製造

せいぞう · seizou · JLPT N3 · noun

industry

🏭 製造 = make (製) + build (造), so making and building is manufacturing

製 has 衣 (clothing) at the bottom: it first meant cutting cloth to sew garments, then making things in general. 造 means to build or create, as in 創造 (creation). Put together, the two words for making give you production.

造 — 辶 (walk) + 告 (tell/announce)
造 combines the walking radical 辶 with 告 (announce), which also gives the sound. Originally it meant 'to go and report to,' then 'to reach' or 'arrive at.' Over time the meaning shifted to 'to make' or 'to build,' the sense most common today.

More Japanese words · How Japanese works