Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of bird returning to nest (following sun setting in west).
Symbolism
West, sunset, ending. Represents autumn and metal in Five Elements.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
古今東西
ここんとうざい
all times and places; all ages and countries
東西南北
とうざいなんぼく
east, west, south and north
東奔西走
とうほんせいそう
busying oneself about (something); being on the move; bestirring oneself
西方浄土
さいほうじょうど
Western Pure Land (Amitabha's Buddhist paradise)
東夷西戎
とういせいじゅう
barbarians to the east and to the west (from the perspective of old China)
東西古今
とうざいここん
all times and places; everywhen and everywhere
Proverbs & Idioms
西も東もわからない
にしもひがしもわからない
Not knowing west from east
Being completely lost or confused
Poetry
菜の花や月は東に日は西に
Rape blossoms — the moon in the east, the sun in the west.
Anime & Manga
北北西に曇と往け
Go with the Clouds, North-by-Northwest
A well-known work with 西 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
西郷隆盛
Name contains 西
Saigō Takamori was a Japanese samurai and politician who was one of the most influential figures in Japanese history.
Wikipedia西園寺公望
Name contains 西
Prince Saionji Kinmochi was a Japanese statesman and diplomat who twice served as Prime Minister of Japan, in 1906–1908 and 1911–1912.
Wikipedia後西天皇
Name contains 西
Emperor Go-Sai , also known as Emperor Go-Saiin , personal name Nagahito, was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of…
Wikipedia井原西鶴
Name contains 西
Ihara Saikaku ) was a Japanese poet and creator of the "floating world" genre of Japanese prose .
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“west”
“Spain”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 西 mean in Japanese?
西 means west, Spain.
How do you read 西?
On'yomi: セイ、サイ、ス (SEI, SAI, SU). Kun'yomi: にし (nishi).
How many strokes does 西 have?
西 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 襾 (west).
Is 西 a good kanji for a tattoo?
西 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means west, Spain. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.