Back

On'yomi
スン
SUN

measurement · tenth of a shaku · a little · small

Details

Strokes3
Frequency#1669
Radicalinch(3)

Stroke Order

Loading...
Strokes3

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of finger width. Unit of length.

Symbolism

Dimension, just before, slight. Represents short length.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Small joy

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

九寸五分

くすんごぶ

dagger; dagger

舌先三寸

したさきさんずん

eloquence or flattery designed to deceive; eloquence or flattery designed to deceive

寸進尺退

すんしんしゃくたい

one step forward, many steps backward; little to gain and much to lose; one step forward, many steps backward

寸善尺魔

すんぜんしゃくま

in evil, there is odds; there is more evil than good in this world; one good thing tends to cause many bad things to happen; in evil, there is odds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 寸 mean in Japanese?

寸 means measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small.

How do you read 寸?

On'yomi: スン (SUN).

How many strokes does 寸 have?

寸 has 3 strokes. Its radical is 寸 (inch).

Is 寸 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 寸 (measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for small