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On'yomi
サン
SAN
Kun'yomi
す.い
sui

acid · bitterness · sour · tart

Details

Strokes14
Frequency#1218
Radicalwine(7)

Stroke Order

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Strokes14

Component Breakdown

=

wine + 夋

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of wine and phonetic. Wine being sour.

Symbolism

Sourness, oxygen, gastric acid. Represents sourness.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

辛酸甘苦

しんさんかんく

hardships and joys; tasting the sweets and bitters of life; being well-versed in the ways of the world (having seen much of life); hardships and joys

Proverbs & Idioms

酸いも甘いも噛み分ける

すいもあまいもかみわける

To know the sour and the sweet

Having experienced both hardship and joy

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 酸 mean in Japanese?

酸 means acid, bitterness, sour, tart.

How do you read 酸?

On'yomi: サン (SAN). Kun'yomi: す.い (sui).

How many strokes does 酸 have?

酸 has 14 strokes. Its radical is 酉 (wine).

Is 酸 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 酸 (acid, bitterness, sour, tart) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for acid · kanji for sour · kanji for tart