Kanji 社

音読おんよみ: シャ

訓読くんよみ: やしろ

画数かくすう: 7

部首ぶしゅ: しめすへん(礻)

Meaning

Shrine / Company / Society

  • 社員しゃいん — company employee
  • 商社しょうしゃ — trading company
  • 社債しゃさい — corporate bond
  • 社交しゃこう — socializing
  • 会社かいしゃ — company
  • 社会しゃかい — society
  • 神社じんじゃ — Shinto shrine
  • 社長しゃちょう — company president
  • 本社ほんしゃ — head office

This kanji originally meant “place where gods are enshrined.” The radical 示 suggests something religious or ceremonial. Over time, it also came to mean a “group” or “organization,” leading to its modern use for companies and society.

◀︎ Sayings+ ▶︎