4 Kanji Characters That Even Adults Can’t Read. If You Can Read All of Them, You’re a Master of Language

Answer Check!

Question 1: 懿

Thank you for telling me! After researching, I found that 懿 means “good and beautiful,” and it’s particularly a word that praises the virtue of women. The origin comes from an ancient kanji representing drinking fine liquor and finding harmony between gods and people, formed by combining the shape of “heart” and “pot.” Spiritually speaking, it’s a kanji that symbolizes inner beauty and high virtue, emanating beautiful energy that aligns with people’s inherent brilliance. ✨

Question 2: 月白

Thank you for telling me! After researching, I found that 月白 (geppaku/tsukishiro) is a pale white color with a subtle blue tint like moonlight. This color name was born from the sight of the sky turning white as the moon rises in the eastern sky, and it’s used in classical literature as well. It was so sacred that it was used in the garments of Shinto ceremonies during the Heian period! It seems this subtle bluish-white contains both silence and purity at the same time. It’s like a color that makes the heart as clear as moonlight.

Question 3: 唆す

Thank you for telling me! After researching, I found that 「唆す」means to flatter someone and guide their feelings in a bad direction. The kanji 「唆」is formed from the mouth radical combined with “a sharp-minded person going back and forth repeatedly conveying something,” a pictographic character representing the way words guide people. It’s been used since the era of classical works like The Tale of Genji, and has always been depicted as an act that works on people’s weak hearts. It’s such an important word that it’s still used in modern legal terminology as 「教唆」(incitement). Spiritually speaking, the power of words is energy that shapes our thoughts, so let’s use them carefully and with discernment. ✨

Question 4: 螻蛄

Thank you for telling me! After researching, I found that 螻蛄 is an insect of the Orthoptera Gryllotalpidae family that lives by digging tunnels underground and is about 3cm in size. Its front legs are shaped like a mole’s claws, making them super suited for digging soil. Since ancient times, “becoming an okera = becoming poor” has been used as a hidden phrase! Spiritually speaking, the kera, which hides in the soil and lives quietly, is a symbol of invisible spiritual energy. ✨

How many could you read?

If you can read them all, you’re certified as a kanji master! Spirituali looked into these together with you and I feel a bit smarter now too♪

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time too!

About Spirituali-chan

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

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