Wabi in Japanese
"wabi" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
侘
wabi
Its reading, stroke count, etymology and cultural background.
侘View details →
Top pick
wabi, austere beauty, lonely
Reading: ta
8 strokes · peaceful, wisdom
Where it comes from
The person radical with a phonetic element. In Chinese it carried the sense of boasting; Japan gave it the reading wabi and turned it into a word for finding beauty in what is lacking.
What it carries
The aesthetic carried from Murata Juko to Sen no Rikyu in the tea ceremony. Paired with sabi as wabi-sabi, it names the view that what is chipped, aged, or plain is the beautiful thing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for wabi?
The most common kanji for "wabi" is 侘, read as ta. It means wabi, austere beauty, lonely. Related kanji: .
How many strokes does 侘 have?
侘 has 8 strokes.