Japanese Kanji for Wealth: 富 — Writing and Words
The Japanese kanji for wealth is 富, 12 strokes. It is read as 'fu/fuu' (on'yomi フ、フウ) and 'tomu' (kun'yomi と.む) — 'to be rich'. At the top is the 'roof' radical 宀: wealth was defined by what is accumulated under the roof. The same character appears in the name of Mount Fuji: 富士山 (Fujisan).
富 begins with a roof: for the Japanese, wealth is not about coins, but about a full house. The same character stands in the name of the country's main mountain — 富士山, and it is not about money, but about grandeur and fullness.
How to write the Japanese kanji for wealth
富 — значение: wealth, abundance, to be rich — онъёми: フ、フウ — кунъёми: と.む、とみ — 12 штрих(ов). 12 strokes. Click 'Show order' — the strokes will appear as in handwriting.
What the character consists of
At the top is 宀 'roof', and below it an element that goes back to the image of a full vessel. The logic is the same as in 家 (house): the meaning is determined by what is under the roof. The same radical 宀 appears in 安 (peace) and 客 (guest).
Words about wealth and prosperity
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 富 | tomi · tomi | Wealth, fortune |
| 豊か | yutaka · yutaka | Abundant, prosperous |
| 金持ち | kanemochi · kanemochi | Rich person (literally 'having money') |
| 富士山 | Fujisan · Fujisan | Mount Fuji |
| 福 | fuku · fuku | Well-being, happiness (the character on New Year's amulets) |
| お金 | o-kane · o-kane | Money |
| 貧しい | mazushii · mazushii | Poor |
Which character to use for 'wealth' in an inscription
If you need the meaning 'prosperity, abundance' — use 富. If 'luck and well-being' — 福 (fuku), the one on amulets and maneki-neko figurines. For money literally — 金 (kane), but the single character is also read as 'metal, gold', so in an inscription it is ambiguous.
Write 富 yourself
First the 'roof', then everything under it. Trace along the guides.
FAQ
- What Japanese kanji means wealth?
- 富 — 12 strokes. Kun'yomi と.む (tomu) 'to be rich', on'yomi フ (fu). The noun 'wealth' is 富 (tomi).
- Is it true that this character appears in the name of Mount Fuji?
- Yes: 富士山 (Fujisan). The characters here are chosen for their sound, but 富 gives the name a nuance of grandeur and fullness.
- How is 富 different from 福?
- 富 is material wealth. 福 (fuku) is well-being and luck as a gift: it is the one written on New Year's amulets and cat figurines.
- How do you say 'money' in Japanese?
- お金 (o-kane). The character 金 by itself also means 'metal, gold', so in an inscription it is ambiguous: for the theme of prosperity, 富 or 福 is better.
Updated: 2026-07-25