The Kanji: 来 (Ku.ru/Rai) - The "Come" Kanji
1. Meaning and Usage
Core Meanings: To come; to arrive; next; since
Readings:
Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): く.る (ku.ru)
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ライ (rai)
Common Words and Compounds:
来る (くる / kuru) - To come
来年 (らいねん / rainen) - Next year
来月 (らいげつ / raigetsu) - Next month
未来 (みらい / mirai) - Future
来日 (らいにち / rainichi) - Visit to Japan
2. Writing and Stroke Order: The Arriving Wheat
The correct kanji writing for "来" features a balanced structure with distinctive horizontal strokes.
Stroke Order:
Stroke 1: A short horizontal stroke
Stroke 2: A longer horizontal stroke below
Stroke 3: A left-falling stroke from the center
Stroke 4: A right-falling stroke crossing the left-falling stroke
Stroke 5: A short horizontal stroke in the center
Stroke 6: A left-falling stroke
Stroke 7: A right-falling stroke
Significance of Correct Kanji Writing:
Balance: The character should appear symmetrical and stable
Proportions: The central vertical strokes create a strong axis
Stroke Direction: All horizontal strokes should be parallel
3. Historical Origin and Evolution
The history of "来" reveals one of the most fascinating semantic shifts in Chinese characters.
Oracle Bone Script (甲骨文字):
The earliest form was a clear pictogram of wheat, showing:
The stalk with leaves
The wheat ears
The roots
Bronze Script (金文):
The form became more stylized but maintained the recognizable wheat plant shape.
Seal Script (篆書):
The character evolved into a more abstract form, though the wheat imagery was still discernible.
Modern Form (楷書):
The modern "来" has standardized the strokes while preserving the balanced structure.
Conceptual Evolution:
This character represents a classic case of phonetic borrowing:
The original meaning was "wheat"
The word for "wheat" sounded similar to the word for "to come"
The character was borrowed for its sound to mean "to come"
A new character (麥/麦) was created for "wheat"
Original Meaning:
The character originally represented "wheat" - a plant that:
Was introduced from elsewhere (came from other regions)
Arrived seasonally
Symbolized something coming from outside
Cultural Significance:
In Japanese culture, "来" carries important temporal and spatial meanings:
Temporal Progression: Used for future time references
Spatial Movement: Indicates direction toward the speaker
Cultural Exchange: 来日 represents cross-cultural visits
Buddhist Influence: 来世 means "next life" in Buddhist cosmology
The character beautifully connects agricultural cycles with human movement and time.
Summary
The kanji "来" represents a remarkable journey from agricultural symbol to verb of movement. Beginning as a pictogram of wheat - a plant that literally "came" to ancient China from other regions - it was borrowed for its sound to become the essential verb for arrival and future events. Mastering its stroke order and balanced structure teaches important principles of Japanese kanji writing. When you learn how to write kanji like "来," you're engaging with a character that connects ancient agricultural trade with modern concepts of time and movement. This character serves as a fascinating example of how languages adapt and evolve - where a concrete plant symbol transforms into an abstract verb, preserving the idea of something arriving from elsewhere. From the wheat that traveled across ancient trade routes to the visitors who come to Japan today, "来" continues to represent both physical arrival and the unfolding of future time, maintaining its essential meaning of "coming" while completely transforming its original reference.