MONTHS BETWEEN WINNOWINGS
270
L3
客
KYAKU, KAKU
guest, visitor
9 strokes
来客 RAIKYAKU visitor
乗客 JŌKYAKU passenger
客員 KAKUIN guest member
OBI forms include , bronze . OBI shows ‘roof, dwelling’ 宀 30, ‘roof, dwelling’ 止 143 ‘stop, stay’, ‘person kneeling’, with 口 22 ‘mouth’ as phonetic (Mizukami). Bronze has ‘roof’, ‘person’ and 各 462 (modern meaning ‘each’) as phonetic with associated sense ‘come, stay, stop’; seal form onwards is as for bronze, minus ‘person’. MS1995:v1:368-70; OT1968:276; YK1976:120-21. Suggest taking 各 as ‘cross-legged’ 夂 (see Appendix) and ‘mouth’ 口 22.
Mnemonic: EACH VISITOR UNDER ROOF IS CROSS-LEGGED WITH OPEN MOUTH
271
L4
究
KYŪ, kiwameru
investigate, extreme
7 strokes
研究 KENKYŪ research
究明 KYŪMEI investigation
探究 TANKYŪ inquiry
Late graph (Shuowen) . Has 穴 860 ‘cave (dwelling), hole’, and 九 13 (‘nine’ q.v.) as phonetic with associated sense ‘bend’, to give ‘cramped cave dwelling’, and by extension ‘be in difficulties’, ‘go/take to extremes’. The extended meaning of ‘investigate’ may relate to narrowing the focus. YK1976:124; KJ1970:264; OT1968:739.
Mnemonic: EXTREME INVESTIGATION OF NINE HOLES
272
L4
急
KYŪ, isogu
hurry, sudden
9 strokes
急死 KYŪSHI sudden death
急速 KYŪSOKU rapidity
大急ぎ ō isogi great haste
A late graph. Seal form (Shuowen) , depicting 心 164 ‘heart/feelings’ under upper part with hand behind (chasing) a person, probably signifying urgency. Upper part is early form of 及 1202 (‘reach, extend’), acting here as phonetic with associated sense such as ‘become tense, brace’. ‘Sudden’ is an extended meaning. SS1984:174; YK1976:125; OT1968:363.
Mnemonic: HURRYING PERSON SUDDENLY STOPS, HAND OVER HEART
273
L3
級
KYŪ
rank, grade
9 strokes
進級 SHINKYŪ promotion
同級生 DŌKYŪSEI classmate
上級 JŌKYŪ upper grade
Generally listed as a late graph, though Yamada gives a bronze form. Made of 糸 29 ‘thread’, with 及 1202 (‘reach, extend’) as phonetic with associated sense ‘next’. ‘Order’ is an extended meaning. KJ1970:260; YK1976:125-6; OT1968:767.
Mnemonic: REACH OUT AND GRADE THREADS
274
L5
宮
KYŪ, GŪ, KU, miya
palace, shrine prince
10 strokes
神宮 JINGŪ shrine
宮中 KYŪCHŪ Court
宮様 miyasama prince
OBI shows rooms beneath a roof; taken to represent a large house or building. Became associated with grand buildings such as palaces and shrines, and their principal residents. MS1995:v1:374; YK1976:126; OT1968:278.
Mnemonic: MANY ROOMS UNDER A ROOF INDICATE A PALACE OR SHRINE
275
L3
球
KYŪ, tama
sphere, ball
11 strokes
球技 KYŪGI ball game
地球 CHIKYŪ Earth
球拾い tamahiroi caddie
Late graph (Shuowen) . 玉/王 15 ‘jade’ and 求 478 (‘seek’) as phonetic, associated sense ‘pretty’ (Katō, Yamada), or ‘round’(Ogawa) > pretty jade disc/ball. KJ1970:263; OT1968:657.
