履
perform · complete · footgear · shoes · boots · put on (the feet)
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'body' (尸) with 'repeat' (復), meaning walking by moving feet. Extended to mean footwear and career history.
Symbolism
Symbolizes walking, career, and execution. Represents the footprints of one's life journey and fulfilling promises.
Component Breakdown
corpse + 復
Words & Expressions
Words written with 履
Four-Character Compounds
冠履転倒
かんりてんとう
disorder; chaos; inversion
Proverbs & Idioms
瓜田に履を納れず
かでんにくつをいれず
Don't put on shoes in a melon field
Avoid suspicious behavior
Poetry
夏河を越すうれしさよ手に草履
The joy of wading a summer river, sandals in hand.
Anime & Manga
履いてください、鷹峰さん
Please Put Them On, Takamine-san
A well-known work with 履 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“perform”
“shoes”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 履 mean in Japanese?
履 means perform, complete, footgear, shoes, boots, put on (the feet).
How do you read 履?
On'yomi: リ (RI). Kun'yomi: は.く (haku).
How many strokes does 履 have?
履 has 15 strokes. Its radical is 尸 (corpse).
Is 履 a good kanji for a tattoo?
履 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means perform, complete, footgear, shoes, boots, put on (the feet). Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.