Back to dictionary
JLPT N113画 · 13 strokesradical 隹freq #1192

gracious, elegant, graceful, refined

On'yomi (音読み)

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • みや.び

Mnemonic

An elegant bird, with a refined posture, gracefully dances among the cherry blossoms, embodying the essence of 雅.

About this kanji

The kanji 「雅」 primarily means gracious or elegant, often used to convey a sense of refinement. It is typically seen as a noun, but can also express qualities or characteristics when used in other forms. Some common compounds include 優雅 (ゆうが), meaning elegant, which describes a person or thing that embodies grace; 雅楽 (ががく), referring to traditional Japanese court music known for its sophisticated sound; and 雅致 (がち), which means artistry, emphasizing a refined or artistic quality. A helpful usage note is that this kanji often appears in contexts related to culture, literature, or style, highlighting a sense of beauty and elegance.

Example sentences

  • 彼女の話し方は雅です。

    Her way of speaking is elegant.

Meanings across languages

English
gracious, elegant, graceful, refined
Tiếng Việt
điềm đạm
日本語
優雅
한국어
우아한
中文
优雅
id
anggun
th
งดงาม
es
gracioso
fr
gracieux
de
graziös
pt
gracioso

Common compounds

  • 雅致がちartistry, good taste, elegance
  • 優雅ゆうがelegant, graceful, refined
  • 雅楽ががくgagaku, ceremonial Japanese court music
  • 雅号がごうalias, pseudonym, pen name
  • 雅文がぶんelegant (literary) style
  • 温雅おんがgraceful, affable
  • 雅歌がかSong of Solomon (book of the Bible), Song of Songs, Canticle of Canticles
  • 雅懐がかいaesthetic sentiment

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.