Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
Historical forms are not available yet. The current form is shown as a reference.
The character 温 (wēn) evolved from ancient pictographs representing warm water or steam. In oracle bone script, it depicted water in a container being heated. The Liushutong form shows the water radical (氵) combined with the 'bowl' component, suggesting warmth from heated liquid. Over time, it standardized to its current form meaning 'warm,' 'gentle,' or 'temperature,' reflecting both physical warmth and personal temperament. Arrived in Japan: The character 温 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, introduced alongside Chinese writing systems through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange. It was incorporated into the Japanese language as part of the on'yomi reading system, where it reads as 'on' (as in ondō 温度 for temperature) and became an important character in both technical and emotional contexts.