To Make

by Nao

tsuku-ru, saku, sa

The activity of making something is the verb, tsuku-ru, or the noun, sakusei. The suffix ru of tsuku-ru is okurigana. The sei of sakusei means either to form or to produce.

The activities of making something specific have names with this character. For example, writing is sakubun, of which the bun means a sentence. Making poetry is sakushi, of which the shi is poetry. Making music is sakkyoku, of which the kyoku means music.

Words relating to agriculture also accompany this character. Crops are sakumotsu, of which the motsu is stuff. A good harvest or a heavy crop is hōsaku, of which hō is rich. A very poor crop is kyōsaku, of which kyō is bad fortune. Rice farming is inasaku. Dry field farming is hatasaku.

Art works are called sakuhin, of which the hin is an object. A masterpiece is kessaku or taisaku. A work of great effort is rikisaku. A work of enormous labor is rōsaku. Both creation and a creative work are called sōsaku.

One more reading of this character is sa. Manner is sahō, of which the hō is manner or style.

The right-hand side of saku (yesterday) is the same as that of this character. Both have the same sound, saku. All the horizontal strokes are parallel.

1. Draw the sweeping stroke from the top to the lower left.
2. Draw the vertical stroke under the previous stroke.
3. Draw the sweeping stroke from the top center.
4. Draw the horizontal stroke touching the middle of the sweeping stroke.
5. Draw the vertical stroke touching the previous stroke.
6. Draw the upper horizontal stroke on the right.
7. Draw the lower horizontal stroke on the right.