芸 means “art, craft, performance”

げい · gei

Also: technique

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

うえる, のり, わざ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ゲイ, ウン

Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

Grass (艹) growing through cultivation (云): art is nature shaped by human skill. The 芸者 (geisha, artist) embodies this ideal: years of disciplined practice in dance, music, and conversation refined into living art. 芸術 encompasses all forms of artistic mastery.

Used in 芸術 (geijutsu, art), 芸者 (geisha, artist), and 芸能 (geinou, performing arts)

More from Music & Arts

• 美 beauty
• 歌 song
• 楽 music
• 踊 dance
• 奏 play (music)
• 劇 drama
• 画 painting
• 彫 carve
• 詩 poetry
• 拍 rhythm
• 弦 string (instrument)
• 笛 flute

Learn 芸 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.