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On'yomi
チク
CHIKU
Kun'yomi
たけ
take

bamboo

Details

Strokes6
Frequency#593
Radicalbamboo(6)

Stroke Order

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Strokes6

Cultural Context

Etymology

Pictograph of bamboo.

Symbolism

Bamboo, bamboo grove, pine-bamboo-plum. Represents bamboo.

Seasonal

Essential for Tanabata on July 7th. Bamboo autumn in May is haiku seasonal word. Bamboo shoots are spring delicacy.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

竹林七賢

ちくりんのしちけん

Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove; group of 3rd-century Qingtan scholars, writers, and musicians; Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove

Proverbs & Idioms

竹を割ったような性格

たけをわったようなせいかく

A personality like split bamboo

A frank and straightforward personality

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 竹 mean in Japanese?

竹 means bamboo.

How do you read 竹?

On'yomi: チク (CHIKU). Kun'yomi: たけ (take).

How many strokes does 竹 have?

竹 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 竹 (bamboo).

Is 竹 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 竹 (bamboo) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.