君

Formed as a phono-semantic compound:

尹 (yǐn, “to govern”) provides the phonetic element. Originally depicted a hand grasping something, later extended to mean “to administer, govern.”

口 (mouth) provides the semantic element, symbolizing proclamation or prayer.

Together, they form the sense of “one who governs by proclamation,” i.e. a ruler.

Semantic range:

- sovereign, ruler, lord (임금, 군주);

- master or leader (주인, 지배자);

- ancestor or parent (archaic usage);

- polite honorific suffix after a name (존칭, esp. in Japan/Korea for boys).

君公 (군공) — lord, prince

君臨 (군림) — to reign over, to dominate

君臣 (군신) — ruler and subject

君子 (군자) — gentleman, virtuous man (Confucian ideal)

君主 (군주) — monarch, sovereign

大君 (대군) — grand prince

聖君 (성군) — wise/holy ruler

諸君 (제군) — “gentlemen,” you all

暴君 (폭군) — tyrant

In Confucian thought, 君 plays a central role in the relationship 君臣 (ruler–subject), one of the Five Bonds (五倫) that structure society. A 君 was expected to rule with benevolence (仁) and moral example, not just power.

君子 (gunja, “gentleman”) became a key Confucian ideal, referring not to nobility by birth but to a person of virtue and cultivated character.

In later Korean and Japanese usage, 君 was often attached as a suffix (군 / くん) to names of boys or young men, showing familiarity with respect.