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SHA
写
to copy · to project
✎ Editor's glossto copy — an image, a form, a likeness
Naruto · Dōjutsu · Kanji file 001
Sharingan 写輪眼
Pronounced sha·rin·gan
In Japanese anime, an eye technique is the mark of a powerful character — one of the things fans feel the romance in. The word Sharingan is the author's own coinage: 写 (to copy), 輪 (a ring — a round thing) and 眼 (the eye — the power to see through to the truth of things). According to the databook Rin no Sho, the Sharingan carries the Eye of Insight that sees through everything, a powerful Eye of Hypnotism, and the ability to copy any jutsu it sees; its mark is the tomoe — magatama-like shapes floating in the iris. And say it out loud — sha·rin·gan. It's a jutsu name that begs to be spoken.
A coinage that gives you chillsFeels great to say
📖 Databook: Rin no Sho, p. 192
Speed
Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database. The red ✎ line is the editor's gloss — the meaning that is actually alive in this name, chosen by our editors from a Japanese kanji dictionary.
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RIN
輪
wheel · ring
✎ Editor's glossa ring; a round thing — also "in turns"
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GAN
眼
eye
✎ Editor's glossthe eye — the power to see through to the truth of things
What's next
Which term should we write next?
We write in order of demand. Every name and jutsu in the official databooks is listed in our Master Index — find the one you want, and tell us via the Contact page.
Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
What does Sharingan mean in Japanese?
Literally “copy wheel eye” — 写 to copy, 輪 wheel, 眼 eye. The name spells out exactly what the eye does.
How do you pronounce Sharingan?
Say it sha·rin·gan (写輪眼). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
How do you write Sharingan in Japanese?
写輪眼 — three kanji, read sha·rin·gan. You can copy the characters with the button above; just make sure your font renders them in Japanese style.
How many strokes is 写輪眼?
31 in total: 写 is 5, 輪 is 15, 眼 is 11. The animation above draws every stroke in dictionary order.
What characters make up Sharingan?
Sharingan is written 写輪眼: 写 (to copy · to project); 輪 (wheel · ring); 眼 (eye). Readings and meanings come from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database.
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.