念 means “thought, attention, wish”

ねん · nen

Also: sense, idea

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ネン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

Now (今) resting on the heart (心): the thought you can't put down. 残念, a thought that remains (残), means "what a pity", and 念のため, "just to be sure", is what a careful colleague says before checking a second time.

Used in 残念 (zannen, a pity), 記念 (kinen, commemoration), and 念のため (nen no tame, just in case)

More from Thinking & Knowing

• 察 observe
• 識 know
• 覚 remember
• 忘 forget
• 慣 get used to
• 才 talent
• 実 reality
• 解 solve
• 信 trust
• 確 certain
• 能 ability
• 疑 doubt

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