Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of fire and hand. Remains of fire handled by hand.
Symbolism
Gray, ashes, remains. Represents what remains after burning.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Ice crystals
Words & Expressions
Words written with 灰
Four-Character Compounds
乱離骨灰
らりこっぱい
being scattered in all directions; being broken up and dispersed
枯木死灰
こぼくしかい
withered trees and cold ash; someone who is detached and free of desires; someone who has no vitality
Proverbs & Idioms
灰になっても
はいになっても
Even if reduced to ashes
Even in death
Anime & Manga
灰と幻想のグリムガル
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
A well-known work with 灰 in its Japanese title.
灰羽連盟
Haibane Renmei
A well-known work with 灰 in its Japanese title.
灰宮先輩は怖くてかわいい
Haimiya Is Scary Cute
A well-known work with 灰 in its Japanese title.
乱と灰色の世界
Ran and the Gray World
A well-known work with 灰 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 灰 mean in Japanese?
灰 means ashes, puckery juice, cremate.
How do you read 灰?
On'yomi: カイ (KAI). Kun'yomi: はい (hai).
How many strokes does 灰 have?
灰 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 火 (fire).
Is 灰 a good kanji for a tattoo?
灰 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means ashes, puckery juice, cremate. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.