更

音読おんよみ: コウ

訓読くんよみ: さら・ふける

画数かくすう: 7

部首ぶしゅ: ひらび（曰）

Meaning

Renew / replace / further / night watch.

  • 更新こうしん — renewal; update
  • 変更へんこう — change; modification
  • 更衣室こういしつ — changing room
  • 更生こうせい — rehabilitation; restart
  • 更正こうせい — correction; rectification
  • 更さらに — furthermore; even more
  • 更ふける — to grow late (at night)

The radical ひらび（曰） is the “speech” radical, originally showing a mouth speaking words. In 更 it combines with the meaning of “to renew / to replace,” which later broadened to ideas like “further, again,” and also the “night watch” that changes as the night grows late.

変

Link 更 with 変 in the common word 変更へんこう. Think of something being “changed and renewed” — whether it’s a plan, schedule, or rule. That hook ties 更 to the everyday idea of making modifications.

新
Forms ...

更こう新しん — renewal; update (very common in modern usage).

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