This kanji means wind, but can also refer to appearance or style. It is one of the kanji in kamikaze (), which means divine wind and was first used to refer to the storms that spared Japan from Mongol invasions in the 13th century. It was repurposed for pilots toward the end of WWII to inspire them on suicide missions, crashing their planes into American ships. On a more day-to-day level it also appears in furo () which means bath.

on readings:
  • fuu
  • fu
kun readings:
  • kaze
  • kaza

examples:
chūbū paralysis, palsy
fūchō tide, tendency, trend
fūdo natural features, climate
fuki discipline, public morals
furo bath
fūryoku force of wind
kamikaze divine wind
kazashimo leeward side
kaze wind
kaze cold, illness
Nihon-fu Japanese-style
ofuro bath
oikaze favorable wind

links:
Wiktionary
Japanese homepage | top

Last ∆ on 13 May 2025 by Bradley James Wogsland.