眼
eyeball
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
eye + 艮
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of eye and phonetic. Eye staring intently.
Symbolism
Eyeball, piercing look, insight. Represents power of seeing.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
眼高手低
がんこうしゅてい
able to criticize but not to create (criticise); able to criticize but not to create (criticise)
眼光紙背
がんこうしはい
reading between the lines; reading between the lines
眼光炯々
がんこうけいけい
with shining, piercing eyes; with shining, piercing eyes
紅毛碧眼
こうもうへきがん
red-haired and blue-eyed (person); a Westerner; red-haired and blue-eyed (person)
酔眼朦朧
すいがんもうろう
(with) one's eyes blurred from drinking; with drunken eyes; dazed by wine; (with) one's eyes blurred from drinking
着眼大局
ちゃくがんたいきょく
having an eye to the big picture; being aware of the general situation; having an eye to the big picture
雲煙過眼
うんえんかがん
not being obsessed with something very long (just as clouds and haze pass swiftly before one's eyes); not being obsessed with something very long (just as clouds and haze pass swiftly before one's eyes)
開眼供養
かいげんくよう
ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul); ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul)
媚眼秋波
びがんしゅうは
casting a coquettish glance (at a man); casting a coquettish glance (at a man)
碧眼紅毛
へきがんこうもう
blue eyes and red hair; Westerner; blue eyes and red hair
Proverbs & Idioms
眼光紙背に徹す
がんこうしはいにてっす
Eyes that penetrate through the paper
Reading so deeply that you understand hidden meanings
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 眼 mean in Japanese?
眼 means eyeball.
How do you read 眼?
On'yomi: ガン、ゲン (GAN, GEN). Kun'yomi: まなこ、め (manako, me).
How many strokes does 眼 have?
眼 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 目 (eye).
Is 眼 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 眼 (eyeball) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.