神経
しんけい · shinkei · JLPT N3 · noun
nerve
🧠 神経 = spirit (神) + pathway (経): the spirit's pathways = nerves
Coined in 1774 by Sugita Genpaku translating a Dutch anatomy book: 神気 (spirit, vital energy) + 経脈 (channels) were shortened to 神経. The same 経 appears in 経路 (route) and 経験 (experience, what you pass through).
神 — 示 (altar/spirit) + 申 (lightning, phonetic)
神 combines 示, depicting an altar associated with rituals and spirits, with 申, originally a pictograph of lightning streaking across the sky. Ancient people saw lightning as a manifestation of divine power, so 申 contributes both sound and the idea of awe-inspiring force. Together they mean 'spirit' or 'god'.