申
Mnemonic
Imagine driving a stick straight through the sun. The sun, once proud and blazing, is now pinned in place, unable to boast. Skewered and humbled, it must State Humbly: "I am merely a sun on a stick." Even the greatest light speaks with deference when brought low.
Additional thoughts
The kanji 申 literally looks like a vertical stick piercing through the sun radical. Picture the sun bowing its head on a stake, forced into modesty — that visceral image of pride punctured connects directly to humble, deferential speech.Quick recall
A stick pierces the sun, humbling it — now it can only State Humbly.Details
The keyword for 申 is state humbly. This kanji conveys the idea of making a respectful or deferential statement, particularly when addressing someone of higher status. It carries the nuance of expressing oneself with humility and politeness, as when presenting a request or opinion to a superior. In modern Japanese, it is commonly used as the humble form of "to say" or "to be called," reflecting the deep cultural emphasis on modesty in communication.
- On'yomi
- しん
- Kun'yomi
- もう.す、もう.し-、さる