Details
Description
Bird - head, body and tail in a single figure. Flight, freedom, and the torii gate it names.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph depicting a bird.
Symbolism
Bird, torii gate, flying bird. Represents freedom and sky.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Birds flying
Seasonal
Migratory birds herald seasonal changes. Wild geese for autumn, bush warblers for spring—birdsong announces the seasons' arrival.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一石二鳥
いっせきにちょう
killing two birds with one stone
花鳥風月
かちょうふうげつ
beauties of nature; the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics; artistic pursuits involving nature themes
花鳥諷詠
かちょうふうえい
the beauties of nature and the harmony that exists between it and man (as the key poetic theme of a haiku)
落花啼鳥
らっかていちょう
the poetic feeling of a late spring scene (with flowers scattering and birds chirping)
傷弓の鳥
しょうきゅうのとり
(person who is) once bitten twice shy; someone who has become overly cautious due to a bad experience
籠鳥檻猿
ろうちょうかんえん
denied freedom (of how to live one's life); living like a caged bird
籠鳥恋雲
ろうちょうれんうん
longing for freedom when tied down; caged bird's longing for the open sky
Proverbs & Idioms
立つ鳥跡を濁さず
たつとりあとをにごさず
A bird does not foul the nest it is leaving
Leave things in good order when departing
Poetry
あしびきの 山鳥の尾の しだり尾の ながながし夜を ひとりかも寝む
Long as the trailing tail of the mountain pheasant is this long, long night. Must I sleep through it alone?
夜をこめて 鳥のそらねは はかるとも よに逢坂の 関はゆるさじ
Though you fake a cockcrow while the night is still deep, the Barrier of Osaka will never let you through.
淡路島 かよふ千鳥の 鳴く声に 幾夜ねざめぬ 須磨の関守
How many nights has the guard at Suma barrier woken to the cries of plovers crossing from Awaji Island?
行春や鳥啼魚の目は泪
Spring going — birds crying, and tears in the eyes of the fish.
Anime & Manga
ハイキュー!! 烏野高校 VS 白鳥沢学園高校
HAIKYU!! 3rd Season
A well-known work with 鳥 in its Japanese title.
リズと青い鳥
Liz and the Blue Bird
A well-known work with 鳥 in its Japanese title.
火の鳥
Phoenix
A well-known work with 鳥 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
後鳥羽天皇
Name contains 鳥
Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia鳥居清長
Name contains 鳥
Torii Kiyonaga was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Torii school.
Wikipedia鳥山石燕
Name contains 鳥
Toriyama Sekien , real name Sano Toyofusa , was a scholar, kyōka poet, and ukiyo-e artist of Japanese folklore.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 鳥 mean in Japanese?
鳥 means bird, chicken. Bird - head, body and tail in a single figure. Flight, freedom, and the torii gate it names.
How do you read 鳥?
On'yomi: チョウ (CHOU). Kun'yomi: とり (tori).
How many strokes does 鳥 have?
鳥 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 鳥 (bird).
Is 鳥 a good kanji for a tattoo?
鳥 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means bird, chicken. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.