契
pledge · promise · vow
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of abundance, sword, and big. Promise carved with sword.
Symbolism
Contract, opportunity, pledge. Represents promise.
Component Breakdown
㓞 + big
Words & Expressions
Words written with 契
Proverbs & Idioms
契りは固く守るべし
ちぎりはかたくまもるべし
Vows should be firmly kept
Promises must be honored
Poetry
契りきな かたみに袖を しぼりつつ 末の松山 波越さじとは
Did we not promise, wringing out each other's sleeves, that waves would never cross Sue-no-Matsuyama?
契りおきし させもが露を いのちにて あはれ今年の 秋もいぬめり
I lived on the promise you made, like dew on a moxa leaf — and now this autumn too is passing.
Anime & Manga
DARKER THAN BLACK -黒の契約者-
Darker than Black
A well-known work with 契 in its Japanese title.
新妹魔王の契約者
The Testament of Sister New Devil
A well-known work with 契 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
契沖
Name contains 契
Keichū was a Buddhist priest and a scholar of Kokugaku in the mid Edo period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 契 mean in Japanese?
契 means pledge, promise, vow.
How do you read 契?
On'yomi: ケイ (KEI). Kun'yomi: ちぎ.る (chigiru).
How many strokes does 契 have?
契 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 大 (big).
Is 契 a good kanji for a tattoo?
契 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means pledge, promise, vow. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.