Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'food' (食) with 'sheep' (羊, implying good), representing nurturing with good food. Means physical and spiritual cultivation.
Symbolism
Symbolizes nurturing, nutrition, and cultivation. Represents acts of fostering life, building strength, and developing talent through education.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 養
Four-Character Compounds
転地療養
てんちりょうよう
seeking to improve one's health with a change of climate
追善供養
ついぜんくよう
memorial service
永代供養
えいたいくよう
services performed in perpetuity by a Buddhist temple for the repose of a departed soul
開眼供養
かいげんくよう
ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul)
Anime & Manga
本好きの下剋上 領主の養女
Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke
A well-known work with 養 in its Japanese title.
男子高校生を養いたいお姉さんの話
She's Adopted a High School Boy!
A well-known work with 養 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
Other kanji with the same meaning
“foster”
“bring up”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 養 mean in Japanese?
養 means foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture.
How do you read 養?
On'yomi: ヨウ、リョウ (YOU, RYOU). Kun'yomi: やしな.う (yashinau).
How many strokes does 養 have?
養 has 15 strokes. Its radical is 食 (eat).
Is 養 a good kanji for a tattoo?
養 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.