Japanese symbol for “avoid”
避ける
さける
Romaji: sakeru
to avoid (physical contact with)
In Japanese, avoid is 避ける, read さける (sakeru).
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 avoid (physical contact with)
- v1, vt to avoid (situation); to evade (question, subject); to shirk (one's responsibilities)
- v1, vi, vt to ward off; to avert
- v1, vt to put aside; to move out of the way
Written forms: 避ける、除ける. Readings: さける、よける.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “avoid”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 逃げる | にげる nigeru | to avoid (a question, responsibility, etc.); to evade; to dodge |
| 嫌う | きらう kirau | to avoid |
| 怠る | おこたる okotaru | to neglect; to be negligent in; to be neglectful of |
| 免れる | まぬがれる manugareru | to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert |
| 外す | はずす hazusu | to dodge (a question, blow, etc.); to evade; to sidestep |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 避難 | ひなん hinan | taking refuge; finding shelter; evacuation |
| 回避 | かいひ kaihi | evasion; avoidance |
| 避妊 | ひにん hinin | contraception; birth control |
| 不可避 | ふかひ fukahi | inevitable; inescapable; unavoidable |
| 逃避 | とうひ touhi | escape; evasion; flight |
| 退避 | たいひ taihi | taking refuge; evacuation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “avoid”.
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.