忍
endure · stealth · perseverance
Details
Description
Ninja/Endure - represents stealth, patience, and the legendary shadow warriors.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of blade and heart. Hiding blade in heart.
Symbolism
Endurance, secrecy, ninja. Represents spirit of enduring hardship and keeping secrets.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents patience and spiritual strength, core concept of bushido spirit enduring hardship.
Component Breakdown
Blade + heart
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
堅忍不抜
けんにんふばつ
indomitable perseverance; invincible fortitude
隠忍自重
いんにんじちょう
(behaving with) patience and prudence; putting up with something
残忍酷薄
ざんにんこくはく
cruel; heartless; brutal
忍の一字
にんのいちじ
The single character 'nin' (endurance); Patience is the key to everything
Proverbs & Idioms
石の上にも三年
いしのうえにもさんねん
Three years on a stone
Patience and perseverance will prevail
Poetry
玉のをよ たえなばたえね ながらへば 忍ぶることの 弱りもぞする
Thread of my life, if you must break, then break. If I live on, my strength to keep this hidden will fail.
Anime & Manga
NARUTO
Naruto
Popularized ninja culture worldwide. Depicts 'the ninja way'
忍たま乱太郎
Nintama Rantaro
Comedy set in a ninja school
バジリスク
Basilisk
Depicts the battle between Iga and Koga ninja
忍の一時
Shinobi no Ittoki
A well-known work with 忍 in its Japanese title.
劇場版 NARUTO -ナルト- 大活劇!雪姫忍法帖だってばよ!!
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
A well-known work with 忍 in its Japanese title.
Games
SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Soulslike game surviving Sengoku era as a shinobi
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
“stealth”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 忍 mean in Japanese?
忍 means endure, stealth, perseverance. Ninja/Endure - represents stealth, patience, and the legendary shadow warriors.
How do you read 忍?
On'yomi: ニン (NIN). Kun'yomi: しの.ぶ、しの.ばせる (shinobu, shinobaseru).
How many strokes does 忍 have?
忍 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).
Is 忍 a good kanji for a tattoo?
忍 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means endure, stealth, perseverance. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.