The Japanese Radical: 礻


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Meaning
to show, altar    礻

Explanation The radical shimesu is a simplification of "to show" 示, which is a pictogram of an altar.

Used in these characters:
JLPT 5Joyo 2
shrine, company
yashiro, SHA
Left: to show, altar 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on that is shown.), right: earth 土
Show me the earth/ground, where you want to build your company or shrine.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
festival, celebration
matsuri, matsuru, SAI
Top: body/flesh 月 (simplified from flesh/meat 肉), hand or: 又, bottom: show 示 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on; therefore 'to show')
Flesh is put by a hand on the altar: at the festival (of sacrifice).  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
god, spirit
kami, SHIN, JIN
Left: to show, altar 礻/示 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown), right: say, tell 申 (A mouth 口 with a big "plus" + for the outgoing surplus when talking.)
At the altar we speak humbly to: God!  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
luck, good fortune
FUKU
Left: to show, altar 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown), right: barrel of sake 畐 (an altar offering, hence also: prosperity, luck)
At the altar a sake-barrel, brings us: good luck.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
etiquette, gratitude, to bow
REI
Left: to show, altar 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown), right: kneeling person 乚
At the altar kneels somebody who shows etiquette and gratitude.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
investigate, judge, guess, realize, consider
SATSU
Top: roof 宀, below: festival 祭 (Meat 月/肉 is put by hand /又 on the altar 示 for the festival (of sacrifice)
The house festival has to be investigated.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
vote, ballot
HYŌ
西
Top: west 覀/西 (Sunset of the sun 日 under the horizon 一 in the west), below: to show 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on that is shown.)
In the west you show your vote in a ballot/poll.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
sign, signpost, mark, symbol
shirushi, HYŌ
西
Left: tree 木, right: vote 票 (In the west 西 you show 示 at a vote.) [標木 = ひょうぼく = marking pole]
The tree 木 in the west 覀 shows 示 as a signpost.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
forbid, ban, prohibit
KIN
Top: woods 林, below: to show 示 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on)
In the wood a "Showing up" is forbidden. - Or: Sacrificing only woods 林 on the altar 示 is: forbidden.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
show
shimesu, JI, SHI
Image of an altar scene: sacrifice 一 on an altar 丁, with supports 八
The sacrifice on the altar is shown.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
celebrate, congratulate
iwau, SHUKU, SHŪ
Left: to show, altar 示/礻, right: elder brother 兄 [A big mouth 口 on legs 儿]
At the altar with my elder brother for celebrating.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
ancestor
SO
Left: altar, to show 示/礻, right: besides/moreover 且 (A pile of stones [= a stone cairn] where moreover stones are added.) - Here 且 as three coffins piled over each others seen from the end.
At the altar the coffins are piled: of our ancestors.  
JLPT 1Joyo 6
see, look at, watch, observe
miru, SHI
Left: show/altar 示 (Sacrifice 一 on an altar 丁, with supports 八), right: see 見 (= The eye 目 is on legs 儿 when looking around.)
Things on the altar are seen: they are looked at / watched.  
JLPT 1Joyo 6
religion, sect
SHŪ, SŌ
Top: roof 宀, below: to show 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on that is shown.)
The "roof" over the altar is the religion.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
military officer
I
From left: buttock seen from the side 尸, show 示, skillful hand 寸
A 'buttocks' shows his skillful hand: that's the military officer.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
disaster, calamity, misfortune
wazawai, KA
Left: to show, altar 示/礻, right: vertebrae (骨 =backbone, skeleton)
At the altar only a vertebrae was donated, which caused the disaster.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
goodwill, friendship, article of agreement
KAN
Left: samurai 士, to show 示; right: lack 欠 (= The mouth wide open ⺈ of the yawning person 人 is lacking [i.e. manners])
The samurai show his lack of goodwill to an agreement.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
pray, wish, hope
inoru, KI
Left: altar, to show 示/礻 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown), right: axe 斤
At the altar with the axe we will pray.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
collar, lapel, neck
eri, KIN
Left: clothes 衤/衣, right: forbid/prohibit 禁 (= Only putting twice wood 林 on the altar 示 [as a sacrifice] is forbidden.)
Clothes that are forbidden are with collars and lapels.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
purification, abstain, exorcise
SAI
Top: text 文 (A folding table 文 for writing a text.), below center: to show, altar 示, outside: limitation 亅丨
A text on the altar explains the limits of (inner) purification.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
year, year of age
SAI, SEI
From top: stop 止, var. of halberd 戈, var. of show/altar 示
I stop at the altar with the halberd (as a gift). I do that every year.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
rub, grind, grate, scrape, scrub, chafe, scour
suru/reru, kosuru, SATSU
Left: hand 扌, right: investigate 察 (The house-宀 festival 祭 is investigated [festival 祭 = Meat 月/肉 is put by hand on the altar 示/礻for the festival of sacrifice.]
The hand investigates sth. by rubbing it.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
welfare, well, blessing, happiness
SHI
Left: to show/altar 示/礻(image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown), right: stop 止 (= Footprint of the right foot rotated 90° to the left.)
At the altar you should stop for welfare and blessings.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
good omen, lucky sign, good fortune, auspicious
SHŌ
Left: to show, altar 示/礻, right: sheep 羊 (The horned 丷 animal with a backbone 丨 and laterally protruding (by thick wool 三) is the: sheep)
An altar with a (sacrificed) sheep is a good omen. - (However: To sacrifice only woods 林 on the altar 示 is forbidden 禁)  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
revere, lofty, respect
agameru,
Top: mountain 山, bottom: religion 宗 (The "roof" 宀 over the altar 示/礻 is the religion.)
(In Shintō:) In the mountains is the religion we revere.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
Zen meditation
ZEN
Left: to show altar 示/礻, right: merely, simply 単 (It shines the sun 日 in the group of ten 十 [= with the 9 planets] as the mere single.)
You are at the altar simply/merely (yourself) during: Zen meditation.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
float (on the water), drift, waft
tadayou, HYŌ
西
Left: water 氵, right: vote 票 (In the west 西 you show 示 at a vote.)
Water 'voted' to let things float.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
servant, obey
REI
Left: samurai 士 and to show 示/礻, right: 隶 (hand ナ/ヨ and an animal [i.e. cat] with a tail 丨 extremities/limbs spreading away from the body) (cf. to catch 逮)
A samurai shows how to catch a cat by hand at the tail to the servant.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
footmark, track, remains

Left: foot 足 (kneecap 口 and a footprint 止), right: religion 宗 (The "roof" 宀 over the altar 示/礻 is the religion)
Feet as well as religions leave footmarks.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
Nara, what?
NA
Top: big 大, below: to show/altar 示 (image of an altar 丁 with sth. 一 on, that is shown)
A big altar? What? - In Nara?  

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.


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