和
harmony · Japanese style · peace · soften · Japan
Details
Description
Harmony/Japan - peace, Japanese culture, unity.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of grain and mouth. Harmonizing grain with mouth.
Symbolism
Harmony, peace, Japan. 'Wa' represents core of Japanese culture.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents harmony and peace, spiritual foundation of Japanese culture. Symbolized in Prince Shotokus principle of harmony.
Component Breakdown
Grain + mouth
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
小春日和
こはるびより
Indian summer (around November); mild late autumn weather; mild late fall weather
付和雷同
ふわらいどう
following blindly; following suit without reflection
和気藹々
わきあいあい
harmonious; peaceful; congenial
和魂洋才
わこんようさい
Japanese spirit with Western learning
和洋折衷
わようせっちゅう
blending of Japanese and Western styles
不協和音
ふきょうわおん
discord; dissonance; cacophony
和魂漢才
わこんかんさい
the Japanese spirit imbued with Chinese learning
緊張緩和
きんちょうかんわ
easing of tensions; detente; thaw
大和撫子
やまとなでしこ
large pink (Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus); woman who displays the feminine virtues of old Japan
規制緩和
きせいかんわ
deregulation; removal (easing) of (official) restrictions; relaxation of regulations
琴瑟相和
きんしつそうわ
pair of persons (especially a married couple) being intimate and harmonious; being happily married
和光同塵
わこうどうじん
mingling with the world by hiding one's true talent or knowledge; living a quiet life by effacing oneself
付和随行
ふわずいこう
participating in something by merely following the leaders
和敬清寂
わけいせいじゃく
harmony, respect, purity and tranquility; the four most important elements of the tea ceremony
和衷協同
わちゅうきょうどう
harmonious cooperation; close cooperation
和顔愛語
わがんあいご
with a gentle face and a nice word
五族協和
ごぞくきょうわ
five races under one union (Han, Manchurians, Mongolians, Hui, Tibetans; founding principle of the Republic of China); harmony of the five races (Manchurians, Han, Mongolians, Koreans, Japanese; official policy of Manchukuo)
Proverbs & Idioms
和を以て貴しと為す
わをもってとうとしとなす
Harmony is to be valued
Harmony and cooperation are of the highest importance
和して同ぜず
わしてどうぜず
Harmonize but don't blindly conform
Cooperate with others while maintaining your own views
Anime & Manga
かぐや様は告らせたい
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Romantic comedy brain battles while maintaining student council harmony
SPY×FAMILY
Spy x Family
Playing fake family for East-West 'peace'
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer
Story of protecting peaceful daily life from demons
昭和元禄落語心中
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
A well-known work with 和 in its Japanese title.
勇者召喚に巻き込まれたけど、異世界は平和でした
I Got Caught Up In a Hero Summons, but the Other World was at Peace!
A well-known work with 和 in its Japanese title.
Games
天穂のサクナヒメ
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin(2020)
Action RPG experiencing rice farming and Japanese culture
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
聖徳太子
(しょうとくたいし)The phrase "harmony is to be valued" opens the code attributed to him
Regent of the Asuka court. The Nihon Shoki credits him with the Seventeen-Article code that opens "harmony is to be valued". Modern historians doubt he wrote it, but that one line is what the character has carried ever since.
清和天皇
Name contains 和
Emperor Seiwa was the 56th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia和泉式部
Name contains 和
Izumi Shikibu was a mid-Heian period Japanese poet.
Wikipedia徳川和子
Name contains 和
Tokugawa Masako , also known as Kazu-ko, was empress consort of Japan as the wife of Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
Wikipedia和田三造
Name contains 和
Sanzo Wada was a Japanese painter and costume designer who won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work on the jidaigeki film Gate of…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“harmony”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 和 mean in Japanese?
和 means harmony, Japanese style, peace, soften, Japan. Harmony/Japan - peace, Japanese culture, unity.
How do you read 和?
On'yomi: ワ、オ、カ (WA, O, KA). Kun'yomi: やわ.らぐ、やわ.らげる、なご.む、なご.やか、あ.える (yawaragu, yawarageru, nagomu, nagoyaka, aeru).
How many strokes does 和 have?
和 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).
Is 和 a good kanji for a tattoo?
和 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means harmony, Japanese style, peace, soften, Japan. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.