慈
mercy
Readings
On'yomi
- ジ
Kun'yomi
- いつく.しむ
Nanori
- しげ
- ちか
- めぐみ
- よし
Meaning
慈 centers on a deep, compassionate mercy: a tender, caring love that seeks to relieve suffering, often associated with parental or benevolent affection.
Most common words using 慈
20 of 45- 慈善じぜんN1
charity; benevolence; philanthropy
- 慈悲じひN1
mercy; compassion; clemency; pity; charity; benevolence
- 無慈悲むじひ
merciless; ruthless; pitiless; unfeeling
- 慈愛じあい
affection (esp. parental); love; fondness
- 慈しみいつくしみ
affection; love; fondness; tenderness
- 慈姑くわい
Sagittaria trifolia var. edulis (edible variant of threeleaf arrowhead)
- 慈しむいつくしむ
to be affectionate towards; to show tenderness towards; to treat tenderly; to love
- 慈恵じけい
mercy and love
- 東京慈恵会医科大学とうきょうじけいかいいかだいがく
Jikei University School of Medicine
- 慈眼じげん
merciful eye (of a Buddha or a bodhisattva watching humanity)
- 久慈目くじめ
spotbelly greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus)
- 仁慈じんじ
kind-hearted; benevolence
- 具慈ぐじ
tilefish (Branchiostegus spp.); blanquillo; horse-head fish
- 大慈大悲だいじだいひ
great compassion and mercy
- 大黒慈姑おおくろぐわい
Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis var. tuberosa)
- 干天慈雨かんてんじう
welcome (beneficial) rain in a drought; realization of something eagerly looked for; a welcome relief
- 慈兄じけい
affectionate elder brother
- 慈善事業じぜんじぎょう
philanthropic work; charitable enterprise
- 慈善会じぜんかい
philanthropic society
- 慈善団体じぜんだんたい
charitable organization; charitable institution; charity
Study
Etymology
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.
Meaning mnemonic
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.
Reading mnemonic
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.