think, consider
稽 centers on careful mental examination: thinking deeply about something, considering it from different angles, or pausing to reflect before acting.
稽 is a phono-semantic compound: 禾 (grain) suggests careful examination or sorting, and 旨 (sweet, delicious) likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Picture a scholar with a grain stalk (禾) in hand, pausing (尤) to taste (旨) its quality—stopping to think and consider carefully before deciding.
For ケイ, imagine a thinker named Kay who always stops to consider every detail: Kay -> ケイ, and her thoughtful pause matches the kanji's meaning.
practice; practising; training; study
funny; comical; humorous; laughable
absurd; nonsensical; preposterous
giving lessons at pupils' homes
practice; training
head-to-head training; drill consisting of pushing and being pushed; battering practice
practicing by oneself; self-instruction
a row of training matches with the same opponent
rehearsal; run-through; practice
training by participants of the same skill level (kendo)
substitute teaching
humiliation of defeat in battle; past humiliation by others; shame of an unendurable disgrace
to avenge a defeat; to regain one's honor
training by two participants of the same skill level (kendo)
dress rehearsal
mid-winter training
outdoor practice
form refinement training
training performed by an attacker and a defender, involving intentional openings
kakari geiko; training performed by an attacker and a defender