保
protect · guarantee · keep · preserve · sustain · support
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of person and simpleton. Person protecting.
Symbolism
Protection, preservation, insurance. Represents protecting.
Component Breakdown
person + 呆
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
保革伯仲
ほかくはくちゅう
conservatives and reformists being neck and neck; balanced conservative and progressive strengths
明哲保身
めいてつほしん
wisdom and self-protection; wise and skilled in the art of self-protection
Anime & Manga
久保さんは僕を許さない
Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible
A well-known work with 保 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
大久保利通
Name contains 保
Ōkubo Toshimichi was a Japanese statesman and samurai of the Satsuma Domain.
Wikipedia松平容保
Name contains 保
Matsudaira Katamori was a samurai who lived in Bakumatsu period and the early to mid Meiji period Japan.
Wikipedia塙保己一
Name contains 保
Hanawa Hokiichi ho.kʲiꜜ.i.tɕi, -ho.kʲi.noꜜ.i.tɕi], 23 June 1746 – 7 October 1821) was a Japanese blind kokugaku scholar of the Edo period.
Wikipedia保科正之
Name contains 保
Hoshina Masayuki was a Japanese daimyō of the early Edo period, who was the founder of what became the Matsudaira house of Aizu.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 保 mean in Japanese?
保 means protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support.
How do you read 保?
On'yomi: ホ、ホウ (HO, HOU). Kun'yomi: たも.つ (tamotsu).
How many strokes does 保 have?
保 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 人 (person).
Is 保 a good kanji for a tattoo?
保 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:protect · keep · preserve · sustain · support