Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of middle and heart. Middle of heart.
Symbolism
Loyalty, faithful, devotion. Represents loyalty.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents absolute loyalty to lord or country, one of highest virtues in Japanese spiritual culture.
Component Breakdown
middle + heart
Words & Expressions
Words written with 忠
Four-Character Compounds
忠君愛国
ちゅうくんあいこく
loyalty and patriotism
尽忠報国
じんちゅうほうこく
loyalty and patriotism
忠言逆耳
ちゅうげんぎゃくじ
good advice is harsh to the ears; honest advice is often unpleasant to the ears
忠勇無双
ちゅうゆうむそう
of peerless loyalty and bravery
忠孝両全
ちゅうこうりょうぜん
being a good son and a loyal subject; possessing loyalty and filial piety
Proverbs & Idioms
忠言耳に逆らう
ちゅうげんみみにさからう
Honest advice grates on the ears
Sincere advice is hard to hear but beneficial
Related Figures & Stories
徳川秀忠
Name contains 忠
Tokugawa Hidetada was the second shōgun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623.
Wikipedia本多忠勝
Name contains 忠
Honda Tadakatsu , also called Honda Heihachirō was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served…
Wikipedia織田信忠
Name contains 忠
Oda Nobutada was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period of Japan.
Wikipedia藤原忠平
Name contains 忠
Fujiwara no Tadahira was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“loyalty”
“fidelity”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 忠 mean in Japanese?
忠 means loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness.
How do you read 忠?
On'yomi: チュウ (CHUU).
How many strokes does 忠 have?
忠 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).
Is 忠 a good kanji for a tattoo?
忠 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.