歳
year-end · age · occasion · opportunity
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
stop + 戌 + small
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of stop and dog. Stopping year.
Symbolism
Age, years, hurrah. Represents years.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Years passing
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
年年歳歳
ねんねんさいさい
annually; every year; year in year out; annually
歳々年々
さいさいねんねん
annually; every year; year in and year out; annually
歳寒三友
さいかんさんゆう
the three friends of winter (pine, bamboo and plum); the three friends of winter (pine, bamboo and plum)
千秋万歳
せんしゅうばんぜい
may you live a thousand years; may you live a thousand years
Proverbs & Idioms
歳月人を待たず
さいげつひとをまたず
Time waits for no one
Time passes regardless of us
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 歳 mean in Japanese?
歳 means year-end, age, occasion, opportunity.
How do you read 歳?
On'yomi: サイ、セイ (SAI, SEI). Kun'yomi: とし、とせ、よわい (toshi, tose, yowai).
How many strokes does 歳 have?
歳 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 止 (stop).
Is 歳 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 歳 (year-end, age, occasion, opportunity) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for age · kanji for occasion · kanji for opportunity