感度
かんど · kando · JLPT N1 · noun
sensitivity
🌡️ 感 = feel/sense + 度 = degree: the degree to which you feel something
感 (kan) means feel or sense and 度 (do) means degree, so 感度 (kando) is how strongly something registers. For quake severity, Japanese uses 震度 (shindo), a different word that sounds similar.
感 — heart 心 + 咸 (xián, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The heart radical 心 at the bottom carries the meaning of feeling or emotion, while 咸 supplies the sound. Together 感 conveys being moved in the heart, hence 'to feel,' 'sense,' or 'be affected by' something.
度 — 广 (shelter) + 庶 abbreviated (phonetic)
Originally depicted a hand measuring length under a shelter, meaning 'to measure' or 'a measure/standard.' From this came extended senses like 'degree,' 'extent,' and 'to pass through' (as in passing time). The reading 'dù' means degree/measure, while 'duó' preserves the older verbal sense of measuring.