Japanese symbol for “alter”
変える
かえる
Romaji: kaeru
to change; to alter; to transform; to convert
In Japanese, alter is 変える, read かえる (kaeru).
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
- v1, vt to change; to alter; to transform; to convert; to turn; to vary
- v1, vt to reform; to revise; to amend
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “alter”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 改める | あらためる aratameru | to change; to alter; to revise |
| 転じる | てんじる tenjiru | to turn; to shift; to switch |
| 動かす | うごかす ugokasu | to change; to alter; to deny |
| 転ずる | てんずる tenzuru | to turn; to shift; to alter |
| 直す | なおす naosu | to change; to alter; to convert |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大変 | たいへん taihen | very; greatly; terribly |
| 変更 | へんこう henkou | change; modification; alteration |
| 変化 | へんか henka | change; variation; alteration |
| 変わる | かわる kawaru | to change; to be transformed; to be altered |
| 変動 | へんどう hendou | change; fluctuation |
| 変身 | へんしん henshin | metamorphosis; disguise; transformation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “alter”.
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.