Counterpart or Phase

by Nao

ai, sō, shō

I have mentioned before that there are two kinds of readings for kanji: kun’yomi and on’yomi. As a rule, kun’yomi tells us its meaning while we can’t catch the meaning by hearing only on’yomi. Every rule has some exceptions. The kun’yomi of today’s character is ai, which sounds like on’yomi to me. We can’t tell its meaning unless it is combined with other characters or words. On the other hand, sō, its on’yomi, means a phase when it’s not combined with other characters unlike the ordinary function of on’yomi.

The common meaning of this character is counterpart. Aite, aishō, aikata and sōshisōai are in this group. Let’s see the meanings one by one. Aite is either a companion or an opponent. Your aite can be your dance partner or your opponent in a game. Aishō is the degree how much two people can get along together. Aishō is either good or bad. If aishō between two people is bad, they just can’t get along together. A partner in a Japanese comic duo is called aikata. One of my friends is calling her best friend aikata. The state of thinking and loving each other is expressed as sōshisōai. It’s a romantic phrase.

The origin of this character is a tree paired with an eye, which symbolizes the motions of looking at a tree. Supporting a ruler or other people is one of the meanings derived from this origin. For example, the Prime Minister is shushō, of which the shu means a neck.

First, begin to draw the left-hand side of the character.

1. Draw the horizontal stroke from the left.
2. Draw the vertical line from the top to the bottom.
3. Draw the sweeping stroke from the previous strokes intersect.
4. Draw the small dot like a hanging brunch of the vertical stroke.
5. Begin to draw the right-hand side of the character. Draw the left side of the rectangle.
6. Draw the upper and right sides of the rectangle.
7. Draw the upper horizontal stroke in the rectangle.
8. Draw the lower horizontal stroke in the rectangle.
9. Draw the lower side of the rectangle.