Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
earth + 成
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of earth and become. Building made of earth.
Symbolism
Castle, fortress, castle town. Represents castle.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
金城鉄壁
きんじょうてっぺき
impregnable castle (walls); impregnable; invulnerable; impregnable castle (walls)
金城湯池
きんじょうとうち
an impregnable fortress; an unassailable territory; an impregnable fortress
傾国傾城
けいこくけいせい
woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale; woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty
傾城傾国
けいせいけいこく
woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale; woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty
孤城落日
こじょうらくじつ
feeling (looking) lone and helpless; helplessness of those in reduced circumstances; feeling (looking) lone and helpless
一国一城
いっこくいちじょう
(possession of) one feudal domain and one castle; being independent (acting without compromise or assistance); establishing only one castle in each feudal domain (edict issued by the shogunate in 1615); (possession of) one feudal domain and one castle
一顧傾城
いっこけいせい
woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty; femme fatale; woman so glamorous as to bring ruin to a country (castle) as its king (lord) is captivated by her beauty
Proverbs & Idioms
難攻不落の城
なんこうふらくのしろ
An impregnable castle
A fortress that cannot be easily conquered
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 城 mean in Japanese?
城 means castle.
How do you read 城?
On'yomi: ジョウ、セイ (JOU, SEI). Kun'yomi: しろ (shiro).
How many strokes does 城 have?
城 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 土 (earth).
Is 城 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 城 (castle) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.