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Kanji for Arrow
The kanji most commonly used for "Arrow" is 矢.
矢
Kanji that mean Arrow
-
矢
arrow
Also associated with straight, to vow.
Onyomi: shi Kunyomi: ya 5 strokes Jōyō
矢 (ya) is the arrow — a pictograph of shaft and fletching that has barely changed since it was scratched on oracle bones. It is the arrow of archery (弓矢, bow and arrow), of diagrams (矢印, the arrow sign — literally “arrow mark”), and of the proverb 光陰矢の如し: “time flies like an arrow”.
Culturally the arrow protects: the 破魔矢 (hamaya, “demon-breaking arrow”) sold at shrines each New Year is carried home to pierce misfortune before it arrives. In the old language of promises, 白羽の矢が立つ — “the white-feathered arrow stands” — means to be singled out for a role.
Its partner is 弓 (yumi), the bow, and together they name the martial art 弓道, the way of the bow. 的 (mato), the target, completes the set — as in 目的, a goal: literally “the eye’s target”.
Words using Arrow kanji
Everyday Japanese vocabulary built from the characters above.
-
矢先
やさき
arrowhead; target of a flying arrow; brunt (of an attack)
-
矢印
やじるし
arrow (symbol); (romantic) interest (for a certain person); direction (of one's attention, etc.)
Before you use Arrow kanji
矢 is clean, ancient and protective — the shrine arrow that breaks misfortune is a genuinely auspicious association. It is also minimal: three-ish strokes of pure pictograph. Pair it with 弓 (bow) for the archer's set, or consider 的 (target/goal) if the meaning you want is aim rather than ammunition.