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Kanji for Longevity

The kanji most commonly used for "Longevity" are 松、寿、壽.

Kanji that mean Longevity

  • pine tree

    Also associated with longevity, prosperity.

    Onyomi: shoh Kunyomi: matsu 8 strokes Jōyō

  • 寿

    longevity, long, celebration

    Onyomi: ju, shuu, su Kunyomi: kotobu.ku, kotobuki, kotoho.gu 7 strokes Jōyō

  • longevity, celebrate

    Also associated with birthday.

    Onyomi: ju, shuu, su Kunyomi: kotobu.ku, kotobuki, kotoho.gu 14 strokes Jinmeiyō

  • turtle, tortoise

    Also associated with longevity.

    Onyomi: ki, kin, kyuu Kunyomi: kame 11 strokes Jōyō

寿 and 壽 are one character. 寿 is the modern form; 壽 is the older one, still seen on old signage, in family names and wherever a traditional look is wanted. Both are read ju, or kotobuki in the native reading.

The word does double duty. It is a long life — 長寿 is longevity, 寿命 a lifespan — and it is congratulation itself. Written alone as kotobuki it is the standard word on a wedding gift envelope, and it heads celebratory occasions generally. The two senses meet in the traditional longevity birthdays: 喜寿 at seventy-seven, 米寿 at eighty-eight.

That doubling is what makes it a good single character. Unlike a plain phrase for long life, 寿 carries the celebration of it — a wish offered rather than a fact stated.

Before you use Longevity kanji

寿 is safe and warmly read, meaning long life and congratulation at once; 壽 says the same thing in its older form. Be aware that Japanese readers meet it most often on wedding envelopes and in 寿司, so it feels festive rather than solemn.

Other meanings to explore

See all kanji by meaning →

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