#kanji reading

Welcome to another self-indulgent post where I try to analyze and assign kanji to the Butterfly Sisters' names since theirs are either written in katakana or hiragana unlike most kny characters, meaning that they don't have an inherent meaning and are open to interpretation.

I also have the headcanon that the reincarnated versions of the characters have their names written differently from their canon selves to distinguish them (so Kanae and Shinobu's names would be actually written in kanji instead of kana). So I tried to assign them kanji readings that suit them and make sense not only symbolically for what they represent in the story, but also in-universe.

Small note here, I'm not an expert in Japanese so there may be lot of mistakes but I did my best to research and get things as accurate as possible (my main sources where these: JapaneseNames.info, namedic.jp , pon-navi.net, kanjipedia.jp, takaboto.jp and jisho).

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For Kanae (カナヲ), I decided to go with 叶咲.

叶 (kana): 'to grant, to be fulfilled, to come true (of a wish or a prayer)' referring to her wishes of Kanao opening up and her dream of getting along with demons. 

咲 (e, nanori* for 'saki'): 'to bloom, to flower, to open up' regarding her connection to flowers. 

Moreover, it also carries the subtle nuance of a smiling face—because blooming flowers are metaphorically linked to a person’s face opening up into a smile 笑顔が咲く"egao ga saku" (a smile blooms)—in reference to her wanting her sisters to smile. 

*unusual/specialized reading of kanji characters only used in Japanese names.

Her name can be interpreted as "dreams and wishes that bloom and come true", "a wish that comes true and blooms" or "wishes come true and smiles bloom". 

I wanted to focus on her dream since it’s a core theme for her character, but ‘Kanae’ itself has a lot of different positive meanings, so any could be applied to her character. I also considered these as well: 

佳和恵: first one 'good, beautiful, excellent', second one 'harmony, peace, Japanese-style', third one 'to bless, gentle, wise' 叶笑: first one 'to grant, to be fulfilled, to come true (of a wish or a prayer)', second one 'to laugh, to smile, joy' 叶恵: first one 'to grant, to be fulfilled, to come true (of a wish or a prayer)', second one 'to bless, gentle, wise'

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Shinobu's name (しのぶ) is by far the most complex, nuanced and well-thought by the author among the Butterfly Sisters. It's written in hiragana, giving it a softer and gentle vibe, which makes me think that gtg wanted the audience to associate her first with the positive meanings of her name rather than the negative ones. However, since her name is left up to interpretation I'm sure that the intention was to evoke both the positive and negative nuances associated with its possible kanji readings that work with her character. Taking into account her character arc, some of them are (and I mean some because she has a lot and all of them could work, search them up and you will see):

This one is my favorite for her

忍 (shinobu): 'endurance, perseverance, patience, stealth' but also 'to conceal oneself, hide, sneaky' (root word for shinobi), and in some contexts, even 'cruelty'

The composition of the kanji is:

刃 (yaiba): A blade or sharp edge, symbolizing sharpness or difficulty. 心 (kokoro): the heart or the spirit, representing emotion and resilience.

Having a blade over your heart symbolizes the emotional pain or pressure one must endure without breaking, and the suppression of emotions. It reflects the idea of enduring even when the heart feels the weight of the blade, persisting in the face of challenges to achieve a goal and the ability to bear hardship stoically and to keep one's true emotions or intentions hidden.

It relates to mental and emotional strength to withstand hardships and to remain patient in difficult or painful situations. The virtues of being resilient and perseverant are seen in a good light, but the kanji carries heavier and serious nuances that in certain contexts can suggest suffering in silence or excessive endurance under painful or unpleasant situations.

2. 偲 (shinobu): 'to remember, to miss, to cherish the memory of someone, to encourage each other, intelligent'

It's used in the context of reminiscing about the past or honoring someone who has passed away, so it gives off sad, nostalgic vibes. It represents fondly remembering people or events with compassion, care, and emotional warmt, so it's not just about simply remembering, but also about conveying feelings such as nostalgia, kindness, and respect and affection for the other person, just like how Shinobu remembers Kanae so fondly after her death.

3. 死乃生

死 (shi): 'death, to die, to pass away'

乃 (no): 'from, therefore, possessive particle'

生 (bu): 'life, birth, living, to exist, growth'

It conveys the concept of "life born from death" or "one who lives through death", contrasting existence and mortality. Given that Shinobu is foreshadowed and thematically tied to death and transformation, this duality is especially fitting—and the motif of rebirth, transformation, life and death also aligns with the butterfly symbolism in Japanese culture.

Like I said before, her name fits perfectly with what her character reflects—repressed emotions, hard work, patience, talent, longing for someone dearly, and life and death dualism However, thinking *strictly* in-verse, it would be strange for such loving parents to give their child a name with such heavy connotations (the last one literally involving death, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal). For that reason, I settled on a reading  that preserves her character themes but leans into more positive meanings: 志乃芙. 

志 (shi): 'aspiration, will, ambition, intention, resolve'

Represents a deep, heart-driven ambition, a firm aspiration in life or a high goal that the heart strives for. 

乃 (no): a possessive article or connecting particle (of, so, in other words...)

It's an auxiliary particle that smoothes the flow of the name and serves to soften the overall meaning.

芙 (bu, nanori for ‘fu’): 'lotus flower, hibiscus mutabilis (cotton rose)'

The lotus flower is strongly associated with beauty and elegance. It's a sacred flower in Buddhism, symbolizing purity arising from suffering, spiritual awakening/enlightenment and rebirth. It's even more meaningful given her narrative associations since she's seen alongside one in Chapter 41's cover, foreshadowing her conflict with Douma, whose Buddhist symbolism and mansion prominently feature the lotus.

The hibiscus (also known as "drunken lotus" or "tree lotus" in some Chinese contexts) symbolizes a gentle and kind heart, delicate beauty and the fleeting nature of life. 

I already talked about Shinobu's symbolisms earlier, but adding a little bit more in light of this reading: from a young age she firmly resolved to become a Slayer and help people, and even after her sister pleaded with her to leave the Corps, she remained determined to continue, driven by her sense of duty and revenge to take down the demon that killer her sister, which she laters succesfully achieves. The floral motifs connect her with flowers, and evoke the imagery of someone outwardly beautiful and gentle, yet possessing deep inner strength. It's far more positive than the other meanings but it still preserves the underlying duality of life and death, as well as the resilience that defines her character.

Taken together, this name suggests someone who embodies both strong will and gentlessness and beauty, or a gentle spirit with an unwavering resolve. Notably, both sisters' names share core themes of becoming (as in unfolding) and flowering, but the ideas expressed in different ways that match with their personalities. 

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Kanao (カナヲ) is easier to work with as her name doesn't have as many readings or nuances as Shinobu's, and because it's similar to Kanae's, many of the meanings overlap. Before starting to look for name readings, I first checked for Kanata's name (her descendant) to see if it gave any hints about what Gotouge might've associated with him that served to Kanao's character— but unfortunately it's also written in katakana (カナタ), so his has no meaning either.

Anyway, from what I've seen, this interpretation is often viewed as "closest to canon" in fandom spaces and the most accepted one when breaking down her name: 花直.

花 (kana): 'flower, blossom, blooming; cherry blossom, petal'. As a Flower Breathing user, the flower motif is essential. It also carries the metaphor of being as beautiful or splendid as a flower.

直 (o): 'correct, honest, straightforward, direct'. It reflects her struggle with emotional repression and indeciveness—her development centers on listening to her what her heart wants and to express her own feelings. 

Her name can be interpreted as "being as beautiful and sincere as a flower" or "blooming to become an honest person". It combines the imagery of floral beauty and personal growth into an honest and strong-willed individual. This is mirrored in her character arc—how she transitions from an emotionally numb and stunted girl and "blooms" into someone resilient and resolute, capable of processing her own feelings and expressing them (take her conversation with Douma as an example). 

There's also the theory that her name derived from "Kanae" because the "e" (エ) transforms into "o" (ヲ) as in "egao ni naru"  (to turn into a smile), reflecting Kanae's wish for Kanao to smile and express herself. 

Another option I consideted was 佳直, only changing the first kanji to mean 'beautiful, excellent, good' since she's a kind-hearted and extremely talented, but it loses the flower motif that I want her to keep. I also thought about using 叶, like in Kanae's name, to symbolize how her growth regarding her autonomy and ability to listen to her own heart became true, while making the "smile" wordplay more obvious. Still, I prefer for Kanao not only to be associated with flowers, but also to have her own distinct meaning as a separate character rather than seeming like she's simply taking Kanae's identity and mimicking it.

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Aoi (アオイ) is likely named after the color rather than the hollyhock flower—especially since there's another character with that meaning (葵枝 Kie)—or the overly affectionate readings her name can have. Taking that into consideration, 青依 could suit her well: 

青 (ao): 'blue; vast oceans and clear skies, azure, youth, freshness' because of her blue color palette. The color blue is also tied to purity and water, which connects to her Breathing Style and serious personality.

依 (i): 'to lean on, to rely on, to follow' often used in contexts of trust or reliance. She's a dependable and trustworthy character, and basically Shinobu's right hand as she works in the Butterfly Mansion as a nurse and takes care of all the house chores. 

Taken together, it can be interpreted as "someone like the pure blue sky who is trusted by others". It evokes a grounded, kind person who both supports others and is supported by them. As mentioned before, Aoi is trusted by the Corps and the Butterfly Sisters due to her role as a nurse (in which she takes it very seriously and is good at it too), but at the same time, she feels indebted to them for taking her in and treating her kindly even after abandoning her Slayer duties (which she is very self-conscious about it).

Also, the first kanji is the same one as her descendant's, Aoba (青葉). Considering that most descendants take kanji from their ancestors and incorporate them into their names, it's likely that if Aoi's name was written in kanji, it would include 青.

Another option I had in mind was:

藍 (aoi): 'indigo, indigo dye, indigo plant'

It is less literal in terms of color. The kanji refers to the indigo plant, a flowering shrub primarily known for producing blue dye from its leaves, and it is also used in Japanese traditional medicine and health practices.

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The little girls were a bit more difficult to name—not because they have deep layers of symbolism, but because we know so little about them individually that it's hard to determine what would best fit their characters—, so I guess the author had the simpler or more common readings in mind, especially since their family names give off that impression as well (寺内 Terauchi, 高田 Takada, 中原 Nakahara): 

Starting with Kiyo (きよ), to keep the simplicity I went for 清, though I also considered 嬉与:

清 (kiyo): 'clear, pure, serene, to clarify'

This expresses a wish for the person to have a pure heart and a sincere, gentle personality. 

嬉 (ki): 'happy; glad, joy, to play, pleased, delighted'

与 (yo): 'together with, to be involved, to give, to bestow, to grant'

Putting it together, it means "to give joy" or "to live with joy", suggesting someone who shares happiness with those around oneself. She's a kind and thoughtful girl who works hard as a nurse's assistant, so it suits her desire to make those around her happy.

Next is Naho (なほ). In her case, I took into consideration both the calm pattern within the trio and her family name: 和/凪朋 or 菜穂.

和 (na, nanori for 'wa'): 'harmony, Japanese-style, gentle" or  凪 (na): 'lull, calm, still sea'

朋 (ho): 'friend, companion'

The interpretation would be "a harmonious and gentle friend" or "a peaceful companion". It suggests a gentle personality that avoids conflicts and wants to get along with everyone—very much in line to the little girls' supportive and encouraging nature as they help the Slayers.  

I couldn't decide between 和 and 凪 because both work well, but 凪 gives a more specific nuance of calmness, making the meaning closer to "a calm and comforting friend," which aligns nicely the trio's serene and pure image. 

The second option is: 

菜 (na): 'greens, vegetables, rapeseed blossoms, side dishes, prepared meals'

穂 (ho): 'an ear of a grain, head or spike of a cereal plant (like rice or wheat)'

It basically means "ear of vegetable/greens" or "lush plants bearing grain", symbolizing healthy growth and an abundant, nurturing presence. It ties strongly to nature and agriculture, considering that her family name Takada (高田) means "high rice field/paddy", suggesting a farming upbringing.

Finally, for Sumi (なほ), I avoided any kanji that referred to longevity or beauty since those are already used for another character (Sanemi and Genya's younger sister, 寿美 Sumi). Instead, I thought that either 澄 or 純 could work here.

澄 (sumi): 'to clear, transparent, to feign innocence'

純 (sumi): 'pure; genuine, simple, chaste, innocent, sincere'

Both convey very similar meanings, representing someone with a genuine and honest heart, unclouded by negativity. It's very similar to Kiyo's first reading.