衷 means “innermost feelings, middle”

ちゅう · chuu

Also: inmost, heart, mind, inside

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

チュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

Clothing (衣) split open with 中, middle, tucked inside: 衷 once meant an undergarment, the layer nearest the heart. It is what lies within: 衷心より, from the bottom of one's heart, and 和洋折衷, a blend of Japanese and Western styles.

Used in 折衷 (setchuu, blend/compromise) and 衷心 (chuushin, one's innermost heart)

More from Loyalty & Duty

• 義 righteousness
• 善 good
• 孝 filial piety
• 徳 virtue
• 忠 loyalty
• 誠 sincerity
• 倫 ethics
• 仁 benevolence
• 貞 chastity
• 慈 mercy

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