One of the characters handed down from ancient times is the kanji “誘” (yuu). This kanji, often used in daily life, has the power to prompt people’s actions. In this article, we will delve deeply into the world of the commonly used kanji “誘” (yuu), exploring its origin, meaning, usage, and idioms and proverbs that move the hearts of the Japanese people.
Origin of 誘 (yuu)
The kanji “誘” (yuu) is a character formed in ancient China, with a very long history. The upper part of 誘 (yuu) represents “言” (words), and the lower part represents “辵 (しんにょう)” (shinnyou), which indicates walking a path. This combination came to mean leading people with words. From this combination, 誘う (さそう, sasou) came to refer to the act of guiding people in a certain direction with words.
Meaning and Usage of 誘 (yuu)
“誘” (yuu) primarily means “to entice someone into taking a certain action,” “to attract someone,” and “to guide.” This kanji is often used when influencing people’s psychology, making it valuable in persuasive scenarios. For example, “誘惑” (ゆうわく, yuuwaku) indicates a strong attraction that entices people’s hearts and actions, while “誘導” (ゆうどう, yuudou) means to guide in a certain direction.
Reading, Stroke Count, and Radical of 誘 (yuu)
To deepen your understanding of the kanji “誘” (yuu), it is essential to know its readings and structure.
- Reading: In On’yomi (音読み, Chinese reading), it is read as “ユウ” (yuu), and in Kun’yomi (訓読み, Japanese reading), it is read as “さそ.う” (sasou) and “いざな.う” (izanau).
- Stroke Count: “誘” (yuu) has a total of 13 strokes.
- Radical: The radical is “言” (ことばへん, kotobahen), and it is classified under kanji related to words.
Idioms, Proverbs, and Expressions Using 誘 (yuu)
Idioms, proverbs, and expressions containing “誘” (yuu) enrich the Japanese language. Here are some examples:
- 誘惑 (ゆうわく, yuuwaku): A strong attraction that entices people’s hearts and actions.
- 誘導 (ゆうどう, yuudou): To guide in a certain direction.
- 誘拐 (ゆうかい, yuukai): To deceive and take someone away.
- 引き誘う (ひきいざなう, hikiizanau): To invite and act together with someone.
- 誘い水 (いざないみず, izanai mizu): A means or trigger to induce someone’s actions.
Summary of 誘 (yuu)
The kanji “誘” (yuu), through its shape and sound, has the power to influence people’s hearts and actions. This kanji, widely used in the Japanese language, is not only a means of communication but also reflects cultural backgrounds in idioms and proverbs. The power of manipulating words is the power to entice and guide people, playing an important role in our lives.
