閑
leisure
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of gate and tree. Quietness of closing gate with wood.
Symbolism
Quiet, leisure, tranquility. Represents peaceful time.
Component Breakdown
gate + tree
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
閑話休題
かんわきゅうだい
getting back to the subject at hand, ...; (but) to return to the main topic, ...; so much for digressions, ...
小人閑居
しょうじんかんきょ
a small-minded person being idle (tends to do evil)
忙中有閑
ぼうちゅうゆうかん
having free time to spare in the midst of busyness; leisure in the intervals of one's work
悠々閑々
ゆうゆうかんかん
composed and unhurried; easygoing and leisurely; in indolence
閑雲野鶴
かんうんやかく
life in natural setting, free from worldly cares
Proverbs & Idioms
閑古鳥が鳴く
かんこどりがなく
The cuckoo cries
Business is slow; no customers around
Poetry
閑さや岩にしみ入る蝉の声
Such stillness — the cry of the cicadas sinking into the rock.
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 閑 mean in Japanese?
閑 means leisure.
How do you read 閑?
On'yomi: カン (KAN).
How many strokes does 閑 have?
閑 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 門 (gate).
Is 閑 a good kanji for a tattoo?
閑 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means leisure. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:leisure