健

Phono-semantic compound:

人 (亻, person radical) - semantic, denotes human qualities.

建 (to establish, to build) - phonetic element, provides sound.

Together, conveys the idea of a person who is firm, robust, enduring.

Semantic range:

- strong, sturdy, vigorous (굳세다, 튼튼하다);

- healthy, in good condition (건강하다);

- extended sense: sound, reliable, durable.

健康 (건강) — health, healthy

健全 (건전) — sound, wholesome, well-balanced

強健 (강건) — strong, robust

健忘 (건망) — forgetfulness (lit. “strong forgetting”)

壯健 (장건) — vigorous, in strong health

In Confucian and Daoist texts, 健 often appears in connection with 養生 (nourishing life), stressing the importance of physical vitality as the basis for cultivating virtue and wisdom.

In Buddhism, 健身 (“healthy body”) is sometimes mentioned as a necessary condition for sustained meditation and practice.

In modern usage, 健 has become nearly synonymous with “health” itself, as seen in compounds like 健康.