by Nao

shi-ru, shi-raseru, chi

Today and tomorrow, we are going to show you characters both of which we read chi. Both are used for the word richi or intellect. Whichever chi you use, richi means intellect. However, there is a slight difference between the usages and meanings of these characters.

First, today’s chi is categorized as jōyō kanji, which are kanji characters Japanese students are supposed to learn before finishing secondary school. On the other hand, tomorrow’s character is regarded as uncommon or more difficult.

Secondly, only today’s character can be used for the verb shi-ru. The suffix, ru, is okurigana. Shi-ru means to know. According to the kanji dictionary, Shinkangorin, this shi-ru means to feel at heart, to perceive, to sense, to distinguish, to memorize, and to get acquainted with somebody.

The words derived from such meanings are kanchi (perception or sense), ninchi (perception or recognition), yochi (foreknowledge or preperception), shūchi (common knowledge), and chijin (an acquaintance).

This character is consisted of two parts. Draw the left part, first. The left part is an arrow, and the right part is a mouth.

1. Draw the sweeping stroke from the top in the upper left-hand corner.
2. Draw the horizontal stroke touching the first stroke.
3. Draw the horizontal stroke under it. These two horizontal strokes are parallel.
4. Draw the sweeping stroke from the second horizontal stroke.
5. Draw the elongated dot touching the previous sweeping stroke.
6. Start drawing the mouth. Draw the vertical stroke next to the arrow.
7. Draw the right-angled hook shape. Start the stroke from where you start the previous stroke. Turn the direction of the brush at the shoulder.
8. Draw the horizontal stroke at the bottom.