Meaning & readings
invariably, certain, inevitable
On’yomi ヒツ
Kun’yomi かなら.ず
Origin
This character appears to combine the idea of a heart or inner resolve with a downward stroke. The two heart components, one on each side with a line cutting through the middle, suggest something that cuts straight down through the center of one's conviction or determination. This visual of a decisive, unwavering path through the heart came to mean something that is certain or invariable — an inevitable outcome that cannot be bent or changed, much like a line that cuts straight through without wavering.
Common words
Reference
- Strokes
- 5
- Kangxi radical
- 61
- Formation type
- Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
- Grade
- Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #265 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05FC5