眼
eyeball
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of eye and phonetic. Eye staring intently.
Symbolism
Eyeball, piercing look, insight. Represents power of seeing.
Component Breakdown
eye + 艮
Words & Expressions
Words written with 眼
Four-Character Compounds
眼高手低
がんこうしゅてい
able to criticize but not to create (criticise)
眼光紙背
がんこうしはい
reading between the lines
眼光炯々
がんこうけいけい
with shining, piercing eyes
紅毛碧眼
こうもうへきがん
red-haired and blue-eyed (person); a Westerner
酔眼朦朧
すいがんもうろう
(with) one's eyes blurred from drinking; with drunken eyes; dazed by wine
着眼大局
ちゃくがんたいきょく
having an eye to the big picture; being aware of the general situation
雲煙過眼
うんえんかがん
not being obsessed with something very long (just as clouds and haze pass swiftly before one's eyes)
開眼供養
かいげんくよう
ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul)
媚眼秋波
びがんしゅうは
casting a coquettish glance (at a man)
碧眼紅毛
へきがんこうもう
blue eyes and red hair; Westerner
Proverbs & Idioms
眼光紙背に徹す
がんこうしはいにてっす
Eyes that penetrate through the paper
Reading so deeply that you understand hidden meanings
Anime & Manga
灼眼のシャナ
Shakugan no Shana
A well-known work with 眼 in its Japanese title.
不遇職【鑑定士】が実は最強だった～奈落で鍛えた最強の【神眼】で無双する～
Even Given the Worthless “Appraiser” Class, I’m Actually the Strongest
A well-known work with 眼 in its Japanese title.
ロード・エルメロイⅡ世の事件簿 {魔眼蒐集列車} Grace note
Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files {Rail Zeppelin} Grace note
A well-known work with 眼 in its Japanese title.
灼眼のシャナⅡ(Second)
Shakugan no Shana: Season II
A well-known work with 眼 in its Japanese title.
中二病でも恋がしたい！戀 再生の･･･邪王真眼黙示録
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions - Heart Throb -: The Rikka Wars/ Apocalypse of the Wicked Lord Shingan Reborn
A well-known work with 眼 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
鉄眼道光
Name contains 眼
Tetsugen Dōkō was a Japanese Zen Master, and an important early leader of the Ōbaku school of Buddhism.
WikipediaFrequently Asked Questions
What does 眼 mean in Japanese?
眼 means eyeball.
How do you read 眼?
On'yomi: ガン、ゲン (GAN, GEN). Kun'yomi: まなこ、め (manako, me).
How many strokes does 眼 have?
眼 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 目 (eye).
Is 眼 a good kanji for a tattoo?
眼 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means eyeball. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.