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curiously inverted kanji

Kokubunji, 2026.01.06

The Japanese kanji system follows some reasonable patterns, or so it seems to me after years of exposure. But sometimes, it's bewildering.

For instance, there is the curious case of how more archery bows mean weak. This is "yumi", meaning an archery bow: 弓. It is used in both the kanji for weak "jyaku" and strong "kyou".

The first, with two bows, means weak. The second, with bow and a composite kanji made from the kanji for "private" and "insect". Because of course.

How am I ever going to remember this. Hmm, old song lyrics come to mind. It's your own, private, insect. Someone who knows you're there, someone who cares.