1253/2000JLPT: N1School Grade: Junior high schoolThis character is a combination of 宀 roof/buil

1253/2000

JLPT: N1

School Grade: Junior high school

This character is a combination of 宀 roof/building and 番 number. Here 番 is a phonetic element signaling the on’yomi, while also lending a meaning of to “know (thoroughly).” It is also likely lending a connotation of “systematic/in order.” One explanation is that 審 originally referred to “thorough knowledge of a building,” and over time came to mean “have thorough knowledge” in general. In this case, the meanings of “judge” and “investigate” developed through association.