Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sun and correct. Sun is correct.
Symbolism
Right or wrong, correction, correct. Represents correctness.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bright future
Words & Expressions
Words written with 是
Four-Character Compounds
色即是空
しきそくぜくう
form is emptiness; matter is void; all is vanity
是々非々
ぜぜひひ
free and unbiased; fair and just; ruling or judging what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong
空即是色
くうそくぜしき
emptiness is form; illusion of the reality of matter
昨非今是
さくひこんぜ
complete reversal of values or ways of thinking
如是我聞
にょぜがもん
thus I hear (quote from the sutras); these ears have heard
是非曲直
ぜひきょくちょく
rights and wrongs (of a case); relative merits (of a case)
今是昨非
こんぜさくひ
complete reversal of values or ways of thinking (over time); What appeared wrong in the past now appears right; realizing and regretting the past errors of one's ways
是非善悪
ぜひぜんあく
rights and wrongs; the relative merits (of a case); propriety
是生滅法
ぜしょうめっぽう
the law of arising and ceasing; the law of creation and destruction
実事求是
じつじきゅうぜ
practical search for the truth
是非とも
ぜひとも
By all means; Absolutely, without fail
Poetry
痩蛙まけるな一茶是に有り
Thin frog, do not lose — Issa is here beside you.
Anime & Manga
我老婆是魔王大人
My Wife is the Demon Queen
A well-known work with 是 in its Japanese title.
今天的她也是如此可爱
She Is Also Cute Today
A well-known work with 是 in its Japanese title.
死灵法师！我即是天灾
Necromancer, the Ultimate Scourge!
A well-known work with 是 in its Japanese title.
我真不是邪神走狗
I’m Really Not the Devil’s Lackey
A well-known work with 是 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 是 mean in Japanese?
是 means just so, this, right, justice.
How do you read 是?
On'yomi: ゼ、シ (ZE, SHI). Kun'yomi: これ、この、ここ (kore, kono, koko).
How many strokes does 是 have?
是 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 日 (sun).
Is 是 a good kanji for a tattoo?
是 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means just so, this, right, justice. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.