襟 means “collar, neckline”

えり · eri

Also: neck, lapel, one's inner feelings

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

えり

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

キン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 18 strokes

The story

Clothing (衤) beside 禁, forbidden: the collar that closes off the neck, a line not to cross. 襟 is a collar: 襟元 is the neckline, 襟を正す, straightening your collar, is resolving to act properly, and 胸襟を開く is opening your heart.

Used in 襟 (eri, collar), 襟元 (erimoto, neckline), and 胸襟を開く (kyoukin o hiraku, to open one's heart)

More from Silk & Sleeves

• 蚕 silkworm
• 裾 hem
• 繭 cocoon
• 巾 cloth
• 織 weave
• 脱 take off
• 麻 hemp
• 錦 brocade
• 繊 fiber
• 履 put on (shoes)
• 縫 sew
• 裸 naked

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.