Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sun and correct. Sun is correct.
Symbolism
Right or wrong, correction, correct. Represents correctness.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bright future
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
色即是空
しきそくぜくう
form is emptiness; matter is void; all is vanity; form is emptiness
是々非々
ぜぜひひ
free and unbiased; fair and just; ruling or judging what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong; free and unbiased
空即是色
くうそくぜしき
emptiness is form; illusion of the reality of matter; emptiness is form
昨非今是
さくひこんぜ
complete reversal of values or ways of thinking; complete reversal of values or ways of thinking
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)
是非曲直
ぜひきょくちょく
rights and wrongs (of a case); relative merits (of a case); rights and wrongs (of a case)
今是昨非
こんぜさくひ
complete reversal of values or ways of thinking (over time); What appeared wrong in the past now appears right; realizing and regretting the past errors of one's ways; complete reversal of values or ways of thinking (over time)
是非善悪
ぜひぜんあく
rights and wrongs; the relative merits (of a case); propriety; rights and wrongs
是生滅法
ぜしょうめっぽう
the law of arising and ceasing; the law of creation and destruction; the law of arising and ceasing
実事求是
じつじきゅうぜ
practical search for the truth; practical search for the truth
是非とも
ぜひとも
By all means; Absolutely, without fail
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 是 mean in Japanese?
是 means just so, this, right, justice.
How do you read 是?
On'yomi: ゼ、シ (ZE, SHI). Kun'yomi: これ、この、ここ (kore, kono, koko).
How many strokes does 是 have?
是 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 日 (sun).
Is 是 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 是 (just so, this, right, justice) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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