GAKU mana (learning)

ASCII Art Representation:


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Character Etymology:

Originally written as a highly stylized pictograph of hands combined with two sets of crossed sticks meaning, "to intertwine". Because the sticks were a matched pair, to create the match it had to be emulated by working hands, hence to emulate manually.

Later a roof was added and even later still a child was added under that roof, presumably with the idea that children naturally emulate— they learn. Through heavy stylization, the present character was the result.

A listing of all on-yomi and kun-yomi readings:

on-yomi: GAKU
kun-yomi: mana(bu) mana(bi)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: taka nori

English Definitions:

  1. GAKU: learning, study, science, scholarship, erudition..
  2. mana(bu): learn, study.
  3. mana(bi): learning, study, knowledge, literary ability.

Unicode Encoded Version:

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

学生 (gakusei): student.
大学 (daigaku): university.
学問 (gakumon): learning, studies, scholarship, knowledge, education, culture, science.

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