幽
seclude · confine to a room · deep · profound · secluded · faint · dark · tranquil · calm
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mountain and small. Small mountain.
Symbolism
Ghost, profound, dim. Represents faint.
Spiritual Meaning
Mystical worldview in Shinto and Onmyōdō. Represents awe toward the "profound" realm where invisible spirits and gods dwell.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Illuminating the darkness
Words & Expressions
Words written with 幽
Four-Character Compounds
深山幽谷
しんざんゆうこく
deep mountain valleys
Anime & Manga
幽☆遊☆白書
Yu Yu Hakusho
'Ghost/spirit' in the title; depicts the adventures of a protagonist who becomes a spirit detective.
ゆらぎ荘の幽奈さん
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs
A well-known work with 幽 in its Japanese title.
Games
零
Fatal Frame(2001)
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Horror game fighting ghosts. Unique system of capturing spirits with a camera.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
“profound”
“faint”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 幽 mean in Japanese?
幽 means seclude, confine to a room, deep, profound, secluded, faint, dark, tranquil, calm.
How do you read 幽?
On'yomi: ユウ (YUU). Kun'yomi: ふか.い、かす.か、くら.い、しろ.い (fukai, kasuka, kurai, shiroi).
How many strokes does 幽 have?
幽 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 幺 (short thread).
Is 幽 a good kanji for a tattoo?
幽 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means seclude, confine to a room, deep, profound, secluded, faint, dark, tranquil, calm. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.