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One of the best Japanese Kanji dictionary.
The kanji most commonly used for "Wisdom" are 知、賢、智.
知
知 is knowing. It is the verb 知る and the character in 知識 (knowledge), 知能 (intelligence) and 知恵 (wisdom in the practical sense — the wits to solve a problem). It is the broadest of the three, and a reader meets it first as ‘to know’ rather than as a virtue.
智 is the older and narrower character for wisdom as insight. It is the form used in Buddhist vocabulary — 智慧, the same word as 知恵 but weighted toward enlightened understanding — and it is very common in given names such as Satoshi, Chie and the Tomo- element.
賢 is wise in the sense of clever and sound in judgment: 賢い (kashikoi, smart), 賢明 (prudent, judicious), 賢人 (a sage). It describes how a person behaves rather than a quality held in the abstract. For a single character meaning wisdom, 智 is the closest fit; 知 alone will be taken as ‘know’.
智 is the usual single character for wisdom and is well established in names. 知 on its own reads as the verb 'to know' rather than as a quality. 賢 describes a person being clever, so worn alone it can read as calling yourself smart.
What is Onyomi?
Onyomi, also known as the "Sino-Japanese reading," is one of the two main reading systems for kanji characters in Japanese. It refers to the reading of a kanji character that is derived from the original Chinese pronunciation.
What is Kunyomi?
Kunyomi, also known as the "native Japanese reading," is one of the two main reading systems for kanji characters in Japanese. It refers to the reading of a kanji character that is based on the native Japanese pronunciation. Kunyomi readings are often used when a kanji character stands alone or is followed by hiragana, as in verbs and adjectives. Mastering both kunyomi and onyomi is crucial for understanding and using kanji effectively in the Japanese language.
What is Radical?
A radical, also known as "bushu" in Japanese, is a fundamental component of kanji characters. Radicals are the building blocks of kanji and are used to categorize and organize them in dictionaries. There are 214 traditional radicals, each with its own meaning, which often provides a clue to the meaning of the kanji character it forms.
What is strokes?
Stroke count, or "kakusuu" in Japanese, refers to the number of individual brushstrokes required to write a kanji character. Each kanji has a specific stroke order and stroke count, which are essential for writing the character correctly and legibly. Understanding and following the correct stroke order not only ensures proper balance and aesthetics but also makes writing more efficient and fluid.