The Kanji: 報 (Hō / Muku)
The kanji 報 means "report," "news," or "repay." It combines 幸 (happiness) with 卩 (kneeling person), originally depicting rewarding someone for good news. This character represents both information dissemination and reciprocal action.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 報告 (hōkoku) - Report
調査結果を報告する。
"Report the survey results."
2. 新聞 (shinbun) - Newspaper
毎朝新聞を読む。
"I read the newspaper every morning."
3. 報酬 (hōshū) - Reward
仕事の報酬を受け取る。
"Receive payment for work."
4. 報いる (mukuiru) - To repay
親の恩に報いる。
"Repay one's parents' kindness."
In summary, 報 describes information sharing (報告, 新聞) and reciprocal exchanges (報酬, 報いる). It connects communication with moral reciprocity in Japanese culture.