Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of serrated blade. 'Self' from weapon for self-defense.
Symbolism
Ego, patience, selfishness. Represents self-consciousness and assertion.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Aiming for the mountain peak
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
我田引水
がでんいんすい
seeking one's own interests; straining (the interpretation or argument) to suit one's own interests; drawing water for one's own field; seeking one's own interests
我武者羅
がむしゃら
reckless; daredevil; frantic; reckless
無我夢中
むがむちゅう
losing oneself (in); being absorbed (in); forgetting oneself; losing oneself (in)
唯我独尊
ゆいがどくそん
throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one; self-conceit; self-centeredness; throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one
如是我聞
にょぜがもん
thus I hear (quote from the sutras); these ears have heard; thus I hear (quote from the sutras)
強情我慢
ごうじょうがまん
obstinate and self-assertive; obstinate and self-assertive
諸法無我
しょほうむが
idea that all things in the universe lack their own unchangeable substances; idea that all things in the universe lack their own unchangeable substances
Proverbs & Idioms
我を忘れる
われをわすれる
To lose oneself
To become so absorbed as to forget oneself
Poetry
月みれば 千々に物こそ 悲しけれ 我が身ひとつの 秋にはあらねど
Poem #23 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 我 mean in Japanese?
我 means ego, I, selfish, our, oneself.
How do you read 我?
On'yomi: ガ (GA). Kun'yomi: われ、わ、わ.が-、わが- (ware, wa, waga, waga).
How many strokes does 我 have?
我 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 戈 (halberd).
Is 我 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 我 (ego, I, selfish, our, oneself) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for selfish · kanji for our · kanji for oneself