Heart in Japanese
"heart" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
心
shin
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "heart". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
心 is the heart as the seat of feeling and mind — not the organ, which is 心臓. 魂 is the soul that survives the body. 胸 is the chest, and Japanese locates emotion there as English does. 意 is intent, the deciding part of the mind rather than the feeling part.
Top pick
heart, mind, spirit, heart radical (no. 61)
Reading: shin
4 strokes · peaceful, mysterious
Where it comes from
Pictograph of the heart. Center of emotions and thoughts.
What it carries
Emotion, spirit, sincerity. In Japanese culture, 'kokoro' is broader than Western 'mind'.
Related kanji for "heart"
heart
kon · mysterious, powerful
Composed of cloud and ghost. Spirit drifting like clouds.
heart
kyou · beautiful
Composed of flesh and phonetic. Part of body.
heart
i · powerful, beautiful
Composed of sound (音) and heart (心). Voice of the heart, intention.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for heart?
The most common kanji for "heart" is 心, read as shin. It means heart, mind, spirit. Related kanji: 魂 (heart), 胸 (heart), 意 (heart).
How many strokes does 心 have?
心 has 4 strokes.