男 means “man”
おとこ · otoko
Also: male
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
- おとこ, お
- On'yomi (Chinese reading)
- ダン, ナン
JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 7 strokes
The story
A field and strength combined: the ancient image of man as one who works the land with vigor.
Commonly used in gendered nouns and place names
Where it comes from
Compound Ideographic (会意文字): A rice field + strength/power: one who works the fields.
In ancient agricultural China, a man was defined by his role: the one who used his strength (力) to work the rice paddy fields (田). The character literally means "strength in the field."
To remember it: A rice field (田) on top with a strong arm (力) below: a man working the fields.
Its parts
- 田 Rice field · Top
- 力 Power/strength · Bottom
Power (力) working the fields (田): man
Words with 男
- 男子 (だんし, danshi): boy / young man
- 男女 (だんじょ, danjo): men and women
Example sentences
- あの男の人は誰ですか。 Who is that man?
- 男の子が走っています。 The boy is running.
Kanji that look like 男
- 田 (rice field): 男 puts 田 on top of 力: strength in the field = man
More from People & Life
- 女 woman
- 子 child
- 夢 dream
- 和 peace
- 母 mother
- 父 father
- 兄 older brother
- 姉 older sister
- 嫌 hate
- 喜 joy
- 人 person
- 心 heart
Learn 男 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji
Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.