擁 — Hug / Embrace / Possess / Protect

Master (高手)よう

Radical ⼿ · radical 64 The building block this kanji is filed under

擁 (readings: よう; Japanese kanji) means “Hug / Embrace / Possess / Protect”. 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 擁護 (protection).

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What does 擁 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	擁
Meaning	Hug / Embrace / Possess / Protect
Readings	よう
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	擁護 (protection)

How to read 擁

擁 is read よう depending on the word.

Words with 擁

抱擁ôm ấp
擁護bảo vệ

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Updated: 2026-07-22