易
easy · ready to · simple · fortune-telling · divination
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sun and not. Changing like the sun.
Symbolism
I Ching, easy, trade. Represents change and exchange.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Reading the I Ching
Component Breakdown
sun + 勿
Words & Expressions
Words written with 易
Four-Character Compounds
自由貿易
じゆうぼうえき
free trade
万世不易
ばんせいふえき
eternity; perpetuity
万代不易
ばんだいふえき
eternity; perpetuity
易姓革命
えきせいかくめい
revolution (change of dynasty) decreed by Heaven when the incumbent emperor is found lacking in moral virtue (old Chinese political thought)
千古不易
せんこふえき
eternally unchanging
万古不易
ばんこふえき
eternally unchanging
不易流行
ふえきりゅうこう
the principle of fluidity and immutability in haiku; haiku is both fluid and transitory, and eternal and immutable; an interchange between the transient and the immutable is central to the soul of haiku
Proverbs & Idioms
易きに流れる
やすきにながれる
To take the easy way
To choose the path of least resistance
Other kanji with the same meaning
“simple”
“fortune-telling”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 易 mean in Japanese?
易 means easy, ready to, simple, fortune-telling, divination.
How do you read 易?
On'yomi: エキ、イ (EKI, I). Kun'yomi: やさ.しい、やす.い (yasashii, yasui).
How many strokes does 易 have?
易 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 日 (sun).
Is 易 a good kanji for a tattoo?
易 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means easy, ready to, simple, fortune-telling, divination. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:easy · simple · fortune-telling