折
fold · break · fracture · bend · yield · submit
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of hand and axe. Breaking with hand.
Symbolism
Origami, fold, refraction. Represents folding.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Good old days
Component Breakdown
hand + axe
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
和洋折衷
わようせっちゅう
blending of Japanese and Western styles
紆余曲折
うよきょくせつ
turns and twists; ups and downs; meandering
九十九折
つづらおり
winding; meandering; sinuous
波乱曲折
はらんきょくせつ
very involved and troublesome situation; complicated twists and turns
雅俗折衷
がぞくせっちゅう
blending of the classical and colloquial styles
樽俎折衝
そんそせっしょう
diplomatic negotiations at the dinner table; diplomatic bargaining
百折不撓
ひゃくせつふとう
indefatigability; indomitableness
Proverbs & Idioms
折り合いをつける
おりあいをつける
To reach a compromise
Finding middle ground
Poetry
心あてに 折らばや折らむ 初霜の おきまどはせる 白菊の花
Poem #29 from Hyakunin Isshu
Related Figures & Stories
中村不折
Name contains 折
Nakamura Fusetsu was a Japanese painter in the yōga style.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 折 mean in Japanese?
折 means fold, break, fracture, bend, yield, submit.
How do you read 折?
On'yomi: セツ、シャク (SETSU, SHAKU). Kun'yomi: お.る、おり、お.り、-お.り、お.れる (oru, ori, ori, ori, oreru).
How many strokes does 折 have?
折 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 手 (hand).
Is 折 a good kanji for a tattoo?
折 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means fold, break, fracture, bend, yield, submit. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.