Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 焦 originally depicted a bird (隹) above a fire (火), representing the concept of 'scorched' or 'burned.' In ancient oracle bone and bronze inscriptions, this composition clearly showed a bird being burned over flames, conveying meanings of burning, scorching, or charring. Over time, the character evolved through various script forms - from bronze script to seal script, clerical script, and finally to the modern standard form. The character extended to metaphorical meanings including anxiety, worry (as in 焦急), and concentration (as in 焦点), reflecting how physical burning transformed into psychological states of being 'burned up' with concern or 'focused' like a burning point. Arrived in Japan: The character 焦 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing system (kanji) through Buddhist texts and cultural exchange with China and Korea. It became established in the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji repertoire during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters for writing Japanese.