mercy
慈 centers on a deep, compassionate mercy: a tender, caring love that seeks to relieve suffering, often associated with parental or benevolent affection.
慈 combines 兹 (which likely contributes the sound) with 心 (heart), suggesting a heartfelt, merciful disposition. The exact historical development of 兹 is uncertain, but the phono-semantic structure is clear.
The top part 兹 looks like two strands of silk (幺) tied together, and the bottom is a heart 心. Imagine a merciful heart gently binding up wounds with soft silk threads.
For ジ, picture a merciful person saying 'Gee, let me help you' with a tender heart: 'Gee' -> ジ, and the mercy flows from the heart.
charity; benevolence; philanthropy
mercy; compassion; clemency; pity; charity; benevolence
merciless; ruthless; pitiless; unfeeling
affection (esp. parental); love; fondness
affection; love; fondness; tenderness
Sagittaria trifolia var. edulis (edible variant of threeleaf arrowhead)
to be affectionate towards; to show tenderness towards; to treat tenderly; to love
mercy and love
Jikei University School of Medicine
spotbelly greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus)
kind-hearted; benevolence
tilefish (Branchiostegus spp.); blanquillo; horse-head fish
great compassion and mercy
Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis var. tuberosa)
welcome (beneficial) rain in a drought; realization of something eagerly looked for; a welcome relief
affectionate elder brother
philanthropic work; charitable enterprise
philanthropic society
charitable organization; charitable institution; charity
charitable person; philanthropist