Meaning & readings
simple, one, single, merely
On’yomi タン
Kun’yomi ひとえ
Origin
This character combines a roof or covering on top with a box or container below, creating the idea of something enclosed or unified as one unit. The roof represents a single protective layer, while the box suggests a contained space, together conveying the sense of something simple and singular rather than complex or multiple. Over time, this visual idea of oneness and simplicity became the character's primary meaning. The character essentially pictures a single, undivided space beneath one roof.
Components
- ⺍
- 甲
Common words
Easily confused with
These look alike but are unrelated in meaning — check the stroke that differs.
Reference
- Strokes
- 9
- Kangxi radical
- 24
- Formation type
- Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
- Grade
- Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #586 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05358