Japanese symbol for “ask”
問う
とう
Romaji: tou
to ask; to inquire
In Japanese, ask is 問う, read とう (tou).
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
- v5u-s, vt to ask; to inquire
- v5u-s, vt to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to pursue (question of responsibility); to charge with
- v5u-s, vt to care about; to regard as important
- v5u-s, vt to call into question; to doubt; to question
Written forms: 問う、訪う. Readings: とう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “ask”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 頼む | たのむ tanomu | to request; to beg; to ask |
| 尋ねる | たずねる tazuneru | to ask; to enquire; to inquire |
| 誘う | さそう sasou | to invite; to ask (someone to do); to call (for) |
| 乞う | こう kou | to beg; to ask; to request |
| 聞く | きく kiku | to ask; to enquire; to query |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 問題 | もんだい mondai | question (e.g. on a test); problem |
| 質問 | しつもん shitsumon | question; inquiry; enquiry |
| 疑問 | ぎもん gimon | doubt; question; suspicion |
| 訪問 | ほうもん houmon | call; visit |
| 問い | とい toi | question; query |
See also: Chinese symbol for “ask”.
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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