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, iki, iku, u, o, oi, ki, shou, sei, naru, mi, yoi
In Japan it appears in about 1,971 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 生: Guy 芽生 · Mui 夢生 · Zoe 三生 · Ayse 愛生世 · Chuy 知生 · Gage 華生路 · Gary 華生里 · Huey 日生 · Kyra 夏生楽 · Lady 礼生慈 · Lane 礼生 · Macy 芽生詩 and 199 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.
long life
Celebration and long life; a character written at weddings and New Year.
寿 is written on celebration gift envelopes and New Year sweets as a wish for a long, happy life.
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: kazu, shuu, ju, su, sumi, toshi, naga, hisa, hisashi
In Japan it appears in about 1,671 given names in the JMnedict name dictionary, mostly in girls’ names.
Names written with 寿: Alex 愛玲久寿 · Luis 瑠衣寿 · Seth 聖寿 · Chase 智栄寿 · Grace 宮麗寿 · James 路恵夢寿 · Jesus 平寿珠 · Julia 寿里愛 · Lucas 瑠香寿 · Alexis 愛玲久志寿 · Austin 王寿天 · Carlos 夏瑠路寿 and 699 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, hisashi
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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