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Hanja of Food

10 characters

The Book of Rites: "All ritual begins with food and drink." In Eastern thought, eating is not survival but the first seat of ethics. 10 hanja from 食 (eat) to 味 (taste) to 甘苦辛 (sweet-bitter-spicy).

食
식 먹을

Grain in a lidded vessel (皀) — the original act of eating.

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飯
반 밥

Eat (食) + return (反) — the meal that returns each day.

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茶
차 차

Grass (艹) + person (人) + tree (木) — the drink humans brew from leaves.

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酒
주 술

Water (氵) + the cyclical (酉) — water fermented in a ritual jar.

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味
미 맛

Mouth (口) + not-yet (未) — what has not yet been named within the mouth.

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甘
감 달

Something dwelling within the mouth (口) — sweetness is what stays.

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苦
고 쓸

Grass (艹) + ancient (古) — bitterness dwells in aged herbs.

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辛
신 매울

A blade for marking the criminal's face — extended to spiciness and pain.

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料
료 헤아릴

Rice (米) + measure (斗) — weighing grain by the unit.

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宴
연 잔치

Roof (宀) + at-ease (妟) — a relaxed gathering under one roof — a feast.

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