Details
Description
Kite - a character invented in Japan, and one that goes by octopus in the east and squid in the west.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
A character made in Japan rather than borrowed from Chinese: a cloth set on a frame to take the wind.
Symbolism
A New Year amusement. In Edo the trailing tails looked like an octopus and it was called tako; in the Kansai region they looked like a squid and it was ikanobori. Both readings survive because the east and the west never agreed.
Poetry
凧きのふの空のありどころ
A kite in the sky — exactly where yesterday's sky was.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 凧 mean in Japanese?
凧 means kite. Kite - a character invented in Japan, and one that goes by octopus in the east and squid in the west.
How do you read 凧?
Kun'yomi: たこ、いかのぼり (tako, ikanobori).
How many strokes does 凧 have?
凧 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 几 (table).
Is 凧 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Be careful. 凧 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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