The Kanji: 交 (Kō / Ma)
The kanji 交 (read as Kō or ma) carries the core meaning of "to mix," "to intersect," "to exchange," or "to associate with." It is a pictographic character that visually represents the crossing of legs or other objects, directly illustrating its fundamental concept of intersection and interaction.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 交わる (majiwaru)
Meaning: To cross; to intersect; to mingle with.
Example Sentence: そこで二つの道が交わっている。
(Soko de futatsu no michi ga majiwatte iru.)
"The two roads intersect there."
2. 交換 (kōkan)
Meaning: Exchange; swap.
Example Sentence: 名刺を交換しました。
(Meishi o kōkan shimashita.)
"We exchanged business cards."
3. 交差点 (kōsaten)
Meaning: Intersection; crossroads.
Example Sentence: 次の交差点を右に曲がってください。
(Tsugi no kōsaten o migi ni magatte kudasai.)
"Please turn right at the next intersection."
4. 交ざる (mazaru)
Meaning: To be mixed with; to be blended.
Example Sentence: 彼のスピーチにはユーモアが交ざっている。
(Kare no supīchi ni wa yūmoa ga mazatte iru.)
"His speech is mixed with humor."
In summary, 交 is a fundamental kanji representing all forms of interaction and mixing. It describes physical intersections (交差点), social exchanges (交換), and the blending of elements (交ざる), making it essential for expressing concepts of connection and reciprocity.