相

相 U+76F8, 相 ← 盷[U+76F7] CJK Unified Ideographs 盹 →[U+76F9] Stroke order

相 (Kangxi radical 109, 目+4, 9 strokes, Cangjie input 木月山 (DBU), four-corner 46900, composition ⿰木目)

• 廂(厢), 㜀, 湘, 緗(缃), 想, 葙, 箱, 霜

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 800, character 18
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 23151
• Dae Jaweon: page 1216, character 8
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2470, character 13
• Unihan data for U+76F8

simp. and trad. 相

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 木 (“tree”) + 目 (“eye”) – an eye looking at a tree — original character for 相 (OC *slaŋs, “to observe”). Later phonetically borrowed to represent 相 (OC *slaŋ, “mutually”).

An allofam is 胥 (OC *sŋa, *sŋaʔ, “each other; mutually; all; to observe; to assist”) (Gong, 1995; Schuessler, 2007). Note also similarities to Burmese သင့် (sang., “to befall, be suitable”).

Derivative: 想 (OC *slaŋʔ, “to think”) (“appearance > to visualise > to think”).

相

1. to see for oneself; to evaluate by seeing for oneself 相女婿 ― xiāng nǚxù ― assess the suitability of a prospective son-in-law or husband
2. mutually; reciprocally; towards each other; one another 相望 ― xiāngwàng ― to look at each other 相逢 ― xiāngféng ― to meet by chance
3. together; jointly
4. successively; one after another
5. used before a verb to indicate the action is performed by one person towards another 相信 ― xiàngxìn ― to believe 如實相告／如实相告 ― rúshí xiānggào ― (please add an English translation of this usage example) 出手相救 ― chūshǒu xiāngjiù ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
   • [陸菲青] 竟自昏了過去。也不知過了多少時候，迷迷糊糊中只覺得有人相推 [MSC, trad.][陆菲青] 竟自昏了过去。也不知过了多少时候，迷迷糊糊中只觉得有人相推 [MSC, simp.][Lù Fēiqīng] jìngzì hūn le guòqù. Yě bù zhī guò le duōshǎo shíhòu, mímíhúhú zhōng zhǐ jué de yǒu rén xiāng tuī [Pinyin](please add an English translation of this quotation)
   • 旗正飄飄　馬正蕭蕭　一彎新月來相照 [MSC, trad.]旗正飘飘　马正萧萧　一弯新月来相照 [MSC, simp.]qí zhèng piāopiāo, mǎ zhèng xiāoxiāo, yī wān xīnyuè lái xiāng zhào [Pinyin](please add an English translation of this quotation)
6. a surname

• (to each other; a meaningless element): 廝 / 厮 (sī)

相

1. to look at; to examine the appearance and judge; to observe
   • 相鼠有皮，人而無儀！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]相鼠有皮，人而无仪！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]From: 《相鼠》, the 52nd poem in the Classic of Poetry, c. 11th～7th centuries BCEXiàng shǔ yǒu pí, rén ér wú yí! [Pinyin]Look at the rat, it keeps its coat;How can a man lack proper comport?
2. looks; appearance; features 長相／长相 ― zhǎngxiàng ― facial features
3. posture; bearing 睡相 ― shuìxiàng ― posture during sleep
4. demeanour; manners 吃相 ― chīxiàng ― table manners
5. photo; picture; photograph (Classifier: 張／张 m c; 幅 c) 影幾張相／影几张相 [Cantonese] ― jing2 gei2 zoeng1 soeng3-2 [Jyutping] ― to take a few pictures
6. phase; exterior; stage; period
7. (physics) phase 相空間／相空间 ― xiàngkōngjiān ― phase space 相位 ― xiàngwèi ― phase 月相 ― yuèxiàng ― lunar phase
8. (geology) facies
9. to physiognomise; to practise physiognomy; to tell fortune by reading the subject’s facial features 相面 ― xiàngmiàn ― to tell somebody’s fortune by their face
10. physiognomy; practice of physiognomy
11. to choose; to pick
12. to assist; to help; to oversee 相夫教子 ― xiàngfūjiàozǐ ― to help one’s husband while bringing up one’s children
    • 乃今幸為天火之所滌蕩，凡眾之疑慮，舉為灰埃。黔其廬，赭其垣，以示其無有，而足下之才能乃可顯白而不汙，其實出矣。是祝融、回祿之相吾子也。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]乃今幸为天火之所涤荡，凡众之疑虑，举为灰埃。黔其庐，赭其垣，以示其无有，而足下之才能乃可显白而不污，其实出矣。是祝融、回禄之相吾子也。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]From: circa 806, Liu Zongyuan (柳宗元),《賀進士王參元失火書》, translated into English as Congratulations on a Fire by Herbert A. Giles, 1922.Nǎi jīn xìng wèi tiānhuǒ zhī suǒ dídàng, fán zhòng zhī yílǜ, jǔ wèi huī’āi. Qián qí lú, zhě qí yuán, yǐ shì qí wú yǒu, ér zúxià zhī cáinéng nǎi kě xiǎn bái ér bù wū, qí shí chū yǐ. Shì Zhùróng, Huílù zhī xiàng wúzǐ yě. [Pinyin]But now that Heaven has sent this ruin upon you, the suspicions of men vanish with the smoke of the fire, and are refuted by the blackened walls which proclaim your poverty to all. Your talents have now free play, without fear of reproach. Verily the Gods of Fire are on your side.
13. (Chinese mythology) Xiang of Xia (fifth king of the semi-legendary Xia dynasty)
14. (chiefly historical or in compounds) Chancellor of State; minister 外相 ― wàixiàng ― foreign minister 首相 ― shǒuxiàng ― prime minister
    • 恩相，恰纔蒙兩個承局呼喚林沖，將刀來比看。 [MSC, trad.]恩相，恰才蒙两个承局呼唤林冲，将刀来比看。 [MSC, simp.]From: Water Margin, Chapter 7Ēn xiàng, qià cái méng liǎng ge chéng jú hūhuàn Lín Chōng, jiāng dāo lái bǐ kàn. [Pinyin]Benevolent Lord, two of your lieutenants brought me here saying you wanted to compare your sword with mine.
15. (xiangqi) minister: 🩢 (on the red side)
16. (historical) master of ceremonies
17. (historical) attendant
18. to administer; to govern
    • 吾聞勞心者役人，勞力者役於人，彼其勞心者歟？能者用而智者謀，彼其智者歟？是足為佐天子、相天下法矣！ [Literary Chinese, trad.]吾闻劳心者役人，劳力者役于人，彼其劳心者欤？能者用而智者谋，彼其智者欤？是足为佐天子、相天下法矣！ [Literary Chinese, simp.]From: c. 800, 柳宗元 (Liu Zongyuan),《梓人傳》, translation revised from Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang’s versionWú wén láoxīn zhě yì rén, láolì zhě yì yú rén, bǐ qí láoxīn zhě yú? Néng zhě yòng ér zhì zhě móu, bǐ qí zhì zhě yú? Shì zú wéi zuǒ tiānzǐ, xiàng tiānxià fǎ yǐ! [Pinyin]I have heard that (Mencius said), “Those who toil with their minds cause others to labor on their behalf, while those who toil with their hands labor for others and serve those who use their minds.” He must be one who toils with his mind. Skilled men employ their skills, while intelligent men devise plans. He must be an intelligent man. If so, this serves as a worthy model for those who assist their sovereign in governing an empire.
19. to teach; to instruct
20. a person who guides or leads a blind person
    • 危而不持，顛而不扶，則將焉用彼相矣？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]危而不持，颠而不扶，则将焉用彼相矣？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge’s versionWēi ér bù chí, diān ér bù fú, zé jiāng yān yòng bǐ xiàng yǐ? [Pinyin]How can he be used as a guide to a blind man, who does not support him when tottering, nor raise him up when fallen?
21. (Southern Min) to be born in the year of (one of the twelve animals)
22. (Teochew, Haifeng Min) to believe
23. a surname

• (appearance):

• (photograph):

• (to be born in the year of):

• (to believe):

• (Chancellor of State): 丞相 (chéngxiàng), 相府 (xiàngfǔ), 相國／相国 (xiàngguó), 宰相 (zǎixiàng)

• (Chinese chess pieces) 帥 / 帅 (shuài) / 將 / 将 (jiàng), 仕 (shì) / 士 (shì), 相 / 象 (xiàng), 俥 / 伡 / 車 / 车 (jū), 傌 / 㐷 / 馬 / 马 (mǎ), 炮 / 砲 / 炮, 兵 (bīng) / 卒 (zú)

• “相”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014-
• 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “相”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 258.
• 莆田市政协文化文史和学习委员会 [Culture, History and Learning Committee of Putian CPPCC], editor (2021), “相”, in 莆仙方言大词典 [Comprehensive Dictionary of Puxian Dialect] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, pages 487, 518.

(Third grade kyōiku kanji)

1. mutual, reciprocal, with one another
2. appearance, look

From Middle Chinese 相 (MC sjang); compare Mandarin 相 (xiāng):

• Go-on: そう (sō, Jōyō)←さう (sau, historical)
• Kan-on: しょう (shō, Jōyō)←しやう (syau, historical)

From Middle Chinese 相 (MC sjangH); compare Mandarin 相 (xiàng):

• Go-on: そう (sō, Jōyō)←さう (sau, historical)
• Kan-on: しょう (shō, Jōyō)←しやう (syau, historical)

From native Japanese roots:

• Kun: あい (ai, 相, Jōyō)←あひ (afi, 相, historical)、こもごも (komogomo, 相)←こもこも (komokomo, 相, historical)、さが (saga, 相)、みる (miru, 相る)、たすける (tasukeru, 相ける)
• Nanori: あ (a)、あい (ai)、あう (au)、あきら (akira)、い (i)、おう (ō)、さ (sa)、さが (saga)、すけ (suke)、たすく (tasuku)、とも (tomo)、はる (haru)、まさ (masa)、み (mi)、みる (miru)

Kanji in this term 相 あいGrade: 3 kun’yomi For pronunciation and definitions of 相 – see the following entry. 【あい】 [prefix] mutual, together, each other [prefix] used in official or epistolary writings for elegance or politeness (This term, 相, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) Kanji in this term 相 こもごもGrade: 3 kun’yomi For pronunciation and definitions of 相 – see the following entry. 【こもごも】 [adverb] alternating; one after another [adverb] all mixed up and indistinct (This term, 相, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) Kanji in this term 相 さがGrade: 3 kun’yomi Alternative spelling 性

From Old Japanese, although the ultimate derivation is unknown. Appears in The Tale of Genji and The Tales of Ise of the Heian period.[1]

• (Tokyo) さが [sáꜜgà] (Atamadaka – [1])[2][3]
• IPA(key): [sa̠ɡa̠]

相(さが) • (saga)

1. nature, personality, characteristic
2. fate, destiny
3. a habit, custom, or practice
4. the good and bad of a person, especially one’s faults

• (nature): 性(せい)質(しつ) (seishitsu); 本(ほん)能(のう) (honnō)
• (fate): 運(うん)命(めい) (unmei); 宿(しゅく)命(めい) (shukumei)
• (habit): 癖(くせ) (kuse)
• (custom): 習(しゅう)慣(かん) (shūkan); 慣(なら)わし, 習(なら)わし (narawashi)
• (good and bad): 善(ぜん)悪(あく) (zen’aku)
• (faults): 欠(けっ)点(てん) (ketten); 短(たん)所(しょ) (tansho); 悪(わる)癖(ぐせ) (waruguse); 悪(あく)癖(へき) (akuheki)

Kanji in this term 相 しょうGrade: 3 kan’on

From Middle Chinese 相 (“together, with”), from the way that a minister would always be with their lord. Kan’on, so likely a later borrowing than the sō reading.

• (Tokyo) しょー [shóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
• IPA(key): [ɕo̞ː]

相(しょう) • (-shō) ←しやう (-syau)?

1. minister of state 首(しゅ)相(しょう)shushōprime minister 内(ない)相(しょう)naishōminister of the interior

• 大(だい)臣(じん) (daijin)

Kanji in this term 相 そうGrade: 3 goon

From Middle Chinese. Goon, so likely an earlier borrowing than the shō reading.

• (Tokyo) そー [sóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2][3]
• IPA(key): [so̞ː]

相(そう) • (sō) ←さう (sau)?

1. appearance, how something looks
2. an aspect of something 大(だい)自(し)然(ぜん)の色(いろ)々(いろ)な相(そう)daishizen no iroiro na sōvarious aspects of nature
3. (grammar) grammatical aspect
4. (physics) a phase, as of matter
5. (ikebana) the central supporting branch of an ikebana arrangement

• (ikebana): 役(やく)枝(えだ) (yakueda)

Kanji in this term 相 すがたGrade: 3 kun’yomi For pronunciation and definitions of 相 – see the following entry. 【姿すがた】6 [noun] figure, appearance, form, aspect, shape (This term, 相, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

• “△相”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎[2] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015-2026

From Middle Chinese 相 (MC sjang, “mutual; together”).

Historical readings Dongguk Jeongun reading Dongguk Jeongun, 1448 Recorded as Middle Korean 샤ᇰ (Yale: syàng) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Middle Korean Text Eumhun Gloss (hun) Reading Hunmong Jahoe, 1527 서르 샤ᇰ[2] Recorded as Middle Korean 샤ᇰ (syang) (Yale: syàng) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.[1] Early Modern Korean Text Final (韻) Reading Samun Seonghwi, 1751 서ᄅᆞ 샹 Recorded as Early Modern Korean 샹 (Yale: syang) in Juhae Cheonjamun (註解千字文 / 주해천자문), 1804.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [sʰa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [상]

相 (eumhun 서로 상 (seoro sang))

1. hanja form? of 상 (“mutual; together”)

From Middle Chinese 相 (MC sjangH, “appearance”).

Historical readings Dongguk Jeongun reading Dongguk Jeongun, 1448 Recorded as Middle Korean 샤ᇰ〮 (Yale: syáng) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Middle Korean Text Eumhun Gloss (hun) Reading Hunmong Jahoe, 1527 ᄌᆡ〯샤ᇰ〮[1] 샤ᇰ〮 Recorded as Middle Korean 샤ᇰ〮 (syáng) (Yale: syáng) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527. Early Modern Korean Text Final (韻) Reading Samun Seonghwi, 1751 졍승[2] 샹 Recorded as Early Modern Korean 샹 (Yale: syang) in Juhae Cheonjamun (註解千字文 / 주해천자문), 1804.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [sʰa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [상]

相 (eumhun 바탕 상 (batang sang))

1. hanja form? of 상 (“looks; appearance”)
2. hanja form? of 상 (“minister of state”)

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

相: Hán Nôm readings: tương

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