History in Japanese
"history" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "history". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
歴史 (rekishi) is history. 史 alone is the written record and the historian's discipline. 歴 is the passing of time and the course one has taken, the 歴 of 経歴 (career). 紀 is a chronicle, and it names the Nihon Shoki (日本書紀).
Top pick
history, chronicle
Reading: shi
5 strokes
Where it comes from
Shape of hand holding brush. Recording history.
What it carries
History, historical fact, records. Represents history.
Related kanji for "history"
history
reki
Combines 'stop' (止, footprints) with 'pass' (厤), representing footprints through time—history.
history
ki · wisdom
Composed of thread and self. Recording self with thread.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for history?
The most common kanji for "history" is 史, read as shi. It means history, chronicle. Related kanji: 歴 (history), 紀 (history).
How many strokes does 史 have?
史 has 5 strokes.