Kanji Symbols & Their Meanings
72 kanji symbols explained — meaning, origin, spiritual significance, and how each one is used today.
Kanji for Angel
The kanji 天使 (tenshi) means angel — an angel — heavenly messenger. Kanji carry whole concepts in single charac…
芸術Kanji for Art
芸術 is the Japanese kanji for art (geijutsu): art and artistic craft. A single character holding a complete ide…
美Kanji for Beauty
The kanji 美 represents beauty (bi) — beauty in form and spirit. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept…
絆Kanji for Bonds / Ties
The kanji 絆 (kizuna) means bonds / ties — the deep bonds between people — unbreakable connection. Kanji carry w…
武士道Kanji for Bushido
The kanji 武士道 represents bushido (bushidō) — the way of the warrior — the samurai moral code. Like all kanji,…
蝶Kanji for Butterfly
蝶 is the Japanese kanji for butterfly (chō): the butterfly — transformation and the soul. A single character ho…
桜Kanji for Cherry Blossom
The kanji 桜 represents cherry blossom (sakura) — cherry blossoms — the beauty and brevity of life. Like all kan…
勇気Kanji for Courage
The kanji 勇気 (yūki) means courage — bravery in the face of fear. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characte…
闇Kanji for Darkness
The kanji 闇 (yami) means darkness — darkness and shadow. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, which…
死Kanji for Death
The kanji 死 represents death (shi) — death — used carefully, often in memento-mori contexts. Like all kanji, it…
悪魔Kanji for Demon
The kanji 悪魔 (akuma) means demon — a demon or devil. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, which is…
運命Kanji for Destiny
The kanji 運命 (unmei) means destiny — destiny — the fate written for you. Kanji carry whole concepts in single …
龍Kanji for Dragon
The kanji 龍 (ryū) means dragon — the dragon — power, wisdom, and good fortune. Kanji carry whole concepts in si…
夢Kanji for Dream
夢 is the Japanese kanji for dream (yume): dreams — both sleeping visions and life aspirations. A single charact…
土Kanji for Earth
The kanji 土 (tsuchi) means earth — earth — grounding, fertility, and foundation. Kanji carry whole concepts in …
忍Kanji for Endurance / Ninja
The kanji 忍 (nin) means endurance / ninja — endurance and stealth — the character inside "ninja". Kanji carry w…
敵Kanji for Enemy
The kanji 敵 represents enemy (teki) — an enemy or rival. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept into o…
永遠Kanji for Eternity
永遠 is the Japanese kanji for eternity (eien): eternity — without end. A single character holding a complete id…
信仰Kanji for Faith
The kanji 信仰 represents faith (shinkō) — faith and religious belief. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire c…
縁Kanji for Fated Bond
The kanji 縁 represents fated bond (en) — the invisible thread of destined connection between people. Like all k…
火Kanji for Fire
The kanji 火 (hi) means fire — fire — energy, passion, and destruction. Kanji carry whole concepts in single cha…
花Kanji for Flower
花 is the Japanese kanji for flower (hana): flowers — beauty and transience. A single character holding a comple…
自由Kanji for Freedom
自由 is the Japanese kanji for freedom (jiyū): freedom and liberty. A single character holding a complete idea, …
友Kanji for Friend
友 is the Japanese kanji for friend (tomo): friendship and companionship. A single character holding a complete …
神Kanji for God / Divine
The kanji 神 represents god / divine (kami) — god, spirit, and the divine. Like all kanji, it compresses an enti…
金Kanji for Gold
金 is the Japanese kanji for gold (kin): gold, money, and metal. A single character holding a complete idea, it …
福Kanji for Good Fortune
福 is the Japanese kanji for good fortune (fuku): blessing and good fortune — seen on red decorations everywhere…
幸せKanji for Happiness
幸せ is the Japanese kanji for happiness (shiawase): happiness and good fortune. A single character holding a co…
調和Kanji for Harmony
The kanji 調和 represents harmony (chōwa) — harmony and balance between forces. Like all kanji, it compresses an…
心Kanji for Heart / Mind
The kanji 心 represents heart / mind (kokoro) — the heart-mind: emotion, spirit, and thought as one. Like all ka…
名誉Kanji for Honor
The kanji 名誉 (meiyo) means honor — honor and distinguished reputation. Kanji carry whole concepts in single ch…
希望Kanji for Hope
The kanji 希望 (kibō) means hope — hope and aspiration. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, which i…
王Kanji for King
The kanji 王 represents king (ō) — king and sovereign rule. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept into…
鯉Kanji for Koi Fish
The kanji 鯉 (koi) means koi fish — the koi — perseverance and transformation. Kanji carry whole concepts in sin…
笑Kanji for Laughter
The kanji 笑 represents laughter (warai) — laughter and smiling. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept…
命Kanji for Life
命 is the Japanese kanji for life (inochi): life itself — precious and finite. A single character holding a comp…
光Kanji for Light
The kanji 光 (hikari) means light — light — radiance and hope. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, …
蓮Kanji for Lotus
The kanji 蓮 represents lotus (ren) — the lotus — purity rising from muddy water. Like all kanji, it compresses …
愛Kanji for Love
The kanji 愛 represents love (ai) — romantic and universal love — the most requested kanji for tattoos. Like all…
忠誠Kanji for Loyalty
忠誠 is the Japanese kanji for loyalty (chūsei): loyalty and faithful devotion. A single character holding a com…
運Kanji for Luck / Fate
The kanji 運 represents luck / fate (un) — luck, fortune, and destiny in motion. Like all kanji, it compresses a…
師Kanji for Master
The kanji 師 (shi) means master — a master or teacher. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, which is…
月Kanji for Moon
The kanji 月 (tsuki) means moon — the moon — cycles, beauty, and quiet mystery. Kanji carry whole concepts in si…
山Kanji for Mountain
山 is the Japanese kanji for mountain (yama): mountains — permanence and challenge. A single character holding a…
音楽Kanji for Music
The kanji 音楽 (ongaku) means music — music. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characters, which is why 音楽 …
自然Kanji for Nature
The kanji 自然 represents nature (shizen) — nature — that which is as it is. Like all kanji, it compresses an en…
海Kanji for Ocean
海 is the Japanese kanji for ocean (umi): the sea — vastness and depth. A single character holding a complete id…
平和Kanji for Peace
The kanji 平和 represents peace (heiwa) — peace and harmony — two characters meaning level-calm. Like all kanji,…
鳳凰Kanji for Phoenix
鳳凰 is the Japanese kanji for phoenix (hōō): the phoenix — rebirth and imperial virtue. A single character hold…
雨Kanji for Rain
雨 is the Japanese kanji for rain (ame): rain — renewal and melancholy beauty. A single character holding a comp…
再生Kanji for Rebirth
再生 is the Japanese kanji for rebirth (saisei): rebirth and regeneration. A single character holding a complete…
川Kanji for River
The kanji 川 represents river (kawa) — rivers — flow and the passage of time. Like all kanji, it compresses an e…
恋Kanji for Romantic Love
The kanji 恋 (koi) means romantic love — passionate, longing love — romance specifically rather than general lov…
侍Kanji for Samurai
The kanji 侍 represents samurai (samurai) — the warrior class and its code of honor. Like all kanji, it compress…
銀Kanji for Silver
The kanji 銀 represents silver (gin) — silver. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept into one visual form.
空Kanji for Sky / Void
The kanji 空 (sora) means sky / void — sky, emptiness, and the void of zen. Kanji carry whole concepts in single…
雪Kanji for Snow
The kanji 雪 represents snow (yuki) — snow — purity and quiet transformation. Like all kanji, it compresses an e…
魂Kanji for Soul
The kanji 魂 represents soul (tamashii) — the soul or spirit that animates a being. Like all kanji, it compresse…
気Kanji for Spirit / Energy
The kanji 気 represents spirit / energy (ki) — vital life energy — the same ki as in reiki and aikido. Like all …
星Kanji for Star
The kanji 星 (hoshi) means star — stars — guidance, hope, and destiny. Kanji carry whole concepts in single char…
力Kanji for Strength
力 is the Japanese kanji for strength (chikara): power, physical strength, and capability. A single character ho…
太陽Kanji for Sun
The kanji 太陽 represents sun (taiyō) — the sun — life force and radiance. Like all kanji, it compresses an enti…
道Kanji for The Way / Path
道 is the Japanese kanji for the way / path (dō): the way — path, road, and life philosophy. A single character …
虎Kanji for Tiger
虎 is the Japanese kanji for tiger (tora): the tiger — courage and ferocity. A single character holding a comple…
真実Kanji for Truth
The kanji 真実 represents truth (shinjitsu) — genuine truth — what is real. Like all kanji, it compresses an ent…
勝利Kanji for Victory
The kanji 勝利 represents victory (shōri) — victory and triumph. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire concept…
戦士Kanji for Warrior
The kanji 戦士 represents warrior (senshi) — a warrior — one who fights. Like all kanji, it compresses an entire…
水Kanji for Water
水 is the Japanese kanji for water (mizu): water — flow, adaptability, and purity. A single character holding a …
風Kanji for Wind
The kanji 風 (kaze) means wind — wind — freedom, change, and the unseen. Kanji carry whole concepts in single ch…
知恵Kanji for Wisdom
The kanji 知恵 (chie) means wisdom — wisdom earned through living. Kanji carry whole concepts in single characte…
狼Kanji for Wolf
The kanji 狼 represents wolf (ōkami) — the wolf — independence and wild spirit. Like all kanji, it compresses an…
禅Kanji for Zen
禅 is the Japanese kanji for zen (zen): meditation and the zen state of direct insight. A single character holdi…