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The character 再 (zài) originally depicted two fish facing each other, symbolizing 'again' or 'twice' through repetition. In its earliest oracle bone script forms, it showed two fish or two similar elements arranged vertically. Over time, this evolved through bronze script into the modern form, where the horizontal lines represent multiples and the central element connects them. The character fundamentally means 'again,' 'once more,' or 'a second time,' reflecting its origin in duplicated imagery. It's used in words like 再见 (goodbye, literally 'see again') and 再次 (once more). Arrived in Japan: The character 再 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Buddhist texts, Confucian classics, and cultural exchange with China and Korea. It was formally adopted into the Japanese writing system and is read as 'sai' or 'futata(bi)' in Japanese.