雀
sparrow
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Words & Expressions
Words written with 雀
Four-Character Compounds
朱雀
すざく
Vermillion Bird; southern guardian deity
麻雀
マージャン
Mahjong
門前雀羅
もんぜんじゃくら
Deserted entrance; few visitors
雀の涙
すずめのなみだ
Sparrow's tear; tiny amount
Poetry
雲雀より空にやすらふ峠哉
Higher than the lark, resting in the sky — this mountain pass.
雀の子そこのけそこのけ御馬が通る
Little sparrow, out of the way, out of the way — the horse is coming through.
我と来て遊べや親のない雀
Come and play with me — sparrow with no parents.
Anime & Manga
咲-Saki-
Saki
A series about mahjong. The jong of mahjong is this character, and it also names the players and the parlours where they play.
Games
雀魂
Mahjong Soul(2019)
Developer: Yostar
An online mahjong game that puts the sparrow of mahjong in its title. In mahjong this character names the players and the parlours alike.
Related Figures & Stories
朱雀天皇
(すざくてんのう)The sixty-first emperor, named for the Vermilion Bird
He took the throne at eight, and the Johei-Tengyo revolts fell in his reign. Suzaku is the Vermilion Bird that guards the south — the same name as the great central avenue of Heian-kyo.
舌切り雀
(したきりすずめ)The best-known sparrow in Japanese folk tales
An old woman cuts out the tongue of a sparrow that ate her starch. The old man who goes looking for the bird chooses the small basket and finds treasure; the woman, taking the big one, carries home snakes and wasps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 雀 mean in Japanese?
雀 means sparrow.
How do you read 雀?
On'yomi: ジャク (JAKU). Kun'yomi: すずめ (suzume).
How many strokes does 雀 have?
雀 has 11 strokes.
Is 雀 a good kanji for a tattoo?
雀 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means sparrow. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:sparrow