Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of hemp and stone. Polishing hemp with stone.
Symbolism
Polish, grind, diligence. Represents polishing.
Component Breakdown
hemp + stone
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
切磋琢磨
せっさたくま
diligent application (to work or study); cultivating one's character by studying hard; mutual encouragement (to improve)
百戦錬磨
ひゃくせんれんま
veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles
千古不磨
せんこふま
permanence; immortality; eternity
磨穿鉄硯
ませんてっけん
showing unyielding diligence in one's studies; wearing a hole through one's metal inkstone from constant studying
Poetry
淡路島 かよふ千鳥の 鳴く声に 幾夜ねざめぬ 須磨の関守
Poem #78 from Hyakunin Isshu
Related Figures & Stories
松井須磨子
Name contains 磨
Sumako Matsui sɨ́.mä̀.kò̞]; November 1, 1886 – January 5, 1919) was a Japanese actress and singer.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 磨 mean in Japanese?
磨 means grind, polish, scour, improve, brush (teeth).
How do you read 磨?
On'yomi: マ (MA). Kun'yomi: みが.く、す.る (migaku, suru).
How many strokes does 磨 have?
磨 has 16 strokes. Its radical is 石 (stone).
Is 磨 a good kanji for a tattoo?
磨 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means grind, polish, scour, improve, brush (teeth). Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.