Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '聿' (brush) and '者'. Writing with a brush.
Symbolism
Record, literature, calligraphy. Represents transmission of knowledge and art.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Running the brush
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: 聿 + sun
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
六法全書
ろっぽうぜんしょ
compendium of laws; statute books; complete book of the Six Codes
読書三昧
どくしょざんまい
being absorbed in reading
書画骨董
しょがこっとう
curios and objets d'art
特筆大書
とくひつたいしょ
(printed or written in) large letters
四書五経
ししょごきょう
the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism; the Nine Chinese Classics
焚書坑儒
ふんしょこうじゅ
burning books on the Chinese classics and burying Confucian scholars alive (Qin dynasty thought suppression campaign)
読書三到
どくしょさんとう
using mind, mouth and eyes to understand a book fully
読書三余
どくしょさんよ
winter, night, and rainy weather; the ideal conditions for reading
読書百遍
どくしょひゃっぺん
repeated reading (makes the meaning clear); reading something again and again (will lead one to realize its meaning)
読書尚友
どくしょしょうゆう
by reading books you can count the wise philosophers of the past as friends
Proverbs & Idioms
書は人なり
しょはひとなり
Writing reveals the person
Handwriting reflects one's character
Anime & Manga
図書館戦争
Library Wars
Story of fighting to protect 'books' and libraries.
とある魔術の禁書目録
A Certain Magical Index
A well-known work with 書 in its Japanese title.
幽☆遊☆白書
Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghostfiles
A well-known work with 書 in its Japanese title.
本好きの下剋上 司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません
Ascendance of a Bookworm
A well-known work with 書 in its Japanese title.
ゼロから始める魔法の書
Grimoire of Zero
A well-known work with 書 in its Japanese title.
Games
ファイアーエムブレム
Fire Emblem(1990)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Simulation RPG where you 'write' strategy to fight.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 書 mean in Japanese?
書 means write.
How do you read 書?
On'yomi: ショ (SHO). Kun'yomi: か.く、-が.き、-がき (kaku, gaki, gaki).
How many strokes does 書 have?
書 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 曰 (say).
Is 書 a good kanji for a tattoo?
書 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means write. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:write