有
possess · have · exist · happen · occur · approx
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of holding meat in hand. Possessing.
Symbolism
Existence, famous, possession. Represents being and having.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
前途有望
ぜんとゆうぼう
promising future
有為転変
ういてんぺん
mutability (of worldly affairs); fleeting shifts and changes (of human life)
有害無益
ゆうがいむえき
more harm than good; harmful and of no use
有名無実
ゆうめいむじつ
in name but not in reality
有耶無耶
うやむや
indefinite; hazy; vague
有形無形
ゆうけいむけい
tangible and intangible; material and spiritual
有象無象
うぞうむぞう
mob; the masses; rabble
有職故実
ゆうそくこじつ
studies in usages and practices of the ancient court and military households
造反有理
ぞうはんゆうり
there are no rebels without reasons
忙中有閑
ぼうちゅうゆうかん
having free time to spare in the midst of busyness; leisure in the intervals of one's work
有頂天外
うちょうてんがい
beside oneself with joy; in raptures; in an ecstasy of delight
無益有害
むえきゆうがい
useless and harmful
有言実行
ゆうげんじっこう
carrying out one's words; being as good as one's word; making good on one's promise
有相無相
うそうむそう
all things in nature; the whole creation
亢龍有悔
こうりょうゆうかい
the arrogant dragon will have cause to repent; he who reaches the top is bound to fail if he is not prudent
Poetry
今こむと 言ひしばかりに 長月の 有明の月を 待ちいでつるかな
Only because you said you would come at once, I waited through the long ninth month until the dawn moon rose.
痩蛙まけるな一茶是に有り
Thin frog, do not lose — Issa is here beside you.
Anime & Manga
有頂天家族
The Eccentric Family
A well-known work with 有 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
山縣有朋
Name contains 有
Prince Yamagata Aritomo was a Japanese statesman and general who twice served as prime minister of Japan, in 1889–1891 and 1898–1900.
Wikipedia森有礼
Name contains 有
Viscount Mori Arinori was a Meiji period Japanese statesman, diplomat, and founder of Japan's modern educational system.
Wikipedia有坂成章
Name contains 有
Baron Arisaka Nariakira was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Wikipedia有馬晴信
Name contains 有
Arima Harunobu was a Japanese samurai lord who was the daimyo of Shimabara Domain and the head of the Hizen-Arima clan from Hizen Province.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 有 mean in Japanese?
有 means possess, have, exist, happen, occur, approx.
How do you read 有?
On'yomi: ユウ、ウ (YUU, U). Kun'yomi: あ.る (aru).
How many strokes does 有 have?
有 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 月 (moon).
Is 有 a good kanji for a tattoo?
有 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means possess, have, exist, happen, occur, approx. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.