漸 means “gradually, at last”

ぜん · zen

Also: steadily, gradually advancing, finally, barely

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ようやく, やや, ようよう, すすむ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ゼン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

Water (氵) cutting (斬) through stone a little at a time: picture a river carving out a gorge. 漸 is slow, steady change: 漸増 is a gradual rise, 漸進的 reform goes step by step, and 漸く, usually written ようやく, is at long last.

Used in 漸く (youyaku, at last), 漸進的 (zenshinteki, gradual/step-by-step), and 漸次 (zenji, gradually)

漸 means “gradually, at last”

The story

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