The richness of the Japanese language is centered around kanji characters. Each character carries its own meaning and history, reflecting the depth of Japanese culture. Today, we will focus on the common kanji “搾” (しぼる, shiboru), frequently used in daily life but whose origin and meaning might not be well known. This article delves into the origins, meanings, uses, readings, and idioms related to “搾”.
Origin of 搾 (しぼる, shiboru)
The kanji “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) represents the action of squeezing something forcefully by hand. It is composed of the radical “扌” (てへん, tehen), meaning “hand,” and “散” (さん, san), which originally means “to scatter” or “to spread.” In the context of “搾” (しぼる, shiboru), “散” (さん, san) evolves to signify “pressing out liquid,” thus symbolizing the action of extracting something through physical pressure.
Meaning and Usage of 搾 (しぼる, shiboru)
The kanji “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) is used to mean “to extract liquid by applying pressure,” “to squeeze tightly,” or “to forcibly take out.” Specifically, it is used when squeezing juice from fruits or extracting milk. Figuratively, it can also mean extracting something by force, such as “squeezing money” out of someone.
Readings, Stroke Count, and Radical of 搾 (しぼる, shiboru)
The kanji “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) provides various insights through its structure and meaning:
- Readings: The on’yomi (音読み) reading is “サク” (saku), and the kun’yomi (訓読み) reading is “しぼる” (shiboru).
- Stroke count: “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) has a total of 13 strokes.
- Radical: The radical is 手偏 (てへん, tehen), representing actions or forces involving the hand.
Idioms, Phrases, and Proverbs Using 搾 (しぼる, shiboru) and Their Meanings
There are several idioms and phrases incorporating “搾” (しぼる, shiboru). Here are a few examples:
- 搾取 (サクシュ, sakushu): Forcibly taking away others’ labor or products.
- 搾乳 (サクニュウ, sakunyuu): Milking cows or extracting milk.
- 絞搾 (コウサク, kousaku): Extracting liquid by applying pressure.
- 強搾 (キョウサク, kyousaku): Forcibly taking away by strength.
These idioms and phrases illustrate how “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) conveys the meanings of “squeezing forcefully” and “extracting.”
Conclusion on 搾 (しぼる, shiboru)
The kanji “搾” (しぼる, shiboru) conveys a vivid image of forcefully extracting something, as seen in its structure and components. While it is commonly used in daily life to describe extracting liquids, it is also used in business and social contexts to describe forcibly extracting resources or labor. Understanding these uses allows us to appreciate the cultural and value-based nuances behind the words. By exploring each kanji deeply, we can further enrich our understanding of the Japanese language.
