懸 means “hang, stake, suspend”

けん · ken

Also: state of suspension, depend, consult

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かける, かかる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケン, ケ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 20 strokes

The story

県 and a cord (系) together make 縣, which once meant hanging; under them, a heart (心). 懸 is hanging hopes and fears: 一生懸命 is staking everything on it, 懸念 a worry hanging over you, and 懸賞 a prize on offer.

Used in 一生懸命 (isshoukenmei, with all one's might), 懸念 (kenen, concern), and 懸賞 (kenshou, prize)

More from Bodies in Motion

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• 跳 jump
• 垂 hang down
• 奔 rush
• 蹴 kick

Learn 懸 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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