What is the Kanji for "Peace"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Peace", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Peace" is "和".

This kanji has 4 readings:

Its kunyomi readings are "Nago" and "Yori".

Its onyomi readings are "Wa" and "O".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "禾" means "Cereal" . And The kanji "口" means "Mouth" and can be read as "Ku", "Kuchi", and "Kou".

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "和" mean in japanese?

"和" means "Peace".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N3 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

平和: "Peace". The Japanese adjectival noun '平和 (へいわ)' means 'peace'. It refers to a state of tranquility, quiet, and non-violence, the absence of war or conflict. It can be used to describe a situation, environment, or society that is free from disturbance, turmoil, or hostility. For example: We hope for world peace - (私たちは世界平和を願っています). The country is enjoying a period of peace - (その国は平和な時期を過ごしている).

昭和: "Showa". The Japanese noun '昭和 (しょうわ)' refers to the Showa period, which was the reign of the Showa Emperor Hirohito in Japan. It lasted from 1926 to 1989. The Showa period is often associated with Japan's imperial expansion and involvement in World War II, as well as the subsequent postwar economic boom. In contemporary usage, '昭和' can also be used nostalgically to evoke the cultural and social aspects of that era. For example: 'I miss the good old days of Showa' - (昭和の良き時代が懐かしい).

英和: "English-Japanese". The Japanese noun '英和 (えいわ)' refers to an 'English-Japanese' dictionary or lexicon. This word is a compound noun composed of the kanji characters '英' meaning 'English' and '和' meaning 'Japanese'. It is used to describe a dictionary or reference book that translates words and phrases between the English and Japanese languages. For example: I bought a new English-Japanese dictionary - (新しい英和辞典を買いました).

共和: "Republic". The Japanese noun '共和 (きょうわ)' means 'republic'. It refers to a country with an elected government and a president as the head of state, rather than a monarch. The concept of a republic is an important political idea in Japan and has been adopted in the country's modern governance structure. For example: The United States is a republic - (アメリカは共和国です). He lives in the French republic - (彼はフランスの共和国に住んでいます).

緩和: "Relief". The noun '緩和 (かんわ)' means 'relief'. This word refers to the act of making something less severe, harsh, or painful. It can be used to describe the alleviation of suffering, discomfort, or tension. For example: Pain relief - (痛みの緩和). The drug provided relief from the symptoms - (その薬は症状の緩和をもたらした).

和: "Harmony". The Japanese noun '和 (わ)' means 'harmony'. This word refers to a state of peaceful coexistence and balance, often associated with traditional Japanese culture and aesthetics. It connotes a sense of unity, tranquility, and the blending of different elements. For example: They achieved a perfect harmony in their performance - (彼らはパフォーマンスで完璧な和を達成した). The tea ceremony emphasizes the importance of wa - (茶道は和の大切さを重視している).

和らげる: "Soften". The Japanese verb '和らげる (やわらげる)' means 'to soften'. This verb is used to describe the action of making something less intense, severe, or harsh. It can be applied to emotions, sounds, or physical sensations. For example: The medicine will help soften the pain - (薬は痛みを和らげるでしょう). The music softened the atmosphere - (音楽は雰囲気を和らげた).

和語: "Japanese native word". The Japanese noun '和語 (わご)' refers to a Japanese native word, as opposed to loanwords from other languages like English or Chinese. These traditional Japanese words make up the core vocabulary of the Japanese language. They are typically written using kanji characters and have an innate Japanese pronunciation. For example: This is a typical Japanese native word - (これは典型的な和語です).

和風: "Japanese style". The noun '和風 (わふう)' refers to the traditional Japanese aesthetic and design. It encompasses elements like tatami mats, shoji screens, minimalist decor, and natural materials. '和風' is used to describe objects, architecture, cuisine, and other aspects of Japanese cultural heritage and traditions. For example: The restaurant has a very Japanese style (和風) interior - (その店は非常に和風な内装をしている). The kimono has a classic Japanese (和風) look - (その着物は伝統的な和風の外見である).

和食: "Japanese cuisine". The Japanese noun '和食 (わしょく)' means 'Japanese cuisine'. It refers to the traditional cooking styles, ingredients, and dishes that are native to Japan. 和食 encompasses a wide variety of foods such as sushi, tempura, ramen, and many other dishes that are characterized by their delicate flavors, emphasis on seasonality, and minimalist presentation. It is an important part of Japanese culture and identity. For example: I enjoy eating Japanese cuisine - (私は和食を楽しんでいます).

和やか: "Calm". The Japanese adjective '和やか (なごやか)' means 'calm'. This adjective describes a state of being tranquil, serene and relaxed. It can be used to describe a peaceful atmosphere, a gentle demeanor, or a soothing environment. For example: The calm music created a relaxed atmosphere in the room - (和やかな音楽が部屋の雰囲気をリラックスさせた). The calm expression on his face indicated he was at peace - (彼の和やかな表情は彼が穏やかであることを示していた).

和らぐ: "Calm" or "Soften". The Japanese verb '和らぐ (やわらぐ)' means 'to calm' or 'to soften'. It is used to describe something becoming more gentle, less intense, or less severe. This could refer to a feeling, emotion, or situation becoming more relaxed or less tense. For example: The wind calmed down - (風が和らいだ). Her anger softened over time - (彼女の怒りは徐々に和らいできた).

和式: "Japanese-style". The noun '和式 (わしき)' refers to the traditional Japanese style, often in reference to architecture, furnishings, or other cultural elements. It contrasts with the 'Western-style' or '洋式' (ようしき). For example: The new hotel has both Japanese-style and Western-style rooms - (その新しいホテルには和式と洋式の部屋がある).

和英: "Japanese-English". The noun '和英 (わえい)' refers to a Japanese-English dictionary or the translation between the Japanese and English languages. It is used to indicate the combination of the Japanese and English languages for the purpose of translating or interpreting between them. For example: I need to consult the Japanese-English dictionary - (和英辞典を参照する必要がある). This dictionary translates between Japanese and English - (この辞典は和英の翻訳を行う).

和服: "Kimono". The Japanese noun '和服 (わふく)' refers to traditional Japanese clothing, typically a kimono. A kimono is a long, loose robe that is wrapped around the body and fastened with a sash called an obi. Kimonos are known for their intricate designs and vibrant colors, and are often associated with traditional Japanese culture and aesthetics. For example: She wore a beautiful kimono to the wedding - (彼女は結婚式に素敵な和服を着ていた).

和室: "Japanese-style room". The Japanese noun '和室 (わしつ)' refers to a traditional Japanese room or living space, typically characterized by tatami mats, shoji screens, and minimal furnishings. These rooms are designed to evoke a sense of serenity and connection to Japanese culture. They are often used for activities such as tea ceremonies, meditation, and relaxation. For example: Let's have tea in the Japanese-style room - (和室でお茶を飲もう).

調和: "Harmony". The Japanese verbal noun '調和 (ちょうわ)' means 'harmony'. This refers to a state of peaceful balance and agreement between different parts or elements. It suggests a pleasant combination or integration of different components. For example: They worked to achieve harmony between the two groups - (両グループの間の調和を得るよう取り組んだ). Harmony is essential in a well-functioning society - (うまく機能する社会には調和が不可欠だ).

違和: "Discomfort". The noun '違和 (いわ)' means 'discomfort'. It refers to a feeling of unease, discomfort, or awkwardness, usually about a situation or experience. This word can be used to describe physical discomfort, such as pain or soreness, or psychological discomfort, such as a sense of unease or being out of place. For example: I felt a strange discomfort when meeting my new boss - (新しい上司に会ったときに違和感を感じた). The sound of the alarm clock gives me a sense of discomfort every morning - (目覚まし時計の音は毎朝違和感があります).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "わ" is read as "wa". The hiragana "お" is read as "o". The hiragana "な" is read as "na". The hiragana "ご" is read as "go". The hiragana "よ" is read as "yo". And The hiragana "り" is read as "ri".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.