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玄
On'yomi
ゲン
GEN
Kun'yomi
くろ・くろ.い
kuro / kuroi
mysterious · occultness · black · deep · profound
Details
Strokes5
Frequency#1409
Radical玄mysterious(5)
Stroke Order
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Strokes5
Component Breakdown
玄=
亠幺
亠 + 幺
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of twisted thread. Deep.
Symbolism
Entrance, mystery, profound. Represents depth.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents profound mystery, gateway to ultimate truth in Taoism.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
天地玄黄
てんちげんこう
heaven is black and earth is yellow; heaven and earth; heaven is black and earth is yellow
Proverbs & Idioms
玄人はだし
くろうとはだし
Putting professionals to shame
An amateur who rivals experts
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 玄 mean in Japanese?
玄 means mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound.
How do you read 玄?
On'yomi: ゲン (GEN). Kun'yomi: くろ、くろ.い (kuro, kuroi).
How many strokes does 玄 have?
玄 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 玄 (mysterious).
Is 玄 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 玄 (mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for black · kanji for deep · kanji for profound