martial arts; military arts; the art of war
Refers to the skills, techniques, and philosophy of warfare and martial arts. Often used in compound words like 武士道 (bushidō) and 文武両道 (bunbu ryōdō).
彼は武の道を究めるために修行を続けた。
He continued his training to master the way of martial arts.
military force; the sword
Emphasizes the power or authority of the military, or the use of armed force. 'The sword' is a figurative extension.
国を守るには武の力も必要だ。
To protect a country, military force is also necessary.
Archaic sense referring to courage in battle. Rarely used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
military officer; military man
Refers to a person serving in the military. This usage is somewhat dated and often appears in historical or formal contexts.
彼は若い頃、武を志して軍隊に入った。
In his youth, he aspired to be a military man and joined the army.
He has trained in the martial arts since he was young.
In old texts, 武 was used as a word expressing the bravery of warriors.
彼は武に優れた武将だった。
He was a general who excelled in military skill.
The king unified the country by wielding military force.
武勇 means courage and heroism displayed in battle, whereas 武 in this archaic sense refers to valor itself as an inherent quality.
文 stands for literary and cultural pursuits, the classic counterpart to 武, which stands for military and martial pursuits (as in 文武両道).
武士 refers to an actual person, a samurai or warrior, while 武 refers to the abstract concept of martial skill, force, or valor.
weapon; arms; ordnance · weapon (figurative); asset; advantage
arms; armament; arming oneself
samurai; warrior
military power; armed force
martial arts; budo
martial arts; military arts · wushu (Chinese martial art)
samurai family; samurai class; samurai stock · samurai; warrior
armed struggle; military conflict
arms; weapons; armor
The kanji 武 is composed of 止 (stop) and 戈 (halberd), traditionally interpreted as 'stopping the halberd' to represent the concept of military force used to maintain peace. The reading ぶ is the on'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading).
military man; warrior; soldier
martial arts demonstration · martial arts training
military exploits; feats of arms; distinguished military service
fortune in battle; luck in war; fate as a warrior
god of military arts; war deity
military officer; naval officer
warrior; soldier; samurai
martial arts
literary and military arts; the pen and the sword
basalt
bravery; valor; heroism
armory; armoury
martial arts; martial techniques
militarism; military rule; rule by force
military commander; warlord
armistice; cessation of hostilities
court nobles and samurai; the imperial court and the shogunate
bravery; valor; military prowess
authority and force; military might
civilian and military man
militarism; warlike spirit