# 戯 — frolic; play

戯 means “frolic; play”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 15 strokes. On'yomi: ギ (gi). Kun'yomi: たわむ(れる) (tawamureru), ざ(れる) (zareru). You'll see it in words such as 戯れる (tawamureru, “to be playful; to gambol”).

- Meaning: frolic; play
- On'yomi: ギ (gi)
- Kun'yomi: たわむ(れる) (tawamureru), ざ(れる) (zareru)
- Strokes: 15
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Arts & pastimes 3

## How to remember 戯

Parts: 虚 void · 戈 halberd

## Words with 戯

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 戯れる | たわむれる (tawamureru) | to be playful; to gambol |
| 戯れ | たわむれ (tawamure) | play; sport |

## Don't confuse it with

[劇](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/drama/) · [膚](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/complexion/) · [慮](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/prudence/) · [虜](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/captive/)

## More in the “Arts & pastimes 3” set

[弦](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bowstring/) · [鼓](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/drum/) · [娯](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/amusement/) · [戯](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/frolic/) · [譜](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/musical-score/) · [笛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/flute/) · [吟](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/intone/) · [賭](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/gamble/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/frolic/. Last updated 2026-11-01.