Kanji meanings › Life
Kanji for Life
Japanese has more than one kanji connected to “life”: 生、命、寿、壽. Each has its own feeling. Compare their meanings, readings and the names they appear in.
life
Life, birth and growing; being fully alive.
5 strokes On reading セイ、ショウ (sei, shou) Kun reading いきる、いかす、いける (ikiru, ikasu, ikeru) JLPT N4
Dictionary meanings: life, genuine, birth
Readings used for names on Nazuke: i, o, sei
In Japan it appears in about 1,971 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 生: Ian 生安 · Luis 瑠生寿 · David 知生美道 · Ethan 生燦 · Haley 恵生里 · Katie 希生知 · Paige 恵生慈 · Tyler 楽生良 · Nathan 音生燦 · Taylor 知生良 · Whitney 帆生音新 · William 生里安夢 and 313 more
life
Life itself; a precious destiny.
8 strokes On reading メイ、ミョウ (mei, myou) Kun reading いのち (inochi) JLPT N2
Dictionary meanings: fate, command, decree, destiny, life
Readings used for names on Nazuke: mei
In Japan it appears in about 59 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 命: Mable 命羽琉 · Almeda 安瑠命那 · Ismael 生澄命瑠
long life
Celebration and long life; a character written at weddings and New Year.
7 strokes On reading ジュ、ス、シュウ (ju, su, shuu) Kun reading ことぶき、ことぶく、ことほぐ (kotobuki, kotobuku, kotohogu) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: longevity, congratulations, one's natural life
Readings used for names on Nazuke: ju, su, sumi, toshi, hisa
In Japan it appears in about 1,671 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 寿: Luis 瑠生寿 · Seth 世寿 · Chase 知英寿 · Grace 久怜寿 · James 慈英夢寿 · Jesus 恵寿澄 · Julia 寿里安 · Lucas 瑠佳寿 · Scott 寿湖音 · Alexis 安礼久詩寿 · Austin 央寿知 · Carlos 佳瑠路寿 and 417 more
More about 寿 →long life
The traditional form of 寿, “long life.”
14 strokes On reading ジュ、ス、シュウ (ju, su, shuu) Kun reading ことぶき、ことぶく、ことほぐ (kotobuki, kotobuku, kotohogu)
Dictionary meanings: longevity, congratulations
Readings used for names on Nazuke: su, toshi, hisa
In Japan it appears in about 124 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
More about 壽 →Thinking of a tattoo? A single kanji like these is meaningful on its own, but ask a native speaker to check the exact form and stroke order before you commit.
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