Origin

This character combines two parts to show something dangerous or unlucky. The lower part, a box shape, represents an enclosed or trapped space. The upper part, resembling crossed lines or a barrier, suggests conflict or obstruction. Together, these elements create the idea of being trapped in a bad situation or facing misfortune — which is why the character came to mean evil, disaster, and bad luck. The simplicity and angular, jagged appearance of the strokes also visually conveys a sense of something sharp, hostile, or wrong.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).