Lion in Japanese
"lion" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
Its reading, stroke count, etymology and cultural background.
Which one to use
獅子 (shishi) is the lion of art and ceremony — the shrine guardians and the New Year lion dance. ライオン in katakana is the animal in the zoo. 獅 alone appears mainly in 獅子. Japan had no lions, so the lion it knows came through Chinese art.
獅View details →
Top pick
lion
Reading: shi
13 strokes · powerful
Where it comes from
The animal radical with a phonetic element, for the lion as it reached Japan through China.
What it carries
Dignity and protection from evil. Familiar in Japan as shrine guardians and the New Year lion dance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for lion?
The most common kanji for "lion" is 獅, read as shi. It means lion. Related kanji: .
How many strokes does 獅 have?
獅 has 13 strokes.