電子

でんし · denshi · JLPT N3 · noun

electronic

⚡🔋 電子 = electricity + child: the tiny child of electricity, the electron

電 (den) means electricity or lightning, and 子 (shi) means child or small particle, as in 原子 (genshi, atom). An electron is the smallest bit of electricity. Before a noun, 電子 also means electronic, as in 電子メール (e-mail).

子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.

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