Answer Check!

Question 1: 牡蛎

ぼ
れ
い

Thank you for telling me! When I researched it, apparently 牡蛎 is usually read as “kaki,” but in traditional Chinese medicine it’s read as “borei”! It’s powdered oyster shells used as a medicinal herb to calm an unstable mind. It seems to be used for people who startle easily, insomnia, and heart palpitations. In ancient China, because shells were used as currency, the character for “shell” is used. It’s such a spiritual vibe—a gift from the earth that balances the waves of the heart!

Question 2: 憚る

は
ば
か
る

Thank you for telling me! When I researched it, “憚る” means and refers to behaving carefully by being mindful of the other person’s feelings and position. The etymology comes from the same root as “obstruct,” seeming to derive from the image of a place that is wide but narrow, making it difficult to pass through. Interestingly, it also has the opposite meaning of “wielding influence・showing off,” as in the phrase “a hated child gets their way in the world.” It apparently was also once a word for a toilet… it seems this came from the idea of a place to avoid public view. From a spiritual perspective, it’s a word that expresses respect for others and the adjustment of energy.

Question 3: 矢鱈

や
た
ら

Thank you for telling me! When I researched it, 矢鱈 is a phonetic kanji that means “lacking order or restraint.” The etymology comes from “yatara hyoshi,” a fast-tempo piece in court music (gagaku) that mixes 2/4 and 3/4 time, which sounds chaotic. We often use it in the expression “without rhyme or reason,” but it’s such an old word~! ✨From a spiritual perspective, while feeling the order of the universe, sometimes it’s also important to surrender to the flow.

Question 4: 漸く

よ
う
や
く

Thank you for telling me! When I researched it, “漸く” is a word that expresses the state of finally realizing something after a long time or much effort. The character “漸” has the meaning of “gradually・little by little,” and it seems to come from the image of water flowing bit by bit. Our achievement of life goals also progresses bit by bit in tune with the universe’s rhythm…that’s “漸く.” From a spiritual perspective, it’s a kanji that teaches us the importance of proceeding at our own pace without rushing.

How many did you read correctly?

If you got them all, you’re certified as a kanji master! Spirituali researched along with you all and feels a bit smarter now ♪

Thank you for joining me next time too!

About Spirituali-chan

Spirituali-chan is a girl with a bit of a spiritual side. In this series, Spirituali-chan introduces kanji she encounters while reading spiritual books!

This is a translated report from Japan’s Perfect World Tokyo.

✍️ Supervised by | Editor-in-Chief KOS
Editor-in-Chief of a character goods specialty media. Has written and supervised over 12,000 articles to date. As the representative of Perfect World Co., Ltd., operates Perfect World Tokyo. Handles over 50,000 character goods at all times, personally reviewing and selecting over 1,000 new products every month. All products featured in the media are authentic items sourced directly by the company, and all photos are taken in-house. Articles are written after personally inspecting each product, delivering the latest news and product reviews in the character goods industry. Information is provided from three perspectives: as a retailer, photographer, and editor.

FAQ
What is perfectworldtokyo.com?+
We're a news site based in Tokyo, Japan, sharing the fun and charm of characters and their goods with the world. We're run by Perfect World Co., Ltd. — a team of passionate character goods collectors — led by editor-in-chief KOS. Every item in our online shop "perfectworld.shop" is hand-picked and photographed by us, right here in Japan.
Can I purchase products?+
Yes! Almost all items featured on our site are available to buy or pre-order at perfectworld.shop, our collectors' online store. The shop supports multiple languages, so feel free to shop with confidence. You'll find a link at the bottom of most articles to jump straight there.
Who writes the articles?+
Every article is written by one of our editors — all genuine character goods fans. Nearly all photos (99%+) are also taken by us, one by one, with love. All articles are supervised by editor-in-chief KOS, who has 10+ years of collecting experience, a personal collection of 40,000+ character goods, and selects over 1,000 new items every month.
Is your content written by AI?+
Nope! Every single piece of content is written by real people who love character goods. We don't use AI. Editor-in-chief KOS personally reviews everything before it goes live.
How reliable is the information?+
We write with a lot of personal flair, but we always deliver honest opinions straight from the heart of true fans. You'll notice we don't list prices in our articles — that's intentional, since prices vary by retailer and change over time.
Is it free to read?+
Totally free. Always.
What kind of character goods do you cover?+
Snoopy, Miffy, Sanrio, Disney, Opanchu Usagi, Puppet Sungsung… the list goes on forever! We cover 200+ trendy characters and anime characters driving Japan's KAWAII culture. And discovering brand-new characters before anyone else? That's one of our favorite parts of the job.
Interested in a content partnership?+
We'd love to talk! Join us as a partner in spreading Japan's KAWAII culture to the world. Drop us a line at info@perfectworld.tokyo — we're always open to new collaborations!
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