寿
longevity, congratulations, one's natural life
Readings
On'yomi
- ジュ
- ス
- シュウ
Kun'yomi
- ことぶき
- ことぶ.く
- ことほ.ぐ
Nanori
- かず
- じ
- じゅう
- すっ
- すみ
- とし
- としかつ
- なが
- のぶ
- のり
- ひさ
- ひさし
- やす
Meaning
寿 centers on the idea of a long, full life: longevity, one's natural lifespan, and the celebration or congratulations that come with reaching a venerable age.
Most common words using 寿
20 of 101- 寿司すしN5
sushi; range of dishes made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables, egg, etc.
- 寿命じゅみょうN2
lifespan; life; lifetime
- 寿ことぶき
congratulations; felicitations; best wishes
- 恵比寿えびす
Ebisu; god of fishing and commerce
- 長寿ちょうじゅN1
long life; longevity
- 天寿てんじゅ
natural span of life
- 福寿ふくじゅ
long life and happiness
- 喜寿きじゅ
77th birthday
- 白寿はくじゅ
99th birthday
- 米寿べいじゅ
88th birthday
- 福寿草ふくじゅそう
pheasant's eye (species of buttercup, Adonis ramosa)
- 久寿きゅうじゅ
Kyūju era (1154.10.28-1156.4.27)
- 傘寿さんじゅ
80th birthday
- にぎり寿司にぎりずしN1
nigirizushi; hand-pressed vinegared rice topped with seafood
- 平均寿命へいきんじゅみょうN2
life expectancy (at birth); average life span
- いなり寿司いなりずし
inarizushi; sushi wrapped in fried tofu
- くら寿司くらずし
Kura Sushi (sushi restaurant chain)
- ちらし寿司ちらしずし
chirashi; chirashizushi; sushi rice in a box or bowl with a variety of ingredients sprinkled on top
- ばら寿司ばらずし
type of sushi with a variety of ingredients sprinkled on the rice
- めはり寿司めはりずし
rice ball wrapped in pickled leaf mustard greens
Study
Etymology
寿 is the modern simplified form of 壽. The older form is a complex pictograph associated with old age and long life, but the exact historical development of the simplified shape is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape resembles a person (top part) with a long, flowing beard (the strokes above 寸) and a steady hand (寸) measuring out a long life.
Reading mnemonic
For ジュ, imagine a long-lived jewel (ジュエル) passed down through generations: jewel -> ジュ, and the jewel represents a long, celebrated life.