Japanese symbol for “backbone”
中堅
ちゅうけん
Romaji: chuuken
nucleus; backbone; mainstay; key figure
In Japanese, backbone is 中堅, read ちゅうけん (chuuken).
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 nucleus; backbone; mainstay; key figure
- adj-no, n medium-level; mid-level; middle-ranking; midsize
- n main body (of troops); crack troops; select troops
- n center field; centre field; center fielder; centre fielder (baseb)
- n athlete competing in the middle-number match in a team competition, i.e. second in 3-on-3, third in 5-on-5 (kendo, judo, etc.)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “backbone”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 骨 | ほね hone | backbone; spirit; fortitude |
| 背骨 | せぼね sebone | spine; backbone; spinal column |
| 中枢 | ちゅうすう chuusuu | centre; center; pivot |
| 幹 | みき miki | backbone; base; foundation |
| 気骨 | きこつ kikotsu | (moral) backbone; spirit; soul |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 中心 | ちゅうしん chuushin | center; centre; middle |
| 途中 | とちゅう tochuu | on the way; en route |
| 中央 | ちゅうおう chuuou | centre; center; middle |
| 集中 | しゅうちゅう shuuchuu | concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention |
| 中止 | ちゅうし chuushi | interruption; discontinuance; suspension |
| 中身 | なかみ nakami | contents; interior; filling |
| 堅実 | けんじつ kenjitsu | steady; sound; stable |
| 堅固 | けんご kengo | solid; strong; firm |
See also: Chinese symbol for “backbone”.
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.