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On'yomi
カイ・エ
KAI / E
Kun'yomi
こわ.す・こわ.れる・やぶ.る
kowasu / kowareru / yaburu

demolition · break · destroy

Details

Strokes16
Frequency#727
Radicalearth(3)
Old Form

Stroke Order

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Strokes16

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of earth and phonetic. Earth crumbling.

Symbolism

Destruction, collapse, breakdown. Represents breaking.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Destruction and rebirth

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

自壊作用

じかいさよう

(the act of) disintegration; (the act of) disintegration

風俗壊乱

ふうぞくかいらん

corruption of public morals; an offense against public morality; corruption of public morals

金剛不壊

こんごうふえ

firm and solid; sturdy and indestructible; unshakable; firm and solid

Proverbs & Idioms

壊れた器は元に戻らぬ

こわれたうつわはもとにもどらぬ

A broken vessel cannot be restored

What's done cannot be undone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 壊 mean in Japanese?

壊 means demolition, break, destroy.

How do you read 壊?

On'yomi: カイ、エ (KAI, E). Kun'yomi: こわ.す、こわ.れる、やぶ.る (kowasu, kowareru, yaburu).

How many strokes does 壊 have?

壊 has 16 strokes. Its radical is 土 (earth).

Is 壊 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 壊 (demolition, break, destroy) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for break · kanji for destroy