夢
dream · vision · illusion
Details
Description
Dream - represents hopes, aspirations, and the realm of imagination.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of grass, net, cover, and evening. Visions seen at night.
Symbolism
Dream, hope, ideal. Represents world of sleep and future aspirations.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents gateway to spiritual world beyond reality - believed that divine revelations are transmitted through dreams.
Component Breakdown
Grass + net + cover + evening
Words & Expressions
Words written with 夢
Four-Character Compounds
酔生夢死
すいせいむし
idling one's life away; living to no purpose
無我夢中
むがむちゅう
losing oneself (in); being absorbed (in); forgetting oneself
同床異夢
どうしょういむ
cohabiting but living in different worlds
泡沫夢幻
ほうまつむげん
transient; ephemeral; fleeting
夢幻泡沫
むげんほうまつ
transient; ephemeral; fleeting
夢幻泡影
むげんほうよう
a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow (metaphor for the transience of life)
一炊の夢
いっすいのゆめ
A dream during one pot of rice cooking; Life is as fleeting as a brief dream
Proverbs & Idioms
夢は枯野を駆け巡る
ゆめはかれのをかけめぐる
Dreams wander over withered fields
From Basho's death poem - the spirit wanders even in illness
夢のまた夢
ゆめのまたゆめ
A dream within a dream
Something utterly ephemeral (Hideyoshi's death poem)
Poetry
住の江の 岸による波 よるさへや 夢の通ひ路 人めよくらむ
Waves draw to the shore at Suminoe. Must you too, even by night, avoid others' eyes on the path of dreams?
春の夜の 夢ばかりなる 手枕に かひなく立たむ 名こそ惜しけれ
For an arm pillow no more real than a spring night's dream, I would hate to lose my name for nothing.
夏草や兵どもが夢の跡
Summer grasses — all that is left of the warriors' dreams.
旅に病んで夢は枯野をかけ廻る
Ill on a journey, and my dream goes running over withered fields.
Anime & Manga
パプリカ
Paprika
Sci-fi about technology to enter dreams
ワンピース
One Piece
Story of pursuing the dream to become Pirate King
夢喰いメリー
Dream Eater Merry
Fantasy set in the world of dreams
青春ブタ野郎はバニーガール先輩の夢を見ない
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
A well-known work with 夢 in its Japanese title.
青春ブタ野郎はゆめみる少女の夢を見ない
Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl
A well-known work with 夢 in its Japanese title.
Games
ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Action RPG with the shocking premise that the entire island is a 'dream'
View on Amazon →NiGHTS
NiGHTS into Dreams
Action game flying through the world of dreams
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
夢窓疎石
A Zen master renowned for designing famous Japanese gardens, including Tenryuji Temple garden in Kyoto.
夢想権之助
Name contains 夢
Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi was a samurai of the early 17th century and the traditional founder of the Koryu school of jojutsu known as Shintō Musō-ryū…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“dream”
“vision”
“illusion”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 夢 mean in Japanese?
夢 means dream, vision, illusion. Dream - represents hopes, aspirations, and the realm of imagination.
How do you read 夢?
On'yomi: ム、ボウ (MU, BOU). Kun'yomi: ゆめ、ゆめ.みる、くら.い (yume, yumemiru, kurai).
How many strokes does 夢 have?
夢 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 夕 (evening).
Is 夢 a good kanji for a tattoo?
夢 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means dream, vision, illusion. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.