侘
wabi · austere beauty · lonely
Details
Description
Wabi - the first half of wabi-sabi: beauty found in what is plain, worn, and incomplete.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
The person radical with a phonetic element. In Chinese it carried the sense of boasting; Japan gave it the reading wabi and turned it into a word for finding beauty in what is lacking.
Symbolism
The aesthetic carried from Murata Juko to Sen no Rikyu in the tea ceremony. Paired with sabi as wabi-sabi, it names the view that what is chipped, aged, or plain is the beautiful thing.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 侘
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 侘 mean in Japanese?
侘 means wabi, austere beauty, lonely. Wabi - the first half of wabi-sabi: beauty found in what is plain, worn, and incomplete.
How do you read 侘?
On'yomi: タ (TA). Kun'yomi: わび、わ.びる、わび.しい (wabi, wabiru, wabishii).
How many strokes does 侘 have?
侘 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 人 (person).
Is 侘 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Be careful. 侘 can carry meanings or readings you may not intend. Check the cultural context on this page before committing to a tattoo.
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