To Exist

a-ru, zai

The top and left part of the character depicts a dam made of wood and the lower right radical represents a broadax.

Both stop disaster or danger approaching and let things and creatures exist safely.

The verb aru means to exist. Shozai means a place where something or somebody exists. People often want to know where it is.

Kenchō shozaichi is the seat of the prefectural government. Ken means a prefecture or an administrative area. Kenchō means a prefectural government. Aichi’s kenchō shozaichi is Nagoya. In some prefectures, the name of kenchō shozaichi is the same as the name of the prefecture.  For example, in Nara prefecture, it is Nara city.

1. Write the longest horizontal stroke.
2. Write the sweeping stroke.
3. Write the vertical stroke crossing the previous stroke.
4. Write the shortest horizontal stroke.
5. Write the vertical stroke crossing the previous stroke.
6. Write the horizontal stroke at the bottom.