by Nao

ri

This is a philosophical character. It means reason or justice. When we want to mean that something is reasonable or stands to reason, we say ri ni kanau. Kanau is to prove.

Many words use this character. They can be roughly categorized into four groups. These categories might explain the gradation of usages from reason to justice.

Logic or reasoning… Logic is ronri. The ron means to discuss or to argue. Inference is suiri. The sui means to infer. Axiom is kōri. The kō means public. Theorem is teiri. The tei means stable. Principle is genri. The gen means raw or original. Other words that can be included this category are rika (science), risū (science and math).

Understanding … Rikai is understanding. The verb rikai-suru is to understand. Intellect is richi. The chi is either this or this, as I have already mentioned. If somebody is intellectual, we describe the person as richiteki. The teki is a suffix that means tendency.

Rational or ethical… Words in this category have either rational or ethical meanings. For example, gōri is rationality and gōriteki is rational. The gō means to fit. Rinri means morals or ethics. The rin implies the way one must follow.

Administration or to judge…. Kanri is administration or management. The kan means to govern or to manage. The verb kanri-suru is to administrate or to manage. A person who is in an administrative position is called kanrisyoku. The shoku is a job. Prime Minister is called sōri. The sō means to lead or to take command. Another useful word is ryōri or cooking. The ryō means material.

This character is composed of two parts. The left part is gyoku (bead) from which the dot was omitted.

1. Start from the left part. Draw the top horizontal stroke from left to right.
2. Draw the vertical line making T. Put the tip of the brush on the center of the first horizontal line, put down half the brush, and go down.
3. Draw the stroke in the middle. Make it cross the vertical line.
4. Draw the line at the bottom. It should head toward the next stroke.
5. Begin the right part of the character. This stroke is from the top center and vertical.
6. Start from where you start the previous stroke and draw the right-angled hook shape. Make a nice shoulder.
7. Draw the horizontal stroke in the rectangle.
8. Draw the horizontal stroke below the previous stroke.
9. Draw the vertical stroke from top to bottom.
10. Draw the second horizontal stroke from the bottom.
11. Draw the horizontal stroke at the bottom. Make horizontal strokes parallel.