弐
Mnemonic
One archer steps forward to shoot an arrow at target number two. This is no casual match — it's the two (formal) tournament, where every score must be inked in elaborate, tamper-proof calligraphy so no one can forge the results.
Additional thoughts
Picture a single solemn archer firing at a target labeled '2' in ornate brushwork. The elaborate ceremony reflects why formal kanji exist: to prevent fraud. One on top, shoot an arrow through the middle, two at the bottom.Quick recall
One archer shoot an arrows at target two in the elaborate two (formal) tournament.Details
The keyword for 弐 is two (formal). This is the formal, legal version of the number two (二), used in financial and official documents to prevent fraudulent alteration of figures. Just as "贰" serves this purpose in Chinese, 弐 makes it far more difficult to tamper with written amounts on checks, contracts, and other important papers. Its complex structure compared to the simple 二 is precisely what gives it its anti-fraud utility.
- On'yomi
- に、じ
- Kun'yomi
- ふた.つ、そえ