磁 means “magnet, porcelain”

じ · ji

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジ

Taught in grade 6 · 14 strokes

The story

A stone (石) that attracts with mysterious purpose (兹): the lodestone that pointed ancient compasses north. 磁 bridges two meanings: magnetic force and ceramic art. Japanese 磁器 (jiki, porcelain) from Arita and Imari dazzled European courts, while 磁石 (jishaku) guided navigators across unknown seas.

Used in 磁石 (jishaku, magnet), 磁器 (jiki, porcelain), and 磁気 (jiki, magnetism)

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