柄

character, nature; build; design; handle

Kanji 1776

This essay will help you grasp a kanji with a dizzying array of meanings. By reading about 柄, you'll learn how to say the following:

Her true character is starting to show.
I’m on good terms with him.
He seems familiar with the subject.
I want to talk with him about the matter.
His arrogance is no longer tolerable.
She swears by that brand.
She married him for his family name.
The red kills the whole pattern.
My son is tall for his age.

One kanji gives you all of this!

Revision History:

February 24, 2017: 

p. 1: Changed definitions in the look-likes and sound-alikes lists and added から to the latter list.
p. 7: Fixed a typo.
p. 9: Changed the definition of 差し上げます (さしあげます) to “we offer.”

November 16, 2012: Removed 殻 (1075: shell) from the list of sound-alikes, where I had indicated that 殻 shared the kun-yomi of がら with 柄. The Joyo kun-yomi for 殻 is から, and even though we frequently see this yomi voiced as がら, as in 貝殻 (かいがら: seashell), I have decided not to include voiced yomi in sound-alikes lists.

August 31, 2012: Added a photo to page 10. It's of a sign that includes 柄.