War in Japanese
"war" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
戦
ikusa
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "war". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
戦 is war and battle, and also to fight. 争 is to contend or dispute. 役 is a campaign in the historical sense — the 役 of 文禄の役. 乱 is a civil disturbance or rebellion, the 乱 of 応仁の乱.
Top pick
war, battle, match
Reading: sen
13 strokes · powerful
Where it comes from
Composed of single and weapon. Fighting with weapon.
What it carries
War, battle, challenge. Represents fighting.
Related kanji for "war"
war
sou
Shape of two hands fighting. Fighting.
war
yaku · powerful, nature
Composed of go and weapon. Going to serve.
war
ran · powerful
Combines 'hidden' (乚) with 'tongue' (舌), representing a chaotic state where order is disturbed. Indicates the opposite of regularity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for war?
The most common kanji for "war" is 戦, read as sen. It means war, battle, match. Related kanji: 争 (war), 役 (war), 乱 (war).
How many strokes does 戦 have?
戦 has 13 strokes.