風 in Chinese / Japanese...

風 means wind in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

風 can also mean air, breeze, or draft. Used as a metaphor, it can mean style or manner.

風水 is the famous technique and approach to arranging your home externally around natural features, and internally to create balance and peace.

These two characters literally mean "wind water". Obviously, the title is far more simple than the concept behind this subject.

It may enlighten you slightly to know that the character for "wind" can also mean "style", "custom" or "manner" in some context. This may apply somewhat to this title.

In a very technical sense, this title is translated as "Chinese geomancy".

風輪 is a Chinese and Japanese Buddhist word that means Rings of Wind, or Wind Wheel.

I found this in my Buddhist dictionary when I as trying to figure out which "furin" people were searching for. 風輪 is one of several Japanese words that romanize as furin.

颶風 is the second more common way to write hurricane or typhoon in Chinese and Japanese Kanji. Sometimes used to refer to a big tornado as well.

The first character alone also means hurricane but the second character means wind, and acts to emphasize the meaning.

神風 is the famous title used during WWII to describe Japanese fighter plane pilots, many of whom performed suicide attacks by flying their planes into ships and other Allied targets.

The Japanese word, Kamikaze actually means "divine wind".

This Japanese word means southerly breeze or true wind.

This can also be a Japanese surname that romanizes as Makaze.

風險 is the Chinese word that means risk or venture. 風險 is mostly used in the context of a business venture or the risk you might take on the stock market.

If you like to gamble on the stock market or "let it all hang out" when doing business transactions, this might be the wall scroll for you.

風暴 is the Chinese word for storm.

If the meaning of storm is somehow important or significant to you, these are the characters you want.

The first character means wind, and the second means violent or sudden.

Note: This would be understood in Korean Hanja, however, Koreans would generally use these characters in reverse order.

暴風 is the Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja word for storm (can also mean gale, tempest, typhoon, hurricane, gale, violent wind, or windstorm - especially in Korean and Chinese).

If the meaning of storm is somehow important or significant to you, these are the Kanji you want.

The first Kanji means violent or sudden. The second Kanji means wind.

This also means storm in Chinese but more in regards to a wind storm than a general storm. It's about the same for this word in Korean.

旋風 is tornado or whirlwind in Chinese and Japanese Kanji.

風雨 is wind and rain in Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja.

This can also refer to the elements or trials and hardships (in life).

風雲児 is "soldier of fortune" in Japanese.

It can also be read as, "lucky adventurer" or "adventurer who takes advantage of troubled times".

暴風雨 is a Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and old Korean Hanja word meaning, rainstorm, storm, or tempest.

颱風 / 台風 is the most common way to write hurricane or typhoon in Chinese, old Korean Hanja and Japanese Kanji. Sometimes used to refer to a big tornado as well.

The first character alone also means typhoon but the second character means wind, and acts to emphasize the meaning.

Note: Sometimes the first character is written in the form shown to the right.

花鳥風月 is the Japanese Kanji proverb for "Beauties of Nature".

The dictionary definition is, "the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics".

The Kanji each represents an element of nature that constitute beauty in traditional Japanese art and culture.

The Kanji breakdown:
花 = ka = flower (also pronounced "hana")
鳥 = chou = bird (also pronounced "tori").
風 = fuu = wind (also pronounced "kaze").
月 = getsu = moon (also pronounced "tsuki")

This phrase means "Old and ailing with little time left" or "Not long for this world".
There is a real suggestion here that someone will die soon.

This was added by special request of a customer, and is perhaps, not the most positive phrase that you could put on a wall scroll.

This would be the most offensive possible gift to give to an older person - please do not do that!

地水火風 is a Buddhist term that means "earth, water, fire, wind".

地水火風 is often just referred to as "the four elements". There is a more common title (the five elements) which adds wood to the mix. These four elements are used in some sects of Japanese Buddhism (not so much in Chinese).

風林火山 is the battle strategy and proverb of Japanese feudal lord Takeda Shingen (1521-1573 AD).

This came from the Art of War by Chinese strategist and tactician Sun Tzu (Sunzi).

You can think of this as a sort of abbreviation to remind officers and troops how to conduct battle.

風林火山 is literally a word list: Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain.

The more expanded meaning is supposed to be...

"Swift as the wind, quiet as the forest, fierce as fire, and immovable as a mountain"

"As fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and immovable as the mountain"

"Move as swift as the wind, stay as silent as a forest, attack as fierce as fire, undefeatable defense like a mountain"

"Move swiftly like the wind, stay silent like the forest, attack fiercely like fire, take tactical position on the mountain"

This Chinese and Japanese proverb means, "to have a pleasant journey", "sailing with the wind at your back", or as an expression to say, "everything is going well".

乘風破浪 is a Chinese proverb that represents having great ambitions.

The British might say "to plough through". Another way to understand it is, "surmount all difficulties and forge ahead courageously".

This can also be translated as, "braving the wind and waves", "to brave the wind and the billows", "to ride the wind and crest the waves", or "to be ambitious and unafraid".

Literally it reads: "ride (like a chariot) [the] wind [and] break/cleave/cut [the] waves", or "ride [the] wind [and] slash [through the] waves".

乘風破浪 is a great proverb to encourage yourself or someone else not to be afraid of problems or troubles, and when you have a dream just go for it.

There is an alternate version, 長風破浪, but 乘風破浪 is far more common.

一帆風順 is just what you think it means. It suggests that you are on a trouble-free voyage through life, or literally on a sailing ship or sail boat. It is often used in China as a wish for good luck on a voyage or as you set out on a new quest or career in your life. Some may use this in lieu of "bon voyage".

The literal meaning is roughly, "Once you raise your sail, you will get the wind you need, and it will take you where you want to go". Another way to translate it is "Your sail and the wind follow your will".

一帆風順 is a great gift for a mariner, sailor, adventurer, or someone starting a new career.

Note: Can be understood in Korean Hanja but rarely used.

順風満帆 means "smooth sailing" in Japanese.

The Kanji literally mean, "Favorable wind, full sail".

This title can also suggest having great ambitions.

This proverb is often translated as, "Go ahead as planned regardless of the weather" or, "[Overcome] despite the rain and wind".

This Chinese proverb suggests that you are willing (or should be willing) to overcome any adversity, and accomplish your task at hand.

There is a second/optional part to this phrase which suggests that you should do this together with someone (see our other 8-character version if you want the full phrase).

地水火風空 is the specifically-Japanese version of the five elements.

地水火風空 is a little different than the ancient or original Chinese version.

The elements are written in this order:
1. Earth / Terra / Ground
2. Water
3. Fire
4. Wind / Air
5. Sky / Emptiness / Void / Ether

Note: This set of Kanji can also be romanized as "ji sui ka fuu kuu", "jisuikafuukuu", or "jisuikafuku".

These can also be written in the order 地火風水空 (chi ka sui fuu kuu). Let me know when you place your order if you want the Kanji to be in this character order.

The first four characters are often translated as, "Go ahead as planned regardless of the weather" or, "[Overcome] despite the rain and wind". The last four characters can mean, "Stick together" but literally means "Take the same boat [together]".

This Chinese proverb suggests that you are willing (or should be willing) to overcome any adversity, and accomplish your task at hand. The second part (last four characters) is sometimes left off but this second part strongly suggests that you should overcome that adversity together.

This Chinese proverb literally translates as: Do not fear strong winds [and] high waves; what [one should] worry about whether or not you're rowing in unison.

Figuratively, this means: However difficult the task, the key to success lies in making collective efforts.

I like to translate this as, "Don't sweat the details, just get together and get it done".