寿 means “long life, congratulations”

じゅ · ju

Also: longevity, one's natural life

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ことぶき, ことぶく, ことほぐ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ジュ, ス, シュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 7 strokes

The story

A hand (寸) holding up what looks like the top of spring (春), again and again: many springs, a long life. 寿 is printed on wedding gift envelopes, Japan's 平均寿命, average lifespan, is among the world's longest, and 寿司 uses it as a lucky way to write sushi.

Used in 寿命 (jumyou, lifespan), 長寿 (chouju, longevity), and 寿司 (sushi, sushi)

寿 means “long life, congratulations”

The story

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