亜

亜

"亜" means "sub-, secondary, or inferior," often used to indicate something that is next in rank or slightly off from the primary.

亜細亜 is a proper noun where '亜' is used to phonetically approximate the sound of 'A' in 'Asia'.

亜細亜はアジアを意味します。

'亜細亜' means 'Asia'.

亜鉛 refers to zinc in chemical terminology, where '亜' modifies the term to indicate a specific substance.

私は亜鉛を含む食材を摂取するようにしています。

I try to consume foods containing zinc.

亜熱帯 signifies 'subtropical', where '亜' indicates 'sub-' or a lesser extent in geographical classification.

亜熱帯地域では様々な植物が見られます。

Various plants can be found in subtropical regions.