大事
だいじ · daiji · JLPT N4 · na-adj
important
💎 大事 = big (大) + matter (事): a big matter is an important one
大 is read dai (big) and 事 is read ji (matter, affair). A big matter is something serious or valuable, so daiji means important. The same logic gives daiji ni suru: to treat something as a big matter, i.e. to cherish it.
大 — pictograph of a person with arms outstretched
大 is a pictograph showing a person standing with arms and legs spread wide. The outstretched arms suggest 'big' or 'great', extending from the literal image of a large stance to abstract meanings like important or grand. It is one of the oldest characters, found on oracle bones.
事 — hand 又 holding a banner/tablet on a pole
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) grasping a pole or ceremonial banner used by an official, depicting the act of conducting court business. From this it came to mean 'affair, matter, business, service.' It shares an ancient origin with 史 (scribe) and 吏 (official).