delicious, relish, show a liking for, purport, will, clever, expert
旨 centers on the idea of something being essentially good or intended: delicious taste, a liking for something, the gist or purpose of a matter, and by extension clever or expert handling that gets to the heart of things.
旨 combines 匕 (spoon) and 日 (sun or saying), traditionally interpreted as tasting with a spoon to express deliciousness or the essence of something. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination is well established.
A spoon (匕) over a sun-like mouth (日) suggests tasting something delicious and getting to its essence. The same idea extends to grasping the gist or being clever about what matters.
For シ, imagine a chef tasting a dish and saying 'Shee!' with delight because it's so delicious: 'Shee!' -> シ, capturing the essence of the flavor.
principle; aim; main purpose; central part; pillar
meaning; point (e.g. of a statement); gist; effect
good flavor (flavour); good taste; deliciousness
(main) point; gist; key points; essentials; substance; summary; outline; abstract
point of an argument; drift of an argument
tenets (of a religious sect); doctrines
main object; principal object; true aim
(words to) that effect
the emperor's thoughts
prince's message; command of a prince
emperor's secret orders
imperial order; imperial will
strict order; your order
the emperor's instructions
one cannot understand even a holy man's teachings without study; one cannot know the abilities of a great man without putting him to use; one cannot know the delicious taste of fine food without eating it
deep truth; deep knowledge
conversion (to a different religion, denomination, etc.)
written imperial order (late Heian period)
thoughts; feelings
God's will