A Beautiful Guide to Advanced Japanese
The kanji 心 (kokoro, meaning "heart" or "mind") is a simple yet profound character. It stands alone as its own radical, Radical 61, and its shape evokes the image of a heart or the core of something essential. Unlike more complex kanji, 心 has no additional components, but its form is thought to resemble the organ it represents—an ancient depiction of the heart with its curved lines.
Visually, 心’s elegant simplicity reflects its meaning: the heart or mind as the root of human experience. Fun fact: It appears in countless kanji related to emotions and mental states, acting as a foundation for words like "love" (愛) and "think" (思).
Here are some common words and phrases using 心:
Meaning: Heart / Mind
Hiragana: こころ
Example: 心が落ち着く。
(Kokoro ga ochitsuku.)
"My heart feels calm."
Meaning: Peace of mind
Hiragana: あんしん
Example: 安心してください。
(Anshin shite kudasai.)
"Please rest assured."
Meaning: Worry
Hiragana: しんぱい
Example: 心配しないで。
(Shinpai shinaide.)
"Don’t worry."
Meaning: Determination
Hiragana: けっしん
Example: 決心したんだ。
(Kesshin shita nda.)
"I’ve made up my mind."
Meaning: Heart (organ)
Hiragana: しんぞう
Example: 心臓がドキドキする。
(Shinzō ga dokidoki suru.)
"My heart is pounding."
Meaning: Sincerity
Hiragana: まごころ
Example: 真心を込める。
(Magokoro o komeru.)
"I put my heart into it."
Meaning: Feeling / Sensation
Hiragana: こころち
Example: 心地がいい。
(Kokorochi ga ii.)
"It feels good."
Meaning: Timidity
Hiragana: しょうしん
Example: 小心者だね。
(Shōshinmono da ne.)
"You’re quite timid."
Meaning: Enthusiasm
Hiragana: ねっしん
Example: 熱心に働く。
(Nesshin ni hataraku.)
"I work enthusiastically."
Meaning: Preparedness
Hiragana: こころがまえ
Example: 心構えが必要だ。
(Kokorogamae ga hitsuyō da.)
"You need to be prepared."
The kanji 心 embodies the essence of human emotion, thought, and spirit, serving as a cornerstone for expressing the inner self in Japanese.