Details
Description
Butterfly - the insect of transformation, carrying the idea of one life becoming another.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of insect and phonetic. Insect butterfly.
Symbolism
Butterfly, butterflies, transformation. Represents butterfly.
Seasonal
Symbolizes spring April to May. Dancing in spring fields heralds spring arrival. Spring seasonal word in haiku.
Component Breakdown
Insect + leaf element
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
蝶よ花よ
ちょうよはなよ
Like a butterfly, like a flower; Cherish and raise with great care and affection
Poetry
釣鐘にとまりて眠る胡蝶かな
A butterfly settled on the temple bell, asleep.
Anime & Manga
ふつつかな悪女ではございますが ~雛宮蝶鼠とりかえ伝~
Though I Am an Inept Villainess
A well-known work with 蝶 in its Japanese title.
日々蝶々
Like a Butterfly
A well-known work with 蝶 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 蝶 mean in Japanese?
蝶 means butterfly. Butterfly - the insect of transformation, carrying the idea of one life becoming another.
How do you read 蝶?
On'yomi: チョウ (CHOU).
How many strokes does 蝶 have?
蝶 has 15 strokes. Its radical is 虫 (insect).
Is 蝶 a good kanji for a tattoo?
蝶 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means butterfly. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
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