藍
indigo
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'grass' (艹) with 'watch' (監), referring to the plant yielding indigo dye. Famous in the proverb 'indigo blue surpasses its origin.'
Symbolism
Symbolizes indigo, craftsmanship, and students surpassing teachers. Represents Japanese traditional dyeing culture and growth potential.
Component Breakdown
grass + 監
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
七堂伽藍
しちどうがらん
complete seven-structured temple compound
堂塔伽藍
どうとうがらん
religious buildings (temples, shrines, pagodas, etc.)
Anime & Manga
空の境界 伽藍の洞
the Garden of sinners Chapter 4: garan-no-dou. (The Hollow Shrine)
A well-known work with 藍 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 藍 mean in Japanese?
藍 means indigo.
How do you read 藍?
On'yomi: ラン (RAN). Kun'yomi: あい (ai).
How many strokes does 藍 have?
藍 has 18 strokes. Its radical is 艸 (grass).
Is 藍 a good kanji for a tattoo?
藍 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means indigo. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.