私
private · I · me
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
grain + 厶
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of grain and private. One's own grain, private property.
Symbolism
Self, private, privately-run. First person pronoun for individual.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Aiming for the mountain peak
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
公平無私
こうへいむし
impartiality; fair play; impartiality
滅私奉公
めっしほうこう
selfless devotion; selfless devotion
則天去私
そくてんきょし
selfless devotion to justice; selfless devotion to justice
公私混同
こうしこんどう
mixing of public and private affairs; mixing business with personal affairs; mixing work and private matters; mixing of public and private affairs
私利私欲
しりしよく
self-interest; selfish desire; greed; self-interest
無私無偏
むしむへん
to think or act fairly without concern for one's own benefit; to think or act fairly without concern for one's own benefit
無私無欲
むしむよく
selflessness; unselfishness; selflessness
Proverbs & Idioms
私情を挟むな
しじょうをはさむな
Don't let personal feelings interfere
Keep private emotions out of business
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 私 mean in Japanese?
私 means private, I, me.
How do you read 私?
On'yomi: シ (SHI). Kun'yomi: わたくし、わたし (watakushi, watashi).
How many strokes does 私 have?
私 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 禾 (grain).
Is 私 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 私 (private, I, me) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for private · kanji for me