祭
ritual · offer prayers · celebrate · deify · enshrine · worship
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of meat, altar, and hand. Offering meat to gods.
Symbolism
Festival, ceremony, holiday. Represents celebrating.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Visiting a shrine
Seasonal
Summer festivals July-August most active. Local festivals beloved as seasonal traditions.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 祭
Four-Character Compounds
冠婚葬祭
かんこんそうさい
important ceremonial occasions in family relationships
祭政一致
さいせいいっち
unity of church and state; theocracy
Proverbs & Idioms
祭りの後の静けさ
まつりのあとのしずけさ
The quiet after the festival
The emptiness that follows excitement
Anime & Manga
中二病でも恋がしたい! 煌めきの... 聖爆誕祭（スラップステック・ノエル）
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Glimmering...Explosive Festival (Slapstick Noel)
A well-known work with 祭 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“celebrate”
“worship”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 祭 mean in Japanese?
祭 means ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine, worship.
How do you read 祭?
On'yomi: サイ (SAI). Kun'yomi: まつ.る、まつ.り、まつり (matsuru, matsuri, matsuri).
How many strokes does 祭 have?
祭 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 示 (show).
Is 祭 a good kanji for a tattoo?
祭 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine, worship. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.