Japanese symbol for “action”
行動
こうどう
Romaji: koudou
action; conduct; behaviour; behavior
In Japanese, action is 行動, read こうどう (koudou).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- adj-no, n, vi action; conduct; behaviour; behavior; mobilization; mobilisation
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “action”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 作用 | さよう sayou | action; operation; process |
| 活動 | かつどう katsudou | activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; operation |
| 実行 | じっこう jikkou | execution (e.g. of a plan); carrying out; (putting into) practice |
| 訴訟 | そしょう soshou | lawsuit; suit; (legal) action |
| 措置 | そち sochi | measure; step; action |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 行う | おこなう okonau | to perform; to do; to conduct oneself |
| 銀行 | ぎんこう ginkou | bank; banking institution |
| 行き | いき iki | the way there; outbound leg; outbound trip |
| 行為 | こうい koui | act; deed; conduct |
| 旅行 | りょこう ryokou | travel; trip; journey |
| 活動 | かつどう katsudou | activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; operation |
| 運動 | うんどう undou | exercise; physical training; workout |
| 動物 | どうぶつ doubutsu | animal |
See also: Chinese symbol for “action”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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