変
unusual · change · strange
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
亦 + go slowly
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of also and strike. Changing also.
Symbolism
Change, alteration, transform. Represents changing.
Anime & Manga
変態王子と笑わない猫。
Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko(2010)
Story of a mysterious cat granting 'perverted' wishes.
View on Amazon →Games
ポケモン
Pokémon(1996)
Developer: Game Freak
RPG where Pokémon 'transform' (evolve).
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
君子豹変
くんしひょうへん
the wise readily adapt themselves to changed circumstances; the wise are quick to acknowledge their mistakes and correct them; the wise make no scruple in suddenly changing their demeanor; the wise readily adapt themselves to changed circumstances
千変万化
せんぺんばんか
innumerable changes; infinite variety; innumerable changes
天変地異
てんぺんちい
natural disaster; cataclysm; natural disaster
変幻自在
へんげんじざい
phantasmagoric; protean; shape-shifting; phantasmagoric
有為転変
ういてんぺん
mutability (of worldly affairs); fleeting shifts and changes (of human life); mutability (of worldly affairs)
臨機応変
りんきおうへん
adapting oneself to the requirements of the moment; playing by ear; ad hoc approach; adapting oneself to the requirements of the moment
妖怪変化
ようかいへんげ
monstrous apparition; terrifying creature; incomprehensible horror; monstrous apparition
天災地変
てんさいちへん
natural disaster; natural disaster
永久不変
えいきゅうふへん
permanence; forever unchanging; permanence
Poetry
見せばやな 雄島のあまの 袖だにも 濡れにぞ濡れし 色は変はらず
Poem #90 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 変 mean in Japanese?
変 means unusual, change, strange.
How do you read 変?
On'yomi: ヘン (HEN). Kun'yomi: か.わる、か.わり、か.える (kawaru, kawari, kaeru).
How many strokes does 変 have?
変 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 夂 (go).
Is 変 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 変 (unusual, change, strange) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for unusual · kanji for change · kanji for strange