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The character 次 originally depicted a person with their mouth open, possibly yawning, suggesting a sequence or 'next in line.' In ancient oracle bone script, it showed a kneeling figure with open mouth. Over time, it evolved to combine the radical 欠 (meaning 'to lack' or 'yawn') with 二 (two), symbolizing 'second' or 'next.' The character came to mean 'second,' 'next,' 'order,' or 'inferior,' reflecting its connection to sequence and hierarchy. Arrived in Japan: The character 次 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with other Chinese characters, when Japan began systematically importing Chinese writing and culture through Korean scribes and direct contact with Chinese dynasties. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji character, retaining its meaning of 'next' or 'second.'