Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 即 (jí) depicts a kneeling figure 卩 facing a food vessel 皀, representing someone approaching a meal. This composition gave rise to its core meanings of 'approach', 'draw near', and 'immediately'. In ancient Chinese philosophy, it also developed the meaning 'that is to say' or 'namely', indicating conceptual proximity. Over time, the character evolved from its bronze script form through seal script to the modern regular script, maintaining the essential elements of person and vessel while simplifying their forms. Arrived in Japan: The character 即 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange. It was adopted into Japanese as 'soku' in on'yomi reading and 'tsuku' in kun'yomi reading, preserving the meanings of 'immediately' and 'approach' found in Chinese.