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 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 示(しめす)

Meaning

Shrine / company / society — a group or place of worship or work.

  • 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 indicates something religious or ceremonial, and the 土 shape represents land. Over time, it also came to mean "group" or "organization," leading to its modern use for companies and society.

あたらしい 会社かいしゃはたらいています。
I work at a new company.

神社じんじゃ初詣はつもうでしましたしました
I visited a shrine for the New Year.

会
Creates
社会しゃかい — society
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