Kanji 臣: retainer, subject
Key takeaways
Kanji 臣: retainer, subject. Readings and core meaning.
See vocabulary and examples below.
Kanji at a glance
Core meaning / core image
Core meaning: 臣
retainer, subject
Kanji structure breakdown
Mnemonic story
Mnemonic story
This character is a pictograph depicting the eye of a servant looking downward while bowing before a ruler. Imagine a loyal official showing respect and submission in the presence of a king. It is commonly used in words like 'minister' (大臣) or 'subject' (臣下).