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鷲

On'yomi
シュウ・ジュ
SHUU / JU
Kun'yomi
わし
washi

eagle

Details

Strokes23
Frequency#2800
Radical鳥bird(11)

Description

Eagle - the largest bird of prey in Japan, standing for far sight and command of the air.

Stroke Order

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Strokes23

Cultural Context

Etymology

A phonetic element combined with the bird radical, for the eagle.

Symbolism

The power of seeing from above. Larger and wilder than the hawk in the Japanese imagination.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

鷲掴み

わしづかみ

Eagle grip; seize firmly

大鷲

おおわし

Great eagle; golden eagle

白頭鷲

はくとうわし

Bald eagle

鷲鼻

わしばな

Aquiline nose; hooked nose

Anime & Manga

鷲尾須美は勇者である

Washio Sumi is a Hero

anime

The heroine's family name is Washio, written with this character — one of the few titles that carries it.

Related Figures & Stories

ナポレオン・ボナパルト

(なぽれおんぼなぱると)
Napoleon Bonaparte1769–1821

Chose the eagle as the emblem of his empire

At his coronation in 1804 he took the eagle as the emblem of his empire, after Rome. The gilt eagle given to each regiment was guarded more jealously than the flag it topped.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 鷲 mean in Japanese?

鷲 means eagle. Eagle - the largest bird of prey in Japan, standing for far sight and command of the air.

How do you read 鷲?

On'yomi: シュウ、ジュ (SHUU, JU). Kun'yomi: わし (washi).

How many strokes does 鷲 have?

鷲 has 23 strokes. Its radical is 鳥 (bird).

Is 鷲 a good kanji for a tattoo?

鷲 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means eagle. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

Explore by meaning:eagle