Details
Description
Sword - honor, combat, the way of the warrior.
Stroke Order
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.
Component Breakdown
All + sword
Words & Expressions
Words written with 剣
Four-Character Compounds
真剣勝負
しんけんしょうぶ
fighting with real swords; game played in real earnest
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
Anime & Manga
るろうに剣心
Rurouni Kenshin
Deep exploration of swordsmanship and sword philosophy
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer
Slaying demons with special Nichirin swords
ソードアート・オンライン
Sword Art Online
Sword fighting in virtual worlds
剣風伝奇ベルセルク
Berserk
A well-known work with 剣 in its Japanese title.
杖と剣のウィストリア
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
A well-known work with 剣 in its Japanese title.
Games
刀剣乱舞
Touken Ranbu
Game raising personified famous swords. Started the sword boom in Japan
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 剣 mean in Japanese?
剣 means sword, blade. Sword - honor, combat, the way of the warrior.
How do you read 剣?
On'yomi: ケン (KEN). Kun'yomi: つるぎ (tsurugi).
How many strokes does 剣 have?
剣 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 刀 (knife).
Is 剣 a good kanji for a tattoo?
剣 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means sword, blade. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.