士
gentleman · scholar · samurai · samurai radical (no. 33)
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of axe. Honorific for man.
Symbolism
Samurai, lawyer, gentleman. Represents respectable person.
Component Breakdown
十 + one
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一言居士
いちげんこじ
person who is ready to comment on every subject; ready critic
士農工商
しのうこうしょう
hierarchy of samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants in Edo society
多士済々
たしせいせい
galaxy of able persons; collection of intellectuals
士魂商才
しこんしょうさい
having a samurai's spirit and a merchant's business sense
国士無双
こくしむそう
distinguished person; thirteen orphans; winning hand containing one of each terminal and honor tile plus one extra copy of any of them
慎重居士
しんちょうこじ
very cautious person; very prudent person; very discreet person
貴顕紳士
きけんしんし
gentlemen of (high) eminence; notables; dignitaries
士気高揚
しきこうよう
raising morale; lifting of morale
士気阻喪
しきそそう
demoralization; collapse of morale; one's morale being shaken
紳士淑女
しんししゅくじょ
ladies and gentlemen
Proverbs & Idioms
士は己を知る者のために死す
しはおのれをしるもののためにしす
A warrior dies for those who understand him
Loyalty to those who truly know you
Poetry
田子の浦に うち出でて見れば 白妙の 富士の高嶺に 雪はふりつつ
Coming out onto Tago Bay and looking up, I see snow still falling on the white peak of Fuji.
みかきもり 衛士のたく火の 夜は燃え 昼は消えつつ 物をこそ思へ
Like the fire the palace guards keep, blazing at night and dying by day, so my thoughts burn and fade.
蝸牛そろそろ登れ富士の山
Snail, climb Mount Fuji — but slowly, slowly.
Anime & Manga
落第騎士の英雄譚（キャバルリィ）
Chivalry of a Failed Knight
A well-known work with 士 in its Japanese title.
骸骨騎士様、只今異世界へお出掛け中
Skeleton Knight in Another World
A well-known work with 士 in its Japanese title.
美少女戦士セーラームーン
Sailor Moon
A well-known work with 士 in its Japanese title.
ヴァンパイア騎士
Vampire Knight
A well-known work with 士 in its Japanese title.
黒の召喚士
Black Summoner
A well-known work with 士 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
章士釗
Name contains 士
Zhang Shizhao , courtesy name Xingyan, pen name Huangzhonghuang, Qingtong or Qiutong, was a Chinese journalist, educator, politician of the early…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“gentleman”
“samurai”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 士 mean in Japanese?
士 means gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33).
How do you read 士?
On'yomi: シ (SHI). Kun'yomi: さむらい (samurai).
How many strokes does 士 have?
士 has 3 strokes. Its radical is 士 (scholar).
Is 士 a good kanji for a tattoo?
士 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33). Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.