Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
animal + 袁
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of beast and phonetic. Beast with long arms.
Symbolism
Monkey, wisdom, imitation. Famous for Japan's three wise monkeys.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Monkey climbing a tree
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
意馬心猿
いばしんえん
it is hard to keep one's worldly desires and passions in check; it is hard to keep one's worldly desires and passions in check
心猿意馬
しんえんいば
(being unable to control) one's worldly desires and passions; (being unable to control) one's worldly desires and passions
籠鳥檻猿
ろうちょうかんえん
denied freedom (of how to live one's life); living like a caged bird; denied freedom (of how to live one's life)
猿猴捉月
えんこうそくげつ
trying to reach above one's station and failing; trying to accomplish something beyond one's abilities and failing; monkey catching (a reflection of) the moon (in the water); trying to reach above one's station and failing
Proverbs & Idioms
猿も木から落ちる
さるもきからおちる
Even monkeys fall from trees
Even experts make mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 猿 mean in Japanese?
猿 means monkey.
How do you read 猿?
On'yomi: エン (EN). Kun'yomi: さる (saru).
How many strokes does 猿 have?
猿 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 犬 (dog).
Is 猿 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 猿 (monkey) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.