Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of metal and lose. Lost metal.
Symbolism
Iron, railway, steel. Represents iron.
Component Breakdown
metal + 失
Words & Expressions
Words written with 鉄
Four-Character Compounds
金城鉄壁
きんじょうてっぺき
impregnable castle (walls); impregnable; invulnerable
鉄拳制裁
てっけんせいさい
(punishment by) striking with fists
鉄心石腸
てっしんせきちょう
will of iron
磨穿鉄硯
ませんてっけん
showing unyielding diligence in one's studies; wearing a hole through one's metal inkstone from constant studying
Proverbs & Idioms
鉄は熱いうちに打て
てつはあついうちにうて
Strike while the iron is hot
Act while the opportunity lasts
Anime & Manga
鉄腕アトム
Astro Boy
Japan's first serialized TV anime. 'Iron' symbolizes the protagonist's essence as a robot.
甲鉄城のカバネリ
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
A well-known work with 鉄 in its Japanese title.
傷物語〈Ⅰ鉄血篇〉
Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu
A well-known work with 鉄 in its Japanese title.
機動戦士ガンダム 鉄血のオルフェンズ
Mobile Suit GUNDAM Iron Blooded Orphans
A well-known work with 鉄 in its Japanese title.
最果てのパラディン 鉄錆の山の王
The Faraway Paladin: The Lord of Rust Mountains
A well-known work with 鉄 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
与謝野鉄幹
Name contains 鉄
Yosano Hiroshi , known by his pen name Tekkan Yosano was a Japanese author and poet active in late Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa era.
Wikipedia富岡鉄斎
Name contains 鉄
Tomioka Tessai was the pseudonym for a painter and calligrapher in imperial Japan.
Wikipedia山岡鉄舟
Name contains 鉄
Yamaoka Tesshū , also known as Ono Tetsutarō or Yamaoka Tetsutarō, was a famous samurai of the Bakumatsu period, who played an important role in the…
Wikipedia鉄眼道光
Name contains 鉄
Tetsugen Dōkō was a Japanese Zen Master, and an important early leader of the Ōbaku school of Buddhism.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 鉄 mean in Japanese?
鉄 means iron.
How do you read 鉄?
On'yomi: テツ (TETSU). Kun'yomi: くろがね (kurogane).
How many strokes does 鉄 have?
鉄 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 金 (gold).
Is 鉄 a good kanji for a tattoo?
鉄 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means iron. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:iron