塔
pagoda · tower · steeple
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of earth and phonetic. Earth tower.
Symbolism
Tower, pagoda, stupa. Represents tower.
Spiritual Meaning
Buddhist architecture housing Buddha's relics. "Five-story pagoda" symbolizes cosmic structure, a sacred structure embodying Buddha's teachings.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Praying to the gods
Component Breakdown
earth + 荅
Words & Expressions
Words written with 塔
Four-Character Compounds
堂塔伽藍
どうとうがらん
religious buildings (temples, shrines, pagodas, etc.)
Proverbs & Idioms
砂上の楼閣
さじょうのろうかく
A castle on sand
Something built on an unstable foundation
Anime & Manga
神之塔 -Tower of God-
Tower of God
A well-known work with 塔 in its Japanese title.
劇場版ポケットモンスター 結晶塔の帝王 ENTEI
Pokémon 3: The Movie
A well-known work with 塔 in its Japanese title.
塔の管理をしてみよう
Tou no Kanri wo Shite Miyou
A well-known work with 塔 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 塔 mean in Japanese?
塔 means pagoda, tower, steeple.
How do you read 塔?
On'yomi: トウ (TOU).
How many strokes does 塔 have?
塔 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 土 (earth).
Is 塔 a good kanji for a tattoo?
塔 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means pagoda, tower, steeple. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.