27

Bundle 27: Central Parts

All four kanji represent centers—with slight differences. An axis (軸) lies inside something (a planet, feather, or scroll), as does marrow (髄) and a core (髄 or 芯). Other objects (e.g., doors) revolve around pivots (枢). The body contains specialized brain centers, as well as an axis, marrow, and a core. More abstractly, an axis occupies the center of one's existence. Also, one feels things to the core, the essence of an activity (e.g., aikido) is vitally important, and 枢 helps symbolize the center of the economy, of power, and more.
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軸
axis
JOK: 1330
From Earth’s axis to a penholder, from a car axle to the shaft of a feather, 軸 represents entities that are straight and long. In addition, 軸 has fun figurative uses, enabling people to say, “the core of my thinking,” “innovative plan,” “central role,” and “Language is a vertical axis connecting you to your ancestors.” Our kanji is also in terms for “Axis powers” and “axis of evil.” Learn their back stories!
髄
marrow
JOK: 1463
By learning the figurative senses of “bone marrow” terms, you will grasp the role of 髄 in sentences that mean “A novel has true spirit when it reflects a state of mind” and “The most important part of that picture lies in the person's shadow.” Learn to say, “He is rotten to the core,” “Brevity is the soul of wit,” “the essence of aikido,” and “His article does not get to the essential point.”
枢
hinge
JOK: 1464
The bolt called 枢 (くるる) slides into the cavity called 枢 (とぼそ), just as the knob called 枢 (とまら) fits into the hole called 枢 (とぼそ)! This apparent brain teaser actually supplies early meanings of 枢, which came to play a role in words for central things, ranging from the central nervous system to the center of political power. This kanji also pops up in terms for “Axis powers” and “axis of evil”!
芯
core
JOK: 2036
Exercise your core muscles! This essay shows how one kanji can represent everything from apple cores, candle wicks, metal staples, and pencil lead to the soft innards of a quilt and (ideally) harder core muscles. Learn to say, “I’m chilled to the core.” Find out how to talk about the dead center of a baseball bat and taking a “bite” out of a golf ball. Also discover a connection to female orgasm!
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