KanjiSchool
哲
“Philosophy / Clear” in Japanese is 哲, read tetsu, satoi, akiraka (てつ, さとい, あきらか). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 哲学 (philosophy).
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What does 哲 mean?
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 哲 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Philosophy / Clear |
| Readings | てつ, さとい, あきらか |
| Grade | Master (高手 · secondary school) |
| Curriculum | Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2) |
| Example | 哲学 (philosophy) |
How to read 哲
哲 is read tetsu (てつ) or satoi (さとい) or akiraka (あきらか) depending on the word.
Words with 哲
- 哲学
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Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28