朝
あさ · asa · JLPT N5 · noun
morning
🌅 asa: the day starts As A fresh page — morning
朝 breaks down as 十 + 日 + 十 + 月: the sun (日) caught between grass while the moon (月) is still out, which is daybreak. The reading asa also opens 朝ごはん (asagohan), breakfast, literally morning meal.
朝 — 十 + 日 + 十 + 月 (sun rising among grass, moon fading)
Originally a pictograph showing the sun (日) rising among grass or trees with the moon (月) still visible, depicting dawn. The core meaning 'morning' (zhāo) was extended to 'dynasty' or 'court audience' (cháo), since officials gathered before the ruler at daybreak.