Japanese symbol for “atrophy”
退化
たいか
Romaji: taika
degeneration; retrogression; atrophy
In Japanese, atrophy is 退化, read たいか (taika).
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 degeneration; retrogression; atrophy (biol)
- n, vi, vs regression (e.g. of society); deterioration; degeneration
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “atrophy”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 萎縮 | いしゅく ishuku | contraction; atrophy |
| 萎縮症 | いしゅくしょう ishukushou | atrophy |
| 退縮 | たいしゅく taishuku | regression (of cancer); involution (of an organ); atrophy |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 引退 | いんたい intai | retirement |
| 退職 | たいしょく taishoku | retirement; resignation |
| 脱退 | だったい dattai | withdrawal (e.g. from an organization); secession; leaving |
| 撤退 | てったい tettai | evacuation; withdrawal; revocation |
| 退院 | たいいん taiin | leaving hospital; discharge from hospital |
| 辞退 | じたい jitai | declining; refusal; nonacceptance |
| 文化 | ぶんか bunka | culture; civilization; civilisation |
| 変化 | へんか henka | change; variation; alteration |
See also: Chinese symbol for “atrophy”.
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.