最
utmost · most · extreme
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of cap and take. Taking most.
Symbolism
Highest, final, maximum. Represents most.
Component Breakdown
sun + 取
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
最後通牒
さいごつうちょう
ultimatum
Proverbs & Idioms
最後に笑う者が勝つ
さいごにわらうものがかつ
He who laughs last wins
Final results matter most
Poetry
五月雨をあつめて早し最上川
Gathering the rains of the fifth month, the Mogami runs fast.
Anime & Manga
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 最 in its Japanese title.
ありふれた職業で世界最強
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest
A well-known work with 最 in its Japanese title.
世界最高の暗殺者、異世界貴族に転生する
The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
A well-known work with 最 in its Japanese title.
ソードアート・オンライン アリシゼーション War of Underworld 最終章 (2nd Season)
Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2
A well-known work with 最 in its Japanese title.
史上最強の大魔王、村人Aに転生する
The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody
A well-known work with 最 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
最澄
Name contains 最
Saichō was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Japanese Tendai school of Buddhism.
Wikipedia最上義光
Name contains 最
Mogami Yoshiaki was a daimyō of the Yamagata Domain in Dewa Province, in the late Sengoku and early Edo periods.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 最 mean in Japanese?
最 means utmost, most, extreme.
How do you read 最?
On'yomi: サイ、シュ (SAI, SHU). Kun'yomi: もっと.も、つま (mottomo, tsuma).
How many strokes does 最 have?
最 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 曰 (say).
Is 最 a good kanji for a tattoo?
最 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means utmost, most, extreme. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.