The Kanji: 茶 (Cha / Sa)
The kanji 茶 means "tea." It combines 艹 (plants) with 余 (surplus), originally depicting the beneficial leaves used for brewing. This character represents both the tea plant and the social culture surrounding it.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. お茶 (ocha) - Tea
食事の後でお茶を飲む。
"Drink tea after meals."
2. 茶道 (sadō) - Tea ceremony
茶道を習い始める。
"Begin learning tea ceremony."
3. 緑茶 (ryokucha) - Green tea
緑茶は健康に良い。
"Green tea is good for health."
4. 茶色 (chairo) - Brown color
茶色の靴を買う。
"Buy brown shoes."
In summary, 茶 encompasses tea culture - from the beverage itself (お茶, 緑茶) and its ceremonial practice (茶道) to color descriptions (茶色). It's deeply embedded in Japanese daily life and aesthetics.