予
ヨ, シャ, あらかじ.め

beforehand, previous, myself, I

JLPT3 G3 S4 F180

A depiction of a weaving shuttle that stretches threads straight out → *previous*; *beforehand* (← one ring of a shuttle moves forward to a new spot, so that the former position becomes one previously occupied. Conversely, from the perspective of the former spot, the new one appears to be in advance → beforehand). In Japan, 予 was also adopted as a Shinjitai (new character form) to replace 豫, according to which 予 also conveys the nuance of space sufficient to allow one to stretch and relax.

[Full Kanji Etymology List]