腕
arm · ability · talent
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'flesh' (月) with 'bend' (宛), representing the bending body part—arms. Also means skill.
Symbolism
Symbolizes arms, technique, and ability. Represents physical arms and capability to accomplish things.
Component Breakdown
moon + 宛
Words & Expressions
Words written with 腕
Four-Character Compounds
切歯扼腕
せっしやくわん
being enraged (indignant, impatient); gnashing the teeth and clenching the arms on the breast (in anger or regret)
腕白小僧
わんぱくこぞう
naughty boy; mischievous boy; little rascal
懸腕直筆
けんわんちょくひつ
calligraphy technique of holding the brush perpendicularly, lower arm raised, and elbow held away from the body
Proverbs & Idioms
腕に覚えがある
うでにおぼえがある
To have confidence in one's skills
Being skilled
Anime & Manga
ダンジョン島で宿屋をやろう！ 創造魔法を貰った俺の細腕繁盛記
Let’s Run an Inn on Dungeon Island! (In a World Ruled by Women)
A well-known work with 腕 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 腕 mean in Japanese?
腕 means arm, ability, talent.
How do you read 腕?
On'yomi: ワン (WAN). Kun'yomi: うで (ude).
How many strokes does 腕 have?
腕 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 肉 (meat).
Is 腕 a good kanji for a tattoo?
腕 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means arm, ability, talent. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.