Japanese Kanji for Harmony: 和 — The Main Symbol of Japan
The Japanese kanji for harmony is 和 (wa), 8 strokes, N4 level. It means not only 'harmony, peace' but also the Japanese self-designation: 和食 (washoku) — Japanese food, 和室 (washitsu) — a room in Japanese style. The first article of Japan's oldest legal code begins with words about 和 as the foundation of the state.
和 is the symbol with which the Japanese denote both harmony between people and everything of their own, national. This is no coincidence: harmony here is the very definition of Japaneseness. Hence 和食 'Japanese food' — literally 'food of harmony'.
How to Write the Japanese Kanji for Harmony
和 — значение: harmony, peace, Japanese, national — онъёми: ワ、オ、カ — кунъёми: やわ.らぐ、やわ.らげる、なご.む、なご.やか、あ.える — 8 штрих(ов). N4 level, 8 strokes. Click 'Show order' — strokes will appear as in handwriting.
What the Symbol Consists Of
On the left is 禾 'grain ear', on the right is 口 'mouth'. The ancient image: everyone has food and everyone speaks in agreement, so there is peace in the community. Hence both meanings: harmony between people and, later, the designation of Japan itself.
Words with the Sign 和
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 平和 | heiwa · heiwa | Peace (absence of war) |
| 和食 | washoku · washoku | Japanese cuisine |
| 和室 | washitsu · washitsu | Japanese-style room with tatami |
| 和紙 | washi · washi | Japanese paper |
| 和服 | wafuku · wafuku | Japanese clothing, kimono |
| 調和 | chōwa · chōwa | Harmony, compatibility |
| 和解 | wakai · wakai | Reconciliation |
Why 'Japanese' is Written with 'Harmony'
The ancient name of the country is 大和 (Yamato), and the sign 和 became established as a marker of everything indigenous. Therefore, in word pairs it is contrasted with 洋 ('Western'): 和食 and 洋食, 和室 and 洋室, 和菓子 (Japanese sweets) and 洋菓子 (European sweets). This is still a working system, not just history.
Write 和 Yourself
Trace the sign along the guides — the system will evaluate each stroke.
FAQ
- What Japanese kanji means harmony?
- 和 (wa) — 8 strokes, N4 level. It means 'harmony, peace' and also 'Japanese, national'.
- How do you say 'harmony' in Japanese?
- 和 (wa) — harmony and peace. 調和 (chōwa) — harmony as compatibility, 平和 (heiwa) — peace in the sense of 'absence of war'.
- Why does 和 also mean 'Japanese'?
- From the ancient name of the country 大和 (Yamato). The sign became a marker of everything indigenous and is contrasted with 洋 'Western': 和食 versus 洋食.
- Is 和 suitable for an inscription or tattoo?
- Yes: the sign is read unambiguously and means 'harmony'. Consider the second meaning — a Japanese person will also see the nuance of 'Japanese, ours'.
Updated: 2026-07-25