Japanese symbol for “applause”
拍手
はくしゅ
Romaji: hakushu
clapping hands; applause
In Japanese, applause is 拍手, read はくしゅ (hakushu).
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
- n, vi, vs clapping hands; applause
- n clapping one's hands in prayer (at a shrine)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “applause”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 賞賛 | しょうさん shousan | praise; admiration; commendation |
| 喝采 | かっさい kassai | cheers; applause; ovation |
| アプローズ | アプローズ apuroozu | applause |
| 拍手喝采 | はくしゅかっさい hakushukassai | clapping and cheering; applause |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 拍子 | ひょうし hyoushi | time; meter; metre |
| 拍車 | はくしゃ hakusha | (riding) spur |
| 脈拍 | みゃくはく myakuhaku | pulse; pulse rate; pulsation |
| 心拍 | しんぱく shinpaku | heartbeat |
| 手拍子 | てびょうし tebyoushi | beating time with one's hands; clapping to the beat |
| 相手 | あいて aite | companion; partner; company |
| 選手 | せんしゅ senshu | player (of a sport); athlete; team member |
| 手段 | しゅだん shudan | means; way; method |
See also: Chinese symbol for “applause”.
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.