Origin

The character 彰 combines a sound component on the left—章, which hints at the pronunciation ショウ—with a visual classifier on the right. The three short strokes on the right, called 彡, traditionally represent hair or fine lines, and here they work as a marker suggesting something visible or manifest. Together, these components create a character whose meaning of "patent" or "clear" comes from the idea of something made visible or prominently displayed, reinforced by the association of fine lines with something distinctly seen.