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On'yomi
ガク・ラク・ゴウ
GAKU / RAKU / GOU
Kun'yomi
たの.しい・たの.しむ・この.む
tanoshii / tanoshimu / konomu

music · comfort · ease

Details

Strokes13
Frequency#373
Radicaltree(4)
Old Form

Stroke Order

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Strokes13

Component Breakdown

=

丷 + 八 + white + tree

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of musical instrument with bells on wood. Music, enjoyment.

Symbolism

Music, enjoyment, comfort. '楽' is happiness opposite to suffering.

Anime & Manga

けいおん!

K-On!(2007)

anime/manga

Daily life of a light music club 'enjoying' music.

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Games

リズムゲーム各種

Rhythm Games(1996)

全プラットフォーム

Developer: Various

Rhythm games playing along with 'music.'

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

喜怒哀楽

きどあいらく

human emotions (joy, anger, grief and pleasure); feelings; human emotions (joy, anger, grief and pleasure)

王道楽土

おうどうらくど

Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king; Arcadia, presided over by a virtuous king

極楽往生

ごくらくおうじょう

rebirth in paradise; peaceful death; rebirth in paradise

極楽浄土

ごくらくじょうど

Amitabha's Pure Land; Sukhavati; Amitabha's Pure Land

極楽蜻蛉

ごくらくとんぼ

happy-go-lucky fellow; easygoing and indifferent person; pococurante; happy-go-lucky fellow

先憂後楽

せんゆうこうらく

worrying before one's people worry, enjoying oneself only after one's people have enjoyed themselves (a precept to be observed by a ruler); worrying before one's people worry, enjoying oneself only after one's people have enjoyed themselves (a precept to be observed by a ruler)

寂滅為楽

じゃくめついらく

freedom from one's desires (entry into Nirvana) is true bliss; freedom from one's desires (entry into Nirvana) is true bliss

抜苦与楽

ばっくよらく

a Buddha or Bodhisattva taking away suffering and conferring peace; a Buddha or Bodhisattva taking away suffering and conferring peace

幸災楽禍

こうさいらくか

delighting in the misfortune of others; delighting in the misfortune of others

Proverbs & Idioms

楽あれば苦あり

らくあればくあり

Where there is pleasure, there is pain

Joy and sorrow come together

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 楽 mean in Japanese?

楽 means music, comfort, ease.

How do you read 楽?

On'yomi: ガク、ラク、ゴウ (GAKU, RAKU, GOU). Kun'yomi: たの.しい、たの.しむ、この.む (tanoshii, tanoshimu, konomu).

How many strokes does 楽 have?

楽 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 木 (tree).

Is 楽 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 楽 (music, comfort, ease) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for music · kanji for comfort · kanji for ease