教訓
きょうくん · kyoukun · JLPT N1 · noun
lesson
📚 教 (teach) + 訓 (precept) = a lesson taught as a moral rule
教 means teach and 訓 means instruct or train. Together they name a lesson drawn from experience, often with a moral point. Say kyou, then kun, joined as kyoukun.
教 — 老 (filial son being taught) + 攵 (hand with stick)
教 originally depicted an adult holding a stick or rod (攵) instructing a child, often shown with the element 爻 (lessons/counting) above 子 (child). It is a classic associative compound meaning 'to teach' or 'to instruct,' with the right side suggesting discipline and guidance. The modern meanings 'teach, religion, doctrine' all extend from this image of formal instruction.