Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 予 (yǔ) originally depicted a hand holding a needle or shuttle, representing the meaning 'to give' or 'to grant.' In ancient bronze inscriptions, it appeared as a pictograph showing this action. Over time, it evolved through seal script and clerical script into its current simplified form. The character carries meanings of giving, bestowing, or preparing in advance (as in 予備 - preparation). It also functions as a first-person pronoun 'I' in classical Chinese. Arrived in Japan: The character 予 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. It was formally incorporated into the Japanese writing system during the Asuka and Nara periods when Japan systematically adopted Chinese characters for official documents and literary works.