観 (KAN, mi(ru), shime(su): outlook, look, appearance, condition, view)
As you may have noticed, 見 (mi(ru): to see) pops up inside 観. Sharing the yomi of mi(ru), as well as related meanings, these characters must be distant cousins.
You may be wondering where you’ve seen 観 before. Perhaps you encountered it in 観光 (kankō: sightseeing, view + scenery) or in its spinoff words:
観光地 (kankōchi: sightseeing area)
view + scenery + place
観光客 (kankōkyaku: tourist)
view + scenery + spectatorYou might also have run across 観 in these words:
観測 (kansoku: observation) view + to observe
観点 (kanten: point of view) view + point
観劇 (kangeki: theater-going) to observe + dramaAlso, -観 is a suffix meaning “view, conception, theory,” as in the following:
価値観 (kachikan: values) value + value + view
主観 (shukan: subjectivity) subject + view
楽観 (rakkan: optimism) easy + view
悲観 (hikan: pessimism) sad + viewI adore this compound for its simple logic! I like the previous word, too, and I wanted to define 楽 as “pleasurable” (since optimism is a pleasurable feeling), but two dictionaries have the meaning of 楽 in 楽観 as “easy.”
先入観 (sennyūkan: preconception, bias, prejudice)
before + to enter + view
人生観 (jinseikan: outlook on life)
person + life + view
世界観 (sekaikan: worldview, outlook on the world)
world + world + view
