KML – Chapter Seven
小 – Small
Three little dots walk together—each step smaller than the last. 小 shows how something can be tiny, but still complete. Imagine three rice grains dropped in a row: small, but enough to nourish a story.
丶 + 丶 + 丶
On: ショウ ・ Kun: ちい(さい), こ-, お-
少 – Few
A small fire burns—just a few sparks, but enough to light the night.
小 + 丿
On: ショウ ・ Kun: すく(ない)、すこ(し)
大 – Large
A single person stretches arms wide to embrace the world—this is large.
大
On: ダイ、タイ ・ Kun: おお(きい)
多 – Many
Two dances of light, crossing in rhythm—what begins as a few becomes many.
夕 + 夕
On: タ ・ Kun: おお(い)
夕 – Evening
The sun lowers like a hook in the sky—quiet and slow, it is evening.
夕
On: セキ ・ Kun: ゆう
汐 – Eventide
Evening meets the sea, where tide and time slow down together.
水 + 夕
On: セキ ・ Kun: しお
外 – Outside
The evening slips past the fence—freedom lies outside.
夕 + 卜
On: ガイ、ゲ ・ Kun: そと、はず、ほか
名 – Name
In the quiet of evening, a name is called—it glows with meaning.
夕 + 口
On: メイ、ミョウ ・ Kun: な
石 – Stone
A hard truth sits like a stone—solid, enduring, and real.
石
On: セキ、シャク ・ Kun: いし
肖 – Resemblance
Two drops fall in the same way—separate, but with perfect resemblance.
小 + 月
On: ショウ ・ Kun: —
硝 – Nitrate
The spark touches the stone—and the mountain whispers ‘boom.’
石 + 肖
On: ショウ ・ Kun: —
砕 – Smash
A warrior strikes the stone—not to destroy, but to reveal what’s inside.
石 + 九
On: サイ ・ Kun: くだ(く)、くだ(ける)
砂 – Sand
The stone becomes soft, crumbling into sand—time’s gentle erosion.
石 + 少
On: サ、シャ ・ Kun: すな
妬 – Jealous
A woman watches the sparkle in another’s eye—jealousy flickers like fire.
女 + 石
On: ト ・ Kun: ねた(む)
削 – Plane
With each scrape of the blade, something rough becomes smooth—refined by removal.
肖 + 刂
On: サク ・ Kun: けず(る)
光 – Ray
A small fire sends out lines of light—what begins as a flicker becomes a ray.
儿 + 火
On: コウ ・ Kun: ひかり
太 – Plump
A large person stands beside a drop of oil—soft and round, not just big but plump.
大 + 丶
On: タイ、タ ・ Kun: ふと
器 – Utensil
Four mouths gather above a bowl—each one waiting its turn. A utensil serves them all.
口 x 4 + 大
On: キ ・ Kun: うつわ
臭 – Stinking
A nose meets rising air—what floats upward is more than scent. It stinks.
自 + 犬
On: シュウ ・ Kun: くさ、にお
嗅 – Sniff
A mouth opens to speak, but the nose gets there first—sniffing out the truth.
口 + 臭
On: キュウ ・ Kun: か(ぐ)
妙 – Exquisite
A woman with few needs shines brightly—true beauty is in simplicity.
女 + 少
On: ミョウ ・ Kun: たえ
省 – Focus
An eye peers into the small—reflection and focus reveal the truth.
少 + 目
On: セイ、ショウ ・ Kun: はぶ(く)、かえり(みる)
厚 – Thick
A cliff above a child—protection, presence, and something deeply thick.
厂 + 日 + 子
On: コウ ・ Kun: あつ(い)
奇 – Strange
A large one with a bend—a sword or a story that ends strangely.
大 + 可
On: キ ・ Kun: —
