1. Meaning and Usage
The core meaning of the kanji 性 is "nature," "character," "gender," or "property." It refers to the innate quality, essence, or characteristic of a person, thing, or concept.
Common Readings and Words:
せい (sei): The Sino-Japanese reading used in compound words.
性格 (seikaku): Personality, character. (性-nature + 格-status)
女性 (josei): Woman, female. (女-woman + 性-gender)
男性 (dansei): Man, male. (男-man + 性-gender)
可能性 (kanōsei): Possibility. (可能-possible + 性-ity → "-ity" suffix)
性別 (seibetsu): Gender. (性-gender + 別-distinction)
しょう (shō): A less common Sino-Japanese reading found in some Buddhist terms.
2. Correct Stroke Order
Writing 性 correctly is straightforward and follows fundamental principles. The kanji is composed of the left radical 忄 (ritsu-ben - heart/mind) and the right component 生 (sei - life).
Total Strokes: 8
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
Left Radical: 忄 (Ritsu-ben - Heart/Mind)
Stroke 1: Left dot (点).
Stroke 2: Right dot (点).
Stroke 3: Center vertical stroke (竖). Note: The "heart" radical is written completely before moving to the right side.
Right Component: 生 (Sei - Life)
Stroke 4: Short left-falling stroke (撇) from the top.
Stroke 5: Short horizontal stroke (横) below it.
Stroke 6: Long horizontal stroke (横) at the bottom.
Stroke 7: Vertical stroke (竖) from top to bottom, through the center.
Stroke 8: Short horizontal stroke (横) at the very bottom.
Key Stroke Order Rules Applied:
Left to Right: The entire left radical 忄 is written before the right component 生.
Top to Bottom: This rule governs the order within the 生 component.
3. Historical Origins and Etymology (The "Story" Behind the Kanji)
The history of 性 is deeply philosophical and is a perfect example of a 形声文字 (keisei moji) or phonetic-ideographic compound.
Let's break down its two components:
Semantic Component (Meaning): 忄 (Kokoro - Heart/Mind)
This is the "heart" or "mind" radical. In East Asian philosophy, the heart was considered the seat of one's innate nature, emotions, and moral character.
Phonetic Component (Sound): 生 (Sei - Life/Birth)
This component means "life," "to be born," or "to grow." It provided the ancient Chinese pronunciation, which evolved into the Japanese reading sei.
The Combined Meaning and Philosophical Significance:
The character 性 was created to represent the concept of "innate nature." It specifically refers to the "nature one is born with."
This is a cornerstone concept in Confucian philosophy, particularly in the teachings of Mencius, who argued that human nature (性) is inherently good. The character beautifully encapsulates this idea:
"The heart/mind (忄) one is born with (生)."
It answers the question: What is the fundamental, inborn character of a person or thing? It is their 性.
Evolution of Meaning:
From this core philosophical concept, the meaning expanded:
Human Nature: A person's innate character (性格 - personality).
Inherent Quality: The essential property of anything (可能性 - potentiality, 酸性 - acidity).
Biological Sex: The nature one is born with as male or female (性別 - gender, 男性 - male).
4. Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences showing the different uses of 性.
As "Personality" (せい):
Romaji: Kare wa akarui seikaku desu.
English: He has a bright personality.
彼は明るい性格です。
As "Gender" (せい):
Romaji: Shorui ni seibetsu o kinyū shite kudasai.
English: Please enter your gender on the form.
書類に性別を記入してください。
As "Possibility" (せい):
Romaji: Seikō suru kanōsei ga takai.
English: There is a high possibility of success.
成功する可能性が高い。
Summary
Meaning: Nature, character, gender, property.
Writing: 8 strokes. Write the left "heart" radical 忄 first, then the right "life/birth" component 生.
Origin: A phonetic-ideographic compound central to Confucian thought. It combines 忄 (heart/mind) with 生 (birth/life) to represent the philosophical concept of "innate nature"—the character, quality, or essence that one is born with. This profound idea is the source of all its modern meanings, from personality to gender.