ITO HEN 6-3

Collecting Kanji more systematically...

紀　キ
ERA JY4 F968 1276

era, age, period of years
紀元・きげん・era
世紀・せいき・century
record, put in writing
紀行・きこう・travelogue
discipline, morals, code of behavior
風紀・ふうき・public morals
党紀・とうき・party discipline
軍紀・ぐんき・military discipline

Thread on left and self/twisting thread on right, giving idea of thread from end to end and hence account or chronicle (which threads from one end to another) - so finally with idea of era or chronicle over time.


紅　コウ　ク　べに　くれない
CRIMSON JY6 F904 1277

crimson, deep red
紅白・こうはく ・red and white
紅海・こうかい・ red sea
紅葉・こうよう・ autumn colors
紅衛兵・こうえいへい・ red guards
深紅・しんく・ crimson
口紅・くちべに・ lip stick
紅・くれない・ crimson, deep red, scarlet

Thread on left and "work" on right, acting phonetically to express "pink" and also an idea or process, hence original meaning "processed pink threads"? Come to mean pink more generally.


糾　キュウ　ただ（す）
INQUIRE INTO JY F1604 1278

inquire into, esp of crime; investigate, examine
糾明・きゅうめい・ searching examination
糾問・きゅうもん・ cross examination; arraignment
糾弾・きゅうだん・ impeach
gather together
紛糾・ふんきゅう・ gather together, muster, rally
元を糾す・もとをただす・ go to the bottom of the matter

Thread on left and "intertwined threads" on the right - thus "many intertwined threads" indicating "tangling" or "complication" - hence may have lead to inquiry into tangled mess...


級　キュウ
GRADE JY3 F573 1279

grade, class, rank, degree, rating
等級・とうきゅう・ class, grade, rank
階級・かいきゅう・ class, estate
高級・こうきゅう・ high grade
昇級・しょうきゅう・ promotion, advancement

"Thread" on left and "reach" on right, which phonetically suggested order and also its own idea of making contact. Thus "to join threads in the correct order" - giving an idea of relative position and then related meaning or rank or grade.


約　ヤク
PROMISE; CONTRACT; APPROXIMATELY

promise, make an agreement, conclude
約束・やくそく・ promise, vow, pledge
誓約・せいやく・ vow, pledge, oath
contract, abridge, summarise
制約・せいやく・ restriction, limitation
要約・ようやく・ summary, abridged statement
約を交わす・やくをかわす・ exchange promises

"Thread" on left and "ladle/measure" on right phonetically expressing idea of "tie tightly" - so original meaning "to tie threads tightly into a knot" and hence idea of binding agreements.