Back

On'yomi
ケン
KEN
Kun'yomi
つるぎ
tsurugi

sabre · sword · blade · clock hand

powerful

Details

Strokes10
Frequency#1305
Radicalknife(2)
Old Form

Description

Sword - honor, combat, the way of the warrior.

Stroke Order

Loading...
Strokes10

Component Breakdown

=

All + sword

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of all and sword. Sword used by many.

Symbolism

Weapon, justice, decision. Represents chivalry and decisiveness.

Spiritual Meaning

Represents tool of spiritual cultivation in martial arts - way of sword is training to forge the heart.

Anime & Manga

るろうに剣心

Rurouni Kenshin

manga/anime

Deep exploration of swordsmanship and sword philosophy

View on Amazon →

鬼滅の刃

Demon Slayer

manga/anime

Slaying demons with special Nichirin swords

View on Amazon →

ソードアート・オンライン

Sword Art Online

light novel/anime

Sword fighting in virtual worlds

View on Amazon →

Games

刀剣乱舞

Touken Ranbu

ブラウザ/Switch/PC

Game raising personified famous swords. Started the sword boom in Japan

View on Amazon →

ファイナルファンタジー

Final Fantasy

多機種

RPG featuring iconic swords like the Buster Sword

View on Amazon →

ゼルダの伝説

The Legend of Zelda

Switch

Action RPG with the iconic Master Sword

View on Amazon →

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

真剣勝負

しんけんしょうぶ

fighting with real swords; game played in real earnest; fighting with real swords

Proverbs & Idioms

剣は心なり

けんはこころなり

The sword is the heart

Swordsmanship reflects one's character