和 means “peace, harmony”

わ · wa

Also: Japanese style, soften

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

やわらぐ, やわらげる, なごむ, なごやか, あえる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ワ, オ, カ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 8 strokes

The story

Grain and mouth together: peace is a full belly, the absence of want, the presence of enough.

Also refers to Japan itself (大和, Yamato) and Japanese culture

Its parts

• 禾 Grain/rice plant · Left side
• 口 Mouth · Right side

Grain (禾) and a mouth (口): when everyone is fed, there is harmony

Words with 和

• 和風 (わふう, wafuu): Japanese style
• 和食 (わしょく, washoku): Japanese cuisine
• 和紙 (わし, washi): Japanese paper
• 和室 (わしつ, washitsu): Japanese-style room

Example sentences

• 世界の平和を願います。 I wish for world peace.
• 和食が好きです。 I like Japanese food.

Kanji that look like 和

• 私 (I / private): 和 has 口 on the right (mouth for harmony), 私 has ム (private)

More from People & Life

• 母 mother
• 父 father
• 兄 older brother
• 姉 older sister
• 嫌 hate
• 喜 joy
• 人 person
• 心 heart
• 愛 love
• 友 friend
• 生 life
• 男 man

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

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