first Sanskrit alphabet letter
Buddhist term; refers to the letter 'a' in Siddham script, often symbolizing the origin of all things. See also 阿字 (あじ).
See also: 阿字 (あじ)
In esoteric Buddhism, the letter 'a' is said to represent the origin of all things.
Africa
Abbreviation of 阿弗利加 (アフリカ). Rarely used independently; mostly found in historical or abbreviated contexts.
See also: アフリカ
Abbreviation for the old Japanese province of Awa (阿波国). Now mainly historical or used in place names.
intimate prefix for names
Archaic familiar prefix attached to personal names to show closeness, similar to お or ご in modern Japanese but now obsolete.
'阿' was used as an abbreviation for Africa on old maps.
Awa Province corresponds to present-day Tokushima Prefecture.
In classical texts, '阿' was sometimes attached to names to express familiarity, as in '阿母'.
阿波 is the full name of the old province, while 阿 is the shortened form used in compounds and place names.
flattery; adulation
red-throated loon; red-throated diver
opium
high monk; high priest · initiate; formal rank in Tendai and Shingon · monk who conducts religious services
greedy; ruthless; exploitative
asafetida
timeserving; obsequiousness; flattery for personal gain
Ophidion asiro; cusk eel species
elder brother; my dear brother
the letter A; first Sanskrit letter
The kanji 阿 is used phonetically in various abbreviations: from Sanskrit 'a' (Buddhist term), as the first character of ateji for 'Africa' (阿弗利加), and for the province name 'Awa' (阿波). The archaic prefix use is also phonetic, likely derived from Chinese usage.
open-mouthed form (statue)
umbrella tree; fragrant screw pine; kewda
mother
father
father-in-law (of a woman) · grandfather
donkey hide gelatin; ejiao