徴 means “sign, feature, levy”

ちょう · chou

Also: indications, omen, symptom

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): しるし
On'yomi (Chinese reading): チョウ, チ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 14 strokes

The story

A step (彳), a mountain (山) over a king (王), and a hand with a stick (攵): picture a ruler's men marching into the hills for taxes. 徴 is a levy and a sign: 特徴 is a distinguishing feature, and Japan's constitution calls the Emperor the 象徴, symbol, of the nation.

Used in 特徴 (tokuchou, characteristic/feature), 象徴 (shouchou, symbol), and 徴収 (choushuu, collection of fees or taxes)

徴 means “sign, feature, levy”

The story

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