The Kanji: 教 (Kyō / Oshi)
The kanji 教 means "teach," "instruct," or "doctrine." It combines 孝 (filial piety) with 攵 (strike), originally depicting imparting knowledge through discipline. This character represents the transmission of knowledge and values.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 教える (oshieru) - To teach
日本語を教えています。
"I teach Japanese."
2. 教育 (kyōiku) - Education
教育は社会の基礎だ。
"Education is society's foundation."
3. 教師 (kyōshi) - Teacher
姉は教師です。
"My sister is a teacher."
4. 宗教 (shūkyō) - Religion
信教の自由は憲法で保障されている。
"Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed."
In summary, 教 encompasses both academic instruction (教育) and spiritual teachings (宗教), representing the fundamental human activity of knowledge transmission from practical skills to belief systems.