友
Mnemonic
Napoleon was exiled to a remote island, but he escaped and came back once more. How? A loyal friend smuggled him a boat under cover of night. Only a true friend would risk everything to help you return from exile.
Additional thoughts
Picture Napoleon on a dark shore clasping hands with his friend who brought the boat — two hands reaching out in the same direction, mirroring the kanji's shape.Quick recall
Napoleon returns once more thanks to a devoted friend who smuggled him a boat.Details
The keyword for 友 is friend. This kanji represents the concept of a companion or close associate with whom one shares a bond of mutual trust and affection. It originally depicted two hands reaching out in the same direction, symbolizing people working together or offering each other support. It is one of the most fundamental characters for expressing interpersonal relationships in Japanese.
- On'yomi
- ゆう
- Kun'yomi
- とも