Kanji meanings › Depth
Kanji for Depth
Japanese has more than one kanji connected to “depth”: 深、玄. Each has its own feeling. Compare their meanings, readings and the names they appear in.
depth
Deep, like the sea or a thoughtful mind.
11 strokes On reading シン (shin) Kun reading ふかい、ぶかい、ふかまる (fukai, bukai, fukamaru) JLPT N2
Dictionary meanings: deep, heighten, intensify, strengthen
Readings used for names on Nazuke: shin, fuka, mi
In Japan it appears in about 445 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
depth
Deep, dark and profound, like the mystery of the universe.
Genkan (玄関), the traditional Japanese home entryway, originally meant the "entry gate to profound Zen learning."
5 strokes On reading ゲン (gen) Kun reading くろ、くろい (kuro, kuroi) JLPT N1
Dictionary meanings: mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound
Readings used for names on Nazuke: gen, haru, haruka
In Japan it appears in about 257 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, in both boys’ and girls’ names.
Names written with 玄: Jorgen 家琉玄 · Hagen 葉玄
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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