Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of hard and shell. Wise like hard shell.
Symbolism
Wise, sage, wisdom. Represents wisdom.
Spiritual Meaning
The ideal personality combining wisdom and virtue. In Confucianism, a "wise person" ranks below a sage but guides people through practical wisdom.
Component Breakdown
臤 + shell
Words & Expressions
Words written with 賢
Four-Character Compounds
良妻賢母
りょうさいけんぼ
good wife and wise mother
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
賢良方正
けんりょうほうせい
wise and virtuous; good and able men
Proverbs & Idioms
賢しらの愚
さかしらのぐ
The folly of the clever
Being too clever for your own good
Anime & Manga
賢者の孫
Wise Man’s Grandchild
A well-known work with 賢 in its Japanese title.
失格紋の最強賢者
The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest
A well-known work with 賢 in its Japanese title.
転生賢者の異世界ライフ ～第二の職業を得て、世界最強になりました～
My Isekai Life: I Gained a Second Character Class and Became the Strongest Sage in the World!
A well-known work with 賢 in its Japanese title.
ピーターグリルと賢者の時間
Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time
A well-known work with 賢 in its Japanese title.
落第賢者の学院無双～二度目の転生、Sランクチート魔術師冒険録～
From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage
A well-known work with 賢 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
六角義賢
Name contains 賢
Rokkaku Yoshikata was a samurai head of the Rokkaku clan during Japan's Sengoku period.
Wikipedia陶晴賢
Name contains 賢
Sue Harukata was a Japanese samurai who served as a senior retainer of the Ōuchi clan in the Sengoku period in Japan.
Wikipedia待賢門院堀河
Name contains 賢
Lady Horikawa, attendant to Empress Taiken was a waka poet and Japanese noblewoman active in the Heian period.
Wikipedia藤原賢子
Name contains 賢
Fujiwara no Kenshi was the empress consort of Emperor Shirakawa of Japan.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“wisdom”
“cleverness”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 賢 mean in Japanese?
賢 means intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness.
How do you read 賢?
On'yomi: ケン (KEN). Kun'yomi: かしこ.い (kashikoi).
How many strokes does 賢 have?
賢 has 16 strokes. Its radical is 貝 (shell).
Is 賢 a good kanji for a tattoo?
賢 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:wise · wisdom · cleverness