CHARACTER HOME PAGE

to yearn, long for; aspire to; admire; adore
Kanji 1997

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Our kanji will fill you with yearning, pining, and adoration. You can use it in a highbrow way when describing deep stirrings of the spirit and the life you long to have, or you can use it to talk about people you idolize or find hot. Learn about a festival featuring bamboo lanterns, illuminated buildings, and a "Path of Yearning." See how much 憬 shares with 憧 and how little sets them apart. 

Revision history:

Feb. 3, 2023: p. 3: In the definition of 駆り立てる, I deleted the reference to the passive voice, as the verb is in its past-progressive form.

Feb. 21, 2022: 

  • p. 2, Etymology Box: Added a Henshall etymology and updated the Sears link.
  • p. 20: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

Feb. 17, 2017: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Cover of essay 1997 on 憬, titled "The Path of Yearning"
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
ケイ
JOYO KUN-YOMI
None
STROKES15
RADICAL忄 (61: heart)
JLPTN1
HALPERN-/663
HENSHALL-/1269
SPAHN4k12.7