觀
outlook, look, appearance, condition, view
Strokes24
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- み.る
- しめ.す
Meaning
觀 centers on the act of looking with attention: observing, viewing, or examining something to form an outlook or assess its appearance and condition.
Most common words using 觀
- 理觀りかん
contemplation of principle
Study
Etymology
觀 combines 雚 (a type of bird, likely contributing sound) with 見 (see), suggesting the idea of looking or observing. The modern Japanese simplified form is 観.
Meaning mnemonic
A bird (雚) perched high up, using its sharp eyes (見) to survey the landscape below—this is the act of observing and taking in the view.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine you can see everything clearly through a pair of binoculars: can -> カン, and you observe the whole outlook.