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拙

On'yomi
セツ
SETSU
Kun'yomi
つたな.い
tsutanai

bungling · clumsy · unskillful

Details

Strokes8
Frequency#1938
Radical手hand(4)
Old Form拙

Stroke Order

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Strokes8

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of hand and exit. Hand coming out, clumsy.

Symbolism

Clumsy, unskilled, poor. Represents clumsiness.

Component Breakdown

拙=
扌出

hand + 出

Words & Expressions

Words written with 拙

巧拙こうせつskill
拙劣せつれつclumsy
拙速せっそくslapdash
稚拙ちせつchildish

Four-Character Compounds

巧遅拙速

こうちせっそく

better being rough and ready than slow and elaborate; better being brisk and sharp than slow and prudent

Proverbs & Idioms

大巧は拙なるが如し

たいこうはせつなるがごとし

Great skill appears clumsy

True mastery looks simple

Other kanji with the same meaning

Similar Kanji

担8拡8承8押8招8拠8拒8抱8

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 拙 mean in Japanese?

拙 means bungling, clumsy, unskillful.

How do you read 拙?

On'yomi: セツ (SETSU). Kun'yomi: つたな.い (tsutanai).

How many strokes does 拙 have?

拙 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 手 (hand).

Is 拙 a good kanji for a tattoo?

拙 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means bungling, clumsy, unskillful. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

Explore by meaning:clumsy