鹿

On'yomi

ロク

ROKU

Kun'yomi

しか・か

shika / ka

deer

nature

Details

Strokes11

Frequency#957

Radical鹿deer(11)

Stroke Order

Strokes11

Cultural Context

Etymology

Pictograph of deer.

Symbolism

Deer, divine messenger, forest. Represents sacred animal.

Related Culture & Scenes

— Deer standing

Component Breakdown

鹿=

广コ丨比

cliff + コ + 丨 + 比

Words & Expressions

Words written with 鹿

馬鹿ばかidiot

馴鹿となかいreindeer

馬鹿らしいばからしいludicrous

Four-Character Compounds

馬鹿慇懃

ばかいんぎん

overdone politeness; polite to a fault; feigned politeness

Proverbs & Idioms

馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない

ばかはしななきゃなおらない

A fool won't be cured until death

Some people never learn

Poetry

和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

奥山にもみぢ踏み分け鳴く鹿の声聞く時ぞ秋は悲しき

Poem #5 from Hyakunin Isshu

猿丸大夫Sarumaru Dayū

9th century

和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

世の中よ道こそなけれ思ひ入る山の奥にも鹿ぞ鳴くなる

Poem #83 from Hyakunin Isshu

皇太后宮大夫俊成Kōtaigōgū no Daibu Toshinari

12th century

Related Figures & Stories

鹿児島のベルナルド

Bernardo the Japanese

Name contains 鹿

Bernardo the Japanese was an early Japanese Christian convert of the 16th century, born in Kagoshima, and the first Japanese person to set foot in…

Wikipedia

鹿島清兵衛

Kajima Seibei1866–1924

Name contains 鹿

Kajima Seibei was a Japanese photographer.

Wikipedia

Similar Kanji

麗19 麓19 麟24

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 鹿 mean in Japanese?

鹿 means deer.

How do you read 鹿?

On'yomi: ロク (ROKU). Kun'yomi: しか、か (shika, ka).

How many strokes does 鹿 have?

鹿 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 鹿 (deer).

Is 鹿 a good kanji for a tattoo?

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

Explore by meaning:deer