Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of ice hanging down. Cold season.
Symbolism
Winter, hibernation, severe winter. Represents cold and silence.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Winter cold
Seasonal
Season from December to February. Symbolizes silence, patience, introspection. Time of snow, New Year, Setsubun. In haiku, expresses dignified beauty.
Component Breakdown
go slowly + ⺀
Words & Expressions
Words written with 冬
Four-Character Compounds
夏炉冬扇
かろとうせん
summer fires and winter fans; useless things
春夏秋冬
しゅんかしゅうとう
spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter; the four seasons
Proverbs & Idioms
冬来りなば春遠からじ
ふゆきたりなばはるとおからじ
If winter comes, can spring be far behind
After hardship comes relief
Poetry
山里は 冬ぞさびしさ まさりける 人めも草も かれぬと思へば
A mountain village is loneliest in winter, when I think how both the visitors and the grasses have gone.
冬の日や馬上に氷る影法師
A winter day — and on horseback, my own shadow frozen.
Anime & Manga
春夏秋冬代行者 春の舞
Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring
A well-known work with 冬 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 冬 mean in Japanese?
冬 means winter.
How do you read 冬?
On'yomi: トウ (TOU). Kun'yomi: ふゆ (fuyu).
How many strokes does 冬 have?
冬 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 冫 (ice).
Is 冬 a good kanji for a tattoo?
冬 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means winter. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:winter