The Kanji: 声 (Sei / Koe)
The kanji 声 means "voice," "sound," or "opinion." It combines 士 (scholar) with a mouth element, originally depicting a scholar's resonant speech. This character represents both audible sounds and expressed viewpoints.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 声 (koe) - Voice
彼の声が聞こえる。
"I can hear his voice."
2. 声優 (seiyū) - Voice actor
アニメの声優になりたい。
"I want to be an anime voice actor."
3. 歓声 (kansei) - Cheer
スタジアムに歓声が響く。
"Cheers echo through the stadium."
4. 声援 (seien) - Support
選手に声援を送る。
"Cheer for the players."
In summary, 声 encompasses vocal sounds (声), professional voice work (声優), collective excitement (歓声), and encouraging shouts (声援). It's fundamental to human communication and expression.