拳
fist
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
龹 + hand
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of phonetic and hand. Clenched hand.
Symbolism
Fist, karate, grip. Represents clenched hand.
Anime & Manga
北斗の拳
ほくとのけん
Fist of the North Star(1983)
Author: Buronson/Tetsuo Hara
'Fist' symbolizes Hokuto Shinken. A landmark martial arts manga set in a post-apocalyptic world.
View on Amazon →Games
鉄拳
Tekken(1994)
Developer: Bandai Namco
'Fist' is central to this fighting game. A story of fighting with the Mishima family's fists.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
徒手空拳
としゅくうけん
being empty-handed; being penniless; having no capital (for starting a business); being empty-handed
鉄拳制裁
てっけんせいさい
(punishment by) striking with fists; (punishment by) striking with fists
拳々服膺
けんけんふくよう
firmly bear in mind; have something engraved on one's mind (heart); firmly bear in mind
赤手空拳
せきしゅくうけん
barehanded; having no wealth or position to rely on (aside from one's own resourcefulness) (when embarking on something); barehanded
Proverbs & Idioms
拳を振り上げる
こぶしをふりあげる
To raise one's fist
To show anger or protest
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 拳 mean in Japanese?
拳 means fist.
How do you read 拳?
On'yomi: ケン、ゲン (KEN, GEN). Kun'yomi: こぶし (kobushi).
How many strokes does 拳 have?
拳 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 手 (hand).
Is 拳 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 拳 (fist) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.