Essential Japanese Kanji Volume 2. University of Tokyo, Kanji Research Group

from afar 遠方 えんぽう empō afar

      14

      父

      chichi, fu

      ちち、フ father

      As mature men in the family were traditionally responsible for wood cutting, a hand 乂 with an ax signifies father.

お父さん	*おとうさん	otō san	father (polite)
父	ちち	chichi	father
父母会	ふぼかい	fubokai	parents’ association
		--------
義父	ぎふ	gifu	father-in-law
父上	ちちうえ	chichiue	father (polite)
父方	ちちかた	chichikata	paternal

      15

      母

      haha, bo

      はは、ボ mother

      A human figure with pronounced breasts suggests nursing; thus this kanji means mother.

お母さん	*おかあさん	okā san	mother (polite)
母	はは	haha	mother
父母	ふぼ	fubo	father and mother; parents
		--------
母国	ぼこく	bokoku	mother land
母国語	ぼこくご	bokokugo	mother tongue
生母	せいぼ	seibo	one’s real mother
母上	ははうえ	hahaue	mother (polite)
母方	ははかた	hahakata	maternal

      16

      働

      hatara-ku, dō

      はたら・く、ドウ work

      働 combines a man イ, heavy 重, and power 力, suggesting a man working, moving heavy things.

働く	はたらく	hataraku	to work
労働者	ろうどうしゃ	rōdōsha	worker
		--------
働き口	はたらきぐち	hatarakiguchi	job
働き者	はたらきもの	hatarakimono	hard worker
働き手	はたらきて	hatarakite	worker

      17

      親

      oya, shin

      おや、シン parent

      Parents 親 stand 立 on a tree 木 and watch 見 the children.