Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: roof + child
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of roof and child. Raising child at home, character.
Symbolism
Character, kanji, font. Basic unit of writing system.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Drawing a sword
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一字千金
いちじせんきん
word of great value; word of great value
十字砲火
じゅうじほうか
cross fire; cross fire
真一文字
まいちもんじ
straight line; beeline; straight line
一字一句
いちじいっく
word for word; verbatim; literally; word for word
不立文字
ふりゅうもんじ
Buddhist revelation through intuitive discernment; Spiritual awakening cannot be experienced with words and letters; Spiritual enlightenment can be attained only by means of communion of mind with mind (Zen Buddhism); Buddhist revelation through intuitive discernment
永字八法
えいじはっぽう
Eight Principles of Yong; principles for writing the eight basic brush strokes in Chinese characters; Eight Principles of Yong
苗字帯刀
みょうじたいとう
right to bear a surname and to wear a sword (during the Edo period); right to bear a surname and to wear a sword (during the Edo period)
Proverbs & Idioms
字は人なり
じはひとなり
Handwriting is the person
Writing reveals character
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 字 mean in Japanese?
字 means character, letter, word, section of village.
How do you read 字?
On'yomi: ジ (JI). Kun'yomi: あざ、あざな、-な (aza, azana, na).
How many strokes does 字 have?
字 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 子 (child).
Is 字 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 字 (character, letter, word, section of village) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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