✦ Meanings Cheat Sheet

Tarot Cheat Sheet: Upright and Reversed Keywords for All 78 Cards

Every card's upright keywords, reversed keywords and yes/no leaning in one table, grouped by Major Arcana and suit and ready to print. Use it for quick look-ups during a reading or to memorise the meanings.

Major Arcana Wands Cups Swords Pentacles

Major Arcana

Card	Upright keywords	Reversed keywords	Yes/No leaning
The Fool	New beginnings、Freedom、Adventure、Innocence	Recklessness、Hesitation、Avoidance、Naivety	Leans yes / Leans no
The Magician	Willpower、Manifestation、Skill、Focus	Scattered energy、Manipulation、Deception、Self-doubt	Leans yes / Leans no
The High Priestess	Intuition、The subconscious、Inner wisdom、Stillness	Ignored intuition、Hidden information、Inner disconnection、Repression	Depends / Leans no
The Empress	Abundance、Nurturing、Creativity、Sensuality	Overgiving、Creative block、Dependence、Self-neglect	Leans yes / Depends
The Emperor	Authority、Structure、Stability、Leadership	Control、Rigidity、Domination、Lack of discipline	Leans yes / Leans no
The Hierophant	Tradition、Belief、Learning、Guidance	Unconventionality、Questioning authority、Rigid dogma、Blind conformity	Leans yes / Depends
The Lovers	Love and connection、Choice、Harmony、Shared values	Imbalance、Conflicting values、Indecision、Temptation	Leans yes / Leans no
The Chariot	Willpower、Victory、Momentum、Self-discipline	Lack of direction、Inner conflict、Forcing outcomes、Obstacles	Leans yes / Leans no
Strength	Inner strength、Gentle courage、Patience、Self-acceptance	Self-doubt、Emotional overwhelm、Low confidence、Suppression	Leans yes / Depends
The Hermit	Introspection、Solitude、Seeking truth、Wisdom	Isolation、Avoidance、Withdrawal、Loneliness	Depends / Leans no
Wheel of Fortune	Change、Cycles、Good fortune、Timing	Stagnation、Resisting change、Poor timing、Setbacks	Leans yes / Leans no
Justice	fairness、truth、cause and effect、accountability	imbalance、unfairness、avoiding responsibility、bias	Leans yes / Leans no
The Hanged Man	pause、surrender、new perspective、waiting	stagnation、procrastination、needless sacrifice、resisting change	Depends / Leans no
Death	endings、transformation、letting go、transition	resisting change、clinging to the past、stagnation、fear of loss	Depends / Leans no
Temperance	balance、harmony、patience、moderation	imbalance、excess、impatience、inner conflict	Leans yes / Depends
The Devil	attachment、bondage、temptation、dependency	awakening、breaking free、reclaiming power、facing the shadow	Leans no / Depends
The Tower	sudden change、upheaval、revelation、awakening	resisting change、delayed upheaval、inner turmoil、holding things together	Leans no / Leans no
The Star	hope、healing、faith、inspiration	lost faith、discouragement、self-doubt、disconnection	Leans yes / Depends
The Moon	uncertainty、intuition、the subconscious、illusion	fog lifting、truth emerging、releasing fear、lingering confusion	Depends / Depends
The Sun	joy、success、vitality、optimism	temporary clouds、overconfidence、delayed success、wounded inner child	Leans yes / Depends
Judgement	awakening、calling、rebirth、reflection	self-doubt、ignoring the call、harsh self-judgment、indecision	Leans yes / Depends
The World	completion、fulfillment、integration、achievement	incompletion、lack of closure、delays、stagnation	Leans yes / Depends

Wands

Card	Upright keywords	Reversed keywords	Yes/No leaning
Ace of Wands	inspiration、new beginnings、passion、creative spark	delays、lack of motivation、creative block、false starts	Leans yes / Depends
Two of Wands	planning、vision、decisions、leaving comfort zones	fear of the unknown、indecision、poor planning、playing it safe	Leans yes / Depends
Three of Wands	expansion、foresight、progress、overseas opportunities	obstacles to progress、unmet expectations、narrow vision、delays	Leans yes / Depends
Four of Wands	celebration、harmony、home、milestones	instability、family tension、postponed celebrations、lack of belonging	Leans yes / Depends
Five of Wands	competition、clashing opinions、chaos、sparring	conflict avoidance、resolution、inner conflict、suppressed tension	Depends / Depends
Six of Wands	victory、public recognition、confidence、success	lack of recognition、self-doubt、arrogance、delayed success	Leans yes / Depends
Seven of Wands	standing your ground、defence、courage、facing challenges	overwhelm、giving up、feeling outnumbered、defensiveness	Leans yes / Depends
Eight of Wands	swift progress、incoming news、action、momentum	delays、obstacles、haste、miscommunication	Leans yes / Leans no
Nine of Wands	resilience、persistence、the last stretch、vigilance	exhaustion、over-guardedness、suspicion、wanting to quit	Leans yes / Leans no
Ten of Wands	burden、heavy responsibility、overcommitment、hard work	releasing burdens、delegating、breaking point、letting go	Leans no / Depends
Page of Wands	curiosity、exploration、exciting news、fresh ideas	fleeting enthusiasm、lack of direction、immaturity、delayed news	Leans yes / Depends
Knight of Wands	bold action、adventure、passionate drive、fearlessness	recklessness、impatience、abandoned plans、quick temper	Leans yes / Depends
Queen of Wands	confidence、warmth、independence、vibrancy	self-doubt、jealousy、controlling behaviour、burnout	Leans yes / Depends
King of Wands	vision、leadership、boldness、entrepreneurial spirit	domineering、arrogance、impulsiveness、unrealistic expectations	Leans yes / Depends

Cups

Card	Upright keywords	Reversed keywords	Yes/No leaning
Ace of Cups	New love、Emotional abundance、Open heart、Compassion	Blocked emotions、Closed heart、Emotional emptiness、Self-neglect	Leans yes / Depends
Two of Cups	Mutual attraction、Partnership、Emotional connection、Reconciliation	Imbalance、Broken communication、Mistrust、Disagreement	Leans yes / Leans no
Three of Cups	Friendship、Celebration、Reunion、Community	Overindulgence、Cliques、Love triangle、Social fatigue	Leans yes / Depends
Four of Cups	Apathy、Boredom、Contemplation、Missed opportunity	Renewed interest、Accepting offers、Re-engaging、Awareness	Leans no / Depends
Five of Cups	Loss、Grief、Regret、Disappointment	Healing、Acceptance、Forgiveness、Moving on	Leans no / Depends
Six of Cups	Nostalgia、Childhood memories、Innocence、Kindness	Stuck in the past、Romanticized memories、Refusing to grow up、Old wounds resurfacing	Leans yes / Depends
Seven of Cups	Many choices、Fantasy、Daydreaming、Temptation	Clarity、Making a decision、Focus、Disillusionment	Depends / Depends
Eight of Cups	Walking away、Letting go、Seeking meaning、Inner quest	Hesitating to leave、Fear of change、Aimless drifting、Avoidance	Leans no / Depends
Nine of Cups	Wishes fulfilled、Contentment、Pleasure、Gratitude	Dissatisfaction、Overindulgence、Smugness、Material emptiness	Leans yes / Depends
Ten of Cups	Family happiness、Fulfillment、Harmony、Belonging	Family discord、Ideal versus reality、Clashing values、Surface harmony	Leans yes / Depends
Page of Cups	Emotional message、Curiosity、Creative inspiration、Budding intuition	Emotional immaturity、Escapism、Creative block、Oversensitivity	Leans yes / Depends
Knight of Cups	Romantic invitation、Following the heart、Idealism、Charm	Unrealistic plans、Moodiness、Broken promises、Over-idealizing	Leans yes / Leans no
Queen of Cups	Empathy、Intuition、Emotional maturity、Compassion	Emotional overwhelm、Blurred boundaries、Self-sacrifice、Codependency	Leans yes / Depends
King of Cups	Emotional balance、Calm composure、Diplomacy、Mature leadership	Suppressed emotions、Coldness、Emotional volatility、Manipulation	Leans yes / Depends

Swords

Card	Upright keywords	Reversed keywords	Yes/No leaning
Ace of Swords	Mental clarity、Breakthrough、New idea、Truth	Confusion、Misjudgment、Harsh words、Blocked ideas	Leans yes / Leans no
Two of Swords	Difficult choice、Stalemate、Avoidance、Truce	Information overload、Indecision、Truth revealed、Emotional release	Depends / Depends
Three of Swords	Heartache、Grief、Disappointment、Painful truth	Healing begins、Releasing grief、Forgiveness、Suppressed pain	Leans no / Depends
Four of Swords	Rest、Recovery、Contemplation、Meditation	Burnout、Restlessness、Unable to relax、Reawakening	Depends / Depends
Five of Swords	Conflict、Hollow victory、Ego battles、Tension	Reconciliation、Letting go of the fight、Making amends、Lingering resentment	Leans no / Depends
Six of Swords	Transition、Moving on、Calmer waters、Healing journey	Feeling stuck、Unfinished business、Delayed transition、Resisting change	Leans yes / Leans no
Seven of Swords	Strategy、Secrecy、Going it alone、Cutting corners	Coming clean、Guilty conscience、Being found out、Fresh start	Leans no / Depends
Eight of Swords	Self-limitation、Feeling trapped、Powerlessness、Victim mindset	Breaking free、Release、New perspective、Self-empowerment	Leans no / Leans yes
Nine of Swords	Anxiety、Sleepless nights、Worry、Guilt	Easing anxiety、Reaching out、Returning hope、Hidden worry	Leans no / Depends
Ten of Swords	Ending、Rock bottom、Surrender、Cycle complete	Recovery、Rising again、Resisting the end、Gradual improvement	Leans no / Depends
Page of Swords	Curiosity、Thirst for knowledge、Alertness、New ideas	Gossip、Careless words、Hasty speech、All talk	Leans yes / Leans no
Knight of Swords	Decisive action、Ambition、Speed、Outspokenness	Recklessness、Impatience、Aggression、Scattered direction	Leans yes / Leans no
Queen of Swords	Clear judgment、Independence、Honesty、Healthy boundaries	Coldness、Harsh criticism、Bitterness、Closed heart	Leans yes / Leans no
King of Swords	Intellectual authority、Fair judgment、Clear thinking、Expertise	Abuse of authority、Coldness、Manipulation、Rigidity	Leans yes / Leans no

Pentacles

Card	Upright keywords	Reversed keywords	Yes/No leaning
Ace of Pentacles	New opportunity、Seed of prosperity、Solid foundation、Tangible results	Missed chance、Poor planning、Shaky foundation、Scarcity mindset	Leans yes / Depends
Two of Pentacles	Balance、Adaptability、Juggling priorities、Time management	Overcommitment、Imbalance、Overwhelm、Cash-flow strain	Depends / Leans no
Three of Pentacles	Teamwork、Craftsmanship、Recognition、Collaboration	Poor teamwork、Misalignment、Lowered standards、Working in silos	Leans yes / Depends
Four of Pentacles	Security、Saving、Conservation、Control	Clinging、Scarcity anxiety、Overspending、Overcontrol	Depends / Leans no
Five of Pentacles	Hardship、Scarcity、Isolation、Financial strain	Recovery、Accepting help、Renewed hope、Gradual healing	Leans no / Depends
Six of Pentacles	Generosity、Fair exchange、Giving and receiving、Support	Imbalance、Strings attached、Unequal power、Debt pressure	Leans yes / Depends
Seven of Pentacles	Patience、Long-term investment、Assessment、Perseverance	Impatience、Wasted effort、Wrong direction、Giving up	Depends / Leans no
Eight of Pentacles	Diligence、Skill-building、Focus、Mastery	Cutting corners、Perfectionism、Lack of motivation、Repetitive burnout	Leans yes / Depends
Nine of Pentacles	Self-sufficiency、Independence、Abundance、Self-worth	Over-dependence、Surface success、Overworking、Overspending	Leans yes / Depends
Ten of Pentacles	Legacy、Family、Long-term stability、Wealth building	Family conflict、Inheritance disputes、Restrictive tradition、Financial instability	Leans yes / Depends
Page of Pentacles	Learning、Curiosity、New skills、Practical start	Procrastination、Lack of focus、All talk、Learning without doing	Leans yes / Depends
Knight of Pentacles	Steady progress、Reliability、Responsibility、Methodical work	Stagnation、Stubbornness、Excess caution、Boredom	Leans yes / Leans no
Queen of Pentacles	Nurturing、Practical warmth、Abundance、Home and comfort	Over-giving、Self-neglect、Money anxiety、Control	Leans yes / Depends
King of Pentacles	Achievement、Financial stability、Leadership、Practical mastery	Materialism、Rigidity、Control、Greed	Leans yes / Depends

Flashcards →

When you're starting out, the most common question is "What does this card mean again?" The cheat sheet condenses the essentials of all 78 cards onto a single page: the main upright and reversed keywords for each card, plus its yes/no leaning in each orientation (leans yes, leans no or depends). Click any card name to open its full meaning page.

Finding a card fast

Jump links at the top take you straight to the Major Arcana, Wands, Cups, Swords or Pentacles.
Each row shows the card name, upright keywords, reversed keywords and yes/no leaning, from left to right.
Press print to make a paper copy or save it as a PDF to keep beside your deck.

Practising with the cheat sheet

Cover and quiz yourself. Hide the keyword columns with a sheet of paper, look only at the card name, say what it means upright and reversed, then check.
One suit at a time. Focus on a single group each day, such as Cups today, rather than all 78 at once.
Spot the number patterns. Compare the same number across the four suits; the four Fives, for instance, all carry a note of conflict or loss.
Test yourself with flashcards. Once the keywords feel familiar, try the flashcards, which ask you to name a card from its artwork or from its keywords.

Keywords are only the start

The cheat sheet is perfect for quick recall, but a real reading also weighs the position, your question and the neighbouring cards. For full love, career and money meanings, open the card pages; to understand reversals, read upright and reversed cards. The yes/no leaning is only a tendency, so for an actual yes-or-no question, try a yes or no reading.

FAQ

Are these the same keywords as on the card pages?

Yes, they come from the same meanings data. The cheat sheet shows each card's main keywords, while the card pages add the full list plus detailed love, career, money and advice sections. Both update together.

How should I read the yes/no leaning?

Each card shows a leaning for upright and for reversed: leans yes, leans no or depends. It reflects the overall tone of the card rather than a guaranteed answer. For a real question, try a yes or no reading and treat the result as guidance.

Can I print or share the cheat sheet?

Yes. Use the print button to make a paper copy or save a PDF for personal study. To share it with a friend, simply send them a link to this page.

Is memorising keywords enough to read tarot?

Keywords are a great start, but the same card shifts meaning with position and question. Build familiarity here, then practise in real situations with the daily card until the keywords become your own words.