亀

On'yomi

キ・キュウ・キン

KI / KYUU / KIN

Kun'yomi

かめ

kame

tortoise · turtle

Details

Strokes11

Frequency#1353

Radical乙second(1)

Stroke Order

Strokes11

Cultural Context

Etymology

Pictograph of turtle.

Symbolism

Longevity, immortality, divination. Represents long life and mystery.

Seasonal

As "crane and turtle," symbolizes longevity and celebrations. "Turtle sings" is a spring seasonal word; used as good luck charm for New Year.

Words & Expressions

Words written with 亀

亀裂きれつfissure

Four-Character Compounds

亀毛兎角

きもうとかく

things that do not exist; fur on turtles, horns on rabbits

兎角亀毛

とかくきもう

things that do not exist; horns on rabbits, fur on turtles

盲亀浮木

もうきふぼく

unlikely event; rare occurrence

Proverbs & Idioms

鶴は千年、亀は万年

つるはせんねん、かめはまんねん

Cranes live a thousand years, turtles ten thousand

Wishing long life

Related Figures & Stories

亀山天皇

Emperor Kameyama1249–1305

Name contains 亀

Emperor Kameyama was the 90th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Wikipedia

小倉遊亀

Yuki Ogura1895–2000

Name contains 亀

Yuki Ogura was a Japanese nihonga painter.

Wikipedia

Similar Kanji

乾11 乳8 乱7 也3 乞3 九2 乙1

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 亀 mean in Japanese?

亀 means tortoise, turtle.

How do you read 亀?

On'yomi: キ、キュウ、キン (KI, KYUU, KIN). Kun'yomi: かめ (kame).

How many strokes does 亀 have?

亀 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 乙 (second).

Is 亀 a good kanji for a tattoo?

亀 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means tortoise, turtle. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

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